Spartanburg-based AFL Global has received 12 patents over the last quarter for technology and product development in fiber optic cabling, fusion splicing, test equipment and connectivity, according to a news release.
AFL Receives Patents For Fiber Technology. The patents are:
- Tactical deployable cables — the newly designed cable quadrupled fiber count for existing cable constructions, solving an issue that enabled increased fiber density, reduced cable weight and allowed for additional length of deployment reels.
- Optical fiber bulkhead splice assemblies for optical transceiver modules — this invention uses a mass fusion splice solution to allow production of a fixed fiber length on the surface mount technology line and adds the termination pigtail in packaging post-process.
- Optical fiber furcation assemblies — the invention is a user-friendly field installable fan-out kit/furcation assembly with a simple crimp and a cover with a slot and rail that allows the cover to be installed after assembly.
RELATED: Fiber Optic Installation Testing
- Fiber optic transition assemblies — designed for outside plant applications, this furcation assembly includes a spring member strain relief on both the transition and connector ends.
- Communications module housing — this foldable fiber management tray allows access to the connectors and makes removal of modules more convenient.
- Optical connection apparatus and assemblies — this invention includes an adapter device that facilitates optical connections between an MPO/MTP connector and an optical power meter.
- Laser feedback control systems — this technology enables the use of multiple CO2 laser technologies for splicing and glass processing applications and stabilizes the laser output power.
- Parallel testing of multiple optical fibers — the invention uses parallel instrument functions to test multiple fibers at the same time to save overall test time.
- Methods for characterizing an optical loss test set and determining optical loss — this method was specifically developed for AFL’s Rogue OLTS/certification test equipment platform and improves the optical loss measurement accuracy on fiber optic networks.
- Optical fiber temperature control system — this invention is a second layer feedback that enables fiber temperature stabilization by direct IR radiation measurement.
- Optical zooming for fusion splicers — the zooming system enables the viewing of large diameter fibers up to 2.3 mm and a high-resolution system for observing the core and fiber structure for alignment. The system is used in all laser splicer products.
- Method for making bent tip fibers — this technology sweeps the arc to get a smooth bending curve. Used for medical laser blades and sensors.
- Several foreign patents also were received including optical connectivity products and technologies for Canada and test equipment products and technologies in Europe, the release said.
