This slide contains different types of optical fiber connectors

1. Optical Fiber Connectors
Jiten Thapa
jitenthapa56@gmail.com
Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering
Kathmandu University

2. Outline
› Background
› Introduction
› Obsolete Connectors
› Other Connectors
DEPT OF EEE, KATHMANDU UNIVERSITY 2

3. Background
In last 35 years, many fiber optic calbles was invented
which has lower loss, less cost and easier to install
About 100 fiber optic connectors have been introduced to
the marketplace, but only a few represent the majority of
the market.
DEPT OF EEE, KATHMANDU UNIVERSITY 3

4. Introduction
› a flexible device that connects fiber cables requiring a
quick connection and disconnection.
› Optical fibers terminate fiber-optic connections to fiber
equipment or join two fiber connections without splicing.
› Hundreds of optical fiber connector types are available
› Optical fiber connectors ensure stable connections
DEPT OF EEE, KATHMANDU UNIVERSITY 4

5. Ferrule
› Metal, ceramic or plastic
› Holds the delicate fiber in place,
protect it and mechanically position
and align the fiber to prevent the
losses.
› A cylindrical tube with a small hole in
one end for the fiber and larger hole
on other side for cable jacket.
› The fiber is epoxied to the ferrule
› It is the most important and costly
part of a fiber connector.
› If its length, hole centering and inside
and outside diameters are not exact, a
poor connection will result
DEPT OF EEE, KATHMANDU UNIVERSITY 5

6. Deutsch 1000
› probably the first commercially
successful fiber optic connector.
› The nose piece is spring loaded
and was pushed back when the
connector was inserted into a
mating adapter.
› yielding about 3 dB loss.
› Used as on connector in front
panel of the original Tektronix
OTDR.
DEPT OF EEE, KATHMANDU UNIVERSITY 6

7. Bionic Connector
› one of the first connectors
employed in fiber optic
communications links
› obsolete
› Developed by a team led by Jack
Cook at Bell Labs in Murray Hill
› loss was never less than 0.3 dB
due to fresnel reflection
DEPT OF EEE, KATHMANDU UNIVERSITY 7

8. SMA Connector
› Amphenol developed the SMA
from the "Subminiature A" hence
SMA, microwave connector.
› The model 905 had a machined
ferrule exactly 1/8 inch in
diameter
› These connectors are still in use
on some military and industrial
systems.
DEPT OF EEE, KATHMANDU UNIVERSITY 8

9. NEC D4
› The NEC D4 was probably the
first connector to use ceramic
or hybrid ceramic/stainless
steel ferrules.
› It uses a smaller ferrule than
SCs or FCs.
› It was widely used in
telecommunication networks in
the 80s to early 90s and some
may still be in use.
DEPT OF EEE, KATHMANDU UNIVERSITY 9

10. Plastic Fiber Optic Cable Connectors
› relatively fewer plastic
connectors available compared
to glass fiber.
› Cheaper and are primarily
designed for easy application.
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11. ST (Straight Tip) Connector
› that utilizes a bayonet-style plug
and socket
› developed by AT&T and became
dominant during the 1980s and
1990s
› usable for both single and multi-
mode fibers
› are spring loaded, which means
they are easily inserted and
removed
› The typical insertion loss is 0.25 DEPT OF EEE, KATHMANDU UNIVERSITY 11

12. SC Connector
› a snap-in connector also with a
2.5 mm ferrule that is widely
used for it's excellent
performance
› was not widely used at first
because it was twice as
expensive as a ST
› It's a snap-in connector that
latches with a simple push-pull
motion
› Used at Kathmandu University
DEPT OF EEE, KATHMANDU UNIVERSITY 12

13. LC Connector
› Lucent Connector
› It's a snap-in connector that
latches with a simple push-pull
motion
› 1 LC= 0.5 SC (Size)
› It's a snap-in connector that
latches with a simple push-pull
motion
DEPT OF EEE, KATHMANDU UNIVERSITY 13

14. MT-RJ (Mechanical Transfer Registered Jack)
› Popular due to small size
› Looks like a mini RJ 45 Cable
› commonly used for networking
applications. size is slightly
smaller than a standard phone
jack
› just as easy to connect and
disconnect.
› It's half the size of the SC
Connector it was designed to
replace.
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15. Opti Jack Connector
› typical insertion loss of less than
0.3dB per connection.
› 2.5 mm ferrules
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16. LX5 Connector
› provides high density, high
performance & reliable connections.
› Uses automatic metal shutter
technology with a 1.25 mm ferrule.
› These connectors are designed for
use in CATV applications as well as
in modern day high performance
› At 0.1 db, the insertion loss of this
connector is one of the lowest in the
market.
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17. Insertion loss
› It is the loss of signal power resulting from the insertion
of a device in a transmission line or optical fiber and is
usually expressed in decibels.
› Insertion Loss (dB)= 10𝑙𝑜𝑔10(
𝑃𝑡
𝑃𝑟
)
DEPT OF EEE, KATHMANDU UNIVERSITY 17

18. MU Connector
› are new generation connectors used
mainly in dense applications. The
connector is square and employs a
push-pull mating mechanism.
› The different variations of this
connector are
› Single Mode APC
› Single Mode UPC
› Multi Mode UPC
› This connector is used
for SONET, SDH, LAN, WDM, CATV as
well as ATM applications
DEPT OF EEE, KATHMANDU UNIVERSITY 18

19. MT Connector
› The MT connector is a ribbon
cable that has 12 fiber
connectors. They are used for
factory terminated cable
assemblies and cabling systems.
DEPT OF EEE, KATHMANDU UNIVERSITY 19

20. MPO Connector
› widely used around the world.
designed to reduce the amount
of time required for fusion
splicing individual connectors.
› It combines lots of fibers in one
connector
› also saves a lot of space.
› Generally, there are two popular
MPO connector types: 12-fiber
MPO connector and 24-fiber
MPO connector.
DEPT OF EEE, KATHMANDU UNIVERSITY 20

21. Other Connectors
› Escon Connector
› FDDI Connector
› Optimate Connector
› Augat OK & CL Series
› H-P HFBR-4000
› H-P HFBR-0500
› AMP Optimate DNP
› Deutsch 1000
› Deutsch 4000
› Siecor
› ITT FOT/OCN 101/201
› WECO LB1B
DEPT OF EEE, KATHMANDU UNIVERSITY 21
Amphenol Bayonet
G+H/Breechlok Contact
Sumitomo Mini BNC
Deutsch 3000, Expanded Beam SMA
AT&T ST
Lamdek (Kodak)
Philips 2000 Series
Radiall Optoball F-714
Seimens LWL (DIN 47255)
Socapex
ITT FOSCLN5C
AT&T Rotary Splice
T&B Ansley (Plastic Fiber)
Amphenol Mini Bayonet (906-200-5000)
Radiall VFO 710
Diamond Interoptic Din
Cannon duplex (FOTC)
FDDI Duplex

22. References
› Connector Identifier:
http://www.thefoa.org/tech/connID.htm
› Connector Types and Terminology – What's In A Name?
http://www.thefoa.org/tech/ref/termination/names.html
› 16 Types of Fiber Optic Connectors to Choose From:
http://www.ad-net.com.tw/16-types-fiber-optic-
connectors-choose/
› Fiber Optic Communication, Joseph C. Palais, Pearson
Education
DEPT OF EEE, KATHMANDU UNIVERSITY 22

23. DEPT OF EEE, KATHMANDU UNIVERSITY 23
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