Abstract: Removable fiber management sections for fiber optic housings, and related components and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, a fiber optic system is provided. The fiber optic system comprises a fiber optic housing defining at least one interior chamber configured to support fiber optic equipment. The fiber optic system also comprises a removable front section connected to the fiber optic housing and defining at least one front section interior chamber coupled to the at least one interior chamber of the fiber optic housing. The removable front section is configured to support at least one fiber management device to manage one or more fibers connected to fiber optic equipment disposed in the enclosure. In another embodiment, a method of managing optical fiber in a fiber optic system is provided.

Abstract: A fiber optic apparatus including a retainer assembly having at least one retainer configured to toollessly, releasably retain a fiber body and or one or more optical fibers is disclosed. An attachment feature may toollessly, removably attach the retainer assembly to a mounting surface. The at least one retainer is configured to releasably retain the fiber body via mounting bosses on the fiber body. A stacking feature may be configured to removably attach a second retainer assembly to the retainer assembly. The at least one retainer may be configured to releasably retain the one or more optical fibers to strain relief the one of more optical fibers. The mounting surface may be fiber optic equipment. The fiber optic equipment may be a shelf mounted to a chassis in a fiber optic equipment rack.

Abstract: An adapter housing for receiving a plurality of multi-fiber connectors includes a rectangular, box-like housing structure having opposing side walls and a back wall that to adapted to mount in a 2-U space in an equipment rack, wherein the housing structure has a width of no greater than about 17.75 inches and a height of no greater than about 3.50 inches. A bank of adapters is provided for receiving multi-fiber connectors. The bank of adapters includes individual connector-adapter-connector locations that together receive at least 200 multi-fiber connector pairs within the housing structure.

Abstract: Removable strain relief brackets for securing fiber optic cables and/or optical fiber to fiber optic equipment, and related assemblies and methods are disclosed. The removable strain relief brackets may be employed to secure fiber optic cable and/or optical fibers routed to fiber optic equipment. The removable strain relief brackets may also be employed to provide strain relief for fiber optic cable and/or optical fibers routed and secure to fiber optic equipment. Fiber optic cable discussed herein includes optical fiber whether disposed in a common cable jacket or disposed freely of each other outside a cable jacket.

Abstract: An adapter housing for receiving a plurality of multi-fiber connectors includes a rectangular, box-like housing structure having opposing side walls and a back wall that to adapted to mount in a 2-U space in an equipment rack, wherein the housing structure has a width of no greater than about 17.75 inches and a height of no greater than about 3.50 inches. A bank of adapters is provided for receiving multi-fiber connectors. The bank of adapters includes individual connector-adapter-connector locations that together receive at least 200 multi-fiber connector pairs within the housing structure.

Abstract: There is provided fiber drop terminal (“FDT”) assemblies for providing selective connections between optical fibers of distribution cables and optical fibers of drop cables, such as in multiple dwelling units. The FDT assemblies include a base and a cover that define a tongue and groove that selectively engage to seal the base and cover. The FDT assemblies also include a mounting plate for mounting of the base and cover, as well as a mounting plate extension for mounting of a skirt. The skirt provides slack storage for drop cables exiting the FDT. The components of the FDT assembly are selectively interlockable to prevent unauthorized access to the interior cavity of the base and cover and to the slack storage area of the skirt.

Abstract: A fiber optic apparatus including a retainer assembly having at least one retainer configured to toollessly, releasably retain a fiber body and or one or more optical fibers is disclosed. An attachment feature may toollessly, removably attach the retainer assembly to a mounting surface. The at least one retainer is configured to releasably retain the fiber body via mounting bosses on the fiber body. A stacking feature may be configured to removably attach a second retainer assembly to the retainer assembly. The at least one retainer may be configured to releasably retain the one or more optical fibers to strain relief the one of more optical fibers. The mounting surface may be fiber optic equipment. The fiber optic equipment may be a shelf mounted to a chassis in a fiber optic equipment rack.

Abstract: Removable strain relief brackets for securing fiber optic cables and/or optical fiber to fiber optic equipment, and related assemblies and methods are disclosed. The removable strain relief brackets may be employed to secure fiber optic cable and/or optical fibers routed to fiber optic equipment. The removable strain relief brackets may also be employed to provide strain relief for fiber optic cable and/or optical fibers routed and secure to fiber optic equipment. Fiber optic cable discussed herein includes optical fiber whether disposed in a common cable jacket or disposed freely of each other outside a cable jacket.

Abstract: Stackable shelves for a fiber optic housing and related components and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, a stackable shelf for a fiber optic housing is provided. The stackable shelf comprises a mounting surface and one or more stacker assemblies stacked above the mounting surface, each configured to support fiber optic equipment in one or more height spaces. The one or more stacker assemblies are further configured to support one or more additional removable stacker assemblies each configured to support fiber optic equipment at one or more additional height spaces. In another embodiment, a removable stacker assembly configured to support fiber optic equipment in a stackable shelf is provided. Related methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A compact optical splitter module is disclosed. One type of compact optical splitter module is a planar attenuated splitter module that includes a branching waveguide network having j?1 50:50 splitters that form up to n?2j output waveguides having associated n output ports, wherein only m<n output ports are suitable for transmitting light to the at least one external output device. This provides a 1×m splitter module wherein each output port has the attenuation of a 1×n splitter module, thereby obviating the need for external attenuation. Another type of compact optical splitter module is a direct-connect splitter module that eliminates the need for an optical fiber array when coupling to external optical fibers. Another type of compact optical splitter module is a microsplitter module that serves as device and module at the same time and that eliminates the differentiation between device and module. The integration of device and module also makes manufacturing the microsplitter module cost-effect.

