Applications Engineering Notes Document Title Document Number The US Conec MTP Multifiber Connector AEN-1909 Revision Number Rev 2.0 Effective Date June 1, 2008
1.0 Document Purpose The purpose of this document is to provide a general overview of the US Conec MTP multifiber connector. 2.0 Description The US Conec MTP multifiber connector is based on MT (mechanical transfer) ferrule technology originally developed by Nippon Telephone and Telegraph (NTT) during the 1980s (Figure 1). MTP is US Conec s trademarked enhanced-performance version of the MPO (multifiber push-on) connector and is fully compliant with TIA-604-5. The MTP connector is currently available in 4, 8, 12, 24, and 72 fiber densities for multimode fiber (50µm and 62.5µm core) and 4, 8, 12, and 24 fiber densities for single-mode fiber, as well as the MTP Elite (low-loss) single-mode connector in both 8 and 12 fiber densities. Figure 1: The US Conec 12 Fiber MT Ferrule 3.0 Design The MTP connector consists of a MT ferrule enclosed in a MTP connector housing kit. Housing kits are available in four types: oval jacketed ribbon fiber cable (Figure 2), 3 millimeter round loose tube fiber cable (Figure 3), bare ribbon fiber (Figure 4), and bare ribbon fiber short crimp body (Figure 5). 2
Protective Cap MT Ferrule MTP Housing Male Pin Clamp Epoxy Boot Spring Female Spacer Crimp Body (Spring Push) Crimp Band Strain Relief Boot Figure 2: Jacketed Ribbon Fiber Cable MTP Housing Kit Protective Cap MTP Housing Male Pin Clamp MT Ferrule Epoxy Boot Spring Female Spacer Crimp Body (Spring Push) Crimp Band Round Cable Boot Figure 3: 3 Millimeter Round Loose Tube Cable MTP Housing Kit 3
Protective Cap MTP Housing Male Pin Clamp MT Ferrule Epoxy Boot Spring Female Spacer Crimp Body (Spring Push) Ribbon Boot Figure 4: Bare Ribbon Fiber MTP Housing Kit Protective Cap MTP Housing MT Ferrule Male Pin Clamp Epoxy Boot Spring Female Spacer Crimp Body (Spring Push) Figure 5: Bare Ribbon Fiber Short Crimp Body MTP Housing Kit 4
The MTP connector includes such unique engineering features as: oval spring for improved fiber ribbon clearance integrated recessed metal pin clamp (spacer) to eliminate pin transfer and center spring position patented enhanced ferrule float to improve performance during strain and side loading patented elliptical guide pins to reduce ferrule guide hole wear during repeated matings removable housing to allow for ferrule re-polishing, inspection, and guide pin (gender) change The MT ferrule is terminated onto ribbonized fiber of the same fiber count. For fiber counts greater than twelve, the ribbons are stacked one atop another, providing multiple rows of precision aligned fibers. Once terminated, the ferrules are polished using specially designed processes and equipment. These polish the 80% glass filled plastic ferrules to a specific set of geometric features. After polishing, the MTP connector housing kit is assembled around the MT ferrule to complete the MTP connector. 4.0 Applications Multifiber connectors are designed to achieve very high fiber density in a rapidly decreasing amount of communications equipment real estate. As shown in Figure 6, a 12 fiber MTP connector takes up less space on the front panel than the six duplex SC connectors required for the same number of fibers. This increased density is just one of the factors that make the MTP connector system the most desirable fiber interconnect method available today. 5
Figure 6: 12 Fiber SC Panel Density Compared to 12 Fiber MTP Panel Density Custom length factory terminated and tested MTP connector interconnect cables are currently available from many qualified providers. These jumpers are ideally suited for many public and private network applications. The MTP connector is increasingly being used in structured cables applications, particularly within storage area networks (SAN) or data centers. In this application, trunk cables are terminated with MTP connectors and then mated to pre-terminated breakout cassettes. These cassettes allow for a great degree of modularity to assist in moves, add-ins, and changes (MAC) which are quite common in this environment. In other situations, the trunk cable might be connected to a patch panel wherein a ruggedized fanout would mate directly to the equipment s SFP module interface, or dual end MTP connector assemblies could connect directly to a parallel module interface. Several OEMs are now offering optoelectronic devices with MTP connector ports integrated into their packaging. These devices are typically referred to parallel optic modules, and the ports generally have pre-installed guide pins. Female MTP connector to female MTP connector jumpers are used to connect these devices, making ordering custom pre-terminated and tested patch cables simple and efficient. 6
