AFL gets 12 patents for technology and product development

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Spartanburg-based AFL 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.

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.
• 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.