Abstract: A gender selectable fiber optic connector is provided which can be readily converted between male and female configurations following assembly and polishing of the connector. The gender selectable fiber optic connector includes a housing, a ferrule operably connected to the housing such that a forward portion of the ferrule extends beyond the housing, and a shroud adapted to be mounted upon the forward portion of the ferrule such that the forward portion of the ferrule extends through a passageway defined by the shroud. In order to alter the gender of the fiber optic connector, the shroud has both male and female configurations. In this regard, the male configuration of the shroud includes at least one guide pin extending lengthwise through the passageway defined by the shroud for engaging a lengthwise extending alignment groove defined by the ferrule in order to produce a male fiber optic connector.

Abstract: The splice housing assembly provides a non-activated mechanical splice that provides temperature compensation such that the resulting splice is substantially unaffected by temperature fluctuations, thereby permitting the splice housing assembly to be formed of relatively inexpensive materials, such as plastic. The splice housing assembly includes a splice tube having a first end that is attached to an end portion of the first optical fiber. The splice housing assembly also includes a temperature compensator disposed at least partially within the splice tube. The temperature compensator defines an opening through which the end portion of the second optical fiber extends. The first end of the temperature compensator is attached to the second optical fiber and the second end of the temperature compensator is attached is the splice tube.

Abstract: The face of a ferrule and ferrule assembly is polished in the present invention so a portion of optical fibers extending therethrough protrude beyond the front face of the ferrules. The ferrules are secured in a polisher and polished with a fibrous material that preferentially etches the ferrule relative to the optical fibers. The front face of the ferrule assembly is polished with a fibrous material having abrasive materials attached thereto, without the need for a slurry.

Abstract: A splice housing assembly and an associated assembly method are provided in which the ferrule is mechanically decoupled from the splice body such that the ferrule has at least limited movement, typically in an off-axis direction, relative to the splice body. For example, the ferrule can be mechanically decoupled from the splice body by spacing the ferrule in a lengthwise direction from the splice body such that a medial portion of the first optical fiber extends between the ferrule and the splice body.

Abstract: A splicing connector and an associated splice mechanism are provided to splice first and second pluralities of optical fibers without buckling the optical fibers. The connector includes a housing and a retainer disposed of at least partially within the housing which defines a channel through which a plurality of optical fibers extend. The connector also includes a clip for securing the optical fibers within the retainer such that the end portions of the optical fibers are exposed through the forward end of the housing in preparation for splicing the optical fibers. Further, the connector includes a spring for urging the retainer and the optical fibers secured within the retainer toward the forward end of the housing, thereby permitting the optical fibers to be spliced without buckling the optical fibers.

Abstract: A method for providing core protrusion relative to cladding in an optical fiber mounted in a fiber optic connector includes the step of etching the end face of the fiber with a solution which preferentially removes the cladding from around the core of the optical fiber so that the core protrudes beyond the cladding. Additional steps may include fine polishing the end of the core in order to provide a relatively even end on the core and/or irradiating the end of the optical fiber with a laser in order to smooth the end of the core, thereby facilitating contact with the end of the second optical fiber in a fiber optic connector. As a result, according to the present invention a fiber optic connector with a protruding core is also provided. The core protrudes beyond the end of the cladding to improve contact and thus reduce reflectance when mated with a second fiber optic connector.

Abstract: An adapter assembly is provided for removably receiving two optical fiber ferrules of the type with open grooves extending longitudinally rearward of the end face of the ferrule. The assembly comprises a sleeve with an interior surface that defines a passageway therethrough sized for receiving the ends of the ferrules therein. The interior surface also defines two longitudinal grooves opposite each other that open to the passageway. A guide pin is located in each groove such that an exposed portion of the outer surface of the guide pin along the entire length of the guide pin inside the sleeve is exposed to the passageway. The exposed portion are sized and located relative to each other to slide in the ferrule grooves and operatively align the end faces of the ferrules rotationally and laterally relative to each other when the two ferrules are inserted into the sleeve.

Abstract: The at least partially flexible connector assembly includes a slack storage tube connected to the first end of a fiber optic cable for loosely storing excess lengths of the optical fibers. The slack storage tube is typically at least partially flexible. By including a flexible slack storage tube, the connector assembly can be readily flexed, such as during installations of the fiber optic cable in which the end portion of the fiber optic cable must be bent relatively sharply. However, the slack storage tube does generally include crush resistance means for supporting the slack storage tube as the connector assembly is flexed such that the longitudinal bore defined by the slack storage tube remains open. The crush resistance means can include a wire helically wound about the slack storage tube. Alternatively, the slack storage tube can be a corrugated tube.

Abstract: The receptacle includes a rotatable coupling nut for engaging an externally threaded fiber optic connector assembly or plug which is mounted upon the end portion of a fiber optic cable. As such, the cross-sectional dimensions of the fiber optic connector assembly can be significantly decreased, thereby permitting the fiber optic cable to be pulled through much smaller ducts or passageways. The receptacle also includes a receptacle body adapted to be mounted in a fixed position, such as to a sidewall of an enclosure. The coupling nut cooperably engages the receptacle body such that the coupling nut is free to rotate relative to the receptacle body even though the longitudinal movement of the coupling nut relative to the receptacle body is limited.

Abstract: An adapter is provided for operatively mating two optical fiber connectors of the type that are aligned relative to each other by guide pins. The adapter has two sleeve body halves that are joined together at a mating ends. A guide pin mount is captured between the two sleeve body halves that defines an opening to allow abutment of the two connectors therethrough. Two guide pins mounted on the guide pin mount parallel with the passageway defined through the sleeve and located so as to engage the guide pin holes on the connectors and align two connectors inserted into the adapter.

Abstract: An optical fiber connector includes a connector housing and a monolithic ferrule disposed within the connector housing for maintaining a plurality of optical fibers in respective predetermined positions relative to the connector housing. The monolithic ferrule includes a monolithic ferrule body defining an internal cavity and a plurality of longitudinal bores through which the optical fibers extend. The optical fiber connector can also include an annular alignment key extending radially outward from the monolithic ferrule and having a position indicator adapted to mate with the connector housing such that the monolithic ferrule is held in a predetermined position relative to the connector housing. Accordingly, the optical fibers secured within the monolithic ferrule can be held in respective predetermined positions relative to the connector housing.

Abstract: A method for polishing the distal end of a fiber optic connector. The distal end is first polished in the presence of an aqueous slurry comprising two different powders to bring a glass surface and a ferrule surface to a substantially common plane, and subsequently polished in the presence of an acidic solution to prevent the attachment of hydrated silica particles to the ferrule face.

Abstract: A method of preparing for polishing the end face of a fiber optic connector having an optical fiber held by a ferrule. A laser beam removes the portion of the optical fiber tip projecting beyond a predetermined distance. The beam has a spot size selected so as to also remove excess epoxy.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of treating light waveguide ends in which the light waveguide is mechanically polished and thereafter the reflectance of the light waveguide is reduced by vaporizing at least some glass at the light waveguide end by the use of a laser beam.

Abstract: A method for polishing optical connectors provides for polishing a connector ferrule on a napless nylon cloth having a four shaft satin weave, 70 denier, 90.times.120 count. An aqueous slurry of silicon dioxide particles is used when polishing takes place.