Topic:- Optical Fiber Connectors

Gujarat Technological University

Prepared By:Sanchela Maulik M. :- 14EC038

B. E. (E. & C.)6th Sem.BHGCET, Rajkot

1

B. H. Gardi College of Engineering & Technology

Subject:- Optical Communication

Outline:

Why We require connectors? Introduction Features Classification & Types of Connectors Obsolete Connectors Reference

Why? Optical fiber connectors are used to join optical fibers where a connect/disconnect

capability is required. Due to the polishing and tuning procedures that may be incorporated into optical

connector manufacturing, connectors are generally assembled onto optical fiber in a supplier’s manufacturing facility.

However, the assembly and polishing operations involved can be performed in the field, for example, to make cross connect jumpers to size.

Optical fiber connectors are used in telephone company central offices, at installations on customer premises, and in outside plant applications to connect equipment and cables, or to cross connect cables.

Most optical fiber connectors are spring loaded, so the fiber faces are pressed together when the connectors are mated.

The resulting glass to glass or plastic to plastic contact eliminates signal losses that would be caused by an air gap between the joined fibers

A variety of optical fiber connectors are available, but SC and LC connectors are the most common types of connectors on the market.

The main differences among types of connectors are dimensions and methods of mechanical coupling.

Generally, organizations will standardize on one kind of connector, depending on what equipment they commonly use.

Different connectors are required for multimode, and for single mode fibers.

Introduction:

Features of good connector design:

Low insertion loss High return loss (low amounts of reflection at the

interface) Ease of installation Low cost Reliability Low environmental sensitivity Ease of use

Classification of Optical Connector:

Types of Optical Connectors:

SC (Subscriber or Square or Standard connector) ST (Straight Tip) Fc (Ferrule Connector or Fiber Channel) LC (Lucent Connector) MT-RJ (Mechanical Transfer Registered Jack or Media Termination -

Recommended Jack) Mu (Miniature Unit) SMA (Subminiature Version A)

SC(Subscriber or Square or Standard connector)

Details of SC:(Subscriber or Square or Standard connector)

Manufactured By: NTT (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone) of Japan. Application: SC Connectors are frequently used for Network applications.

SC connector is widely used in single mode systems. SC connectors have low cost and they are simple and durable.

Ferrule Diameter: It has a 2.5mm diameter ferrule, made of ceramic or metal. A 124~127µm diameter hole is drilled in the center of the ferrule. They provide accurate alignment due to ceramic ferrules.

Standard: IEC 61754-4 Coupling Type: It has a square shaped design, with push-pull latching

mechanism. Its molded housing provides optimum protection. Losses & Other Details: The SC connector is also available in a Duplex

configuration. SC connectors allow up to 1000 mating cycle. They have insertion loss of 0.25 dB and return loss >55 dB. They are available in single and multimode.

Price:Rs.=1199/- Approx.

ST (straight tip) Connector:

Details of ST (straight tip) Connector: Manufactured By: AT&T Application: ST connectors are used in telecommunications field for local

network applications. They are the most commonly used connectors for multimode applications.

Ferrule Diameter: It has a 2.5mm keyed long cylindrical ferrule for the durability and repeatability requirements in telecommunication links.

Standard: IEC 61 754-2 standard[9] Coupling Type: It has a twist-lock bayonet coupling. Couplers are spring-

loaded. They come in push-in and twist types. Because they are spring-loaded, they must be seated properly. It must be removed and reconnected if high insertion loss is observed. It can be inserted and removed easily due to its design. It can have metal or plastic housing.

Losses & Other Details: They are available in simplex version only. It allows 500 mating cycles. The Insertion Loss for correctly matched ST connectors is 0.25 dB. It is available in single mode as well as multimode fibers.

Price:Rs=1390/- Approx.

