Abstract: A connector assembly that includes an insulation displacement member including a hydrophobic organosilane mono-layer protective coating is disclosed. In one embodiment, the connector assembly may be manufactured by a method that includes assembling the connector assembly, contacting the connector assembly with an organosilane coating solution, and curing the organosilane coating solution. The connector assembly may be assembled by mechanically supporting the insulation displacement member with a connector framework. The connector assembly may be contacted with the organosilane coating solution by contacting at least the wire engaging portion of the insulation displacement member and at least a portion of the connector assembly with the organosilane coating solution.

Abstract: An integrated capstan for use in fiber processing and testing apparatus. The integrated capstan features a fiber-engaging material that provides a contact surface for fibers. The hardness of the contact surface is controlled to minimize transfer of stress to the fibers to prevent damage to fiber coatings or fiber splice junctions during conveyance or screen testing of fibers during production. The fiber-engaging material includes a resilient material and an optional capping layer. The resilient material may be a lightly crosslinked polyurethane gel. Capping layers include polymers formed by UV curing of aliphatic urethane diacrylate compounds or moisture curing of diisocyanate compounds.

Abstract: An optical connector for terminating an optical fiber includes a ferrule, an optical fiber, and an adhesive composition disposed within a fiber-receiving passage of the ferrule. The adhesive composition, which is in contact with the inner surface of the ferrule and the optical fiber, includes a partially cross-linked resin that is a polymer and a coupling agent that chemically bonds the partially cross-linked resin to an inorganic surface of at least one of the optical fiber and the ferrule.

Abstract: A connector assembly that includes an insulation displacement member including a hydrophobic organosilane mono-layer protective coating is disclosed. In one embodiment, the connector assembly may be manufactured by a method that includes assembling the connector assembly, contacting the connector assembly with an organosilane coating solution, and curing the organosilane coating solution. The connector assembly may be assembled by mechanically supporting the insulation displacement member with a connector framework. The connector assembly may be contacted with the organosilane coating solution by contacting at least the wire engaging portion of the insulation displacement member and at least a portion of the connector assembly with the organosilane coating solution.

Abstract: A dust cap assembly for sealing an end face of a fiber optic ferrule includes a sleeve and a sealant. The sleeve is configured to be placed onto the fiber optic ferrule and frictionally engage a medial portion of the fiber optic ferrule. The sealant, which is at least partially disposed on the sleeve, comprises a curable liquid configured to create a removable seal that directly contacts the end face on the fiber optic ferrule when the sleeve is placed onto the fiber optic ferrule. The sealant is also configured adhere to contaminants present on the end face such that upon removal of the sleeve and sealant from the fiber optic ferule remedial cleaning of the end face occurs.

Abstract: A dust cap assembly for sealing an end face of a fiber optic ferrule includes a sleeve and a sealant. The sleeve is configured to be placed onto the fiber optic ferrule and frictionally engage a medial portion of the fiber optic ferrule. The sealant, which is at least partially disposed on the sleeve, comprises a curable liquid configured to create a removable seal that directly contacts the end face on the fiber optic ferrule when the sleeve is placed onto the fiber optic ferrule. The sealant is also configured adhere to contaminants present on the end face such that upon removal of the sleeve and sealant from the fiber optic ferule remedial cleaning of the end face occurs.

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: 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: Fiber optic assemblies are disclosed that include a protecting material that encapsulates a portion of a fiber optic connector for protecting the same in the field until needed by the craft. In one embodiment, the fiber optic assembly includes a protective barrier such as a tape, foil, or the like disposed about the fiber optic connector. In other embodiments, the fiber optic assembly includes structure for removing the protecting material such as a ripcord or a notch in the protecting material. Additionally, the protecting material may include carbon black for providing UV protection.

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 sealant gel for a telecommunication enclosure, wherein the gel is formulated from three different polyols. The first polyol is a polybutadiene-based polyol that has a low glass transition temperature. The second polyol is a polyether polyol. The third polyol is butene diol, which is a short molecule that quickly builds up a hard backbone structure.

Abstract: An index-matching gel for use with nano-engineered optical fibers is disclosed. The index-matching gel is cross-linked, which prevents the gel from wicking into the voids and down the nano-engineered optical fiber to a depth where the fiber performance and/or device performance is compromised. The formulation comprises a non-reactive constituent A, two reactive constituents B and C, and a catalyst D. The gel is pre-cured and forms a cross-linked internal network that results in a single-component gel that does not require meter mixing of an additional constituent or heat curing. The gel is suitable for use in the mechanical splicing of optical fibers when at least one of the optical fibers is a nano-engineered 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 nano-engineered optical fiber.

