WiredInUSA September 2019

New patents for AFL

Patents’ power of six

AFL has received six new patents for technology and product developments in fusion splicing, connectivity and conductor accessories. The AFL Hyperscale division received patents for “optical traceable patch cord”, which can be easily traced, allowing installers and network engineers to find a cable that needs to be connected, disconnected or moved; and for “housing for cable transition assembly,” a special breakout module. Two patents were received by AFL’s Optical Connectivity division. The first patent was for the Titan RTD ® multiport terminal, a factory-terminated outside plant fiber terminal designed for quick and easy subscriber connections anywhere

in the network, and the second for a subsea pressure housing that is installed inline, maintaining the full cable strength and enabling connectivity to control and sensor lines. One patent was received by AFL’s Fusion Splicing division. “Methods for splicing optical fibers” is a method to splice fluoride-based fiber to silica-based fiber. The two fibers vary greatly in melting temperature (about 250°C to 1,600°C), making traditional fusion splicing impossible. Finally, AFL’s Accessories division received a patent for “grounding connectors”, a new design for a split parallel grounding connector.

wiredInUSA September 2019

22