Fiber optic connection assembly

Abstract

A fiber optic connection assembly for fiber to the home, comprising: a fan-out member; a multi-fiber optical cable having a first end introduced into the fan-out member and a second end extending out of the fan-out member; a multi-fiber optic connector connected to the second end of the multi-fiber optical cable; a plurality of single-fiber optical cables each having a first end introduced into the fan-out member and spliced with a respective one of fibers of the multi-fiber optical cable and a second end extending out of the fan-out member; and a plurality of single-fiber optic connectors connected to the second ends of the single-fiber optical cables, respectively; a plurality of first fiber optic adapters mated with the plurality of single-fiber optic connectors, respectively; and a plurality of outer shields each constructed to receive the connector and the adapter of a respective single-fiber optical cable therein, wherein the outer shield is hermetically fitted on the connector and the adapter of the respective single-fiber optical cable to form a sealed inner chamber so as to prevent moisture or water from entering into the inner chamber.

1 . A fiber optic connection assembly for fiber to the home, comprising:
 a fan-out member;   a multi-fiber optical cable having a first end introduced into the fan-out member and a second end extending out of the fan-out member;   a multi-fiber optic connector connected to the second end of the multi-fiber optical cable;   a plurality of single-fiber optical cables each having a first end introduced into the fan-out member and a second end extending out of the fan-out member;   a plurality of single-fiber optic connectors connected to the second ends of the single-fiber optical cables, respectively;   a plurality of first fiber optic adapters mated with the plurality of single-fiber optic connectors, respectively; and   a plurality of outer shields each constructed to receive the connector and the adapter of a respective single-fiber optical cable therein,   wherein the outer shield is hermetically fitted on the connector and the adapter of the respective single-fiber optical cable to form a sealed inner chamber so as to prevent moisture or water from entering into the inner chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The fiber optic connection assembly according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the outer shield has a first end screwed onto a housing of the fiber optic adapter;   wherein a first elastic seal ring is interposed between an inner flange surface of the first end of the outer shield and an outer flange surface of the housing of the fiber optic adapter; and   when the outer shield is screwed onto the housing of fiber optic adapter, the first elastic seal ring is axially pressed between the inner flange surface of the outer shield and the outer flange surface of the fiber optic adapter to seal an interface between the outer shield and the fiber optic adapter.   
     
     
         3 . The fiber optic connection assembly according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the fiber optic connector comprises an outer tube having a groove formed in an outer wall of the outer tube, and a second elastic seal ring is received in the groove;   wherein the outer shield is formed with an radial protrusion on an inner wall of the outer shield at a second end of the outer shield; and   when the outer shield is screwed onto the housing of fiber optic adapter, the second elastic seal ring is radially pressed in the groove by the an inner peripheral surface of the radial protrusion to seal an interface between the outer shield and the fiber optic connector.   
     
     
         4 . The fiber optic connection assembly according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein the fiber optic adapter comprises a seal cap screwed into a port of the housing of the fiber optic adapter opposite to the fiber optic connector;   wherein a third elastic seal ring is interposed between an outer peripheral surface of the seal cap and an inner peripheral surface of the housing of the fiber optic adapter; and   when the seal cap is screwed into the port of fiber optic adapter, the third elastic seal ring is radially pressed between the outer peripheral surface of the seal cap and the inner peripheral surface of the fiber optic adapter to seal an interface between the seal cap and the fiber optic adapter.   
     
     
         5 . The fiber optic connection assembly according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein the fiber optic connector comprises a shrinkable tube having a first end firmly attached on a first end of the outer tube and a second end firmly attached on the optical cable to seal an interface between the fiber optic connector and the optical cable.   
     
     
         6 . The fiber optic connection assembly according to  claim 5 ,
 wherein the radial protrusion of the outer shield has a slope for guiding the second elastic seal ring to the inner peripheral surface of the radial protrusion.   
     
     
         7 . The fiber optic connection assembly according to  claim 6 ,
 wherein the fiber optic connector further comprises an inner tube passing through the outer tube and having a first end inserted into a housing of the fiber optic connector; and   wherein a buffer spring is interposed between an outer flange on an outer wall of a second end of the inner tube and an inner flange on an inner wall of the second end of the outer tube.   
     
     
         8 . The fiber optic connection assembly according to  claim 7 ,
 wherein a slot is formed in the outer wall of the inner tube, and a block ring is received in the slot; and   wherein the outer tube is formed with an radial outer protrusion at the second end of the outer tube, and the radial outer protrusion is limited between an radial inner protrusion of the outer shield and the block ring to prevent the outer tube and the buffer spring from being disengaged from the inner tube.   
     
     
         9 . The fiber optic connection assembly according to  claim 8 ,
 wherein the fiber optic connector further comprises a crimp tube for crimping Kevlar elements of the optical cable on the first end of the outer tube to prevent an external force exerted on the optical cable from being transferred to a ferrule of the fiber optic connector.   
     
     
         10 . The fiber optic connection assembly according to  claim 9 ,
 wherein an outer surface of the first end of the outer tube is knurled to enhance a friction engagement force with the crimp tube.   
     
     
         11 . The fiber optic connection assembly according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the multi-fiber optical cable and the single-fiber optical cables are introduced into the fan-out member from a same side or different sides of the fan-out member.   
     
     
         12 . The fiber optic connection assembly according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the single-fiber optical cables have different lengths extending out the fan-out member.   
     
     
         13 . The fiber optic connection assembly according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the single-fiber optical cables are divided into a plurality of groups, and each group of single-fiber optical cables have a same length extending out the fan-out member; and   wherein different groups of single-fiber optical cables have a same length or different lengths extending out the fan-out member.   
     
