Two-Piece Fiber Interface for Indoor Cable Strain Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hardened fiber optic connectors are expensive and impractical for indoor environments, necessitating a cost-effective solution for mechanical support and environmental protection of individual jacketed optical fiber cables in indoor settings like data centers.
Innovation Solution
A two-piece interface for jacketed fiber optic cables, comprising a main body with a crimp body and transition area, that supports and protects the cables by connecting to an adapter and using a crimp band for strain relief, allowing for efficient termination without the need for hardened connectors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hardened fiber optic connectors are used for jacketed optical fiber cables, then mechanical support and environmental protection are provided, but cost increases and practicality decreases in indoor environments
Solution Approach 1:
The interface is divided into two separate pieces: a first piece that interfaces with the adapter and a second piece that receives the jacketed fiber optic cable. This segmentation allows each piece to be optimized for its specific function, providing mechanical support and environmental protection where needed while reducing overall cost and complexity compared to using hardened connectors throughout.
Solution Approach 2:
The interface acts as an intermediary component between the adapter and the jacketed fiber optic cable. It provides the necessary mechanical support and environmental protection in indoor environments without requiring expensive hardened connectors, thereby mediating between the needs of the adapter interface and the cable termination requirements.
2Ease of operation
If multiple cable assemblies are used for point-to-point fiber optic connections, then connections are established, but cable management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The interface combines multiple functions into a single component: it provides adapter interfacing, cable reception, strain relief through the crimp body, and environmental protection. By merging these functions, the system reduces cable management complexity while maintaining point-to-point connection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The interface serves multiple purposes: it connects to adapters, receives jacketed cables, provides strain relief, and offers environmental protection. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate components for each function, simplifying cable management in indoor environments.
3Strength
If hardened connectors are used in indoor environments, then mechanical support is provided, but cost-effectiveness decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The interface provides mechanical support and environmental protection only where needed - at the point of cable termination and adapter interface - rather than requiring hardened construction throughout the entire cable assembly. The crimp body provides localized strain relief, while the main body offers environmental protection, achieving necessary strength without the cost of fully hardened connectors.
Data Source
AI summary
An interface provides protection and support for transitioning a jacketed fiber optic cable. The interface has a crimp body, a transition portion and a front end to receive an adapter. The interface preferably has a main body with two pieces that are identical. The two pieces have tabs and recesses corresponding to the tabs for alignment and structure. The main body also may have an opening for an adapter latch. A crimp band fits over the crimp body to secure the jacketed fiber optic cable to the interface.