SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING A FERRULE BOOT
Embodiments disclosed herein include ferrule assembly having a ferrule and a ferrule boot that is coupled to the ferrule. The ferrule boot is used for aligning an array of optical fibers in the desired arrangement when entering the ferrule. In one embodiment, the ferrule boot may have a two-piece construction that includes a fiber alignment portion that defines a first groove for a first row of optical fibers and a cover portion. Moreover, the ferrule boot may be configured to accommodate multiple rows of optical fibers. Other embodiments may use a bendable material for the ferrule boot and/or include color coding for aiding the craft with fiber positioning.
1. Field
The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for a ferrule boot and, more specifically, to embodiments of a ferrule boot that properly aligns fibers.
2. Technical Background
Many current connectors include a predetermined number of optical fiber inputs such as optical fiber bores or the like. Ferrules for optical fiber and the optical fiber inputs may be arranged such that only properly aligned fibers will cause a connection with adequate data transmission quality. As an example, a multi-fiber connector may be configured with optical fiber inputs that are aligned in a linear fashion with a precise and tightly-spaced geometry. As such, many current solutions include gluing fibers into such a configuration. However, these current solutions often delaminate prior to installing the fiber into the ferrule, which increases processing time and difficulty.
SUMMARYEmbodiments disclosed herein include ferrule assembly. The ferrule assembly may include a ferrule and a ferrule boot that is coupled to the ferrule. The ferrule boot may include a fiber alignment portion that defines a first groove for a first row of optical fibers and a cover portion. Additionally, in other embodiments the ferrule boot may be configured to accommodate multiple rows of optical fibers. Still other embodiments may use a bendable material for the ferrule boot and/or include color coding for aiding the craft with fiber positioning.
Embodiments also disclosed herein include a method for providing a ferrule boot. In some embodiments, the method includes inserting a first row of optical fibers into a first groove of a fiber alignment portion of a ferrule assembly and securing the first row of optical fibers within the first groove with a cover portion of the ferrule assembly.
Additional features and advantages will be set forth in the detailed description which follows, and in part will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from that description or recognized by practicing the embodiments described herein, including the detailed description which follows, the claims, as well as the appended drawings.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description describe various embodiments and are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the claimed subject matter. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the various embodiments, and are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate various embodiments described herein, and together with the description serve to explain the principles and operations of the claimed subject matter.
Referring initially to the drawings,
Although the embodiments of the multifiber ferrule 112 may include total of twelve bores such that the multifiber ferrule 112 can be mounted upon the end portions of twelve individual optical fibers, the end face may define any number of bores, such as 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 or more. In addition, the multifiber ferrule 112 may include more than a single linear row of bores. Further, the bores need not be arranged in one or more laterally extending linear rows. For example, any number of bores may be arranged in any predetermined pattern on the end face of the multifiber ferrule 112.
The multifiber ferrule 112 may also define one or more elongated guide pin holes. The guide pin holes open through the end face and are adapted to receive a respective guide pin to align the multifiber ferrule 112 with an opposing ferrule of a mating connector in a known manner. The guide pin holes defined by the ferrule body in turn define a longitudinal axis extending through the center of the guide pin hole. The multifiber ferrule 112 may be manufactured such that the longitudinal axis of each guide pin hole is substantially parallel to the bores extending lengthwise through the ferrule body and perpendicular to the end face.
As also illustrated, the cover portion 108 and the ferrule boot 110 of the embodiment shown in
Accordingly, the ferrule boot 110 defines a first alignment portion 338, which defines a first groove between the base extension portion 320 and the support extension portion 332. The first alignment portion 338 may define a fiber receiving length, which may extend from the base connection portion 336 to the base proximal end 324 of the base extension portion 320. Depending on the particular embodiment, the fiber receiving length may be approximately the total width of a predetermined number of fibers being received in the first alignment portion 338. Similarly, the ferrule boot 110 defines a second fiber alignment portion 340, which defines a second groove between the support extension portion 332 and the cover extension portion 326. The second fiber alignment portion 340 may also include a fiber receiving length that extends from the cover connection portion 334 to the cover proximal end 330 of the cover extension portion 326. Depending on the particular embodiment, this fiber receiving length may be approximately the total width of a predetermined number of fibers being received in the second fiber alignment portion 340. In these areas, the optical fibers 102 may be inserted and secured for alignment with the multifiber ferrule 112. The ferrule boot 110 may define an exterior thickness 342, measured as a distance between an exterior portion of the base extension portion 320 and the cover extension portion 326.
