Abstract: A dust cap assembly includes a sleeve and a sealant that seals an end face portion of a fiber optic ferrule from contaminants and, upon removal, provides remedial cleaning of any foreign matter present on the ferrule when the dust cap assembly was initially installed along with methods of making the same. The sleeve of the dust cap assembly has a through bore and a distal end for receiving the sealant. Further, the sealant may optionally have advantageous mechanical and optical properties such that the dust cap assembly may function as a terminator for testing.

Abstract: Fiber optic connectors having an optical fiber stub that is fusion-spliced for optical connection and related tools for the fiber optic connectors are disclosed. Specifically, the connector assembly for fusion-splicing includes a fiber optic connector having an optic fiber stub and a boot attachable to the fiber optic connector. The boot is configured to transfer the majority of the axial force from the fiber optic cable to the fiber optic connector. Specifically, a splice housing for housing the fusion splice is configured for attachment to an end of the boot for transferring forces from the fiber optic cable to the boot. Consequently, the boot preferably has an extensibility of less than about 2 millimeters under an axial load of about fifteen pounds to inhibit excess forces from acting on the optical fiber stub.

Abstract: A dust cap assembly comprising a sleeve and a sealant that seals a fiber optic ferrule from contaminants and, upon removal, provides remedial cleaning of any foreign matter present on the ferrule when the dust cap assembly was initially installed. Further, the sealant has advantageous mechanical and optical properties such that the interaction of the sealant, the sleeve and the fiber optic ferrule defines a convex shape. The dust cap assembly may therefore function as a terminator that reduces back reflection during testing.

Abstract: An installation tool for installing and assembling a splice protector to a spliced region between a fiber optic connector and an optical fiber cable and a method of use are disclosed. Generally, the installation tool comprises a connector bay, a splice protector assembly area, and a cable management mechanism. The connector bay, and the splice protector assembly area, and the cable management mechanism are arranged substantially consecutively and substantially linearly on the workspace. The tool further comprises a cable component retaining feature positioned along and adjacent the workspace so that the retaining feature is proximate adjacent ends of the splice protector assembly area and the cable management mechanism.

Abstract: A dust cap assembly includes a sleeve and a sealant that seals an end face portion of a fiber optic ferrule from contaminants and, upon removal, provides remedial cleaning of any foreign matter present on the ferrule when the dust cap assembly was initially installed along with methods of making the same. The sleeve of the dust cap assembly has a through bore and a distal end for receiving the sealant. Further, the sealant may optionally have advantageous mechanical and optical properties such that the dust cap assembly may function as a terminator for testing.

Abstract: A dust cap assembly comprising a sleeve and a sealant that seals a fiber optic ferrule from contaminants and, upon removal, provides remedial cleaning of any foreign matter present on the ferrule when the dust cap assembly was initially installed. Further, the sealant has advantageous mechanical and optical properties such that the interaction of the sealant, the sleeve and the fiber optic ferrule defines a convex shape. The dust cap assembly may therefore function as a terminator that reduces back reflection during testing.

Abstract: The present invention addresses the need for a stress relieving device and protective jacket for exposed fiber within a field-installed optical network enclosure, such as a network interface device. The present invention incorporates a furcation tube coupled with a furcation body. The coupling may be accomplished by a direct connection or with use of an external or internal transition body. The present invention enables a field-installer to transition an optical fiber cable from the field into a furcation tube thereby providing a means for attaching an optical connector, such as a mechanical splice connector, onto the optical fiber and furcation tube.

Abstract: Fiber optic connectors having an optical fiber stub that is fusion-spliced for optical connection and related tools for the fiber optic connectors are disclosed. Specifically, the connector assembly for fusion-splicing includes a fiber optic connector having an optic fiber stub and a boot attachable to the fiber optic connector. The boot is configured to transfer the majority of the axial force from the fiber optic cable to the fiber optic connector. Specifically, a splice housing for housing the fusion splice is configured for attachment to an end of the boot for transferring forces from the fiber optic cable to the boot. Consequently, the boot preferably has an extensibility of less than about 2 millimeters under an axial load of about fifteen pounds to inhibit excess forces from acting on the optical fiber stub.

