# US 2014/0193119 A1 · Fiber optic connector assemblies having windowed optical fibers and methods thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0193119 A1 - Document ID: US20140193119A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/737,472 - Filed: 2013-01-09 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-09 - Assignees: Corning Cable Systems LLC - Applicants: Corning Cable Systems LLC - Inventors: Micah Colen Isenhour; Dennis Michael Knecht; James Phillip Luther; Reginald Roberts - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140193119A1 ## CPC - G02B 6/4214: {the intermediate optical element having redirecting reflective means, e.g. mirrors, prisms for deflecting the radiation from horizontal to down- or upward direction toward a device (G02B6/4246 takes precedence)} - G02B 6/36: Mechanical coupling means (G02B6/255, G02B6/42 take precedence) - G02B 6/3889: {using encapsulation for protection, e.g. adhesive, molding or casting resin} - G02B 6/4284: {of optical modules with disconnectable electrical connectors (latching arms for electrical connectors H01R13/627)} - G02B 6/245: Removing protective coverings of light guides before coupling - Y10T 156/1043: Subsequent to assembly - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract Fiber optic connector assemblies and method for assembling the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a fiber optic connector assembly includes an optical fiber having an inner glass region, a polymer layer surrounding the inner glass region, and a windowed portion, wherein the inner glass region is exposed at the windowed portion. The fiber optic connector assembly further includes a connector body having a demarcation region at a first end, wherein the optical fiber is disposed within the connector body such that at least a portion of the windowed portion is positioned in the demarcation region, and the optical fiber is adhered to the connector body at the windowed portion. In another embodiment, the demarcation region includes an opening in the outer jacket that exposes the at least a portion of the windowed portion of the plurality of optical fibers and the optical fibers are adhered to a portion of the cable. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fiber optic connector assembly comprising: an optical fiber comprising an inner glass region, a polymer layer surrounding the inner glass region, and a windowed portion, wherein the inner glass region is exposed at the windowed portion; and a connector body comprising a demarcation region at a first end, wherein the optical fiber is disposed within the connector body such that the windowed portion of the optical fiber is positioned in the demarcation region, and the optical fiber is adhered to the connector body along a portion of the windowed portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the optical fiber is adhered to the connector body at the windowed portion with a UV curable adhesive. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the optical fiber is adhered to the connector body at the windowed portion with an elastomeric adhesive. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the inner glass region comprises a glass core and a glass cladding surrounding the glass core. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 4, wherein the polymer layer comprises a polymer coating on the glass cladding. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 5, wherein the polymer coating is removed at the windowed portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the polymer layer is removed by a laser process. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the demarcation region comprises a slot opening in the connector body. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1, wherein: the connector body comprises a connector housing coupled to a strain relief element; the demarcation region comprises a slot opening in the strain relief element; and the optical fiber passes through the strain relief element such that the windowed portion of the optical fiber is at least partially positioned in the demarcation region. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1, wherein: the optical fiber comprises a fiber end; and the fiber end is secured within the connector body at a termination location such that excess optical fiber is present between the demarcation region and the termination location. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 10, further comprising a fiber guide component comprising a curved groove, wherein the optical fiber is disposed within the curved groove. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 10, wherein the optical fiber has a bend within the connector body between the demarcation region and the termination location. ### Claim 13 A fiber optic connector assembly comprising: an optical cable comprising a plurality of optical fibers within an outer jacket and a demarcation region, the demarcation region comprising an opening in the outer jacket that exposes the plurality of optical fibers, wherein the plurality of optical fibers is adhered to the outer jacket, wherein each individual optical fiber of the plurality of optical fibers comprises an inner glass region, a polymer layer surrounding the inner glass region, and a windowed portion where the inner glass region is exposed at the windowed portion; and a connector body coupled to the optical cable, wherein the plurality of optical fibers is disposed within the connector body. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 13, wherein the plurality of optical fibers is adhered to the outer jacket by a UV curable adhesive at the windowed portion. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 13, wherein the inner glass region comprises a glass core and a glass cladding surrounding the glass core. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 13, wherein the polymer layer comprises a polymer coating on the glass cladding. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 16, wherein the polymer coating is removed at the windowed portion. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 17, wherein the polymer layer is removed by a laser process. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 13, further comprising a heat shrink wrap disposed around the demarcation region. ### Claim 20 A method of assembling a fiber optic connector assembly, the method comprising: stripping an end portion of an outer jacket of a fiber optic cable to expose at least one optical fiber; stripping one or more polymer layers of the at least one optical fiber to form a windowed portion on the at least one optical fiber such that an inner glass region is exposed at the windowed portion; positioning the at least one optical fiber into a connector body comprising a demarcation region such that at least a portion of the windowed portion of the at least one optical fiber is disposed proximate to the demarcation region; and applying an adhesive to the demarcation region to adhere the inner glass region of the windowed portion of the at least one optical fiber to the connector body. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein stripping the one or more polymer layers of the at least one optical fiber is performed by a laser stripping process. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein the connector body comprises a connector housing, and the demarcation region is configured as an opening in the connector housing. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, further comprising: trimming one or more strength members of fiber optic cable; crimping the fiber optic cable at the end portion; and applying a heat shrink wrap about the end portion. ### Claim 24 A fiber optic connector assembly comprising: a plurality of optical fibers, each optical fiber comprising a glass core, a glass cladding surrounding the glass core, a polymer coating surrounding the glass cladding, and a windowed portion, wherein the polymer coating is removed and the glass cladding is exposed at the windowed portion of each optical fiber; and a connector body comprising a demarcation region configured as an opening at a first end, wherein the plurality of optical fibers is disposed within the connector body such that the windowed portion of each optical fiber is positioned at the demarcation region, and the plurality of optical fibers is adhered to the connector body at the windowed portion.