It should be understood that, while the embodiments of
It should be understood that while the embodiments of
As such, the embodiment of
Accordingly, at least a portion of the ferrule boots 110, 410, 510, and 610 may be constructed of a flexible material for bending the cover extension portion 626 and the base extension portion 630 toward the support extension portion 632 to secure fibers within the cover fiber receiving area 640 and the base fiber receiving area 638, respectively. Additionally, in some embodiments, the extension portions 650, 652 may extend beyond the support extension portion 632. This may allow the portions of the base extension portion 630 and the cover extension portion 626 that extend beyond the ends of the support extension portion 632 to be bent around the base connection portion 636 and the cover connection portion 634, respectively. This may serve to further secure the optical fibers 102 within the base fiber receiving area 638 and the cover fiber receiving area 640.
It should be understood that, depending on the particular embodiment, the ferrule boot 610 from
Similarly, the alignment feature 862 may be configured as one or more features that extend from the extension portions. The alignment features 862 may be integral to the fiber alignment portion and may extend from the fiber alignment portion to abut with an interior surface of the multifiber ferrule 112 to further secure the ferrule boot 810 inside the ferrule. Additionally, the alignment features 862 may have a profile equal to or beyond the profile of the cover portion 808.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the embodiments described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed subject matter. Thus, it is intended that the specification cover the modifications and variations of the various embodiments described herein provided such modification and variations come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
Claims
1. A ferrule assembly, comprising a ferrule and a ferrule boot that is coupled to the ferrule, the ferrule boot comprising:
- a fiber alignment portion that defines a first groove for a first row of optical fibers; and
- a cover portion.
2. The ferrule assembly of claim 1, wherein the fiber alignment portion comprises two extension portions to form a substantially C-shaped cross section.
3. The ferrule assembly of claim 1, wherein the fiber alignment portion comprises three extension portions to form a substantially E-shaped cross section, which additionally defines a second groove for a second row of optical fibers.
4. The ferrule assembly of claim 1, wherein the fiber alignment portion comprises three extension portions to form a substantially S-shaped cross section, which additionally defines a second groove for a second row of optical fibers.
5. The ferrule assembly of claim 1, wherein the fiber alignment portion comprises more than three extension portions to form a substantially E-shaped cross section, which additionally defines more than two additional grooves.
6. The ferrule assembly of claim 1, wherein the cover portion comprises a substantially C-shaped cross section and is removably secured to an exterior portion of the fiber alignment portion to secure the first row of optical fibers.
7. The ferrule assembly of claim 1, wherein the fiber alignment portion comprises a plurality of extension portions, wherein the cover portion is integral with one of the plurality of extension portions and is constructed of a bendable material for folding over to cover at least a portion of the first groove to secure the first row of optical fibers
8. The ferrule assembly of claim 1, wherein the first groove comprises a plurality of alignment slots for receiving individual optical fibers, wherein the plurality of alignment slots are color coded.
9. The ferrule assembly of claim 1, wherein the fiber alignment portion comprises a polarity indicator that indicates a predetermined polarity for optical fibers.
10. The ferrule assembly of claim 1, wherein the fiber alignment portion comprises an alignment feature that is integral to the fiber alignment portion and extends from the fiber alignment portion to abut with the ferrule.
11. The ferrule assembly of claim 10, wherein the alignment feature extends from the fiber alignment portion to abut with an exterior portion of the ferrule.
