Contents General Information Assembly Styles & Terminology Optical Fiber Cable Optical Glass Fiber Basics Assembly Performance Optical Fiber Performance & Characteristics Ferrule and Coupler/Adapter Designs Conversion Kits

• Data networks
• Telecommunication systems
• Cable television transmission

Features:

• Factory assembled in controlled conditions
• End-face geometry inspection using latest interferometric techniques
• Assemblies tested using RIFOCS automated bench-top insertion loss and back reflection test methods.

Components & Assembly:

• Unless otherwise stated, all optical cable assemblies use either ceramic ferrules or MT ferrules based on NTT's form factor polished with our proprietary termination process.
  • 100% microscopic inspection of face at 200X power minimum, and many at 400X
  • 100% insertion loss testing with each ferrule subject to light launch
  • Loss and back-reflection data supplied with assembly (where applicable)
  • Precision end face geometry process-verified by interferometric measurement of apex offset, concentricity, radius and fiber protusion
  • SPC process control checks at key stages of the assembly process

Assembly Styles:

Duplex Connector Assembly

Duplex Assembly with Simplex Connectors

Simplex Jumper Assembly

Simplex Pigtail Assembly

Optical Assembly Terminology:

Optical jumpers can take many forms. The most common form is a duplex jumper, with one fiber acting as a Tx (transmit leg) and the other fiber acting as the Rx (Receive leg). Optical jumper users must understand the relationship between the connectors, cable style and glass fiber. The term "Simplex" indicates that a single optical fiber is being used in the assembly but does not mention what type of glass is to be used (e.g. singlemode, multimode, etc...). The term "Duplex" indicates that the assembly contains two optical fibers. "Duplex" connectors allow two fibers to be terminated while "Simplex" connectors allow just one. Some simplex connectors can be joined together to form a quasi-duplex connector.

Optical Fiber Cable:
Jumper Cable
A duplex cable contains two fibers while a simplex cable contains just one. However, jumper cable design varies based on the primary applications. The most common jumper styles are:
Simplex	Duplex Round	Duplex "Zipcord" Style
Ribbon Fiber Cable
Certain optical connectors require ribbon cable constructions. In such cases, ribbon cables can take jacketed or unjacketed forms. Below, you will find the construction of a typical jacketed 12 fiber ribbon cable.
Trunk Cable
All Cables / Comparison Plenum MIC / Tight Buffer Central Tube Ribbon MicroCore USFF Diameter Weight Diameter Weight Diameter Weight Fiber Count (mm) (kg/km) (mm) (kg/km) (mm) (kg/km) 24 8.5 69 13.3 165 8.4 68 36 15.4 200 13.3 165 8.4 68 48 15.4 200 13.3 165 8.4 68 72 19.3 315 13.3 165 8.4 68 96 22.8 440 13.3 165 11.4 148 144 25.4 450 16.3 216 13.2 173 During Installation MIC / Tight Buffer Central Tube Ribbon MicroCore USFF Min. Bend Max. Load Min. Bend Max. Load Min. Bend Max. Load Fiber Count (Inches) (Lbs) (Inches) (Lbs) (Inches) (Lbs) 24 5.5 641 7.8 600 3.8 600 36 901 717 7.8 600 5 600 48 9.1 956 7.8 600 5 600 72 11.4 1434 7.8 600 5.0 600 96 13.5 1912 7.8 600 6.7 600 144 15 2868 9.6 600 7.8 600 Installed State MIC / Tight Buffer Central Tube Ribbon MicroCore USFF Min. Bend Max. Load Min. Bend Max. Load Min. Bend Max. Load Fiber Count (Inches) (Lbs) (Inches) (Lbs) (Inches) (Lbs) 24 3.5 321 5.2 135 2.5 150 36 6.1 357 5.2 135 3.3 150 48 6.1 476 5.2 135 3.3 150 72 7.6 714 5.2 135 3.3 150 96 9 952 5.2 135 4.5 150 144 10 1428 6.4 135 5.2 150

Optical Glass Fiber Basics:
	An optical fiber is comprised of two inseparable sections - a core and it's cladding. Light propagates through the core section and the cladding provides an internal reflection boundary. Light will propagate through the cladding layer but poorly. A multimode fiber has a large core thus allowing many light rays (modes) to propagate. A singlemode fiber has a very small core, allowing only one mode of light to be transmitted. Optical glass is sold based on the core / cladding dimensions. The most common multimode fiber is 62.5 /125 microns where 62.5 is the size of the core while the 125 microns is the size over the cladding. Over the past few years, 50/125 glass has grown in popularity due to it's exceptional performance at the 850 nm window. The core size of a singlemode fiber is called the mode diameter and ranges between 8.3 and 10 microns. It may be written 9/125 or 8.3-10/125.
To protect the glass fiber, a coating is applied over the glass by the fiber manufacturer. For additonal protection, a cable manufacturer may apply a buffer layer (typically 900 microns diameter)