MPO/SC/LC Secure Lockable Fiber Connector

 The secure lockable fiber optic connector is mainly used in some private networks with high security level requirements, and improves security by preventing unauthorized modifications in the entire critical network.

MPO Secure Lockable Connector

The MPO secure lockable connector is a secure accessory that can be compatible with conventional MPO connector.  Once the MPO connector with secure accessory insert into the adapter, it will be locked. The connector cannot be pulled out unless remove the secure accessory. MPO connectors equipped with safety locks will not affect the original height and density of the connectors, and are also compatible with conventional adapters and optical modules. The installation is simple and convenient, requires no extra tools. It can effectively prevent releasing the connector by mistake, and to reduce the chance of getting dusty on the connector's surface.

SC Secure Lockable Connector

SC secure lockable connector is designed with unique keying details in the connector body, as long as it is inserted into the adapter, it is locked and the connector cannot be pulled out. The connectors of different colors correspond to the keys of the same color to open the lock and pull out the connector. There are also dust caps with locks that are suitable for SC conventional adapters, which can prevent dust and lock. For some unused fiber ports, it can prevent mistaken insertion.

 

LC secure lockable connector

LC keyed connector is installed with a secure lock accessory on the LC duplex connector. The connector with lock accessory can be locked once insert into the adapter. You need to use the equipped unlocking key to pull out the connector. There is also a dust cap with lock for the LC adapter, which can be unlocked with the same key. Removing the security lock accessory on the connector will not interfere with the LC adapter or cause network performance degradation.

HYC Co., Ltd was founded in 2000, has 20 years experiences in OEM ODM manufacturing of passive optical devices. We focus on providing customers one-stop services of the design, R&D and manufacturing of passive optical communication devices. We have fiber optic connectors, fiber optic jumpers, WDM wavelength division multiplexing, PLC optical splitters, MEMS optical switches and other product lines.

How to prevent unauthorized access in data centers?

In some large data centers or telecommunications rooms with complex management psersonnel or multiple departments, it’s important to ensure that the optical connection is not disconnected by some misoperations.

Lockable fiber optic connectors are products based on this security requirement.On the basis of ordinary fiber optic connectors, the lock connector adds a unique locking and independent unlocking tool, which uses to lock the dedicated fiber port.It can effectively prevent accidental inserting and removing by other personnel and improve the security of the entire network.

How does it work?
Here is two lockable connectors: SC secure lockable connector and LC secure lockable connector.

SC secure lockable connector

Secure-Keyed SC connector has unique keying details and can be locked by simply plugging it into the adapter. Once the connector is locked, only the matching color key can open and release the connector. The security lock sc connector comes in five different colors and can be used in different applications. For fiber ports that are not being used temporarily, dust caps with the same locking function have also been developed. The difference is that the dust cap can be opened with any color key.

The secure locking LC connector was developed from adding a lockable accessory to the traditional duplex connector. The removal of the security lock will not interfere with the LC adapter or cause network performance degradation.

LC secure lockable connector

Both locking LC/SC fiber optic connectors are fully compatible with conventional adapters without the need to use specific cables or adapters. It can be easily installed and removed without affecting adjacent ports.

It is especially suitable for networks with higher security levels such as military, government, finance, education, and medical treatment, which can effectively prevent unauthorized tampering.

About HYC Co., Ltd
HYC has 20 years of OEM/ODM manufacturing experience in optical passive devices in the optical communications industry and is committed to providing high-quality connected products for global data users. At present, HYC has several major product lines such as optical fiber connectors, optical fiber jumpers, PLC optical splitters, WDM wavelength division multiplexers, and MEMS optical switches. The factory has more than 1,000 employees and has strong production capabilities.

What is the IL Value of Ultra Low Loss MPO Fiber Optic Cable?

With the wide application of FTTH, the requirements for data transmission capability and speed have become more and more important in optical fiber communications, which has also led to high requirements for high-density, low-loss optical fiber connectors.

In the previous article, we introduced what are insertion loss and return loss? These two parameters are the most important indicators of fiber optic connectors. The three factors that affect fiber connection loss are the lateral shift of the fiber core, fiber tilt and gap. Among them, lateral offset is the most important factor.

For MPO connectors, the factors that affect the lateral offset are the eccentricity of the fiber hole, the gap between the fiber hole and the fiber, and the gap between the positioning pin hole and the positioning pin. By determining the dimensional tolerances required for MT sleeves, optical fibers and positioning pins, low losses can be achieved. This requires MPO connectors to have low-loss and high-reliability performance during the grinding process, polishing process, and manufacturing process of experimental testing.