12. The ferrule assembly of claim 10, wherein the alignment feature extends from the fiber alignment portion to abut with an interior surface of the ferrule.
13. A method for fiber alignment of fibers, comprising:
- inserting a first row of optical fibers into a first groove of a fiber alignment portion of a ferrule assembly; and
- securing the first row of optical fibers within the first groove with a cover portion of the ferrule assembly.
14. The method for fiber alignment of claim 13, wherein the fiber alignment portion comprises two extension portions to form a substantially C-shaped cross section.
15. The method for fiber alignment of claim 13, wherein the fiber alignment portion comprises three extension portions to form a substantially E-shaped cross section, which additionally defines a second groove for a second row of optical fibers, the method further comprising inserting the second row of optical fibers into the second groove.
16. The method for fiber alignment of claim 13, wherein the fiber alignment portion comprises three extension portions to form a substantially S-shaped cross section, which additionally defines a second groove for a second row of optical fibers.
17. The method for fiber alignment of claim 13, wherein the cover portion comprises a substantially C-shaped cross section that is removably secured to an exterior portion of the fiber alignment portion to secure the first row of optical fibers, wherein the method further comprises removably securing the cover portion to the exterior portion of the fiber alignment portion.
18. The method for fiber alignment of claim 13, wherein the fiber alignment portion comprises a plurality of extension portions, wherein the cover portion is integral with one of the plurality of extension portions, and wherein the method further comprises folding the cover portion toward the plurality of extension portions to secure the first row of optical fibers.
19. A ferrule assembly, comprising a ferrule and a ferrule boot that is coupled to the ferrule, the ferrule boot comprising:
- a fiber alignment portion that comprises a first extension portion and a second extension portion that define a first groove for a first row of optical fibers; and
- a cover portion.
20. The ferrule assembly of claim 19, wherein the fiber alignment portion comprises a substantially C-shaped cross section.
21. The ferrule assembly of claim 19, wherein the fiber alignment portion comprises a third extension portion to form a substantially E-shaped cross section, which additionally defines a second groove for a second row of optical fibers.
22. The ferrule assembly of claim 19, wherein the fiber alignment portion comprises a third extension portion to form a substantially S-shaped cross section, which additionally defines a second groove for a second row of optical fibers.
23. The ferrule assembly of claim 19, wherein the fiber alignment portion comprises a plurality of additional extension portions to form a substantially E-shaped cross section, which additionally defines a plurality of additional grooves.
24. The ferrule assembly of claim 19, wherein the cover portion comprises a substantially C-shaped cross section and is removably secured to an exterior portion of the fiber alignment portion to secure the first row of optical fibers.
25. The ferrule assembly of claim 19, wherein the cover portion is integral with the first extension portion and is constructed of a bendable material for folding over to cover at least a portion of the first groove to secure the first row of optical fibers.
26. The ferrule assembly of claim 19, wherein the first groove comprises a plurality of alignment slots for receiving individual optical fibers, wherein the plurality of alignment slots are color coded.
27. The ferrule assembly of claim 19, wherein the fiber alignment portion comprises a polarity indicator that indicates a predetermined polarity for optical fibers.
28. The ferrule assembly of claim 19, wherein the fiber alignment portion comprises an alignment feature that is integral to the fiber alignment portion and extends from the fiber alignment portion to abut with the ferrule.
29. The ferrule assembly of claim 28, wherein the alignment feature extends from the fiber alignment portion to abut with an exterior portion of the ferrule.
30. The ferrule assembly of claim 28, wherein the alignment feature extends from the fiber alignment portion to abut with an interior surface of the ferrule.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 31, 2011
Publication Date: May 2, 2013
Inventors: Marco Antonio Gonzalez Garcia (Col. Aztlan Reynosa), Timothy S. Cline (Granite Falls, NC), Wesley A. Yates (Lenoir, NC)
Application Number: 13/285,573
International Classification: G02B 6/36 (20060101);