Abstract: A polymer based index-matching gel for use with nanostructure optical fibers is disclosed. The index-matching gel has at least one polymer component having a viscosity ? at 25° C. of 3 Pa-s???100 Pa-s, which prevents the index-matching gel from wicking into the voids and down the nanostructure optical fiber to a depth where the fiber performance and/or device performance is compromised. The gel is suitable for use when mechanically splicing optical fibers when at least one of the optical fibers is a nanostructure optical fiber. The gel is also suitable for use in fiber optic connectors wherein at least one of the optical fibers constituting the connection is a nanostructure optical fiber.

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: A polymer based index-matching gel for use with nanostructure optical fibers is disclosed. The index-matching gel has a viscosity ? at 25° C. of 3 Pa-s???100 Pa-s, which prevents the index-matching gel from wicking into the voids and down the nanostructure optical fiber to a depth where the fiber performance and/or device performance is compromised. The gel is suitable for use when mechanically splicing optical fibers when at least one of the optical fibers is a nanostructure optical fiber. The gel is also suitable for use in fiber optic connectors wherein at least one of the optical fibers constituting the connection is a nanostructure optical fiber.

Abstract: A compact optical splitter module is disclosed. One type of compact optical splitter module is a planar attenuated splitter module that includes a branching waveguide network having j?1 50:50 splitters that form up to n?2j output waveguides having associated n output ports, wherein only m<n output ports are suitable for transmitting light to the at least one external output device. This provides a 1×m splitter module wherein each output port has the attenuation of a 1×n splitter module, thereby obviating the need for external attenuation. Another type of compact optical splitter module is a direct-connect splitter module that eliminates the need for an optical fiber array when coupling to external optical fibers. Another type of compact optical splitter module is a microsplitter module that serves as device and module at the same time and that eliminates the differentiation between device and module. The integration of device and module also makes manufacturing the microsplitter module cost-effect.

Abstract: A polymer based index-matching gel for use with nanostructure optical fibers is disclosed. The index-matching gel has at least one polymer component having a viscosity ? at 25° C. of 3 Pa-s???100 Pa-s, which prevents the index-matching gel from wicking into the voids and down the nanostructure optical fiber to a depth where the fiber performance and/or device performance is compromised. The gel is suitable for use when mechanically splicing optical fibers when at least one of the optical fibers is a nanostructure optical fiber. The gel is also suitable for use in fiber optic connectors wherein at least one of the optical fibers constituting the connection is a nanostructure optical fiber.

Abstract: A polymer based index-matching gel for use with nanostructure optical fibers is disclosed. The index-matching gel has a viscosity ? at 25° C. of 3 Pa-s???100 Pa-s, which prevents the index-matching gel from wicking into the voids and down the nanostructure optical fiber to a depth where the fiber performance and/or device performance is compromised. The gel is suitable for use when mechanically splicing optical fibers when at least one of the optical fibers is a nanostructure optical fiber. The gel is also suitable for use in fiber optic connectors wherein at least one of the optical fibers constituting the connection is a nanostructure optical fiber.

Abstract: There is provided fiber drop terminal (“FDT”) assemblies for providing selective connections between optical fibers of distribution cables and optical fibers of drop cables, such as in multiple dwelling units. The FDT assemblies include a base and a cover that define a tongue and groove that selectively engage to seal the base and cover. The FDT assemblies also include a mounting plate for mounting of the base and cover, as well as a mounting plate extension for mounting of a skirt. The skirt provides slack storage for drop cables exiting the FDT. The components of the FDT assembly are selectively interlockable to prevent unauthorized access to the interior cavity of the base and cover and to the slack storage area of the skirt.

Abstract: A compact optical splitter module is disclosed. One type of compact optical splitter module is a planar attenuated splitter module that includes a branching waveguide network having j?1 50:50 splitters that form up to n?2j output waveguides having associated n output ports, wherein only m<n output ports are suitable for transmitting light to the at least one external output device. This provides a 1×m splitter module wherein each output port has the attenuation of a 1×n splitter module, thereby obviating the need for external attenuation. Another type of compact optical splitter module is a direct-connect splitter module that eliminates the need for an optical fiber array when coupling to external optical fibers. Another type of compact optical splitter module is a microsplitter module that serves as device and module at the same time and that eliminates the differentiation between device and module. The integration of device and module also makes manufacturing the microsplitter module cost-effect.

Abstract: The present invention relates to fiber bundles and methods for making fiber bundles. According to one embodiment of the invention, a fused fiber bundle has a terminal section ending with an endface, and includes a plurality of optical fibers, each of the optical fibers having a terminal segment ending with a proximal end, and a distal end; and a cellular holding structure, the cellular holding structure including a cellular web portion having a plurality of longitudinal cells arranged substantially in parallel and surrounded by a web material; and a tube portion surrounding the cellular web portion. The terminal segments of the optical fibers are arranged substantially in parallel, and the terminal segment of each optical fiber is disposed in a longitudinal cell of the cellular holding structure and substantially fused to the web material, thereby forming the terminal section of the fused fiber bundle.