Category Archives: Fiber Cable Connector

LC Connector Introduction

Fiber optic connectors are used to the mechanical and optical means for cross connecting fibers. Fiber optic connectors can also be used to join fiber cables to transmitters or receivers. There have been many types of connectors developed for fiber cable. Single mode networks have used FC or SC connectors in about the same proportion as ST and SC in multimode installations. But LC connector with smaller size and higher performance has become popular and the connector choice for optical transceivers for systems operating at gigabit speeds. The following text gives a detailed introduction of LC connector.

History of LC Connector

LC stands for Lucent Connector, as the LC connector was developed by Lucent Technologies as a response to the need by their primary customers, the telcos, for a small, low insertion loss connector. Then the LC design was standardized in EIA/TIA-604-10 and is offered by other manufacturers.

SC connector and LC connector

Advantages of LC Connector

There are solid reasons that the LC is the preferred connector for high-performance network. From the appearance, LC connect is like a mini size of SC connector. LC connector borrows split-sleeve construction and a cylindrical ferrule (usually ceramic) from SC connector. LC connector has a push-and-latch design providing pull-proof stability in system rack mounts. The picture on the right shows the appearance of SC connector and LC connector.

The ferrule size of LC connector is 1.25 mm which is half the size of SC connector ferrule—2.5 mm. LC connector is rated for 500 mating cycles and its typical insertion loss is 0.25 dB. An interesting feature of the LC is that, in some designs, the ferrule can be “tuned” or rotated with a special tool after it has been assembled. This offers a considerable performance advantage. The design and performance of LC connector address the need for high density and low insertion loss.

Application of LC Connector

LC connector can be found in many places for termination and connection, especially SFP transceivers for gigabit transmission. For example, the optic interfaces of Cisco SFP transceivers are all LC connectors. Some other applications are as following:

Simplex and duplex LC connectors

Telecommunication networks
Local area networks
Data processing networks
Cable television
Fiber-to-the-home
Premises distribution

LC Connector Selection Guide

To meet the needs of market, there are various types of LC connectors provided now. During the selection of LC connector, transmission media should be the first factor to consider. LC connector favors single mode fiber optic cable. But it can also be used with multimode fiber optic cable. Signals sometimes are transferred over simplex fiber optic cable and sometime duplex fiber optic cable. Thus, LC connector has both simplex and duplex design. The picture above shows an APC simplex LC connector on the left and a UPC duplex LC connector on the right. Some other factors like polishing style (APC or UPC), hole size and cable diameter should not be ignored. For more details about LC connectors, you can visit Fiberstore which provides various LC connectors with high performance and low price.

Introduction of PC, UPC and APC Connector

When choosing LC connectors, you might hear descriptions like LC UPC polished fiber optic connector, or LC APC connector. Or when choosing a ST fiber optic patch cable, you can find the description like ST/PC multimode fiber optic cable. What do PC, UPC, and APC stand for? The following text will give the explanations.

fiber optic connector ferrule

PC (physical contact), UPC (ultra physical contact) and APC (angle physical contact) are polish styles of ferrules inside the fiber optic connectors. Unlike copper cables with copper wire in the connectors as connection media, fiber optic connectors are with ceramic ferrules for connection. The picture on the left shows the ferrule in fiber optic connector. Different fiber optic connectors have different ferrule size and length. Also their polish style might be different.

To better understand why we have PC, UPC and APC, let’s start with the original fiber optic connector which has a flat-surface and is also known as flat connector (shown in the following picture). When two flat fiber connectors are mated, an air gap naturally forms between the two surfaces from small imperfections in the flat surfaces. The back reflection in flat connectors is about -14 dB or roughly 4%. To solve this problem, the PC connectors came into being.

flat fiber connector

In the PC connector, the two fibers meet, as they do with the flat connector, but the end faces are polished to be slightly curved or spherical. This eliminates the air gap and forces the fibers into contact. The back reflection is about -40 dB. The following picture shows two end faces of PC connectors.

PC connector

UPC fiber connector which usually has a blue-colored body, is an improvement of the PC connector with a better surface finished (as showed in the following picture) by an extended polishing. The back reflection of UPC connector is about -55 dB which lower than that of a standard PC connector. UPC connectors are often used in digital, CATV and telephony systems.

PC and UPC connectors have reliable, low insertion losses. However, their back reflection depends on the surface finish of the fiber. The better the fiber gain structure, the lower the back reflection. If the PC and UPC connectors are continually mated and remated, back reflection will degrade. An APC fiber connector won’t have such problem. Its back reflection does not degrade with repeated matings.

