Over the years, a large variety of fiber optic connectors have been designed for most fiber optic installations. Lightwave equipment manufacturers have never standardized on any one connector type, they actually provide a selection of connectors for their equipment interface.
It is very important to choose the fiber connector type for your applications. You should maintain a connector standard throughout a fiber optic project.
:: The components of a fiber connector
For most fiber optic connectors, the major components are ferrule, connector body, connector cap and strain-relief boot.
Ferrule
The ferrule is the center part of the connector. It contains the optical fiber in a center hole. Ferrule can be made from ceramic (Zirconia), stainless steel or composite material.
Ceramic ferrule is the most popular material since it has stable temperature characteristics. The most common ceramic is Zirconia which is a white hard ceramic material. Ceramic ferrule is used for both single mode and multimode connectors. It offers the lowest insertion loss and the best repeatability.
Connector Body
Fiber optic connector body can be steel or plastic. The body design differs from connector to connector. The connector body provides the mechanism to hold the ferrule and other parts together. It also provides the locking mechanism for connector mating. The most common locking mechanisms are push-pull, snap-in, thread on and twist-on.
Connector Cap
Connector cap often has the same material as the body: either steel or plastic. The cap can be screw on, twist lock or snap-on for connector mating.
Strain-relief Boot
Strain-relief boot is the part connecting the connector body and the fiber cable. It is often made from rubber. Although it looks minimal, it is actually one of the most critical parts in a connector. It provides strain relief on the optical fiber to prevent micro-bending, breakage and provides mechanical support for fiber and connector handling.
:: Legacy Fiber Connector Types
The following list shows the legacy connector types that have been deployed in numerous fiber optic networks for many years.
ST Connector
ST connector was once the most popular fiber connector. It was well-liked for both single mode and multimode fiber connections. The average insertion loss for a ST connector is about 0.5dB.
ST connector has a twist-on locking mechanism which is not susceptible to loosening in vibrating environment. It is most often used in LAN networks.
FC Connector
FC connector is popular for single mode applications. It has the lowest insertion loss and the best repeatability. It has a thread-on locking mechanism.
SMA connector
SMA connector is a pretty old connector type which is mostly used for multimode applications. Today it is still being using on medical equipment.
There are two types of SMA connectors on the market: SMA 905 and SMA 906. The only difference between them is that SMA 906 has a straight ferrule while SMA 905 has a step-down ferrule.
D4 Connector
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 telco networks in the 80s to early 90s and some may still be in use.
FDDI connector
Besides the SC Duplex, you may occasionally see the FDDI duplex connectors which mate to their specific networks. They are generally used to connect to the equipment from a wall outlet, but the rest of the network will have ST or SC connectors. Since they both use 2.5 mm ferrules, they can be mated to SC or ST connectors with adapters.
Biconic Connector
Biconic connector's yellow body indicating a SM version - mutlimode versions were usually black. Biconic connector was developed by a team led by Jack Cook at Bell Labs in Murray Hill, NJ.
In the world today, fiber optics are used in many military applications, on aircraft, spacecraft, and in rugged outdoor terrains. This is due to the fact that military fiber optic connectors are much more durable and can withstand brutal environments and extreme weather changes than when the technology was introduced. In this article, we'll look at some of the basics types of connectors and discuss methods of care and cleaning of a military fiber optic connector.
There are essentially 4 different categories of connector. These categories are: the Light Connector, the multi-terminus connector, the single terminus connector, and the COTS (Commercial off the Shelf) connector. Inside these different types of connectors, only some are to be considered "military":
As rugged as these connectors are, they still require precision when it comes to the care and cleaning. There are two different methods of cleaning military fiber optic cables depending on the connectors design.
Cleaning with Lint-Free Wipes and Solvents or Alcohol Pads: Saturate your dry lint-free wipe with alcohol using a pump dispenser designed for use in a cleaning military fiber optic connector. The design of the pump dispenser keeps the alcohol free of dust and debris. Prepackaged, pre-saturated alcohol pads are also available for times when dry pads and solvent are inappropriate. With the connector end face down, wipe the connector with the alcohol soaked pad until clean and then use a dry pad to wipe the connector clean.
Cleaning with Swabs and Solvents: Cleaning these connectors with swabs is especially useful for cleaning recessed connection points but can also be used to clean the entire connector. Insert the saturated swab into recessed points or apply the swab to the exposed surface of the connector and rotate the swab carefully applying different degrees of pressure. Check the connector for cleanliness using and optical microscope and repeat if necessary.
For a complete cleaning environment for your military fiber optic connectors, you will also want to use dust caps and canned air to prevent debris from collecting on the connectors while working. Though military connectors and cabling are designed to be more rugged than standard fiber optic connectors are, the times when the fiber optic connectors are open are when the fibers are most vulnerable. Taking extra precaution during cleaning and maintenance are essential to the longevity of your fiber optic network.
Both Colin Yao & Christine Harrell are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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