FAST-LC Connector

This technical report demonstrates the reliability performance of the FAST-LC connector in meeting mechanical and environmental performance criteria. Testing was conducted on mm and sm varieties of the FAST-LC connector in Fujikura test labs in Japan. The connector is designed for 250um coated and 900um buffered fibers. Testing was conducted on the 900um variety.

Any questions should be directed to AFL Telecommunications.

Submitted by: Kevin T. Monroe Project Manager Optical Connectivity and Apparatus Division AFL Telecommunications Kevin.Monroe@afltele.com Address: 170 Ridgeview Center Duncan, SC 29334 August 30, 2006

1. Description: The FAST-LC is a pre-polished fiber-stub field installable connector suitable for premise, LAN and Telco applications. It is a part of a series of Field Installable connectors requiring no polishing. The connector does not employ a special assembly tool, but incorporates its own pre-assembled wedge clip. This wedge clip is attached as a part of each connector and is discarded after installing the fiber. The FAST-LC connector utilizes a “push-pull-wedge” mechanism originally introduced in Fujikura’s mechanical splice. This mechanism achieves clamping both the bare fiber and fiber coating, enhancing the strength against fiber twist. The FAST-LC has a unique wedge mechanism with a double-action to release the wedge from the connector and to unlock the latch. The FAST-LC is fully compatible with standard LC connectors and meets interface requirements of EIA/TIA 604-10. It combines performance of both the LC connector and a mechanical splice.

(1) Application - 125um single fiber 250um coated, or 900um coated - Either single-mode or multimode fibers

(2) Structure

Configuration of Components of the FAST-LC

(3) Dimensions

2. Test items and procedure

Product performance Mechanical performance Environmental performance - Insertion loss - Return loss

- Vibration test - Twist test - Transition with applied

tensile load - Impact test - Durability test

- Thermal aging - Thermal Cycle - Humidity aging test - Humidity/condensation cycle - Post condensation thermal

cycle

- All the tests were carried out with “heterogeneous” optical fibers (different lots of the same type

fibers). - Measurement values in all the tests indicate actual insertion and return losses. - Fibers in all the tests were cleaved with a Fujikura CT-30 cleaver. - The test items were carried out in series. - Thirty (30) connectors were constructed for product performance, and ten (10) connectors were

constructed for mechanical/environmental performance. - Insertion losses were measured as below.

3. Optical Performance ① Insertion loss on 900um tight buffered fibers

② Return loss

4. Environmental Tests

4.1 Criteria and Conditions

Loss and Return Loss Criteria: Telcordia GR-1081-CORE Generic Requirements for Field-Mountable Optical Fiber Connectors. Conditions: Telcordia GR-326-CORE Generic Requirements for Singlemode Optical Connectors and Jumper Assemblies.

4.1.1 Thermal Age Test Telcordia GR-326-CORE 4.4.2.1

• 85C uncontrolled humidity, 168 hrs • Measurement of loss and return loss to be done before and after application of 85C.

4.1.2 Thermal Cycle Test Telcordia GR-326-CORE 4.4.2.2

• -40C to +75C , uncontrolled humidity, 21 cycles, 168 hrs • Measurement of loss and return loss at every temperature plateau and 23 C at the end of the

test. 4.1.3 Humidity Aging Test Telcordia GR-326-CORE 4.4.2.3

• 75C, 95% RH, 168 hrs • Measurement of loss and return loss at least every 6 hours during the test and at the

beginning and end o0f the test (at 23C). 4.1.4 Humidity/Condensation Cycling Test Telcordia GR-326-CORE 4.4.2.4

• -10C to +65C, 90-100% RH, 14 cycles, 168 hrs • Measurement of loss and return loss at every temperature plateau and 23C at the end of the

test. 4.1.5 Dry-out Step Telcordia GR-326-CORE 4.4.2.5

• 75C, 24 hrs • No measurement required

4.1.6 Post Condensation Thermal Cycle Test Telcordia GR-326-CORE 4.4.2.6

• -40C to +75C, uncontrolled humidity, 21 cycles, 168 hrs • Measurement of loss and return loss at every temperature plateau and 23C at the end of the

test. 4.1 Summary of Results for 250um Fiber

4.2 Summary of Results for 900um Fiber

5. Mechanical performance

5.1 Criteria and Conditions

Loss and Return Loss Criteria: Telcordia GR-1081-CORE Generic Requirements for Field-Mountable Optical Fiber Connectors. Conditions: Telcordia GR-326-CORE Generic Requirements for Singlemode Optical Connectors and Jumper Assemblies

5.1.1 Vibration Test Telcordia GR-326-CORE 4.4.3.1

• 1.5mm (peak to peak), sweep between 10 and 55Hz per min, 2 hrs/axis, 3 axes • Measurement of loss and return loss at the beginning of test and after each axis.

5.1.2 Twist test

Telcordia GR-326-CORE 4.4.3.3 • 250um fiber: 0.5kgf, rotate +540 to -540 / cycle, 9 cycles • 900um fiber: 0.75kgf, rotate +540 to -540 / cycle, 9 cycles • Measurement of loss and return loss at the beginning of test and after each axis.

5.1.3 Transmission with Applied Tensile Load Telcordia GR-326-CORE 4.4.3.5

• 250um fiber: 0, 0.25kgf and 0.5kgf, 90, 0.17kgf and 0.33kgf • 900um fiber, 0, 0.25kgf and 0.7kgf, 90, 0.17kgf and 0.4kgf, 135, 0.17kgf • Measurement of loss and return loss under load

5.14 Impact Test Telcordia GR-326-CORE 4.4.3.7

• 1.5m above ground, 8 impacts • Measurement of loss and return loss at the beginning and at the end of the test.

5.15 Durability Test Telcordia GR-326-CORE 4.4.3.8

• Disconnect and reconnect , 200 insertions • Measurement of loss and return loss at the beginning and at the end of the test, also at

insertions 24, 49,74,99,124,199 without cleaning, and at insertions 25, 75,125,175 after one-sided cleaning.

5.1 Summary of Results for 250um Fiber

5.2 Summary of Results for 900um Fiber

Ordering Information

TYPE PART NUMBER FIBER TYPE HOUSING COLOR

BOOT COLOR

CS002438 50/125 um Multimode Black FAST-LC CS002439 62.5/125um Multimode Beige Black CS002440 Singlemode Blue CS002460 Laser Optimized 50/125um Multimode, 10G Aqua