Abstract: Disclosed herein is a fiber optic system including at least one fiber optic cable assembly having a multimode optical fiber for communication of an optical data signal at an operating wavelength and a devices having a single-mode fiber stub with a mode field diameter within 20% of the mode field diameter of the fundamental mode of the multimode optical fiber at the operating wavelength. The single-mode fiber stub is secured to a ferrule, and a center of a core of the single-mode fiber stub is within 0.5 ?m of a center of the ferrule. An end of the single-mode fiber stub that extends to or beyond the back end of the ferrule and forms an optical connection with the multimode optical fiber where the center of the single-mode fiber stub is within 2 ?m of a center of the multimode optical fiber.

Abstract: A fiber optic connector comprises a shell, an insert, and at least one terminus sub-assembly. The shell defines an interior space and has a front portion. The insert is retained in the front portion of the shell. The at least one terminus sub-assembly at least partially received and retained in the insert. The at least one terminus sub-assembly includes a ferrule, a stub optical fiber secured to the ferrule, and a holder in which the stub optical fiber terminates. At least one splice component is retained with the holder and configured to be actuated and apply a clamping force to the stub optical fiber within the holder.

Abstract: A fiber optic connector comprises a shell, an insert, and at least one terminus sub-assembly. The shell defines an interior space and has a front portion. The insert is retained in the front portion of the shell. The at least one terminus sub-assembly at least partially received and retained in the insert. The at least one terminus sub-assembly includes a ferrule, a stub optical fiber secured to the ferrule, and a holder in which the stub optical fiber terminates. At least one splice component is retained with the holder and configured to be actuated and apply a clamping force to the stub optical fiber within the holder.

Abstract: A fiber optic connector includes a ferrule, a housing received over the ferrule, and a slider assembly mounted to the housing. The housing includes left and right sides each having a latch receptacle for receiving at least a portion of an adapter latch. The slider assembly includes a first unit movable relative to the housing between a forward position and a rearward position, wherein the first unit at least partially obstructs the latch receptacles when the first unit is in its forward position, and each of the latch receptacles is at least partially unobstructed by (e.g., substantially not obstructed by) the first unit when the first unit is in its rearward position. The slider assembly also includes a second unit movable relative to the housing between a forward position and a rearward position.

Abstract: A ferrule for a multi-fiber optical connector includes a body extending in a longitudinal direction between a front end and a back end. The front end of the body defines a first end face and at least one additional endface offset from the first end face in the longitudinal direction. The ferrule also includes first and second groups of micro-holes extending into the body from the at least one additional end face. Each micro-hole is configured to receive one of the optical fibers. The first and second groups of micro-holes are spaced apart from each other by distance greater than spacing between the micro-holes in the first and second groups themselves, thereby defining a space between an innermost micro-hole in the first group and an innermost micro-hole in the second group. The space itself is free of micro-holes.

Abstract: A fiber optic connector includes a ferrule, a housing received over the ferrule, and a slider assembly mounted to the housing. The housing includes left and right sides each having a latch receptacle for receiving at least a portion of an adapter latch. The slider assembly includes a first unit movable relative to the housing between a forward position and a rearward position, wherein the first unit at least partially obstructs the latch receptacles when the first unit is in its forward position, and each of the latch receptacles is at least partially unobstructed by (e.g., substantially not obstructed by) the first unit when the first unit is in its rearward position. The slider assembly also includes a second unit movable relative to the housing between a forward position and a rearward position.

Abstract: A fiber inspection device is configured to inspect a cleave of an optical fiber endface. The device may also be configured to inspect a polish of the optical fiber using the same imaging hardware and/or software. Just as it is important to attain a smooth uniform polish of the optical fiber endface, it is equally important that the initial cleave generate a flat and uniform surface. If an adequate cleave is not attained, signal attenuation may occur, even if the polish of the endface is of otherwise high quality. Thus, by enabling cleave inspection both in the field and lab settings, overall quality control can be increased.

