Fiber cable assemblies are made up of two or more fiber cables joined to transmit signals from one point to another.
Individual fiber cables are securely joined to other cables by a device called connectors. There are different types of fiber cable connectors. They include ST, FC, LC, MT-RJ, SC, and MU connectors. Depending on the type of optical fiber and its intended purpose, one of the above connectors can be used.
Figure 3. Fiber Cable Assembly Connectors
FC Connectors
FC connectors are short of fixed connectors. These connectors are made to function in high vibration environments and are commonly used with single-mode fiber cables.
The connections are unaffected in such high vibration environments because the connectors are firmly fixed to the cable. FC connectors have a threaded end that screws onto the barrel housing. They have several applications but they are mostly used in the communication industries which includes phone and LAN networks.
ST Connectors
ST connectors stand for Straight Tip Connectors. They are mostly used for multimode fibers. They possess some features like a bayonet-style design and a long ferrule. The ferrule helps to align the stripped end of the fiber cable and protects it.
LC Connectors
LC connector is an abbreviation for Lucent connector. These connectors are commonly used with single fiber cable assemblies. It is a small fiber cable connector that has a ceramic ferrule. The ceramic ferrule of the LC connector is half the size of an ST ferrule.
SC Connectors
The full name of SC Connectors is Subscriber connectors. These connectors are push-pull devices used in dual-fiber cable assemblies. SC connectors have a ceramic ferrule, are durable, simple to install, and come at a low cost.
Figure 4 . SC Connector
MT-RJ Connectors
MT-RJ stands for Mechanical Transfer Registered Jack. These connectors are designed for small devices due to their small size. They are often used with dual-fiber cable assemblies and were originally made to replace SC connectors. MT-RJ connectors are often used in network applications.