So what is low loss? First, let's take a look at the standard typical insertion loss values of MPO fiber connectors.

 Optical performance index of MPO single-mode fiber connector
－The maximum insertion loss of any plug through the standard adapter and standard plug ≤0.75dB (including repeatability); return loss>30dB (MPO/PC),>50dB (MPO/APC)
－The maximum insertion loss of two plugs connected arbitrarily through the adapter ≤1dB; return loss>20dB (MPO/PC),>40dB

 Optical performance index of MPO multimode fiber connector plug
－The maximum insertion loss of any plug through the standard adapter and standard plug ≤0.35dB (including repeatability)
－The maximum insertion loss of two plugs connected arbitrarily through the adapter ≤1dB

Although the IEC standard specifies the maximum insertion loss of the connector, the typical insertion loss of most manufacturers' connectors will be below the standard value. At present, the insertion loss index of 8-core or 12-core multimode MPO connectors in the industry is generally standard loss 0.5dB, and low loss is less than 0.35dB.

MPO/MTP fiber optic connectors are an important part of high-density optical interconnect products in data centers. Today, data center cabling also requires higher-performance, higher-density MPO/MTP fiber optic cables. By improving the connector technology and manufacturing technology, HYC Co., Ltd successfully reduced the loss of the MPO connector SM single-mode 12-core to less than 0.25dB, which is 28% lower than the industry low loss value of 0.35dB; The loss of SM single-mode 24 core is reduced to 0.35dB, which is far below the industry standard and the typical loss value of MPO connectors provided by other manufacturers. It provides high-quality MPO fiber optic cables for data center 400G network construction.

About HYC Co., Ltd
HYC can provide customized high-quality MPO/MTP optical fiber cable according to customer needs. Founded in 2000, HYC has more than 20 years of OEM/ODM manufacturing experience in optical communication devices. The main products include high-density optical connectivity, PLC optical splitters, WDM wavelength division multiplexers, MEMS optical switches and other products, which are widely used in FTTx, telecommunications, 5G networks, data centers and other fields.

Fiber Optic Patch Cable PC, APC or UPC

To make better contact between the ends of the two fibers, the ferrule end faces of the fiber optic patch cable is usually polishing into different structures. Standard polishing methods are PC, APC, and UPC. PC/APC/UPC represents the front end structure of the ceramic ferrule.

Different fiber end face finishes
PC (Physical Contact).The two end faces are polished to be slightly curved or microspherical, and the fiber core is at the highest point of the bending. This eliminates the air gap and forces the fibers into physical contact.

UPC (Ultra Physical Contact) is based on the PC to optimize the end face polishing and surface finish, the end face looks more dome-shaped. The end face of the UPC connector is not entirely flat, and there is a slight arc to achieve more accurate connecting.

APC (Angled Physical Contact). The end face of APC is usually polishing into an 8-degree angle. The 8° angled bevel makes the fiber end face tighter and reflects light through its beveled angle to the cladding instead of returning directly to the source, providing better connection performance.

Different physical appearance
The APC fiber optic connector is usually green. UPC/PC connectors are easily identified by their blue color on the connector boot.

Insertion loss and return loss
Different polishing styles determines the quality of optical fiber, which results in different performances regarding the connector's insertion loss and return loss. Insertion loss refers to the signal loss caused by the connector or cable. In general, the typical insertion loss of PC, UPC, and APC connectors should be less than 0.3dB. Compared with APC connectors, UPC connectors are usually easier to achieve low insertion loss due to the smaller air gap. Insertion loss can also be caused by a tiny particle of dust trapped between the connector end-faces. A single dry debris particle could even damage the fibers and ferrules.

Return loss, also known as reflection loss, is a parameter representing the signal reflection performance. Usually expressed in negative dB value, the higher the value of the setting, the better. The end faces of APC connectors are beveled, so the return loss of APC connectors is usually better than UPC connectors. In general, the return loss of the PC fiber cable is -40dB. UPC return loss is higher relative to PC, generally at -55dB (or even higher). APC industry-standard return loss is -65dB. With the UPC connector, any reflected light is directly reflected back to the light source. The beveled end face of the APC connector allows the reflected light at an angle into the cladding instead of reflecting it directly to the light sources. This is the main factor that causes the return loss to differ.

