The present invention relates to terminating the ends of fiber optic cables with ferrules.
Typically the end of a fiber optic cable is terminated by a fiber optic connector by gluing the fiber within the cable to a ferrule of the connector. A well known fiber optic cable size includes an inner glass fiber of 125 microns in diameter, with an outer coating of 250 microns in diameter, covered by a polymeric buffer layer of 900 microns in diameter.
One problem with terminating fiber optic cables can include fiber breakage at the rear interface area between the end of the glass fiber and the ferrule. In this interface area is the epoxy used to hold the fiber to the ferrule. Such breakage tends to increase in response to greater temperature fluctuations during use of the cables. Differences in thermal expansion are believed to cause the breakage. There is a need to improve the interface between fiber optic cables and connectors to reduce fiber breakage, especially due to thermal stress.
A fiber optic ferrule includes a body extending from a first end to a second opposite end, with the body including an axial passage extending between the first and second ends. The axial passage includes a first diameter portion having a diameter of at least 125 microns, and a second diameter portion having a diameter of at least 250 microns, the second diameter portion positioned between the first diameter and the second end. The axial passage further defines a funnel shape at the second end extending inward from the second end to the second diameter portion.
A method of assembling a terminated fiber optic cable includes providing a cable with an inner fiber at 125 microns, an outer coating at 250 microns, and a buffer layer at 900 microns. The method includes stripping a portion of the coating from an end of the cable to expose a portion of the inner fiber, and stripping a portion of the buffer layer to expose a portion of the coating. The method further includes inserting the exposed fiber and the exposed coating into a ferrule having first and second inner diameters, wherein the first diameter is at least 125 microns, and the second diameter is at least 250 microns, and adhesively holding the fiber to the ferrule.
The present invention also relates to a device and method for mounting a fiber to a ferrule wherein the ferrule includes a first passageway portion sized only to receive a bare fiber without a coating or a buffer layer, and a second passageway portion sized to receive the fiber including the coating, but no buffer layer.
Referring now to
Ferrule 10 includes a body 16 with a first end 20 defining a ferrule tip. Body 16 of ferrule 10 includes an opposite end 24 received in a pocket 14 of hub 12. Ferrule 10 includes a central axis 28. First end 20 of ferrule 10 is typically polished along with the fiber after the fiber is installed. Body 16 of ferrule 10 is typically ceramic in construction.
Ferrule 10 includes a central passage 30 concentric with axis 28. Central passage 30 extends from first end 20 to opposite end 24. Central passage 30 includes a first portion 34 having a first diameter, an intermediate or second portion 38 having a second diameter, and a rear or third portion 42. First portion 34 is sized to receive the inner fiber sized at 125 microns. Second portion 38 is sized to receive the portion of the cable including the outer coating at 250 microns. Third portion 42 is tapered inward from opposite end 24 so as to facilitate insertion of the fiber during installation.
In prior art ferrules, such as ferrule 100 shown in
In contrast, ferrule 10 includes dual diameter portions 34, 38, each specially sized to receive the inner fiber (125 microns) and a portion of the outer coating (250 microns), respectively.
Referring now to
With special reference to
Coating 54 does not need to be fully inserted into ferrule 10, as shown in
In ferrule 10, first portion 34 has a first dimension sized large enough to receive the uncoated fiber, but not so large as to receive the coated fiber. Second portion 38 has a second dimension large enough to receive the coated fiber, but not so large as to receive the buffer.
In the illustrated embodiment, first portion 34 is cylindrically shaped and sized at 0.1255 mm+/−0.0015/0.0000 mm to receive the inner fiber sized at 125 microns. Second portion 38 is cylindrically shaped and sized at 0.260 mm+/−0.010 mm to receive the portion of the cable including the outer coating at 250 microns. A preferred range for second portion 38 is greater than 250 microns, and less than or equal to 500 microns. A more preferred range for second portion 38 is greater than 250 microns, and less than or equal to 300 microns. In the illustrated embodiment, ferrule 10 is 10.5 mm long, with second portion 38 extending into ferrule 10 about 3 mm from end 24.
The above specification, examples and data provide a complete description of the manufacture and use of the composition of the invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 16/822,214, filed Mar. 19, 2020, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 16/167,024, filed Oct. 22, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,634,856, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 15/332,854, filed Oct. 24, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,107,971, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 13/114,721, filed May 24, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,477,047, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 12/271,335, filed Nov. 14, 2008, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 11/972,373, filed Jan. 10, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,452,137, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 11/497,175, filed Aug. 1, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,341,383, which applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 17194483 | Mar 2021 | US |
Child | 17847791 | US | |
Parent | 16822214 | Mar 2020 | US |
Child | 17194483 | US | |
Parent | 16167024 | Oct 2018 | US |
Child | 16822214 | US | |
Parent | 15332854 | Oct 2016 | US |
Child | 16167024 | US | |
Parent | 13114721 | May 2011 | US |
Child | 15332854 | US | |
Parent | 12271335 | Nov 2008 | US |
Child | 13114721 | US | |
Parent | 11972373 | Jan 2008 | US |
Child | 12271335 | US | |
Parent | 11497175 | Aug 2006 | US |
Child | 11972373 | US |