Fiber optic connectors, cable assemblies and methods for making the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, the optical connector comprises a housing and a ferrule. The housing comprises a longitudinal passageway between a rear end and a front end, and, a part of the rear portion of the housing comprises a round cross-section and a part of the front portion of the housing comprises a non-round cross-section with a transition region disposed between the rear portion and the front portion.

An anti-theft merchandise hook that includes a top wire connected to a housing at a first end of the top wire, and to a mounting portion, used to mount the anti-theft merchandise hook to a stationary surface, at a second end of the top wire opposite the first end. A bottom wire is attached to the mounting portion and extends from the mounting portion towards the housing. The bottom wire is configured to hold retail merchandise. A hanger is at least partially disposed within the housing. The hanger is configured to move linearly between a closed position in which the hanger abuts the bottom wire, and an open position in which the hanger is spaced some distance from the bottom wire. A motor is configured to drive a rotary shaft in order to move the hanger between the closed position and the open position.

An anti-theft merchandise hook that includes a top wire connected to a housing portion at one end of the top wire, and to a mounting portion, used to mount the anti-theft merchandise hook to a stationary surface, at another end of the top wire opposite the one end. A bottom wire is attached to the mounting portion and extends from the mounting portion toward the housing portion. The bottom wire is configured to hold retail merchandise. A moveable hanger is at least partially disposed within the housing portion. The hanger is configured to move linearly between a closed position in which the hanger abuts the bottom wire, and an open position in which the hanger is spaced some distance from the bottom wire.

A method and system for reading a marker embedded in a fiber optic connector, and a connector configured to be read by the method and system. The connector includes an outer assembly and a marker that is overlaid by the outer assembly. To read the marker, the connector is illuminated with an illuminating light in a first spectral band, and an image is formed using the light within the first spectral band that is reflected from the fiber optic connector. The reflected light includes at least a portion of the illuminating light which was transmitted through the outer assembly and reflected back toward a reader by the marker. Data contained in the marker is then extracted from the image.

A measurement system for assisting in guiding an elongated medical device in a body is described. The measurement system comprises a multicore fiber for insertion into an elongated medical device such that a position of the tip of the multicore fiber corresponds with a position near the tip of the elongated medical device, the multicore fiber comprising a plurality of cores, and a measurement device being adapted for determining, based on the optical signals measured from the multicore fiber, a known shape applied to the multicore fiber, and for deriving based thereon, a length of the portion of the multicore fiber that has been introduced in the body or a position of the multicore fiber in the body.

Methods of reshaping ferrules (20) used in optical fiber cables assemblies (170) are disclosed. The reshaping methods reduce a core-to-ferrule concentricity error (E), which improves coupling efficiency and optical transmission. The methods include measuring a distance (δ) and angular direction (θ) from a true center (30) of the ferrule to the core (46), wherein the true center (30) is based on an outer surface (26) of the ferrule. The methods also include reshaping at least a portion (26P) of the ferrule (20) to define a new true center (30′) of the ferrule (20) and reduce the distance (δ). A variety of reshaping techniques are also disclosed.

A fiber bulge (“bulge”) formed in an end of an optical fiber for positioning the optical fiber in a ferrule bore is disclosed. An energy source is controlled to direct focused energy to the end of the optical fiber extended from the front end face of the ferrule to expose and melt the end of the optical fiber into a bulge of desired geometry and size. The bulge comprises a cross-sectional region having an outer surface having a minimum outer diameter larger than the inner diameter of the ferrule bore. Thus, the optical fiber may be pulled back in the ferrule bore such that at least a portion of the outer surface of the interface region of the bulge interferes with and engages the front opening of the ferrule bore to position the fiber core within the ferrule bore.

A fiber optic connector having a ferrule extending along a longitudinal axis and a ferrule holder from which the ferrule extends. The fiber optic connector also includes a housing having a housing body in which the ferrule holder is received and a housing cap configured to be attached to the housing body. The housing cap defines a front end of the housing when attached to the housing body. The ferrule holder and housing body allow rotation of the ferrule holder relative to the housing body about the longitudinal axis when the housing cap is not attached to the housing body. The housing cap restricts rotation of the ferrule holder relative to the housing body about the longitudinal axis when the housing cap is attached to the housing body.

A fiber optic connector (20) including a ferrule (42) having a front end (48) and a rear end (50). The ferrule (42) defines an axial bore (46) that extends through the ferrule (42) between the front end (48) and the rear end (50). The ferrule (42) includes a ferrule axis (64) that extends along the axial bore (46). The fiber optic connector (20) includes an optical fiber (62) positioned within the axial bore (46) that is movable relative to the ferrule (42) within the axial bore (46) along the ferrule axis (64). The optical fiber (62) has fiber end face (63) that has been energy treated to round the fiber end face (63). A fiber alignment structure (66) can be attached at a front ferrule end face (54) of the ferrule (42). A camera can be used to position a fiber end face (63) of the optical fiber (62) relative to the front ferrule end face (54) of the ferrule (42).

Fiber optic connectors comprising multiple footprints along with cable assemblies and methods for making the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, the optical connector comprises a housing and a ferrule. The housing comprises a longitudinal passageway between a rear end and a front end. The fiber optic connector may be converted from a first footprint to a second footprint by a conversion housing that fits about a portion of the housing. The optical connectors disclosed may be tunable for improving optical performance and may also include a spring for biasing the ferrule to a forward position as desired.