The MTP connector is called out in every parallel optical transmission specification and multi-source agreement (MSA) available today, including Very Short Reach (VSR) OC- 192/STM-64: Interface Based Parallel Optics, OIF VSR4-01.0, OIF VSR4-03.0, 10 Gigabit Fibre Channel (Project 1413-D), Infiband 4X-SX, Infiband 4X-LX, SNAP 12, POP4, and QSFP. 5.0 Performance In any optical connection, precise alignment of the fiber cores is critical to optical performance. This alignment is directly related to the position of the fiber hole within the ferrule. For multifiber connectors, location of the fiber holes is a direct result of the accuracy and precision of the molding process. US Conec molded MT ferrules are manufactured to sub-micron tolerances in size and location of the fiber holes as well as the guide pin holes. MTP connectors are aligned by the use of precision guide pins. Mating a pair of MTP connectors occurs when a male (with pre-installed guide pins) is connected to a female (with precisely molded guide pin holes) by use of a keyed adapter (Figure 7). During this mating, the guide pins of the male insert into the guide holes of the female, precisely aligning the fiber cores. The mating is secured by the adapter, which latches each MTP connector into place. MALE MTP (with guide-pins) FEMALE MTP (no guide-pins) Figure 7: Typical MTP Connector Mating 7
Optical performance specifications for US Conec MTP connectors are shown in Figure 8. Fiber Type Housing Color Typical Insertion Loss Maximum Insertion Loss Return Loss OM1 Beige 0.20dB 0.50dB 20dB OM2 Black 0.20dB 0.50dB 20dB OM3 Aqua 0.20dB 0.50dB 20dB OS1/OS2 Standard OS1/OS2 Low-Loss Green 0.25dB 0.75dB 55dB Mustard 0.10dB 0.35dB 55dB Figure 8: MTP Optical Performance by Product 8
MTP multimode connectors are flat protruded polished and offer insertion loss performance of less than 0.50 db and return loss performance of greater than 20 db per channel. Typical insertion loss distribution for MTP connectors with 62.5µm multimode fiber is shown in Figure 9. Multimode MTP Connector Insertion Loss 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 0.00-0.05-0.10-0.15-0.20-0.25-0.30-0.35-0.40-0.45-0.50 Loss (db) N = 1440 Avg = -0.09 db Max = -0.53 db Std. Dev. = 0.06 db Figure 9: MTP Multimode Insertion Loss @ 1310 nm -0.55-0.60-0.65-0.70-0.75-0.80-0.85-0.90-0.95-1.00 9
MTP single-mode connectors are 8 angled-protruded polished and offer insertion loss performance of less than 0.75 db and return loss performance greater than 55 db per channel. Typical insertion loss distribution for standard MTP single-mode connectors is shown in Figure 10. Single-mode MTP Connector Insertion Loss 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 0.00-0.05-0.10-0.15-0.20-0.25-0.30-0.35-0.40-0.45-0.50 Loss (db) N = 1440 Avg = -0.19 db Max = -0.77 db Std. Dev. = 0.13 db -0.55-0.60-0.65-0.70-0.75-0.80-0.85-0.90-0.95-1.00 Figure 10: MTP Single-mode Insertion Loss @1310 nm 10
MTP Elite single-mode connectors also feature an 8 angled-protruded polish. However, because of tighter tolerances on molding features and guide pin specifications, it offers insertion loss performance of less than 0.35 db and return loss performance of greater than 55dB per channel. Typical insertion loss distribution for MTP Elite singlemode connectors is shown in Figure 11. Elite MTP Connector Insertion Loss 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 0.00-0.05-0.10-0.15-0.20-0.25-0.30-0.35-0.40-0.45-0.50 Loss (db) Figure 11: MTP Elite Insertion Loss @ 1310 nm N = 1440 Avg = -0.06 db Max = -0.41 db Std. Dev. = 0.06 db -0.55-0.60-0.65-0.70-0.75-0.80-0.85-0.90-0.95-1.00 6.0 Intermateability Both TIA/EIA-604-5, Fiber Optic Connector Intermateability Standard, Type MPO (FOCIS 5) and IEC 1754-7, Fiber Optic Connectors Interfaces, Part 7: Type MPO Connector Family outline dimensions, tolerances, and other requirements necessary for successful intermating of MTP/MPO connectors produced by various manufacturers. Products that are FOCIS 5 compliant, even if made by different suppliers, will be intermateable without significant loss in optical performance. If a multifiber connector is not FOCIS 5 compliant, it will not be compatible with MTP/MPO type connectors. 11