Abstract: A fiber coupling assembly for interfacing solid core and a hollow core optical fibers includes first and second fiber optic ferrules each having a bore between proximal and distal end faces thereof. At least one ferrule end face is non-perpendicular to longitudinal axes of the ferrules. A bore of one ferrule contains a hollow core optical fiber, and a bore of the other optic ferrule contains a solid core optical fiber with a mode field diameter (MFD) transition region, to bridge a MFD mismatch between the fibers. An air gap may be provided between at least portions of ferrules at an inter-ferrule region. A fiber optic ferrule includes a bore that is non-parallel with a longitudinal axis of the ferrule, and at least one end face that is non-perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, with an optical fiber in the bore optionally including a MFD transition region.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a process by which an optical fiber array is cleaved with a laser-cleaving apparatus. The coating material is stripped or removed from a section of an optical fiber array; a coated or ribbonized section of the optical fiber array is secured in a holder; the holder is aligned inside the laser-cleaving apparatus; the laser cleaves the stripped ends of the fibers in the optical fiber array; the laser-cleaved ends of the optical fibers are then mechanically separated to remove the free ends from the optical fibers in the optical fiber array, leaving a cleaved array of optical fibers. The cleaving process enables the optical fiber array to be cleaved at flexible locations along an optical fiber ribbon or optical fiber cable with no swelling, minimal cleave angle variation across the cores of the optical fibers, a controlled surface roughness of the optical fiber end-faces, and high process yield.

Abstract: Optical distribution systems for data centers or similar networks are disclosed, where one or both ends of a high fiber-count backbone cable branch out once to serve multiple buildings. The optical distribution systems include the backbone cable, an enclosure that receives an end portion of the backbone cable, a plurality of tether cables connected to the backbone cable within a sealed interior of the enclosure and extending from the enclosure, and a plurality of multiport terminals each receiving one of the tether cables and including connection ports for an auxiliary cable that can extend to one of the buildings. Related methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of processing a ferrule end face using at least one grinding wheel rotatable about a central axis and having a working surface with an abrasive element is provided. The method includes holding the ferrule stationary, engaging the end face of the ferrule and the working surface of the at least one grinding wheel, rotating the at least one grinding wheel about the central axis, and moving the at least one grinding wheel relative to the ferrule along a curve perpendicular to the central axis. Processing the ferrule in this manner imparts a convex shape of the end face of the ferrule. An apparatus for carrying out the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: Generally, disclosed herein are various embodiments of bonding agents for use in adhering optical fibers to ferrules within optical connectors, and the methods for use thereof. The various embodiments of bonding agents described herein may provide desirable properties, such as, but not limited to, high adhesion strength and/or improved performance following environmental aging. Various embodiments of the bonding agents disclosed herein may also have other desirable properties for the process of securing an optical fiber within a ferrule, such as, but not limited to, shortened process cycle time.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a fiber optic assembly that includes a body and a lid coupled to the body where the body and the lid each define a respective fiber routing plane. The fiber optic assembly also includes a plurality of ports on the body and a plurality of ports on the lid such that when the lid and the body are in a closed configuration, the ports of the body and the ports of the lid define a singular connection plane.

Abstract: An optical fiber cable that includes subunits is provided. The cable has an outer jacket having a thickness of at least 2.0 millimeters and that is made from a fire retardant polymer material having a PHRR value of 222 kw/m2 when tested in a cone calorimeter measured according to ASTM E1354 with a heat flux of 50 kW/m2. The cable meets the requirement of UL 1666 burn test for riser cables and the requirements of EN 50399 burn test for CPR class Cca cables.

Abstract: An optical fiber cable is provided. The optical fiber cable includes an outer jacket having an outer surface defining an outermost surface of the optical fiber cable and an inner surface defining a central bore. The optical fiber cable includes a plurality of aramid fibers located in the central bore, and the plurality of aramid fibers have a relatively low total linear density such that a total linear density of all aramid fibers within the central bore is less than 10,000 dtex. The optical fiber cable includes at least one optical fiber located within the central bore, and the at least one optical fiber has a proof test of greater than 100 kpsi.

Abstract: An optical fiber connector comprises a multi-fiber ferrule having an array of grooves recessed relative to an upper surface of a medial portion thereof, wherein each groove has a depth greater than a maximum diameter of an uncoated fiber segment received therein, and is shaped such that an optical fiber received therein lacks contact with the groove over large arc length thereof (e.g., an arc spanning at least 120 or at least 150 degrees). A method for fabricating a multi-fiber connector with a multi-fiber ferrule includes flexing a medial portion of the ferrule into a non-linear configuration to expand an average width of at least some grooves defined in an upper surface of a medial portion thereof, receiving optical fibers in the grooves, pushing the fibers away from the bottom of each groove, and securing the optical fibers in the grooves.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a fiber optic assembly having a splice tray that increases spatial efficiency within the fiber optic assembly and within the splice tray. The splice tray may be inserted and/or removed from a terminal without utilization of tools. Additionally, the splice tray may be configured to enable one handed insertion or removal, which may be advantageous, such as in small terminals or confined spaces. The splice tray also provides an efficient routing pattern of optical fibers to enable larger diameter optical fibers to be routed within the splice tray and the terminal.