APC connector

APC connector usually has a green body with an end-face still curved but are angled at an industry-standard 8 degrees (showed in the above picture) which allows for even tight connections and smaller end-face radii. Thus any light that is redirected back towards the source is actually reflected out into the fiber cladding, again by virtue of the 8 degree angled end-face. APC ferrules offer return losses of -65dB. Some applications are more sensitive to return loss than others that call for APC connectors, like FTTx and Radio Frequency (RF) applications. APC connectors are also commonly used in passive optical applications due to the fact that many of these systems also use RF signals to deliver video.

APC connector and UPC connector

PC, UPC or APC connector, which should be the choice of fiber optic connector? The answer is it depends. Choosing the appropriate connector for a fiber network depends on things such as, network design and function. FS offers a wide range of fiber optic connector as well as professional optical network solution. For more information you can visit www.fs.com.

Fiber Optic Adapters – the Bridge between Fiber optic Connectors

Definition of Fiber Optic Adapter
Fiber optic adapter is a device used to connect two fiber optic connectors in the fiber optic cabling system. It seems like a bridge to connect the gap between two same styles connectors, even the different connectors. Due to its fuction, there is a specific situations of fiber optic adapter. If two fiber assemblies to be connected have the same style fiber connectors, it is called coupler. If the two fiber assemblies to be connected have different style connectors then we always call adapter. We can see an example in the following picture. The adapter connected ST connector to ST connector, both sides are the same style, in this time, we call coupler. Otherwise, we call adapter.
adapter-and-coupler

Types of Fiber Optic Adapter
According to the diversity of the fiber optic connectors, there are many types of fiber optic adapters. Adapters are available to join like connectors SC-to-SC, ST-to-ST, or FC-to-FC–and different styles of connectors. The latter devices are called hybrid adapters and are used, for instance, to join ST and SC connectors. We can see the following pictures to know more about different types of fiber optic adapters.

How do Fiber Optic Adapters work?
As we known, the key to a fiber connection is the precise alignment of each fiber core, so traditional connection method, such as the soldering is defective. Inside each fiber optic adapter, there is the alignment sleeve. The aligment sleeve is the most critical component of a fiber optic adapter. Bronze sleeves are more durable but the precision is not as good as ceramic. Ceramic ferrules offer a more precise alignment, but they are somewhat less durable. Bronze alignment sleeves are commonly used in multimode applications where precision alignment is not as critical. The performance of the adapter, defined as how well it aligns two connector ferrules, is determined by the amount of spring force in, and the tolerances of, the split sleeve. It needs a very professional technology to make it a reality.

alignment-sleeve

Fiberstore’s Fiber Optic Adapters Solutions
Fiberstore offers a variety of fiber optic adapters with types including single mode and multimode, LC, SC, ST, MU, FC, MTRJ, E2000, SMA, etc. All the fiber optic adapters have reliable performance and are on sale with good discount. We also welcome any inquiry for customized adapters.

Product’s Features:
Fits accordingly LC, FC, ST ,SC adapters
Lightest weight and very compact size
Specially designed mechanism minimizes insertion loss
Easy to operate
User friendly – easy to insert, remove and reload fiber

Fuctions:
A cable to cable fiber optic connection
Cable to equipment fiber optic connection

what is ODC Connector?

ODC connectors are designed for the fiber to antenna(FTTA) applications,ODC fiber optic connector can withstand harsh environmental conditions when being used in outdoor applications. They are used for data and telecommunications in mobile radio, process, utility and traffic automation.

FiberStore provides all types of outdoor fiber connectors. These connectors meet the highest quality and robustness standards, and they offer reliability and flexibility for outdoor applications.
The odc connectors,together with the support optical cable,are becoming the standard interface specified in 3G,4G and WiMax Base Station remote radios and Fiber-to-the-Antenna applications.

The ODC cable assembly is based on the N Type RF Coax connector. ODC to LC fiber optic cables are instock.

The product,however,is not limited to the above applications, It is also in the oil, wind power, rail transport and heavy machinery of digital information transmission and other areas play a strong role.

The ODC cable assemblies have passed tests like salt mist,vibration and shock and meet protection class IP68. They are well suited for industrial and Aerospace and Defense applications.