Applications
PC is the most common grinding method for optical fiber connectors, which is widely used in telecommunication operator equipment. UPC is commonly used in Ethernet network equipment (such as ODF fiber distribution frames, media converters and fiber switches, etc.), digital, cable television and telephone systems. APC is generally used in optical radio frequency applications such as CATV, and also in passive optical applications, such as PON network structures or passive optical local area networks.

Connector connections need to be in the same end face structure; for example, APC and UPC cannot be mated together , because doing so will resulting in poor connector performance. However, the end faces of PC and UPC fibers are flat, and the difference is in the quality of grinding. Therefore, the mixed connection of PC and UPC will not cause permanent physical damage to the connector.

HYC has 19 years of experience in research and development of fiber optic component manufacturer , supplying all kinds of fiber connectors and fiber patch cords for various specifications.

What are the features of LC Uniboot compared to traditional LC fiber connectors?

The traditional LC duplex fiber optic connector is generally composed of two LC simplex connector through a clip, with a single fiber inside each connector. The LC Uniboot connector is a modified LC duplex connector. The two fibers are simultaneously placed in a 2.4mm or 3.0mm jacket to achieve a single-tube dual-core function, which significantly reduces cabling space requirements. So what is the difference between an LC uniboot connector and a traditional LC fiber connector?

Compact design for high-density applications
LC Uniboot optical connector adopts single-tube dual-core, half-surround tab end to reduce the number of fibers. Compared to traditional LC duplex jumpers, the uniboot connector effectively reduces installation volume by 50%, including improved cable management, airflow, and cabling.

Easy polarity revisable
What is fiber polarity? The polarity of optical fiber is the direction of optical signal propagation in the optical fiber. Normally, there are a transmitting signal terminal (Tx) and a receiving signal terminal (Rx). The Uniboot connector is an innovative design that allows the fiber polarity to be switched without the need for special tools.

A push-pull tab design
HYC’s LC Uniboot connector is an exclusive patent design with a push-pull tab, which ensures easier release from the high-density environment. The fiber optic connector with a push-pull tab is easy to insert or remove even in high-density environments. A half-surround tab end avoids the cable ganged each other.

The innovative LC uniboot optical fiber connector, with its unique structure and compact design, performs better than conventional LC duplex connectors in a high-density cabling environment, making it an ideal choice for data centers and FTTx.

A comprehensive understanding of fiber optic connectors

Optical fiber connectors are used most often to transmit light by connecting two optical fibers instead of splicing. It is a flexible device that widely used in fiber-optic communications systems. Optical fiber connectors ensure precisely connections between the two ends of the fibers so that the optical energy output from the transmitting fiber can be coupled to the receiving fiber to the maximum extent. Better connectors will have little impact on the system due to its involvement. Since the outer diameter of the optical fiber is the only 125um, and the light passing core is smaller. The cores of single-mode fiber are only 9um, and the multi-mode optical fiber has 50um and 62.5um. So it is important to ensure the properly aligned.

Main component: Ferrule
One of the most important main components of fiber optic connector is ferrule. The quality of the ferrule directly affects the precision connections of the two fibers. Ferrule is usually made of different materials such as ceramic, metal or plastic. Most of the ferrules used in optical connectors are made of ceramic material (zirconia) due to its hardened characteristics, such as good thermal stability, high hardness, high melting point, wear-resistance, and high processing precision. The inner diameter of the ceramic sleeve is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the ferrule, and the slitted sleeve tightens the two ferrules for precise alignment.

In order to make the end faces of the two fibers better contact, the ends of the ferrules are usually poshing into different structures. PC, UPC, and APC are the polish styles of ferrules inside the fiber optic connectors. PC is Physical Contact. The two end faces are polished to be slightly curved or microspherical, and the fiber core is at the highest point of the bending. This eliminates the air gap and forces the fibers into physical contact. APC is Angled Physical Contact. The end face of APC is usually ground into an 8-degree angle. The 8° angled bevel makes the fiber end face tighter and reflects light through its beveled angle to the cladding instead of returning directly to the source, providing better connection performance. UPC (Ultra Physical Contact) is based on the PC to optimize the end face polishing and surface finish, the end face looks more dome-shaped. Connector connections need to be in the same end face structure, for example, APC and UPC cannot be combined, resulting in poor connector performance.

Basic parameters: insertion loss, return loss
Due to the different ferrule end faces, the performance of the connector loss is also different. The optical performance of fiber optic connectors is primarily measured by two basic parameters: insertion loss and return loss. So what is the insertion loss? Insertion Loss (“IL”) is the loss of optical power caused by the connection. It is mainly used to measure the optical loss between two fixed points in optical fiber, which is usually caused by the transverse deviation between two optical fibers, the longitudinal gap in optical fiber joints, the end mass, etc. The unit is expressed in decibels (dB). Lower the insertion loss, better the performance. The general requirement should be no more than 0.5dB.