Abstract: An index-matching gel for use with nano-engineered optical fibers is disclosed. The index-matching gel is cross-linked, which prevents the gel from wicking into the voids and down the nano-engineered optical fiber to a depth where the fiber performance and/or device performance is compromised. The formulation comprises a non-reactive constituent A, two reactive constituents B and C, and a catalyst D. The gel is pre-cured and forms a cross-linked internal network that results in a single-component gel that does not require meter mixing of an additional constituent or heat curing. The gel is suitable for use in the mechanical splicing of optical fibers when at least one of the optical fibers is a nano-engineered 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 nano-engineered optical fiber.

Abstract: An environmentally sealed closure, such as a terminal for terminated ends of fiber optic cables, includes a housing having a wall defining an interior volume. A floating sealing assembly is provided including a first plate, a seal member and a second plate arranged in a stack within the interior volume. The seal member has an outer sealing edge for contacting the wall of the housing, which may be straight and/or chamfered. Fiber optic cables extend through the sealing assembly so that the terminated ends are within the splice area. The floating sealing assembly is compressed so as to place the outer sealing edge of the seal member in sealing contact with the wall of the housing. When a pressure differential exists between the splice area and the outside of the housing only one of the first or second plates moves along the longitudinal axis to further compress the seal member and increase sealing between the outer sealing edge and the housing wall.

Abstract: A sealant gel for a telecommunication enclosure, wherein the gel is formulated from three different polyols in a manner that maintains its favorable mechanical properties given environmental conditions, for example, over a wide temperature range. The first polyol is a polybutadiene-based polyol that has a low glass transition temperature that provides excellent low-temperature performance. The second polyol is a polyether polyol, which is very flexible and contributes the necessary viscoelastic properties. The third polyol is butene diol, which is a short molecule that quickly builds up a hard backbone structure that helps promote fast curing and provides high-temperature resistance. The combined formulation for the sealant gel builds up a well-balanced network structure that not only has all the necessary viscoelastic properties, but also withstands the highest required temperature of 120° C. while also exhibiting good performance at subzero temperatures.

Abstract: A terminating device for terminating subscriber wiring to pairs of insulation displacement type conductive contacts includes a protective sealing gel disposed within the terminating device. The gel encapsulates the conductive contacts and is characterized by a dynamic storage modulus G? and a dynamic loss modulus G? expressed in dynes/cm2 having a dynamic crossover point between about 1 rad/sec and about 20 rad/sec at any temperature in the range between about ?40° C. to about 80° C. The loss modulus G? is greater than the storage modulus G? at a shear frequency greater than the dynamic crossover point and is less than the storage modulus G? at a shear frequency less than the dynamic crossover point. The gel has an ultimate elongation greater than about 1000%, an ultimate tensile strength greater than about 2 psi, and a cone penetration value expressed in tenths of a millimeter between about 255 and 265.

Abstract: An environmentally sealed closure, such as a terminal for terminated ends of fiber optic cables, includes a housing having a wall defining an interior volume. A floating sealing assembly is provided including a first plate, a seal member and a second plate arranged in a stack within the interior volume. The seal member has an outer sealing edge for contacting the wall of the housing, which may be straight and/or chamfered. Fiber optic cables extend through the sealing assembly so that the terminated ends are within the splice area. The floating sealing assembly is compressed so as to place the outer sealing edge of the seal member in sealing contact with the wall of the housing. When a pressure differential exists between the splice area and the outside of the housing only one of the first or second plates moves along the longitudinal axis to further compress the seal member and increase sealing between the outer sealing edge and the housing wall.

Abstract: A silicone-based gel for use with telecommunication interconnect devices. The silicone gel includes roughly equal Parts A and B by weight or volume. Part A includes (i) between about 15 to 20 parts vinyl terminated polydimethyl siloxane of non-agglomerated SiO2 (nanocone) nanoparticles, (ii) between about 80 to 85 parts unmodified polydimethylsiloxane, and (iii) between about 0.1 to 0.3 parts of approximately 0.5% platinum catalyst. Part B includes (i) between about 5 to 10 parts vinyl terminated polydimethyl siloxane of non-agglomerated SiO2 (nanocone) nanoparticles, (ii) between about 15 to 30 parts hydride terminated polydimethylsiloxane, (iii) between about 0.2 to 10 parts hydride functional polydimethylsiloxane, and (iv) between about 50 to 80 parts unmodified polydimethylsiloxane. A telecommunication interconnect device that uses the silicone gel is also disclosed.

Abstract: There is provided a polyester gel including a part A including a maleinized polybutadiene family member in an amount of at least 50 parts of part A, a plasticizer in the amount of at least 30 parts of part A, and a stabilizer in an amount of at least 1 part of part A. The polyester gel also includes a part B including a liquid hydroxyl terminated polymer of butadiene in an amount of at least 60 parts of part B, a plasticizer in an amount of at least 30 parts of part B, and a catalyst in at least 0.0007 parts of part B, wherein parts A and B are about in a one to one ratio. The polyester gel is adapted for use with polycarbonate components, including housings for electronic components, such that the gel does not chemically attack or otherwise compromise the material properties of the polycarbonate component.