Abstract: A fiber inspection device is configured to be removably attached to a portable camera, such as a smartphone or other mobile computing device. The device may be arranged to have a slim form factor that complements the form factor of the smartphone or other device. The device may be configured to inspect a polish and/or cleave of the optical fiber. By leveraging the built in camera, computing power and user interface of a smartphone or other mobile computing device, a fiber inspection device can be inexpensively produced for inspecting a polish of an optical fiber endface using mass market camera hardware and software, without the need to develop dedicated electronics hardware or embedded software.

Abstract: Disclosed is a passive illumination apparatus for improving the visibility of an optical fiber by projecting reflected light to passively illuminate an optical fiber for allowing the user improved visibility for inserting the optical fiber into an orifice. One embodiment of the concept uses a passive illumination apparatus having a pattern of one or more colors for reflectively transmitting chromatic light along with an optional contrast surface such as a gray or black stripe for providing a highly contrasting background for the user to view the optical fiber against. The ambient light is transmitted or directed from a reflective surface such as a concave curved region for passively illuminating the optical fiber. The passive illumination apparatus may be used on any suitable device such as a connector installation tool, a splicer, a stripper for an optical fiber coating or a cleaver as desired.

Abstract: A system for terminating one or more optical fibers comprises a fiber optic connector, a connector holder, and an installation tool. The fiber optic connector has a ferrule and a connector housing in which the ferrule is at least partially positioned. The connector holder receives at least a portion of the connector housing and has a base portion that defines a bottom surface of the connector holder. The installation tool includes a body with a connector holding area configured to receive and cooperate with the base portion of the connector holder to securely position the fiber optic connector on the body.

Abstract: Disclosed is a passive illumination apparatus for improving the visibility of an optical fiber by projecting reflected light to passively illuminate an optical fiber for allowing the user improved visibility for inserting the optical fiber into an orifice. One embodiment of the concept uses a passive illumination apparatus having a pattern of one or more colors for reflectively transmitting chromatic light along with an optional contrast surface such as a gray or black stripe for providing a highly contrasting background for the user to view the optical fiber against. The ambient light is transmitted or directed from a reflective surface such as a concave curved region for passively illuminating the optical fiber. The passive illumination apparatus may be used on any suitable device such as a connector installation tool, a splicer, a stripper for an optical fiber coating or a cleaver as desired.

Abstract: A process for connecting optical transmission media such as fibers and connected assembly made by using the process. The invention features the use of an intermediate index-matching material between the connecting end faces and a lubricant during the connecting process. The resultant assembly exhibits lower insertion loss and reflectance loss, as well as lower loss variation compared to connection using the intermediate, index-matching material only.

Abstract: The present invention provides a non-physical contact (non-PC) visual fault locator (VFL) coupler that functions with fewer components and reduces handling, and without ferrule-to-ferrule contact, thereby reducing endface wear degradation and other problems. Specifically, the non-PC VFL coupler incorporates an alignment sleeve retainer that includes a connector stop, such that, when a field-installable fiber optic connector engages the alignment sleeve retainer of the non-PC VFL coupler, the endfaces of the ferrules of the non-PC VFL coupler and the field-installable fiber optic connector do not physically contact one another. Both 1.25 mm and 2.5 mm versions are contemplated, among others.

Abstract: The present invention provides a non-physical contact (non-PC) visual fault locator (VFL) coupler that functions with fewer components and reduces handling, and without ferrule-to-ferrule contact, thereby reducing endface wear degradation and other problems. Specifically, the non-PC VFL coupler incorporates an alignment sleeve retainer that includes a connector stop, such that, when a field-installable fiber optic connector engages the alignment sleeve retainer of the non-PC VFL coupler, the endfaces of the ferrules of the non-PC VFL coupler and the field-installable fiber optic connector do not physically contact one another. Both 1.25 mm and 2.5 mm versions are contemplated, among others.