Cable bend relief for fiber optic sub-assemblies and methods of assembling

A fiber optic cable assembly comprising:

• a fiber optic cable including at least one optical fiber;
• an end cap, the end cap having a passageway extending from a rear opening at a rear end of the end cap to a front opening at a front end of the end cap that receives a portion of the fiber optic cable, wherein the rear opening is larger than the front opening for providing cable bend relief;
• a circuit board including an active optical component in operable communication with a first end of the optical fiber;
• a strain relief device attaching an end portion of the fiber optic cable to the circuit board, wherein the strain relief device is electrically grounded by a ground track of the circuit board;
• and
• a shield for housing a portion of the circuit board and the active optical component.

A method of assembling a fiber optic cable sub-assembly comprising the steps of:

• providing a fiber optic cable including at least one optical fiber;
• providing an end cap having a passageway extending from a rear opening to a front opening where the rear opening is larger than the front opening for providing cable bend relief;
• threading an end of the fiber optic cable into the rear opening of the passageway;
• operably attaching the at least one optical fiber of a fiber optic cable to an active optical component of a circuit board;
• and
• securing the fiber optic cable to the circuit board using a strain relief device by attaching an end portion of the fiber optic cable to the circuit board by clamping the sleeve to the fiber optic cable and attaching the clamped sleeve to the circuit board.

A cable sub-assembly comprising:

• a cable having a communication element;
• an end cap, the end cap having a passageway extending from a rear opening at a rear end of the end cap to a front opening at a front end of the end cap that receives a portion of the cable, wherein the rear opening is larger than the front opening for cable bend relief;
• a circuit board in operable communication with the communication element, wherein the circuit board includes a first engagement structure;
• and
• a strain relief device for attaching an end portion of the fiber optic cable to the circuit board, wherein:
• the strain relief device comprises a sleeve clamped or crimped to the end portion of the fiber optic cable;
• and
• the sleeve includes a second engagement structure that interacts with the first engagement structure to attach the end portion of the fiber optic cable to the circuit board.

A fiber optic cable sub-assembly comprising:

• a fiber optic cable including at least one optical fiber;
• an end cap, the end cap having a passageway extending from a rear opening at a rear end of the end cap to a front opening at a front end of the end cap that receives a portion of the fiber optic cable, wherein the rear opening is larger than the front opening for cable bend relief;
• a circuit board including an active optical component in operable communication with the optical fiber;
• and
• a strain relief device for attaching an end portion of the fiber optic cable to the circuit board, wherein the strain relief device comprises a first mounting bracket attached to a first side of the circuit board and a second mounting bracket attached to a second side of the circuit board to capture the sleeve between the first and second mounting brackets.