Return Loss (“RL”) refers to the parameter of signal reflection performance. It describes the power loss of optical signal return/reflection. The value is usually expressed in decibels (dB). The larger, the better. The typical RL value of APC connector is about -60db, and that of PC connector is about -30db.

Except for the two optical performance parameters of insertion loss and return loss, there are also other parameters should be considered including the interchangeability, repeatability, tensile strength and operating temperature of the fiber optic connector.

Fiber optic connector types
There are various fiber connector types in the market, such as LC, SC, FC, ST, MU, MT, MPO/MTP and so on.

LC connector
The LC optical connector is made with an easy-to-use modular jack (RJ) latch mechanism. The size of the pins and sleeves used in the LC connector is 1.25 mm, which is the half-size of SC, FC, etc..

SC connector
SC fiber optic connector (‘Subscriber Connector’ or ‘Standard Connector’) is a snap-on standard square connector, which features a push-pull coupling mechanism, and does not need to be rotated. This type of connector is usually made of engineering plastics, which are inexpensive and easy to insert and remove.

FC connector
FC fiber connector (Ferrule Connector) and the SC connector are the same sizes, except that the FC is made of a metal sleeve and the fastening method is a turnbuckle. It has the advantages of simple structure, convenient operation, easy manufacture, and durability, and can be used in a high vibration environment.

ST connector
The ST fiber optic connector (Straight Tip) has a rounded outer that made by a 2.5mm ring-shaped plastic or metal. The bayonet-style keyed coupling mechanism, which is commonly used in fiber distribution frames.

MTP/MPO connector
The MTP/MPO fiber optic connector is a special type of multi-fiber connector. The structure of the MPO connector is complex, connecting 12 or 24 fibers in a rectangular fiber ferrule.

In addition to the above, the connector types include MU connectors, MT connectors, MTRJ connectors, E2000 connectors, etc. Due to low cost-benefit, SC connector is probably the most commonly used fiber optic connector. LC fiber optic connectors are also a commonly used fiber optic connector, especially for connection to SFP and SFP+ fiber optic transceivers. FC connector is mostly used in single-mode and is relatively rare in multimode fiber. Complex designs and metal housing makes it more expensive. ST fiber optic connectors are typically used in long and short-range applications such as campus and architectural multimode fiber applications, enterprise network environments, and military applications.

Choosing the appropriate connector for a fiber network depends on things such as network design and function. HYC(HYC Co., Ltd)offers a variety of fiber optic connectors of various specifications and types, including SC, FC, LC, ST, MPO, MTP and so on.

SC Secure Lockable Connector For Highly Sensitive Applications

Introducing HYC new SC secure lockable connector designed to prevent unauthorized access or changes.

These SC secure lockable connectors are used in a variety of highly sensitive applications such as military, government and financial where multiple operation groups may exist. Once the connector is locked, it can only be removed with the matching color key. Five coloured locking options are available for the connector with matching coloured keys, which is designed to suit various network applications. It gives you design flexibility and provides fast and easy network identification. Each color connector corresponds to a key. Improper plugging and unplugging can be avoided by unauthorized users with the access to the networking room. It is the keyed to prevent network interruption or error.

It is very important to ensure fiber connectivity’s stably and security in large volume traffic areas that are accessed by multiple people. There is some environments where contains different independent networks for multiple managers or departments. The secure lockable connectors help to reduce the risk of accidental cross-connections and unauthorized changes.

These SC secure lockable connectors are fully compatible with Industry Standard SC adapters. And it has 2.0/3.0mm cable types for the most demanding network performance.

The dust cap also has a lock function to prevent access to unused ports. Port protection plugs are used to lock out ports from unauthorized access or tampering. Access to empty or unassigned ports can be prevented with the use of color locking dust cap.

Prevent unauthorized or accidental disconnects or cross-connections to help you manage your network. By using SC secure lockable connector, networks can effectively be limited to certain groups, access levels in a co-location environment. By using the SC secure lockable connector, the networks can effectively be limited to authorized groups or access levels in a collaborative network environment. Different colored connectors and keys are easy to be identified during cable installation and maintenance which saves lots of time.

