Fiber optic connector with fiber take-up region
A fiber optic connector assembly includes a connector and a carrier. The connector, defining a longitudinal bore extending through the connector and having a first end region and a second end region, includes a ferrule assembly, having an optical fiber extending through the connector, at least partially disposed in the longitudinal bore at the first end region, a tube, defining a passage and having a first end portion disposed in the longitudinal bore at the second end region and a second end region, and a spring disposed in the bore between the ferrule assembly and the tube. The carrier includes a cable end and a connector end engaged with the connector, a termination region disposed between the connector end and the cable end, a fiber support region disposed between the connector end and the termination region, and a take-up region disposed between the connector end and the fiber support region.
1. A fiber optic connector assembly comprising:
a connector housing with a passage extending between a distal end and a proximal end of the connector housing;
an optical fiber structure extending through at least a portion of the passage of the connector housing, the optical fiber structure including a distal end portion with no buffer, a take-up portion configured to accommodate bending of the optical fiber structure, and a buffered portion with a buffer surrounding the buffered portion of the optical fiber structure, the buffered portion arranged to be opposite to the distal end portion with the take-up portion arranged between the distal end portion and the buffered portion, and the buffered portion being constrained at the connector housing and further extending opposite to the distal end portion away from the connector housing; and
a ferrule assembly positioned around the distal end portion of the optical fiber structure and at least partially disposed within the connector housing, the ferrule assembly including a ferrule and a ferrule spring that biases the ferrule in a first direction, the ferrule terminating the distal end portion of the optical fiber structure, and the ferrule spring located between the distal end portion and the take-up portion of the optical fiber structure.
2. The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein when the ferrule is moved opposite the first direction, the take-up portion of the optical fiber structure accommodates the bending of the optical fiber structure that results from the movement of the ferrule opposite the first direction.
3. The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 2 , wherein the take-up portion of the optical fiber structure accommodates the bending of the optical fiber when the ferrule is moved opposite the first direction by at least one millimeter.
4. The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the connector housing defines a cavity at the proximal end of the connector housing, the cavity defining at least part of a take-up region for the take-up portion of the optical fiber structure to bend within the take-up region as the ferrule is moved opposite the first direction.
5. The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 4 , wherein the connector housing includes a tube that at least partially defines the cavity.
6. The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 5 , wherein the connector housing defines a longitudinal bore in which the ferrule and the ferrule spring are positioned, wherein the tube is also positioned within the longitudinal bore of the connector housing, and wherein the tube defines a reduced diameter portion that faces the ferrule and the ferrule spring.
7. The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 6 , wherein the reduced diameter portion of the tube is 950 μm in diameter.
8. The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 7 , wherein an inner diameter of the tube at an opposite end from the reduced diameter portion is 3 millimeters in diameter.
9. The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 4 , wherein the connector housing includes a spring stop that supports the ferrule spring and wherein the spring stop is positioned between the ferrule spring and the take-up region.
10. The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 9 , wherein a necked-down opening is positioned proximally adjacent the spring stop and distally adjacent the take-up region and wherein the necked-down opening guides the bending of the optical fiber structure within the take-up region.
11. The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 10 , wherein the optical fiber structure is further constrained at the connector housing adjacent the take-up region and wherein the constraint of the optical fiber structure adjacent the take-up region allows the bending of the optical fiber structure within the take-up region.
12. The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 5 , further comprising a boot coupled to the rear end of the connector housing, wherein the boot also defines a portion of the take-up region.
13. The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the ferrule includes a distal end that is positioned opposite a proximal end of the ferrule and wherein the distal end of the ferrule extends distally beyond the distal end of the connector housing.