Traceable fiber using ferrule and cap at fan-out kit

Abstract

An apparatus including a first ferrule, a second ferrule and a tracing fiber. The first ferrule may comprise a cap. The second ferrule may comprise the cap. The tracing fiber may be configured to propagate light from the first ferrule to the second ferrule. The first ferrule may enable the light to be directed into the tracing fiber when the cap is removed. The cap of the second ferrule may be configured to scatter the light to provide an omnidirectional emission of the light from the second ferrule. The tracing fiber may be bundled with one or more data carrying lines in a cable. Each of the data carrying lines may be configured to enable a communication of data. The tracing fiber may be configured to propagate the light without interrupting the communication of data.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a ferrule configured to (i) direct light into a tracing fiber and (i) emit said light received from said tracing fiber; and   a fan-out kit configured to receive from a cable jacket (i) said tracing fiber and (ii) one or more data carrying lines, wherein
 (i) said ferrule is within said fan-out kit, 
 (ii) a front end of said ferrule is exposed exterior to said fan-out kit, 
 (iii) said tracing fiber and said data carrying lines extend beyond said cable jacket to (a) enter said fan-out kit and (b) be exposed without said cable jacket within said fan-out kit. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein (i) said ferrule comprises a cap removably attached to said ferrule, (ii) said cap is configured to scatter said light to provide an omnidirectional emission of said light from said ferrule and (iii) removing said cap enables said light to be directed into said tracing fiber. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein (i) each of said data carrying lines is configured to enable a communication of data and (ii) said tracing fiber is configured to propagate said light without interrupting said communication of said data. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said ferrule is implemented having a ceramic material. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said ferrule has a diameter selected from one of a plurality of sizes. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said ferrule has a cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said fan-out kit is configured to enable a fault locator device to fit over said ferrule and (ii) said fault locator device is configured to generate said light. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein (i) said ferrule is configured to route said data carrying lines to individual input/output cable jackets terminated with connectors and (ii) said ferrule and said tracing fiber operate independently of said individual input/output cable jackets terminated with connectors and said data carrying lines. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein emitting said light from said ferrule provides an indication of a location of an end of said cable jacket. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said tracing fiber is glued into said ferrule to provide (i) mechanical protection and (ii) alignment with an external source of said light. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein said tracing fiber is (i) glued within a through hole that extends along an axis from an inner surface to said front end of said ferrule and (ii) flush with said front end of said ferrule. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus comprising:
 a first ferrule configured to direct light into a tracing fiber;   a second ferrule configured emit said light; and   a cable comprising (a) said tracing fiber and (b) data carrying lines, wherein
 (i) said tracing fiber is configured to propagate said light from said first ferrule to said second ferrule, 
 (ii) said first ferrule is within a first fan-out kit and a front end of said first ferrule is exposed exterior to said first fan-out kit, 
 (iii) said second ferrule is within a second fan-out kit and a front end of said second ferrule is exposed exterior to said second fan-out kit, and 
 (vii) said tracing fiber and said data carrying lines extend beyond said cable to (a) enter said first fan-out kit and said second fan-out kit and (b) be exposed without a cable jacket within said first fan-out kit and said second fan-out kit. 
   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein (i) said first ferrule comprising and said second ferrule each comprise a cap, (ii) said cap is configured to scatter said light to provide an omnidirectional emission of said light from said second ferrule and (iii) removing said cap from said first ferrule enables said light to be directed into said tracing fiber by said first ferrule. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein said tracing fiber is connected between said first fan-out kit and said second fan-out kit. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus comprising:
 a cable jacket comprising (a) one or more data carrying lines and (b) a tracing fiber;   a first fan-out kit (A) connected to a first end of said cable jacket, (B) comprising (i) a plurality of first cable jackets with connectors each (a) connected to one end of one of said data carrying lines and (b) configured to connect to a first communication port and (ii) a first ferrule protruding from said first fan-out kit and (C) configured to route said first end of said tracing fiber into said first ferrule; and   a second fan-out kit (A) connected to a second end of said cable jacket, (B) comprising (i) a plurality of second cable jackets with connectors each (a) connected to another end of said data carrying lines and (b) configured to connect to a second communication port and (ii) a second ferrule protruding from said second fan-out kit and (C) configured to route said second end of said tracing fiber into said second ferrule, wherein
 (i) said tracing fiber within said first ferrule is configured to receive a light input, 
 (ii) said tracing fiber is configured to propagate said light input to said second ferrule, 
 (iii) said second ferrule enables said light input to be emitted, and 
 (iv) said tracing fiber and said data carrying lines extend beyond said cable jacket to enter said first fan-out kit and said second fan-out kit. 
   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein said first ferrule and said second ferrule enable tracing both ends of said cable jacket using said light input. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein (i) said apparatus is implemented in a data center comprising a plurality of cables and (ii) tracing both ends of said cable jacket using said light input enables distinguishing said apparatus from said plurality of cables. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein said tracing fiber comprises a plastic fiber or a glass fiber and said first ferrule and said second ferrule each comprise a ceramic material. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein said first fan-out kit and said second fan-out kit are each configured to (i) separate said tracing fiber from said data carrying lines to a respective output port of said first fan-out kit and said second fan-out kit and (ii) provide a path for each of said data carrying lines to connect to (a) one of said plurality of first cable jackets with connectors and (b) one of said plurality of second cable jackets with connectors. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein (i) said first fan-out kit and said second fan-out kit each comprise one or more strain relief features, (ii) said strain relief features are molded into a housing of each of said first fan-out kit and said second fan-out kit and (iii) said strain relief features are configured to (A) limit an amount of stretching of said tracing fiber and said data carrying lines and (B) route and separate each of said data carrying lines that are exposed without a jacket within (a) said first fan-out kit to an individual one of said plurality of first cable jackets with connectors and (b) said second fan-out kit to an individual one of said plurality of second cable jackets with connectors.