Tray and clip structure for optomechanical components

A system comprising:

• an optomechanical component that includes a pair of optical connectors;
• a pair of stabilizing elements;
• and
• a block element;
• wherein the optomechanical component further comprises a head portion that joins a pair of optical fibers, each optical fiber terminating in an optical connector of the pair of optical connectors, and a clip, wherein the clip comprises a body having a top face and a bottom face, wherein the bottom face of the clip comprises a plurality of gripping elements arranged in pairs, each pair of gripping elements configured to support a barrel of an optical connector of the pair of optical connectors, each optical connector attached to a corresponding optical fiber of the pair of optical fibers;
• wherein the pair of stabilizing elements is configured to hold the clip in place by engaging opposite sides of the body of the clip, and to apply an inward force to place the body of the clip in compression, and wherein each stabilizing element of the pair of stabilizing elements mates with a notch of a corresponding pair of notches of the body of the clip;
• and
• wherein the block element is positioned at the bottom face of the clip so as to contact each optical connector of the pair of optical connectors, and apply a force that constrains each optical connector against the pair of gripping elements.

A method comprising:

• inserting an optomechanical assembly onto a carrier, the optomechanical assembly comprising a head portion that joins a first optical fiber and a second optical fiber at a first end of each of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber, a first optical connector attached to a second end of the first optical fiber, a second optical connector attached to a second end of the second optical fiber, and a clip having a body portion and a plurality of gripping elements that attach to the first and second optical connectors of the first and second optical fibers to join the first and second optical fibers;
• inserting the carrier into a sliding module of a fixture;
• aligning the first optical connector with an examination element of the fixture by moving the sliding module;
• and
• examining the first optical fiber using the examination element.