Abstract: Furcation tubing is made of glass-filled Teflon (PTFE) that provides reduced longitudinal shrinkage and increased tensile bond strength in the standard colors utilized for fiber identification. The furcation tubing experiences no more longitudinal shrinkage than furcation tubing made of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and has a tensile bond strength no less than furcation tubing made of clear, etched Teflon (PTFE). A fanout furcation kit prevents movement of the separated optical fibers in a funnel area of a lower furcation body. The funnel area is bathtub shaped with an increasing depth in the direction of an insert block having at least two rows of passageways in a staggered array. Guide walls defining the funnel area form a seal with an upper furcation body. Use of the furcation tubing and fanout furcation kit significantly reduces unacceptable attenuation and micro-damage to optical fibers deployed in an outdoor fiber optic network.

Abstract: A one-piece fiber optic receptacle is provided for aligning and optically connecting a plug ferrule with a back-side ferrule of like configuration. The fiber optic receptacle includes a receptacle housing defining an internal cavity opening through an external end and an opposed internal end, an alignment sleeve disposed within the internal cavity and received within the internal end of the receptacle housing, and a sleeve retainer removably secured to the internal end of the receptacle housing and operable for providing access to the alignment sleeve from the internal end of the receptacle housing. The fiber optic receptacle further includes biasing member supports that facilitate loading and ensure alignment of at least one biasing member during assembly and use. Tapered posts may be provided on at least one of the alignment sleeve and the sleeve retainer for retaining and guiding the at least one biasing member during assembly and use.

Abstract: A one-piece fiber optic receptacle is provided for aligning and optically connecting a plug ferrule with a back-side ferrule of like configuration. The fiber optic receptacle includes a receptacle housing defining an internal cavity opening through an external end and an opposed internal end, an alignment sleeve disposed within the internal cavity and received within the internal end of the receptacle housing, and a sleeve retainer secured to the internal end of the receptacle housing and operable for providing access to the alignment sleeve from the internal end of the receptacle housing. The alignment sleeve includes a chamfer for guiding the back-side ferrule into the alignment sleeve. The sleeve retainer has an opening and a plurality of alignment ribs disposed about the opening for permitting angular rotation of the alignment sleeve relative to the sleeve retainer during insertion of the plug ferrule and the back-side ferrule into the alignment sleeve.

Abstract: An optical coupler is provided with two receptacles for receiving connectors mounted at a predetermined angle relative to one another with a light guiding element disposed therebetween. The light guiding element may be a reflective surface, a length of optical fiber, a planar waveguide, or a polymer waveguide. The optical coupler of the present invention is preferably used in combination with an optical backplane to interconnect the backplane with a daughtercard.

Abstract: A tool is provided for removing a ferrule from a receptacle that includes a handle portion having a distal end and a proximal end and a ferrule engagement portion disposed at the distal end of the handle portion. The tool also includes a latch disengagement portion disposed at the distal end of the handle portion. The tool handle may be angled for easier access if the receptacle is attached to a printed circuit board. Additionally, the tool may include an optical fiber opening to prevent the optical fibers from being bent or damaged during the ferrule removal.

Abstract: A fixture for routing fibers to be used in a flexible fiber management solution for optical networking applications. The fixture includes first and second sides with a central region therebetween. Each of the sides has a plurality of passageways to allow optical fibers to be routed and an orientation of the optical fibers to be maintained. The central region also has a passageway in communication with the first and second sides.

Abstract: A flexible shuffle circuit and method are provided for a flexible fiber routing management solution for optical networking applications. The flexible shuffle circuit includes a housing on a plurality of optical fibers that extend from at least two locations in the housing. The plurality of optical fibers are arranged into sets of optical fibers, each set having at least two optical fibers. The optical fibers have an end portion that is ribbonized in a predetermined orientation. A protective covering is provided to cover the optical fibers. The optical fibers are preferable buffered fibers, free to move relative to one another in the protective coverings.