Connectors for Composite Fiber Optic/Coaxial Cables and Related Connectorized Cables and Methods

Abstract

A connector for a composite communications cable includes a connector body, a contact post mounted within the connector body, a compression sleeve that is received within a rear end of the connector body and an optical fiber passage at a front end of the connector.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A connector for a composite communications cable that includes both a coaxial component and a fiber optic component, the connector comprising:
 a connector body;   a contact post mounted within the connector body that is configured to receive both a center conductor of the coaxial component and an optical fiber of the fiber optic component;   a compression sleeve that is received within a rear end of the connector body; and   an optical fiber passage at a front end of the connector body.   
     
     
         2 . The connector of  claim 1 , wherein a front end of the connector body includes external threads, the connector further comprising a jam nut that is received on the external threads to mount the connector on a mounting structure. 
     
     
         3 . The connector of  claim 2 , wherein a pair of D-flats are provided in the external threads. 
     
     
         4 . The connector of  claim 1 , wherein the optical fiber passage includes at least one external protrusion, and wherein a furcation tube extends from a front end of the optical fiber passage. 
     
     
         5 . The connector of  claim 4 , wherein heat shrinkable material is installed over the external protrusion of the optical fiber passage and over at least a portion of the furcation tube. 
     
     
         6 . The connector of  claim 1 , in combination with the composite communications cable. 
     
     
         7 . The connector and composite communications cable combination of  claim 6 , wherein the center conductor of the coaxial component extends into the contact post and includes an insulative cap. 
     
     
         8 . The connector and composite communications cable combination of  claim 6 , wherein the composite communications cable further comprises:
 a dielectric spacer that substantially surrounds the center conductor;   an outer conductor that substantially surrounds the dielectric spacer; and   a jacket that surrounds the outer conductor,   wherein the optical fiber is a non-buffered optical fiber positioned between the center conductor and the dielectric spacer, and   wherein an outer surface of the non-buffered optical fiber is within 50 microns of the outer surface of the center conductor.   
     
     
         9 . The connector of  claim 1 , wherein the optical fiber passage includes a first channel that is configured to receive the optical fiber and a second channel that is configured to receive the center conductor. 
     
     
         10 . The connector of  claim 8 , wherein a furcation tube extends from a front end of the optical fiber passage, and wherein the center conductor extends through both the optical fiber passage and the furcation tube. 
     
     
         11 . A ground plate, comprising:
 a base plate;   a mounting plate extending upward from the base plate, the mounting plate including a plurality of slots aligned in a row;   wherein the base plate includes a plurality of fingers, each of which includes a threaded aperture.   
     
     
         12 . A method of upgrading a coaxial cable cabling connection to a fiber optic cabling connection, the method comprising:
 removing a coaxial connector from a first end of a composite communications cable;   removing portions of a jacket, an outer conductor and a dielectric spacer of the composite communications cable from the first end of the composite communications cable so that a first end portion of an optical fiber of the composite communications cable extends beyond first end portions of the jacket, outer conductor and dielectric spacer;   folding the first end portion of the outer conductor back onto the first end portion of the jacket;   inserting the first end of the composite communications cable into a compression connector so that the first end portion of the optical fiber extends through an optical fiber passage of the compression connector; and   compressing a compression sleeve of the compression connector to lock the composite communications cable in place inside the compression connector.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the compression connector includes:
 a connector body;   a contact post mounted within the connector body that is configured to receive both a first end portion of a center conductor of the composite communications cable and the first end portion of the optical fiber,   wherein the optical fiber passage extends from a front end of the connector body and the compression sleeve is received within a rear end of the connector body.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein a front end of the connector body includes external threads, the method further comprising threading a jam nut onto the external threads to mount the compression connector on a mounting structure 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the optical fiber passage includes at least one external protrusion, the method further comprising mounting a furcation tube onto a front end of the optical fiber passage. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , the method further comprising installing a heat shrinkable material over the external protrusion of the optical fiber passage and over at least a portion of the furcation tube. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the outer conductor provides strain relief once the composite communications cable is locked in place inside the compression connector. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the optical fiber passage includes first and second channels, the method further comprising passing the first end of the optical fiber through the first channel and passing a center conductor of the composite communications cable through the second channel. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein a furcation tube extends from a front end of the optical fiber passage, and wherein a center conductor of the composite communications cable extends through both the optical fiber passage and the furcation tube.