FC(Ferrule connector or fiber channel)

Manufactured By: AT Application: It is designed for telecommunication applications. It is

being used in long haul and local network connections. They are also useful in high-vibration environments. [4]

Ferrule Diameter: FC connector also has a 2.5mm ferrule made of ceramic (zirconia) or stainless alloy)

Standard: IEC 61 754-143 Coupling Type: It is designed with a threaded coupling. Due to such

coupling, connections are durable. It makes use of screw on mechanism in couplers.

Losses & Other Details: It is available in simplex mode only. It is rated for 500 mating cycles. The Insertion Loss for FC connectors is 0.25 dB. It is available in single mode and multimode. It is now gradually being replaced by SC and LC connectors.

Price:Rs=1199/- Approx.

Details of FC(Ferrule connector or fiber channel)

LC (Lucent Connector)

Manufactured By: Lucent Application: The LC has good performance and is highly favored for

single mode. Due to its small size, it is used for high-density connections.

Ferrule Diameter: LC connectors use a 1.25mm ceramic ferrule –half the size of the 2.5mm ferrule used in above mentioned connectors.

Standard: IEC 61754-20 Coupling Type: simplex and duplex – push and latch Losses & Other Details: Externally LC connectors resemble a

standard RJ45 telephone jack. Internally they resemble a miniature version of the SC connector. Insertion loss is <0.2 dB and return loss >50 dB. The LC is a small form-factor (SFF) Fiber optic connector.

Price:Rs=1379/- Approx.

Details of LC (Lucent Connector)

MT-RJ(Mechanical Transfer Registered Jack or Media Termination -

recommended jack)

Details of MT-RJ Connector: Manufactured By: Tyco Inc. Application: MT-RJ connectors are used in building communication

systems for duplex multimode connections. Ferrule Diameter: It has a miniature 2.45×4.4 mm two-fiber ferrule

with two guide pins parallel to the fibers on the outside. It is easier to terminate and install than ST or SC connectors. [5]

Standard: IEC 61754-18 Coupling type: It is derived from MT ferrule design. The guide pins

align ferrules precisely when mating two MT-RJ connectors. MT-RJ connectors are designed with male-female polarity which means male MT-RJ connector has two guide pins and female MT-RJ connector has two holes instead. MT-RJ uses a form factor and latch similar to the RJ45 connectors. Two separate fibers are included in one unified connector. The small size allows double the density than ST or SC connectors.

Price:Rs=2400/- Approx.

MU (Miniature Unit) connector

Manufactured By: It was developed by NTT. Application: It is a popular connector type in Japan. Applications include

high-speed data communications, voice networks and telecommunications. They even support dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM). They can also be used for multiple optical connections.

Ferrule Diameter: 1.25 mm Standard: IEC 61754-6 Coupling Type: It has push/pull mechanism, but benefit is that 2 channels

can fit in the footprint of a single SC. It is with square shaped. Losses & Other Details: It comes in simplex as well as duplex form. It is

a small form factor SC connector. They have insertion loss of 0.25 dB and return loss >55 dB.

Price:Rs=1100/- Approx.

Details of MU connector

SMA (Subminiature version A) Connector

Details of SMA Connector Manufactured By: Amphenol Fiber Optic Products Application: Industrial lasers, military; telecom multimode. The SMA

connector has exceptional mechanical durability. Ferrule Diameter: The SMA connector holds a single fiber. The Ferrule

is traditionally made of steel, although ceramic versions are available. SMA 905 and SMA 906 multimode connectors are available with stainless alloy or stainless steel ferrules. The stainless alloy ferrule may be drilled from 125um to 1550um to accept various fiber sizes.

Coupling Type: SMA connectors use a threaded plug and socket. SMA connectors have a threaded Coupling nut.

Losses & Other Details: Simplex only. Multimode only. SMA connectors come in two varieties: the SMA-905 has a straight ferrule, whereas the SMA-906 has a stepped ferrule design SMA 906 ferrule has a step, which requires a half sleeve to be installed when mating a SMA 906 connector with SMA 905 mating sleeves.

Price:Rs=1379/- Approx.

Reference:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_fiber_connector www.electronics.dit.ie www.slideshare.net http://www.ertyu.org/steven_nikkel/fiberconnect.html