Specifications

Technology		Full ceramic ferrule and sleeve
Housing material		Nickel plated brass
Mechanical performance	ODC plug	≤1000 N tensile load≤30 N static side load
Mechanical performance	ODC socket	≤30 N tensile load
Installation torque force	min.1Nm	max.2Nm
Operating temperature	IEC 61300 – 2 – 22	-40℃ up to +85℃
Mating durability		1000 cycle
Ingress protection(mate)	IEC60529	Ip 68
Salt mist	IEC61300-2-26	30 days passed
Vibration	IEC61300-2-1	Pass 10-500Hz/10g
Shock	IEC61300-2-9	Pass 100g

Connectors Are Termination Of Cables And Other Applications

Fiber optic connector is a mechanical device mounted on the end of a fiber optic cable, light source, receiver, or housing, the connector allows these devices to be mated to a similar device. Of the many different connector types, connectors for both glass fiber cable and plastic fiber optic cable are available. The terminal ends of all fiber cable strands shall be field connectorized. It is IST’s practice to terminate both ends of all fibers within a fiber cable with ST, epoxy and polish style connectors. Termination of older cables may be of several types including mechanical or fusion spliced pigtails.

There are a number of connector styles on the market including LC, FC, MT-RJ, ST and SC, belong them the SC Connector is the most popular connectors. Manufacturers and distributors are more likely to have equipment to accommodate SC and ST style connectors than any other connector style. That should be a consideration when making product selections.

SC Connectors

SC connectors are used with single-mode and multimode fiber-optic cables. They offer low cost, simplicity, and durability. SC connectors provide for accurate alignment via their ceramic ferrules. An SC connector is a push-on, pull-off connector with a locking tab. Typical matched SC connectors are rated for 1000 mating cycles and have an insertion loss of 0.25 dB. From a design perspective, it is recommended to use a loss margin of 0.5 dB or the vendor recommendation for SC connectors.

FC Connectors

These connectors are used for single-mode and multimode fiber-optic cables. FC connectors offer extremely precise positioning of the fiber-optic cable with respect to the transmitter’s optical source emitter and the receiver’s optical detector. FC connectors feature a position locatable notch and a threaded receptacle. FC connectors are constructed with a metal housing and are nickel-plated. They have ceramic ferrules and are rated for 500 mating cycles. The insertion loss for matched FC connectors is 0.25 dB. From a design perspective, it is recommended to use a loss margin of 0.5 dB or the vendor recommendation for FC connectors.

ST Connectors

The ST Connector is a keyed bayonet connector and is used for both multimode and single-mode fiber-optic cables. It can be inserted into and removed from a fiber-optic cable both quickly and easily. Method of location is also easy. ST connectors come in two versions: ST and ST-II. These are keyed and spring-loaded. They are push-in and twist types. ST connectors are constructed with a metal housing and are nickel-plated. They have ceramic ferrules and are rated for 500 mating cycles. The typical insertion loss for matched ST connectors is 0.25 dB. From a design perspective, it is recommended to use a loss margin of 0.5 dB or the vendor recommendation for ST connectors.

LC Connectors

LC connectors are used with single-mode and multimode fiber-optic cables. The LC connectors are constructed with a plastic housing and provide for accurate alignment via their ceramic ferrules. LC connectors have a locking tab. LC connectors are rated for 500 mating cycles. The typical insertion loss for matched LC connectors is 0.25 dB. From a design perspective, it is recommended to use a loss margin of 0.5 dB or the vendor recommendation for LC connectors.

MT-RJ Connectors

MT-RJ connectors are used with single-mode and multimode fiber-optic cables. The MT-RJ connectors are constructed with a plastic housing and provide for accurate alignment via their metal guide pins and plastic ferrules. MT-RJ connectors are rated for 1000 mating cycles. The typical insertion loss for matched MT-RJ connectors is 0.25 dB for SMF and 0.35 dB for MMF. From a design perspective, it is recommended to use a loss margin of 0.5 dB or the vendor recommendation for MT-RJ connectors.

MTP/MPO Connectors

MTP/MPO connectors are used with single-mode and multimode fiber-optic cables. The MTP/MPO is a connector manufactured specifically for a multifiber ribbon cable. The MTP/MPO single-mode connectors have an angled ferrule allowing for minimal back reflection, whereas the multimode connector ferrule is commonly flat. The ribbon cable is flat and appropriately named due to its flat ribbon-like structure, which houses fibers side by side in a jacket. The typical insertion loss for matched MTP/MPO connectors is 0.25 dB. From a design perspective, it is recommended to use a loss margin of 0.5 dB or the vendor recommendation for MTP/MPO connectors.

There are also other types of connectors, have a wide seleciton of fiber connectors at FiberStore.

Tutorials Of Fiber Optic Products

Here You Can Find The Best Fiber Optic Tutorials!