Connector for transitioning multi-core fiber to plural single core fibers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016363733-A1
Application number	US-201615248264-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 26, 2016
Priority date	Feb 1, 2013
Publication date	Dec 15, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method and system connects multiple cores within one fiber, e.g., a multi-core fiber (MCF), to multiple fibers with single-cores. The single-core fibers can then be terminated by traditional envelopes, such as a single core LC envelope. A connector holds the single-core fibers into a pattern that matches a pattern of all, or a sub group, of the individual cores of the MCF. The single-core fibers may all be terminated to individual connectors to form a fanout or breakout cable. Alternatively, the single-core fibers may extend to another connector wherein the single-core fibers are regrouped into a pattern to mate with the cores of another MCF, hence forming a jumper. One or more of the single core fibers may be terminated along the length of the jumper to form a jumper with one or more tap accesses.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A connector system comprising:
a ferrule having an end surface; a holder formed in said ferrule and extending up to said end surface; and a plurality of single-core optical fibers mounted in said holder with first ends of said plurality of single-core optical fibers arranged in a given pattern at said end surface of said ferrule, wherein said given pattern includes a central single-core optical fiber surrounded by plural satellite single-core optical fibers.

2 . The connector system of claim 1 , wherein said plural satellite single-core optical fibers are arranged in a hexagonal pattern.

3 . The connector system of claim 1 , wherein each of said plural satellite single-core optical fibers abuts said central single-core optical fiber at said end surface of said ferrule.

4 . The connector system of claim 1 , wherein cladding layers or acrylate layers of said plural satellite single-core optical fibers abut said central single-core optical fiber at said end surface of said ferrule.

5 . The connector system of claim 1 , wherein said ferrule is a cylindrical member and said holder is located along a central axis of said ferrule and extends from a first end of said ferrule to a second end of said ferrule, with said second end of said ferrule including said end surface.

6 . The connector system of claim 1 , wherein said holder is a first holder and extends to an end of said ferrule, with said end of said ferrule including said end surface, wherein said plurality of single-core optical fibers is a first plurality of single-core optical fibers and said given pattern is a first given pattern, and further comprising:
a second holder formed in said ferrule and formed as a single opening or groove extending to said end of said ferrule including said end surface; and a second plurality of single-core optical fibers mounted in said second holder in an butting relationship along a length of said second holder, with first ends of said second plurality of single-core optical fibers arranged in a second given pattern at said end surface of said ferrule.

7 . The connector system of claim 1 , further comprising:
an LC connector envelope holding said ferrule.

8 . The connector system of claim 1 , further comprising:
an individual fiber connector attached to a second end of each of said plurality of single-core optical fibers.

9 . The connector system of claim 1 , wherein said given pattern is selected to match a pattern of optical cores in a multi-core fiber to which said ferrule is connectable.

10 . The connector system of claim 1 , wherein said holder includes an alignment structure to assist in arranging said plurality of single-core optical fibers in said given pattern, and wherein said alignment structure includes one or more intersecting edges defining said holder, as viewed in a cross section of said holder taken perpendicular to the direction in which said holder extends.

11 . A connector system comprising:
a ferrule having an end surface; a holder formed in said ferrule and formed as a single opening or groove and extending up to said end surface; and a plurality of single-core optical fibers mounted in said holder in an butting relationship along a length of said holder, with first ends of said plurality of single-core optical fibers arranged in a given pattern at said end surface of said ferrule, wherein said ferrule has a rectangular outer cross section and said holder is a first holder and extends to an end of said ferrule, with said end of said ferrule including said end surface, and further comprising: a second holder formed in said ferrule and formed as a single opening or groove extending to said end of said ferrule including said end surface.

12 . The connector system of claim 11 , wherein said plurality of single-core optical fibers is a first plurality of single-core optical fibers and said given pattern is a first given pattern, and further comprising:
a second plurality of single-core optical fibers mounted in said second holder in an butting relationship along a length of said second holder, with first ends of said second plurality of single-core optical fibers arranged in a second given pattern at said end surface of said ferrule.

13 . A connector system comprising:
a ferrule having an end surface; a holder formed in said ferrule and formed as a single opening or groove extending up to said end surface; and a plurality of single-core optical fibers mounted in said holder in an abutting relationship along a length of the holder, with first ends of said plurality of single-core optical fibers arranged in a given pattern at said end surface of said ferrule.

14 . The connector system of claim 13 , further comprising:
an LC connector envelope holding said ferrule.

15 . The connector system of claim 13 , further comprising:
an individual fiber connector attached to a second end of each of said plurality of single-core optical fibers.

16 . The connector system of claim 13 , wherein said given pattern is selected to match a pattern of optical cores in a multi-core fiber to which said ferrule is connectable.

17 . The connector system of claim 13 , wherein said holder includes an alignment structure to assist in arranging said plurality of single-core optical fibers in said given pattern, and wherein said alignment structure includes one or more intersecting edges defining said holder, as viewed in a cross section of said holder taken perpendicular to the direction in which said holder extends.

18 . The connector system of claim 17 , wherein the cross section of said edges presents a square-shaped cross section or a D-shaped cross section or a triangular-shaped cross section.

19 . The connector system of claim 13 , wherein said ferrule is a cylindrical member and said holder is located along a central axis of said ferrule and extends from a first end of said ferrule to a second end of said ferrule, with said second end of said ferrule including said end surface.

20 . The connector system of claim 13 , wherein cladding layers or acrylate layers of said plurality of single-core optical fibers abut each other at said end surface of said ferrule.

Assignees

• Commscope Inc North Carolina

Inventors

• Nielson Jeffrey D
• Kolesar Paul F
• Gibbs Gary F
• Billman Bradley
• Case Richard L

Classifications

• G02B6/4475

  with provision for lateral branching (G02B6/4431 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G02B6/3885 Primary

  Multicore or multichannel optical connectors, i.e. one single ferrule containing more than one fibre, e.g. ribbon type (optical ribbon cable G02B6/4403, G02B6/448) · CPC title

• G02B6/3851

  Ferrules having keying or coding means · CPC title

• G02B6/02042

  Multicore optical fibres · CPC title

• G02B6/4472

  Manifolds · CPC title