Small Form Factor Fiber Optic Connectors

Since the 1990s, many small form factor (SFF) fiber optic connectors have been developed to fill the interest in devices that may fit into tight spaces and permit denser packing of connections such as fiber patch cables. Some are miniaturized versions of older connectors, built around a 1.25mm ferrule rather than the 2.5mm ferrule used in ST, SC and FC connectors. Others are based on smaller versions of MT-type ferrule for multi fiber connections, or other brand new designs.

Most of these SFF connectors have a push-and-latch design that adapts easily to duplex connectors. LC, MU, E2000 and MT-RJ would be the most typical small form factor fiber optic connectors.
1. LC Connector
LC is short for Lucent Connector, licensed by Lucent. LC connector may also be called “Little Connector”. It resembles a typical RJ45 telephone jack externally, while a miniature version of the SC connector internally. LC connector uses a 1.25mm ceramic (zirconia) ferrule instead of the 2.5mm ferrule and add a push-and-latch design providing pull-proof stability in system rack mounts. LC connectors are highly favored for single mode applications such as high-density connections, SFP transceivers, XFP transceivers, etc.. Generally, LC connectors can be found in simplex and duplex, single mode and multimode versions.
2. MU Connector
MU is brief for Miniature Unit, produced by NTT. MU connector is known as “mini SC” and is popular in Japan. It has push-pull mechanism, utilizing a 1.25mm ferrule the same as LC connector. MU connectors’ applications include high-speed data communications, voice networks, telecommunications, and dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM). They’re also utilized in multiple optical connections so that as a self-retentive mechanism in backplane applications. MU connectors can be found in simplex and duplex versions.
3. E2000 Connector
E2000, as known as laser shock hardening (LSH), is a technology generally used in Telecom, DWDM systems. E2000 connector is also called LX.5 connector. It looks like a miniature SC connector externally, like the MU connector utilizing a 1.25mm ferrule. You can easily install, with a snap-in and push-pull latching mechanism which clicks when fully inserted. E2000 connector includes a spring-loaded shutter which fully protects the ferrule from dust and scratches. The shutter closes automatically once the connector is disengaged, locking out impurities which could later result in network failure, and locking in possibly damaging lasers. When it’s connected to the adapter the shutter opens automatically. E2000 connectors are available in single mode and multimode versions. FiberStore provides both E2000 to ST fiber patch cable and fibre optic patch cables E2000 LC rich in quality and best price.
4. MT-RJ Connector
MT-RJ is short for Mechanical Transfer Registered Jack. MT-RJ connector’s overall dimensions are comparable like a RJ45 connector. MT-RJ connector dose not make use of a 1.25mm ferrule, and it is design is derived from MT ferrule. It features a miniature two-fiber ferrule with two guide pins parallel to the fibers on the outside. The guides pins align ferrules precisely when mating two MT-RJ connectors. MT-RJ connectors are designed with male-female polarity which means male MT-RJ connector has two guide pins and feminine MT-RJ connector has two holes instead. MT-RJ connectors are utilized in intra building communication systems. Since they are designed as plugs and jacks, like RJ-45 telephone connectors, adapters can be used with a few designs, but are not required for all. MT-RJ connectors are available in duplex version only and multimode version only given that they use the two-fiber ferrules.

Several Common Types Of Fiber Optic Cables And Patch Cables

1.FTTH Indoor Cable
FTTH (Fiber To The Home), as its name suggests it is a fiber optic directly to the home. Specifically, FTTH refers to the optical network unit (ONU) mounted on home users or business users, is the optical access network application type of closest to users in optical access series except FTTD(fiber to the desktop).
There are 5 main advantages of FTTH:
First, it is a passive network, from the end to the user, the intermediate can be basically passive;
Second, the bandwidth is relatively wide, long distance fits the massive use of operators;
Third, because it is carried business in the fiber, and there is no problem;
Fourth, because of its relatively wide bandwidth, supported protocol is more flexible;
Fifth, with the development of technology, including point-to-point, 1.25G and FTTH have established relatively perfect function.
2. Indoor Fiber Optic Cable
Indoor optical cable is classified according to the using environment, as opposed to outdoor fiber optic cable.
Indoor optical cable is a cable composed of fiber optic (optical transmission medium) after a certain process. Mainly by the optical fiber (glass fiber is as thin as hair),plastic protective tube and plastic sheath. There is no gold, silver, copper and aluminum and other metal, fiber optic cable generally has no recycling value.
Indoor fiber optic cable is a certain amount of fiber optic forming to cable core according to a certain way, outsourcing jacket, and some also coated layer of protection, to achieve a communication line of light signal transmission.
Indoor cable is small tensile strength, poor protective layer, but also more convenient and cheaper. Indoor cable mainly used in building wiring, and connections between network devices.
3. Outdoor Fiber Optic Cable
Outdoor fiber optic cable, used for outdoor environment, the opposite of indoor fiber cable.
Outdoor cable is a type of communication line to achieve light signal transmission, is composed of a certain amount of fiber optic forming to cable core according to a certain way, outsourcing jacket, and some also coated with outer protective layer.
Outdoor cable is mainly consists of optical fiber (glass fiber is as thin as hair), plastic protection tube and plastic sheath. There is no gold, silver, copper and aluminum and other metal cable, generally no recycling value.
Outdoor cable is greater tensile strength, thick protective layer, and usually armored(wrapped in metal). Outdoor cables are mainly applied to buildings, and remote networks interconnection.
4.Fiber Optic Patch Cable
Fiber optic patch cable, also known as fiber jumper, used to connect from the device to fiber optic cabling link. Fiber jumper has a thick protective layer, generally used in the connection between the fiber converter and Fiber Termination Box. Commonly used fiber jumpers include: ST, LC, FC and SC.
Main Categories
Single-mode fiber patch cable: General single-mode fiber jumper is colored in yellow, connector and protective sleeve are blue; long transmission distance.
Multi-mode fiber patch cable: General multimode fiber jumper is colored in orange and some in gray, connector and protective sleeve are beige or black and the transmission distance is short.
Fiber optic jumper connector interpretation:
SC Connector: square fiber optical connector;
FC Connector: round with thread;
ST Connector: similar to BNC;
LC Connector: transceiver separation structure;
MT-RJ Connector: square, one with double fiber;
PC Connector: direct contact;
APC Connector:8 degree tilt angle of contact surface;
UPC Connector: arc contact surface.