Optical fiber connector and associated methods of validating optical fiber continuity

A method of validating continuity of a plurality of optical fibers upon which a fiber optic connector is mounted, the method comprising:

• providing a fiber optic connector including a ferrule defining a plurality of bores extending between opposed front and rear faces, a plurality of optical fiber stubs disposed within respective bores and extending beyond the rear face of the ferrule, and a cam mechanism;
• advancing a plurality of optical field fibers into the fiber optic connector and toward respective optical fiber stubs such that each optical field fiber is paired with a respective optical fiber stub;
• introducing light into at least one of each pair of optical field fibers and optical fiber stubs while the optical field fibers are advanced into the fiber optic connector such that a glow emanates from within the fiber optic connector for each pair of optical field fibers and optical fiber stubs;
• halting further advancement of each optical field fiber once the glow associated with the respective optical field fiber dissipates;
• and
• securing the position of each optical field fiber within the fiber optic connector relative to the respective optical fiber stub once the glow associated with each pair of optical field fibers and optical fiber stubs is dissipated.

A multifiber An optical fiber connector comprising:

• a multifiber ferrule extending lengthwise between opposed front and rear faces for receiving a plurality of optical fiber stubs an optical fiber stub;
• splice components disposed proximate the rear face of said multifiber ferrule for aligning a plurality of optical field fibers to respective ones of the plurality of optical fiber stubs field fiber to the optical fiber stub;
• and
• a sleeve in which said splice components are disposed;
• a cam mechanism for urging activating said splice components together to operably interconnect the aligned optical field fibers field fiber and the optical fiber stubs stub, said cam mechanism disposed about said sleeve, wherein movement of the cam mechanism relative to said sleeve aligns the field fiber and the optical fiber stub;
• and
• wherein at least one of said cam mechanism and said splice components is translucent the cam mechanism and at least one of the splice components are translucent such that a glow emanating from therewithin that is indicative of a discontinuity between at least one pair of optical field fibers the field fiber and optical fiber stubs is visible external to the multifiber connector stub.

A method of validating the continuity of one or more optical fibers upon which a fiber optic connector is mounted comprising:

• providing a fiber optic connector including a ferrule defining at least one bore extending between opposed front and rear faces, an optical fiber stub at least partially disposed within the bore and having an end portion extending beyond the rear face of the ferrule, and at least one splice component;
• securing an end portion of an optical field fiber relative to the end portion of the optical fiber stub within the at least one splice component;
• evaluating the continuity of the optical field fiber and the optical fiber stub;
• repositioning and re-securing the end portion of the optical field fiber relative to the end portion of the optical fiber stub when the continuity of the optical field fiber and the optical fiber stub is unacceptable;
• and
• re-evaluating the continuity of the optical field fiber and the optical fiber stub after repositioning and re-securing the end portion of the optical field fiber relative to the end portion of the optical fiber stub.

A method of validating the continuity of an optical field fiber terminated to a fiber optic connector including a ferrule defining at least one bore extending between opposed front and rear faces and an optical fiber stub at least partially disposed within the bore and having an end portion extending beyond the rear face of the ferrule, the method comprising;

• positioning an end portion of the optical field fiber in the fiber optic connector relative to the end portion of the optical fiber stub;
• introducing light into at least one the optical field fiber and the optical fiber stub such that a glow emanates from at least one of the end portions of the optical field fiber or the optical fiber stub;
• securing the end portion of the optical field fiber relative to the end portion of the optical fiber stub;
• evaluating the continuity of the optical field fiber and the optical fiber stub by monitoring the glow emanating from the at least one of the end portions of the optical field fiber or the optical fiber stub;
• repositioning and re-securing the end portion of the optical field fiber relative to the end portion of the optical fiber stub when the continuity of the optical field fiber and the optical fiber stub is unacceptable;
• and re-evaluating the continuity of the optical field fiber and the optical fiber stub after repositioning and re-securing the end portion of the optical field fiber relative to the end portion of the optical fiber stub.

A method of validating the continuity of an optical field fiber and an optical fiber stub mounted upon a fiber optic connector including a cam mechanism, the method comprising:

• disposing the fiber optic connector within an installation tool;
• positioning an end portion of the optical field fiber in the fiber optic connector relative to an end portion of the optical fiber stub;
• introducing light into at least one of the optical field fiber or the optical fiber stub such that a glow emanates from at least one the end portions of the optical field fiber and the optical fiber stub;
• actuating the cam mechanism to secure the end portion of the optical field fiber relative to the end portion of the optical fiber stub;
• evaluating the continuity of the optical field fiber and the optical fiber stub by monitoring the glow emanating from the at least one of the end portions of the optical field fiber or the optical fiber stub;
• when the continuity of the optical field fiber and the optical fiber stub is unacceptable, deactuating the cam mechanism to release the end portion of the optical field fiber relative to the optical fiber stub;
• repositioning the end portion of the optical field fiber relative to the end portion of the optical fiber stub without removing the fiber optic connector from the installation tool;
• reactuating the cam mechanism to secure the end portion of the optical field fiber relative to the end portion of the optical fiber stub;
• and
• re-evaluating the continuity of the optical field fiber and the optical fiber stub after repositioning the end portion of the optical field fiber relative to the end portion of the optical fiber stub.

