Connector assemblies for optical fiber light cables

DETAILED DESCRIPTION According to the present invention, a connector assembly is provided at an end of an optical fiber light cable to serve as an interface between a light source and the light cable.
The connector assembly includes a buffer material surrounding the end portions of the optical cable fibers and a ferrule that is crimped onto the buffer material to pack the end portions substantially solid.
Further in accordance with the invention, the connector assembly may be heated during crimping to cause the optical cable fibers to be deformed to a desired cross-sectional shape so that they are packed more solid.
Still further in accordance with the invention, the optical cable fibers may be made of plastic and the connector assembly heat treated before crimping to preshrink the optical cable fibers to provide a higher operating temperature limit.
Also according to the invention, the polished end of the connector assembly may be coated with a suitable coating that reflects certain wavelengths of light.
Moreover, different types of shielding may be positioned relative to the polished end of the connector assembly to prevent light from striking selected areas of such polished end including particularly the buffer material and, if desired, a surrounding ferrule to reduce heat build-up in the connector assembly while still permitting light to be focused onto the optical cable fiber ends so that more light energy can be transmitted through the light cable without overheating.
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawings setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but several of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed.