Preterminated fiber optic connector sub-assemblies, and related fiber optic connectors, cable assemblies, and methods

摘要

Embodiments disclosed herein include pre-terminated fiber optic connector sub-assemblies, and related fiber optic connectors, cables, and methods. In certain embodiments, an optical fiber stub is pre-installed in a ferrule bore of a ferrule of a fiber optic connector sub-assembly, to provide the pre-terminated fiber optic connector sub-assembly. The optical fiber stub can be pre-installed in the ferrule bore prior to termination of the fiber optic connector sub-assembly. Because the pre-terminated optical fiber stub disposed in the ferrule bore is not directly accessible through a ferrule body of the ferrule when a field optical fiber is disposed in the ferrule bore for fusion splicing, the ferrule has properties that allow thermal energy to be directed through the ferrule body into the ferrule bore. In this manner, the optical fiber stub pre-installed in the ferrule bore can be fusion spliced with the field optical fiber to terminate a fiber optic cable.

主权项

1. A method of pre-terminating a fiber optic connector sub-assembly, comprising:
providing at least one optical fiber stub of a fixed length, the at least one optical fiber stub having at least one front end and at least one rear end; inserting the at least one optical fiber stub through at least one ferrule bore of a ferrule body of a ferrule, wherein the at least one optical fiber stub disposed in the at least one ferrule bore is not directly accessible through the ferrule body; extending at least one front end of the at least one optical fiber stub through at least one front opening of the ferrule body from a front end of the ferrule body to dispose at least one rear end of the at least one optical fiber stub within the at least one ferrule bore at the front end of the ferrule body; inserting at least one front end of at least one optical fiber through at least one rear opening of the ferrule into the at least one ferrule bore of the ferrule, adjacent to the at least one rear end of the at least one optical fiber stub; and fusion splicing the at least one rear end of the at least one optical fiber stub with the at least one front end of the at least one optical fiber within the at least one ferrule bore to terminate the at least one optical fiber.