Abstract: An optical connector for terminating a jacketed optical fiber cable comprises a housing configured to mate with a receptacle. The connector also includes a collar body disposed in the housing, the collar body securing, at a first end, a ferrule. The collar body includes a gripping mechanism disposed in a second portion of the collar body. The collar body further includes a buffer clamp configured within a third portion of the collar body, the buffer clamp configured to clamp at least a portion of a buffer cladding of the optical fiber upon actuation. The optical connector also includes a backbone to retain the collar body within the housing. The backbone includes a mounting structure surrounding a central bore at one end of the backbone, the mounting structure having at least one pocket region configured to receive a slit portion of the cable jacket. A fiber connector termination and assembly tool is also provided.

Abstract: A polishing apparatus for polishing an optical fiber connector is disclosed. The polishing apparatus has a base portion to support a polishing media; and a polishing puck. The polishing puck includes a connector mount, to receive and hold the optical fiber connector secured to a terminal end of an optical fiber, and a polishing gear configured to engage with a ring gear disposed in the base portion such that a fiber tip of optical fiber mounted in the optical connector traces a roulette pattern on the polishing media upon rotational engagement of the polishing gear within the ring gear.

Abstract: An ST format optical connector for terminating an optical fiber comprises a housing configured to mate with an ST receptacle or coupling, the housing having an ST bayonet-style format. The ST format optical connector also includes a collar body and a retainer disposed in the housing, where the collar body is retained between the housing and the retainer. The housing is prevented from fully rotating about the collar body and retainer. In addition, the connector can be deactivated for fiber repositioning or reuse.

Abstract: A polishing apparatus for polishing an optical fiber connector is disclosed. The polishing apparatus has a base portion to support a polishing media; and a polishing puck. The polishing puck includes a connector mount, to receive and hold the optical fiber connector secured to a terminal end of an optical fiber, and a polishing gear configured to engage with a ring gear disposed in the base portion such that a fiber tip of optical fiber mounted in the optical connector traces a roulette pattern on the polishing media upon rotational engagement of the polishing gear within the ring gear.

Abstract: According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a device to cleave an optical fiber is provided. The device includes a base and a cover that is rotatably connected to the base. The base has a work surface and a mandrel disposed in the base and extending above the work surface. An optical fiber can be bent over a radiused surface of the mandrel and tensioned prior to cleaving. A shuttle is disposed in the cover over the mandrel, wherein the shuttle includes a flexible abrasive material that is configured to contact the optical fiber and create a flaw on a top surface of the optical fiber to initiate a crack in the optical fiber.

Abstract: An optical connector for terminating a jacketed optical fiber cable comprises a housing configured to mate with a receptacle. The connector also includes a collar body disposed in the housing, the collar body securing, at a first end, a ferrule. The collar body includes a gripping mechanism disposed in a second portion of the collar body. The collar body further includes a buffer clamp configured within a third portion of the collar body, the buffer clamp configured to clamp at least a portion of a buffer cladding of the optical fiber upon actuation. The optical connector also includes a backbone to retain the collar body within the housing. The backbone includes a mounting structure surrounding a central bore at one end of the backbone, the mounting structure having at least one pocket region configured to receive a slit portion of the cable jacket. A fiber connector termination and assembly tool is also provided.

Abstract: A polishing apparatus is provided for polishing an optical fiber connector. The optical fiber connector includes a connector housing and a ferrule. The polishing apparatus includes a mount to receive and hold the optical connector and a polisher housing supported by a base. The polisher housing houses a polisher that comprises a platen that supports a polishing media, the platen being coupled to a planetary gear system. The mount is disposed on a cover that encloses the polisher housing when the cover is placed in a closed position. A rotatable knob is exposed at an opening of the base, the rotatable knob being engaged with the planetary gear system to move the planetary gear system. The polishing media is disposed proximate to a fiber tip extending from an end face of the ferrule of the optical connector disposed in the mount when the cover is placed in the closed position.

Abstract: A bladeless optical fiber cleaver includes a first clamp and a second clamp coupled to each other via a generally support tray, where the second clamp is movable with respect to the first clamp along an axis of the optical fiber. The first and second clamps each receive a portion of the optical fiber. The fiber cleaver includes a mechanism to create a tension force in a stripped portion of the optical fiber, where the stripped portion of the fiber under tension is exposed to receive contact from a flexible abrasive material, the flexible abrasive material introducing a flaw in the optical fiber where the cleave takes place.

Abstract: An ST format optical connector for terminating an optical fiber comprises a housing configured to mate with an ST receptacle or coupling, the housing having an ST bayonet-style format. The ST format optical connector also includes a collar body and a retainer disposed in the housing, where the collar body is retained between the housing and the retainer. The housing is prevented from fully rotating about the collar body and retainer. In addition, the connector can be deactivated for fiber repositioning or reuse.

Abstract: An assembly tool for installing an optical fiber in an optical connector includes a base and a protrusion setting station. The base includes a connector mount disposed in the base. The connector mount can be configured to receive and secure the optical connector on the base where the connector has a housing and a connector ferrule. The protrusion setting station enables the craftsperson to set distance (or protrusion) that a terminal end of the optical fiber extends from an end face of the connector ferrule. The protrusion station includes a light source to illuminate the terminal end of the optical fiber, at least one black body absorber to eliminate unwanted reflected light and a window to visualize the terminal end of the optical fiber protruding from the end face of the connector ferrule.

Abstract: A bladeless optical fiber cleaver includes a first clamp and a second clamp coupled to each other via a generally support tray, where the second clamp is movable with respect to the first clamp along an axis of the optical fiber. The first and second clamps each receive a portion of the optical fiber. The fiber cleaver includes a mechanism to create a tension force in a stripped portion of the optical fiber, where the stripped portion of the fiber under tension is exposed to receive contact from a flexible abrasive material, the flexible abrasive material introducing a flaw in the optical fiber where the cleave takes place.

Abstract: A polishing apparatus is provided for polishing an optical fiber connector. The optical fiber connector includes a connector housing and a ferrule. The polishing apparatus includes a mount to receive and hold the optical connector and a polisher housing supported by a base. The polisher housing houses a polisher that comprises a platen that supports a polishing media, the platen being coupled to a planetary gear system. The mount is disposed on a cover that encloses the polisher housing when the cover is placed in a closed position. A rotatable knob is exposed at an opening of the base, the rotatable knob being engaged with the planetary gear system to move the planetary gear system. The polishing media is disposed proximate to a fiber tip extending from an end face of the ferrule of the optical connector disposed in the mount when the cover is placed in the closed position.

Abstract: An assembly tool for installing an optical fiber in an optical connector includes a base and a protrusion setting station. The base includes a connector mount disposed in the base. The connector mount can be configured to receive and secure the optical connector on the base where the connector has a housing and a connector ferrule. The protrusion setting station enables the craftsperson to set distance (or protrusion) that a terminal end of the optical fiber extends from an end face of the connector ferrule. The protrusion station includes a light source to illuminate the terminal end of the optical fiber, at least one black body absorber to eliminate unwanted reflected light and a window to visualize the terminal end of the optical fiber protruding from the end face of the connector ferrule.

Abstract: An optical connector for terminating an optical fiber comprises a housing configured to mate with a receptacle and a collar body disposed in the housing. The collar body includes a ferrule securely disposed in an opening of the collar body, the ferrule including a central bore that defines an axis, and a housing portion disposed in a generally central portion of the collar body. The housing portion includes an opening to receive a gripping device to grip an optical fiber. The ferrule is axially moveable independent of the axial movement of the optical fiber and gripping device. The optical connector can be thermally balanced over a temperature range of at least 100° C.

Abstract: An optical connector for terminating an optical fiber comprises a housing configured to mate with a receptacle and a collar body disposed in the housing. The collar body includes a ferrule securely disposed in an opening of the collar body, the ferrule including a central bore that defines an axis, and a housing portion disposed in a generally central portion of the collar body. The housing portion includes an opening to receive a gripping device to grip an optical fiber. The ferrule is axially moveable independent of the axial movement of the optical fiber and gripping device. The optical connector can be thermally balanced over a temperature range of at least 100° C.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for writing apodized Bragg gratings into an optical fiber. The method includes the steps of providing a photosensitive optical fiber and a writing beam. A periodic intensity distribution of period .LAMBDA. is created from the writing beam and the optical fiber is translated relative to the intensity distribution at a velocity v(t). The intensity of the writing beam is modulated as a function of time at a frequency f(t), where ##EQU1## The intensity of the writing beam is varied further to control the envelope of the refractive index profile to write apodized gratings.

Abstract: A device for interconnecting the bare ends of two or more optical fibers uses a common receptacle having a fiber clamping element therein and camming surfaces for actuating the element, and at least one plug having a camming finger for engaging one of the camming surfaces. The camming surfaces are located such that, when only one of the camming surfaces is actuated, the clamping element rocks to a side of the pocket opposite the one camming surface and remains in the open state, but when both of the camming surfaces are actuated, the clamping element is forced to the closed state. The plug includes a fiber protector free to slide within the plug housing, substantially enclosing the bare end of the fiber when the plug housing is removed from the receptacle, but retracting when the plug housing is inserted into the receptacle to direct the bare end of the fiber toward said guide tube.

Abstract: A device for interconnecting the bare ends of two or more optical fibers uses a common receptacle having a fiber clamping element therein and camming surfaces for actuating the element, and at least one plug having a camming finger for engaging one of the camming surfaces. The camming surfaces are located such that, when only one of the camming surfaces is actuated, the clamping element rocks to a side of the pocket opposite the one camming surface and remains in the open state, but when both of the camming surfaces are actuated, the clamping element is forced to the closed state. The plug includes a fiber protector free to slide within the plug housing, substantially enclosing the bare end of the fiber when the plug housing is removed from the receptacle, but retracting when the plug housing is inserted into the receptacle to direct the bare end of the fiber toward said guide tube.