Feed-Through Fiber Optic Connector for Micro-Duct Termination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical fiber drop cable assemblies require significant slack storage, which increases installation complexity and costs, while also making it difficult to achieve quick and secure connector attachments.
Innovation Solution
A connector system that minimizes slack storage by using a cable connector with a compression fitting to grip a duct, allowing a pre-terminated fiber optic cable to be easily fed through, and a connector housing that aligns with the cable connector to securely couple the fiber optic cable to a connection point.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional optical fiber drop cable assemblies are used with significant slack storage, then the fiber optic cable can be installed, but the installation complexity and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the slack storage requirement from the traditional drop cable assembly by using a feed-through connector that allows the optical fiber cable to pass directly through the connector body. The connector includes a cable access opening and a cable exit opening, enabling the cable to extend continuously from one side to the other without requiring storage space within the connector housing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the dimensional arrangement by transitioning from a traditional connector where the cable terminates inside the housing to a feed-through configuration where the cable passes through the connector in a linear path. This dimensional reorganization eliminates the need for three-dimensional slack storage space within the connector volume.
2Ease of operation
If traditional connectors are used, then fiber optic cables can be connected, but quick and secure attachment is difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-terminating the fiber optic cable with a connector in the factory before field installation. The pre-terminated cable assembly includes the connector already attached and aligned, so that during installation, the connector can be quickly inserted into the feed-through connector without requiring field termination or complex alignment procedures.
3Productivity
If pre-connectorized cables are used to reduce installation costs, then service can be turned up quickly, but the cable must exceed the distance between fiber tap and customer demarcation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the connector assembly movable and adjustable rather than fixed. The feed-through connector allows the optical fiber cable to pass through and be positioned at varying lengths, enabling the system to adapt to different installation distances between the fiber tap and customer demarcation point while maintaining quick deployment capabilities.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The proposed solution reduces the need for slack storage, simplifies the installation process, and enables quick and secure attachment of connectors, thereby reducing installation complexity and costs while maintaining high-quality connections.
Implementation Method 1
a compression fitting configured to be received about the first end of the connector body and slidable relative to the connector body in the longitudinal direction to radially compress the first end of the connector body to grip the duct
Data Source
AI summary
An optical fiber feed-through connector for optically coupling an end portion of an optical fiber cable with a non-feed-through optical fiber connector includes a feed-through duct engaging portion having a body member and a compression fitting portion configured to radially compress a portion of the body member around the free end portion of the duct and a feed-through housing portion configured to be operatively coupled to the feed-through duct engaging portion so as to allow the end portion of the optical fiber cable to be slidingly fed through the feed-through housing portion. The feed-through engaging portion is configured to permit the end portion of the optical fiber cable to be slidingly fed through both the duct and the feed-through duct engaging portion, and the feed-through duct engaging portion and the feed-through housing portion are configured to permit the optical fiber cable to be pushed or pulled through the duct and the feed-through housing portion after the feed-through duct engaging portion is operatively coupled to the feed-through housing portion.