     
         14 . The fiber optic connection assembly according to  claim 13 ,
 wherein the single-fiber optic connectors of the same one group of single-fiber optical cables are arranged in the same layer; and   wherein the single-fiber optic connectors of different groups of single-fiber optical cables are arranged in different layers.   
     
     
         15 . The fiber optic connection assembly according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein there is not provided any fiber optic connector or fiber optic adapter for coupling with a fiber optic connector of a user side in the fan-out member.   
     
     
         16 . The fiber optic connection assembly according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the single-fiber optic connector is configured to be a sealed type of optic connector.   
     
     
         17 . The fiber optic connection assembly according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a second fiber optic adapter mated with the multi-fiber optic connector.   
     
     
         18 . The fiber optic connection assembly according to  claim 17 ,
 the single-fiber optic connectors and the mating single-fiber optic connectors are hermetically fitted in the first fiber optic adapters.   
     
     
         19 . The fiber optic connection assembly according to  claim 18 , wherein,
 before the mating single-fiber optic connector of the user side is fitted into a respective port of the first fiber optic adapter, the respective port is provisionally sealed by a sealing cap.   
     
     
         20 . The fiber optic connection assembly according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the multi-fiber optical cable and the single-fiber optical cables are hermetically fitted in the fan-out member.   
     
     
         21 . The fiber optic connection assembly according to  claim 20 ,
 wherein the multi-fiber optical cable and the single-fiber optical cables are hermetically fitted in the fan-out member by pressing a sealing gel block.   
     
     
         22 . The fiber optic connection assembly according to  claim 21 , wherein the fan-out member comprising:
 a housing;   a tray received in the housing and constructed to store and manage the redundant fibers of the multi-fiber optical cable;   a first pressing plate hermetically fitted in the housing by a sealing ring; and   a second pressing plate disposed at a side of the first pressing plate opposite to the housing,   wherein the sealing gel block is received in an inner space defined by the first and second pressing plates,   wherein the first end of the multi-fiber optical cable passes through the second pressing plate, the sealing gel block and the first pressing plate and extends into the housing,   wherein the first end of the single-fiber optical cable passes through a hole in the second pressing plate and is received in a hole in the sealing gel block,   wherein the housing, the sealing gel block and the second pressing plate are assembled together by bolts, so that the sealing gel block and the sealing ring can be pressed by screwing the bolts, and that the multi-fiber optical cable and the single-fiber optical cable can be hermetically fitted in the fan-out member.   
     
     
         23 . The fiber optic connection assembly according to  claim 22 ,
 wherein the multi-fiber optical cable is fixed to the first pressing plate to transfer an external force exerted on the multi-fiber optical cable to the housing rather than the fibers of the multi-fiber optical cable; and   wherein a crimp ring is crimped on the first end of the single-fiber optical cable, and the crimp ring has a diameter larger than that of the hole formed in the second pressing plate to prevent the single-fiber optical cable from being disengaged from the second pressing plate and transfer an external force exerted on the single-fiber optical cable to the housing rather than the fiber of the single-fiber optical cable.   
     
     
         24 . The fiber optic connection assembly according to  claim 20 ,
 wherein the multi-fiber optical cable and the single-fiber optical cable are hermetically fitted in the fan-out member by filling a sealing gel into the fan-out member.   
     
     
         25 . The fiber optic connection assembly according to  claim 24 , wherein the fan-out member comprising:
 a housing having a chamber therein; and   an end plate fitted in a port of the housing,   wherein the first end of the single-fiber optical cable passes through a hole in the end plate and extends into the chamber,   wherein the first end of the multi-fiber optical cable extends into the chamber of the housing, and   wherein the sealing gel is filled into the chamber of the housing, so that the multi-fiber optical cable and the single-fiber optical cable are hermetically fitted in the fan-out member.   
     
     
         26 . The fiber optic connection assembly according to  claim 25 ,
 wherein the multi-fiber optical cable is fixed to the housing to transfer an external force exerted on the multi-fiber optical cable to the housing rather than the fibers of the multi-fiber optical cable; and   wherein a crimp ring is crimped on the first end of the single-fiber optical cable, and the crimp ring has a diameter larger than that of the hole in the end plate to prevent the single-fiber optical cable from being disengaged from the end plate and transfer an external force exerted on the single-fiber optical cable to the housing rather than the fiber of the single-fiber optical cable.   
     
     
         27 . The fiber optic connection assembly according to  claim 26 , wherein the fan-out member further comprising:
 a tray received in the chamber of the housing and constructed to store and manage the redundant fibers of the multi-fiber optical cable.   
     
     
         28 . The fiber optic connection assembly according to  claim 26 ,
 wherein Kevlar elements of the multi-fiber optical cable are directly joined to the crimp ring of the single-fiber optical cables by the sealing gel.   
     
     
         29 . The fiber optic connection assembly according to claim, wherein the fan-out member further comprising:
 an elastic tail sleeve sleeved on the multi-fiber optical cable and/or the single-fiber optical cables and connected to the housing or the end plate to protect the multi-fiber optical cable and/or the single-fiber optical cables from being damaged by a lateral force.   
     
     
         30 . The fiber optic connection assembly according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the plurality of single-fiber optical cables each has a fiber spliced with a respective one of the plurality of fibers of the multi-fiber optical cable in the fan-out member.   
     
     
         31 . The fiber optic connection assembly according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein a splitter is disposed in the fan-out member to separate the multi-fiber optical cable into a plurality of fibers.   
     
     
         32 . The fiber optic connection assembly according to  claim 31 ,
 wherein the plurality of fibers of the multi-fiber optical cable each runs through a respective one of the single-fiber optical cables and is terminated at the single-fiber optic connector on the respective one of the single-fiber optical cables.