HYC Co., Ltd（HYC）is a national Hi-tech optoelectronics company engaged in R&D, manufacture, and marketing of fiber optical products. Providing professional product and service for fiber connectivity, WDM, PLC splitter, and high-density datacom cabling. HYC products and solutions widely applied in 4G/5G, Data Center and Cloud Computing industry, etc.
http://www.hyc-system.com
sales@hyc-system.com

LC Duplex SLL Connector丨HYC

LC duplex SLL connector is specially designed for high-density applications. “SLL” is polarity Switchable, Longer and Lower clip. The polarity of this LC duplex connector is revisable. It is easy and simple to switch the plugs of two fiber connectors without any extra tools.

An extended latch makes the releasing easier. Lower clip means that the total height of the clip doesn’t exceed the adapter. It saves more space in the high-density cabling installation.

This video will show us more features of LC duplex SLL connector.

LC Duplex Fiber Connector for High-density Cabling

Due to its small size, LC connector is the mainstream fiber optic connectors, and is widely used in optical communication networks, data networks and cable television networks. In daily application environment, LC duplex connector used more often because of its cabling space saving. LC duplex fiber optic connector is two simplex LC connectors encased in a common housing. Compared with LC simplex connector, the installation steps are reduced, saving time and money.

HYC’s LC duplex connector is superior to traditional LC duplex connector, providing an innovative solution for quick unlocking. Compared to the traditional two single connectors, this duplex connector only needs one press to achieve double releasing.

Fig 1. LC Duplex Connector

As shown in Figure 2,3, the design of this two-core connector has two advantages, one is the longer clip and another is lower clip. The extended longer latch on top of the connector body makes it easier to disengage from the adapter, even in high-density packaging. If you have the experience of releasing LC duplex connectors in patch panels in high-density cabling, you may know why this is important. Because in the cabling case, thumbs and forefingers are not ideally suited to operate the release lever and pulling the connector. The handle portion of a conventional duplex connector will be slightly higher than the adapter, which will take up more space during the cabling installation. The lower clip design of this LC duplex connector can save more space.  In the high-density environment of the data center, the space saved by multiple connectors is combined to have a great advantage.

Fig 2. Longer clip

Fig 3. Lower clip

Another important advantage is the ability to reverse polarity. In the optical signal transmission, the optical signal is divided into a receiving end and a transmitting end. The optical fiber link transmitting signal (Tx) at one end of the optical cable must be matched with the corresponding receiver (Rx) at the other end, and the matching is called polarity.

Fig 4. Polarity

Conventional LC fiber jumpers have significant limitations in achieving polarity switching. It is necessary to pay special attention to the direction of polarity transformation to avoid the failure of termination, and face the possibility of replacing the jumpers and re-cabling. The ability to switch polarity of this LC duplex connector makes this operation easier, saving a lot of time and wiring costs by easily switching polarity without any tools.

Fig 5. Reverse polarity

With the rapid application of 5G, how to provide a high-density, low-cost, easy-to-manage, and highly reliable network cabling system for data centers has become an increasingly important requirement. The LC duplex fiber optic connectoris a high-reliability, low-cost, high-density cabling solution.

High Density MPO Connector Available for 400G

With the widespread deployment of data centers, the demand for 400G solutions is growing. The rapid increase in the number of network links in the data centers can cause the data center of conventional fiber cabling to become cramped and difficult to manage.  To solve this problem, data centers must obtain ultra-density to accommodate all the cabling used in the cabling. The MPO connector is designed to meet this high bandwidth requirement and meet the 400G high-speed transmission requirements.

MPO (Multi Push On) is a multi-core fiber connector type. It usually has 12 core fibers arranged in a row. A MPO connector can supports one or more rows of fibers. MPO connectors support higher bandwidth and higher density applications with 12 to 48 fiber count, which also can reach 72 or 96 in some limited applications.

MPO has many fibers in a single connector, so it reduces the amount of time required to connect fibers. Same size as SC connector, MPO connector can accommodate multi optical fibers, providing the same times the density. This flexibility basically gives you a backbone cabling system that can be adapted to any technology change or connector change in the future.

This HYC’s MPO connector, comes with SM,SMLL,MM,MMLL,8C,12C, 24C,regular force spring, high force spring for your choice. Its patented push-pull tab design provides quick and easy connection, and is also well-suited for high-density, high-traffic applications. The Push-pull tab offers maximum accessibility in high density installations; install or remove with one hand without needing additional tools.

Many applications are pursuing the high bandwidth throughput, therefore using high-density patching is inevitable. MPO connector has been widely used in data centers, telecom network, Ethernet network, and Optical communication equipment.