Manufacture and testing of fiber optic cassette

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10754096-B2
Application number	US-201715679760-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 17, 2017
Priority date	Sep 28, 2012
Publication date	Aug 25, 2020
Grant date	Aug 25, 2020

Abstract

A double flexible optical circuit includes: a flexible substrate supporting a plurality of optical fibers; a first connector terminating the optical fibers at a first end of the double flexible optical circuit; and a second connector terminating the optical fibers at a second end of the double flexible optical circuit. Each of the optical fibers is positioned in one of a plurality of separate extensions formed by the flexible substrate as the optical fibers extend from the first connector to the second connector. The first and second connectors are configured to be tested when the first and second connectors are connected through the double flexible optical circuit. The double flexible optical circuit is configured to be divided in half once the testing is complete to form two separate flexible optical circuits.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A double flexible optical circuit, comprising:
a flexible substrate supporting a plurality of optical fibers;
a first connector terminating the optical fibers at a first end of the double flexible optical circuit; and
a second connector terminating the optical fibers at a second end of the double flexible optical circuit;
wherein each of the optical fibers is positioned in one of a plurality of separate extensions formed by the flexible substrate as the optical fibers extend from the first connector to the second connector;
wherein the first and second connectors are configured to be tested for one or more of geometry and attenuation when the first and second connectors are connected through the double flexible optical circuit;
wherein the double flexible optical circuit is configured to be divided in half once the testing is complete to form two separate flexible optical circuits;
wherein the double flexible optical circuit forms a dividing line at a mid-section of the double flexible optical circuit and
wherein the dividing line extends through each of the extensions.

2. The double flexible optical circuit of claim 1 , wherein the double flexible optical circuit is a mirror image across the dividing line.

3. The double flexible optical circuit of claim 1 , wherein the first and second connectors are MPO format connectors.

4. The double flexible optical circuit of claim 1 , wherein the double flexible optical circuit is foldable along a mid-line to form a U-shape during polishing of the first and second connectors.

5. The double flexible optical circuit of claim 4 , wherein the mid-line is perpendicular to a dividing line indicating where the double flexible optical circuit is divided in half once the testing is completed.

6. The double flex optical circuit of claim 1 , wherein the double flex optical circuit is configured as a patch cord when tested.

7. The double flex optical circuit of claim 6 , wherein the first and second connectors are connected to testing equipment when tested.

8. The double flex optical circuit of claim 1 , wherein the double flex optical circuit is cleaved to form the two separate flexible optical circuits.

Assignees

• Commscope Connectivity Uk Ltd
• Commscope Connectivity Spain Sl
• Commscope Asia Holdings Bv
• Commscope Technologies Llc

Inventors

• Murray David Patrick
• Bolhaar Ton
• Schneider Paul
• Mateo Rafael
• Cobacho Luis
• Wentworth Michael
• Brandt Steven J
• Buijs Marcellus P J
• Dorrestein Alexander
• Rietveld Jan Willem

Classifications

• G02B6/44528 Primary

  Patch-cords; Connector arrangements in the system or in the box (routing arrangements H04Q1/00) · CPC title

• G02B6/3878

  comprising a plurality of ferrules, branching and break-out means · CPC title

• G02B6/4453

  Cassettes · CPC title

• G02B6/3608 Primary

  Fibre wiring boards, i.e. where fibres are embedded or attached in a pattern on or to a substrate, e.g. flexible sheets (optical ribbon cables in support members G02B6/4401) · CPC title

• Y10T29/4981

  Utilizing transitory attached element or associated separate material · CPC title