13. January 2023

6 Min read

    Contents

      Written by Daniel Eigenmann

      Product Manager

      Higher density with the QR solution

      Let’s call them the workhorses in the field of fiber optic connectivity: MPO connectors or MPO/MTP®, LC or LC duplex connectors, and SC connectors. They take on almost every job and are suitable for almost every field of application. Their format has been tried and tested over the past decades.

      Today, data centers are having to significantly increase their fiber optic cabling density. MPO, LC, and SC and their plug-in windows require a lot of space. That’s why R&M developed the QR solution at an early stage. QR stands for Quick Release. The patented concept combines convenient handling and the highest packing density.

      Handy plug-in mechanism

      The solution consists of a handy push/pull technology. It surrounds the plug housing and is operated via the strain relief sleeve on the back (the strain relief sleeve effectively becomes the reins of the workhorse and guides the coupling). It is unlocked by pulling the strain relief sleeve. Technicians no longer have to press down the clip on the front of the connector in the case of the LC connector or grip the housing on the MPO or SC.

      The result: The connectors can move closer together because no space is required for accessing the snap-in hook. R&M was able to significantly increase the packing density of fiber optic patch panels. The QR family was born and the market was enthusiastic.

      Success story continues

      Since their introduction, MPO-QR and LC-QR have received several new features. The range has been expanded. R&M has gradually optimized the QR connectors. There were six development steps:

      • Double push-pull function
      • Shorter LC-QR Uniboot
      • Reliable unlocking of LCd connectors from transceivers
      • Free polarity change
      • Wider temperature range
      • New SC-QR connector

      We have also observed that QR connectors are not only popular in and around high-density data center infrastructures. In practice, the QR concept is also gaining ground in areas where plug-ins are difficult to access or non-experts are at work, such as in the case of the home socket. Such cases exist in the area of LAN and FTTH infrastructures, in the area of building networks, and in the home.

      Double push-pull function

      R&M has further simplified the handling of high-density connectors. Today, the QR mechanism supports both unplugging and plugging-in into MPO-QR, LC-QR, and SC-QR. This also works without limitations with their multiple couplings.

      The uniform axial force build-up during plugging-in and unplugging prevent jerky movements. The QR solution protects patch cords, ferrules, and housing.

      Shorter LC-QR Uniboot

      As described above, the QR mechanism eliminates the need for space on the side of the plug-in window. But there was also room for improvement on the longitudinal axis.

      R&M has shortened the LC-QR Uniboot. The strain relief sleeve does not protrude as far from the patch panel and rack. Uniboot connectors and cable management require less space depth.

      All in all, the valuable space in the computer room can be used even more efficiently. Nevertheless, the connectors can be conveniently plugged in and unplugged.

      Unlocking from transceivers

      The unlocking function optimized by R&M for LC duplex connectors now guarantees smooth, precise unplugging from SFP transceivers. The solution developed by R&M for the grid lever is compatible with all transceiver types with an LC duplex connector. In this 30-second video, you can see how smoothly unlocking works with the R&M solution on the SFP transceiver.

      Free polarity change

      Data centers are using MPO connectors more and more frequently and flexibly. This makes it all the more common for technicians to decide whether they need connectors with standard polarity (A-B) or non-crossed wiring (A-A).

      As is well known, the question of polarities complicates the construction of fiber optic network infrastructures. It is no easy task to correctly assign thousands of fibers in a rack – bundled in many small, multi-fiber connectors.

      You usually order two different patch cords with fixed A-B or A-A connectivity. They can be distinguished by markings, rotation lock, and the color of the strain relief sleeve. The solution, however, means: double the range and double the storage.

      R&M has simplified this too and given the MPO-QR connector an integrated polarity change. What is new is that the rotation lock can be released. Technicians can remove the red wedge without tools and implement it on the other side of the connector.

      In other words: A single connector type is sufficient to be able to configure both types of wiring on site. There is no need for double the storage. The polarity change takes only five seconds.

      R&M designed the LC-QR in such a way that the polarity can also be changed manually for tuned connectors and the APC version – a genuine novelty! The separate rotation of the two connections in the LC by 180° minimizes the torsion and thus the stress for the fibers. This 2-minute video shows you how to change the polarity of the connector.

       

      Wider temperature range

      Fiber optic cabling is not only available in the warm, climate-stable, well-protected spaces of a data center. It is also increasingly used in changing environments. Here, the cables may be exposed to major temperature fluctuations.

      That has consequences. The cable jacket stretches or shrinks. This affects the fiber contacts and manifests itself in attenuation increases (IL) and reduction of backscatter attenuation (RL).

      This is why R&M uses low-shrink cables. The R&M cable plant in the Czech Republic has succeeded in significantly optimizing the temperature behavior of cables. Low-shrink R&M fiber optic cables are suitable for a temperature range of -25°C to +70°C without preconditioning.

      Incidentally: With RFID tags from the R&MinteliPhy monitoring system, the MPO-QR can be integrated into automated infrastructure management right from the start.