A method of validating continuity of an optical fiber upon which a fiber optic connector is mounted, the method comprising:

• providing a fiber optic connector including a ferrule defining at least one bore extending between opposed front and rear faces, an optical fiber stub disposed within the bore and extending beyond the rear face of the ferrule, and a cam mechanism;
• introducing light into at least one of an optical field fiber or the optical fiber stub, while the optical field fiber and the respective optical stub fiber are in optical contact;
• actuating the cam mechanism to secure the optical field fiber in position relative to the optical fiber stub when any glow emanating from an end portion of the at least one of the optical field fiber or the optical fiber stub is at a dissipated level;
• evaluating the continuity of the optical field fiber and the optical fiber stub once the cam mechanism has been actuated;
• deactuating the cam mechanism in instances in which the evaluated continuity of the optical field fiber and the optical fiber stub is unacceptable such that the optical field fiber can be repositioned relative to the optical fiber stub;
• and
• reactuating the cam mechanism following any repositioning of the optical field fiber relative to the optical fiber stub.

A method of validating continuity of a plurality of optical fibers upon which a fiber optic connector is mounted, the method comprising:

• providing a fiber optic connector including a ferrule defining a plurality of bores extending between opposed front and rear faces, a plurality of optical fiber stubs disposed within respective bores and extending beyond the rear face of the ferrule, and a cam mechanism;
• introducing light into at least one of each pair of optical field fibers and optical fiber stubs while the optical field fibers and the respective optical fiber stubs are in optical contact;
• and
• securing the position of each optical field fiber within the fiber optic connector relative to the respective optical fiber stub when any glow emanating from within the fiber optic connector for each pair of optical field fibers and optical fiber stubs is at a dissipated level by actuating the cam mechanism to secure the end portion of the optical field fiber relative to the end portion of the optical fiber stub;
• and
• deactuating the cam mechanism after said actuating when any glow emanating from within the fiber optic connector for each pair of optical field fibers and optical fiber stubs is not at a dissipated level.

A method of validating continuity of an optical fiber upon which a fiber optic connector is mounted, the method comprising:

• providing a fiber optic connector including a ferrule defining at least one bore extending between opposed front and rear faces, an optical fiber stub disposed within the bore, and a cam mechanism;
• introducing light into at least one of an optical field fiber and the optical fiber stub, while the optical field fiber and the respective optical fiber stub are in optical contact;
• actuating the cam mechanism to secure the optical field fiber in position relative to the optical fiber stub;
• and
• evaluating the continuity of the optical field fiber and the optical fiber stub once the cam mechanism has been actuated by observing an amount of dissipated light;
• deactuating the cam mechanism in instances in which the evaluated continuity of the optical field fiber and the optical fiber stub is unacceptable such that the optical field fiber can be repositioned relative to the optical fiber stub;
• reactuating the cam mechanism following any repositioning of the optical field fiber relative to the optical fiber stub;
• and
• reevaluating the continuity of the optical field fiber and the optical fiber stub once the cam member has been reactuated by observing dissipated light.

An optical fiber connector comprising:

• a ferrule extending lengthwise between opposed front and rear faces for receiving an optical fiber stub;
• splice components disposed proximate the rear face of said ferrule for aligning a field fiber to the optical fiber stub;
• a sleeve in which said splice components are disposed, wherein the sleeve is translucent;
• a cam mechanism for activating said splice components together to operably interconnect the aligned field fiber and the optical fiber stub, said cam mechanism disposed about said sleeve, wherein movement of the cam mechanism relative to said sleeve aligns the field fiber and the optical fiber stub;
• and
• wherein the cam mechanism and at least one of the splice components are translucent such that a glow emanating from therewithin is indicative of a discontinuity between the field fiber and optical fiber stub.

An optical fiber connector comprising:

• a ferrule extending lengthwise between opposed front and rear faces for receiving an optical fiber stub;
• splice components disposed proximate the rear face of said ferrule for aligning a field fiber to the optical fiber stub;
• a ferrule holder in which said splice components are disposed, wherein the ferrule holder defines a window, and further wherein one of the splice components includes a keel positioned within and exposed through the window defined by the ferrule holder;
• a cam mechanism for activating said splice components together to operably interconnect the aligned field fiber and the optical fiber stub, said cam mechanism disposed about said ferrule holder and being configured to engage the keel, wherein movement of the cam mechanism relative to said ferrule holder aligns the field fiber and the optical fiber stub;
• and
• wherein the cam mechanism and at least one of the splice components are translucent such that a glow emanating from therewithin is indicative of a discontinuity between the field fiber and optical fiber stub.

A method of validating continuity of an optical fiber upon which a fiber optic connector is mounted, the method comprising:

• providing a fiber optic connector including a ferrule defining at least one bore extending between opposed front and rear faces, a translucent ferrule holder in which said ferrule is at least partially received, an optical fiber stub disposed within the bore and extending beyond the rear face of the ferrule, and a cam mechanism;
• introducing light into at least one of an optical field fiber or the optical fiber stub;
• advancing the optical field fiber into the fiber optic connector such that a glow emanates from an end portion of the at least one of the optical field fiber and the optical fiber stub while the optical field fiber is advanced into the fiber optic connector;
• actuating the cam mechanism to secure the optical field fiber in position relative to the optical fiber stub once the glow dissipates;
• evaluating the continuity of the optical field fiber and the optical fiber stub once the cam mechanism has been actuated;
• deactuating the cam mechanism in instances in which the evaluated continuity of the optical field fiber and the optical fiber stub is unacceptable such that the optical field fiber can be repositioned relative to the optical fiber stub;
• and
• reactuating the cam mechanism following the repositioning of the optical field fiber relative to the optical fiber stub.