Abstract: A corner bracket may include a structural portion including at least one relatively rigid first material, and a sealing portion including at least one relatively elastic second material. The corner bracket may also include a first receiver including a first retainer portion configured to be coupled to an end of a first frame member, and a first sealing interface configured to provide a substantially fluid-resistant seal between a portion of the end of the first frame member and the first receiver. The corner bracket may also include a second receiver transverse to the first receiver and including a second retainer portion configured to be coupled to an end of a second frame member, and a second sealing interface configured to provide a substantially fluid-resistant seal between a portion of the end of the second frame member and the second receiver. The corner bracket may be incorporated into a cabinet frame.

Abstract: A method and system for measuring signal loss in a fiber optic cable. The tail ends of reference and test fiber optic cables are illuminated with a diffuse light. The head end of each of the reference and test fiber optic cables are positioned in a measurement area. A core imager captures an image of the core of each head-end while it is in the measurement area. Reference and test radiant fluxes emitted from the reference and test head-ends are determined from the respective core images. The relative signal loss of the test fiber optic cable is then determined by comparing the test radiant flux to the reference radiant flux.

Abstract: Core configuration transformers and methods of making same. A core configuration transformer includes a transforming optical fiber having plurality of routing cores embedded therein. The transforming optical fiber includes a first end face and a second end face. The plurality of routing cores is configured to define a first end face core pattern at the first end face of the transforming optical fiber, and a second end face core pattern at the second end face of the transforming optical fiber that has one or both of a different arrangement of cores or a different polarity of cores.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for determining a core-to-ferrule offset of a ferrule for a fiber optic connector. A reference ferrule is physically aligned with a core imager by positioning the reference ferrule so that edges of the reference ferrule in a plurality of profile images are aligned with fiducial markers in the images. The reference ferrule is incrementally rotated about its longitudinal center access, a core image captured at each rotational angle, and a reference core-to-ferrule offset determined based on the core images. A test ferrule is physically aligned with the core imager by positioning the test ferrule so that edges of the test ferule are aligned with the edges of the reference ferrule in a plurality of profile images. The core-to-ferrule offset of the test ferrule is then determined based on an offset between the test and reference cores in a composite core image.

Abstract: A deflector may be configured to reduce entry of at least one of dust or fluid into an enclosure configured to enclose in an interior thereof a plurality of optical communication connections. The deflector may include a first leg defining a first intersection edge and a first remote edge. The first leg may define a first hole adjacent the first end of the first leg and a second hole adjacent the second end of the first leg. The deflector may also include a second leg defining a second intersection edge and a second remote edge. The first intersection edge and the second intersection edge may be coupled to one another to define a deflector angle. The first hole may be configured to receive a first mounting stud associated with the enclosure, and the second hole may be configured to receive a second mounting stud associated with the enclosure.

Abstract: A method of terminating an optical fiber having an inner core with a fiber optic connector including a ferrule having a micro-bore and an end face with a mating location is disclosed. The method includes determining a bore bearing angle of a bore offset of the micro-bore in the ferrule; determining a core bearing angle of a core offset of the inner core in the optical fiber; orienting the ferrule and the optical fiber relative to each other to minimize the distance between the inner core and the mating location; heating the ferrule to an processing temperature above room temperature; and coupling the optical fiber to the micro-bore of the ferrule. The size of the micro-bores and optical fibers may be selected to maximize the number of interference fits in a population of ferrules and optical fibers while minimizing failed fittings between the ferrules and optical fibers in the populations.

Abstract: Generally, disclosed herein are various embodiments of bonding agents for use in adhering optical fibers to ferrules within optical connectors, and the methods for use thereof. The various embodiments of bonding agents described herein may provide desirable properties, such as, but not limited to, high adhesion strength and/or improved performance following environmental aging. Various embodiments of the bonding agents disclosed herein may also have other desirable properties for the process of securing an optical fiber within a ferrule, such as, but not limited to, shortened process cycle time. Embodiments herein address these needs by monitoring the change in refractive index of a photocurable bonding agent at the interface between the photocurable bonding agent and a substrate or optical fiber, which is referred to as “back reflectance.” In particular, the methods described herein utilize back reflectance techniques to cure the photocurable material or bonding agent.

Abstract: A fiber optic assembly is provided including a cable port seal including a first sealing component, a first and second compression element configured to compress the first sealing component in a first direction, a second sealing component, and a cap configured to compress the first and second sealing component in a second direction. The compression in the first direction and second direction provides a seal around a cable. The fiber optic assembly also includes a strain relief including a body defining a sidewall, a passthrough disposed in the body from a first end to a second end, and a slot enabling a fiber optic cable to be inserted into the passthrough. The strain relief also includes a plurality of hooks disposed on an exterior surface of the sidewall and configured to resist movement of a strength member of the cable, when the strength member is wrapped around the body.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a multicore optical fiber connector adapter includes at least one multicore optical fiber stub that includes a plurality of optical cores, each optical core having an inner core and an outer core, a fiber coupling section having a first diameter, wherein the cores have a first pitch at the fiber coupling section, a multicore fiber coupling section having a second diameter that is less than the first diameter, wherein the cores have a second pitch at the multicore fiber coupling section that is less than the first pitch, and a taper section between the fiber coupling section and the multicore fiber coupling section. The multicore optical fiber connector adapter further includes at least one multicore ferrule comprising a passageway, a multicore connector, a plurality of optical fibers, and a multi-fiber ferrule.