Dust cap assembly for sealing an optical fiber ferrule and methods thereof
AssigneeCorning Cable Systems LLC
InventorsZiwei Liu, Charles A. Yow, JR.
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims17
A dust cap assembly for sealing a fiber optic connector assembly and reducing back reflection having at least one fiber optic ferrule assembly therein, the at least one fiber optic ferrule assembly having at least one optical fiber therein, wherein the fiber optic ferrule assembly has a polished end face thereon, the dust cap comprising:
- a sleeve, having a proximal end and a distal end with a through bore therebetween;
- and
- a sealant at least partially disposed or deposited in a portion of the through bore for sealing the polished end face, wherein the sealant has a convex shape.
A method of reducing back reflection for testing an fiber optic cable assembly, the fiber optic cable assembly having a fiber optic cable with a first end and a second end with at least one fiber optic connector assembly on the second end, the at least one fiber optic connector assembly having at least one optical fiber ferrule having a polished end face, the method comprising:
- providing a dust cap assembly to the fiber optic connector assembly, the dust cap assembly having a sleeve and a sealant, the sleeve having a proximal end and a distal end with a through bore therebetween, and wherein the sealant is a curable liquid polymer having a post-cure index of refraction between about 1.45 to about 1.48 at 23 degrees Celsius, wherein the sealant is in direct contact with the through bore and a portion of the polished end face;
- optically connecting the fiber optic cable assembly to a test apparatus capable of emitting and receiving optic signals;
- introducing light from the test apparatus into the fiber optic assembly;
- and
- monitoring the amount of light reflected back from the at least one fiber optic connector assembly to the test apparatus, wherein the amount of light reflected back is less than −50 dB.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.