An optical fiber connector, comprising:
- a lower plate including a plurality of optical fiber alignment structures extending from a first end of the lower plate to a second end of the lower plate, the lower plate including a first guide element alignment structure formed at a first side of the plurality of optical fiber alignment structures, the lower plate including a second guide element alignment structure formed at a second side of the plurality of optical fiber alignment structures;
- a plurality of optical fibers respectively disposed in the plurality of optical fiber alignment structures of the lower plate such that an end of each of the plurality of optical fibers is positioned at the first end of the lower plate, wherein each of the plurality of optical fibers has a first diameter;
- a first guide element positioned to extend outside of a periphery of the lower plate at the first end of the lower plate, wherein the first guide element includes a first pin section and a second pin section, the first pin section of the first guide element having a second diameter substantially equal to the first diameter, the second pin section of the first guide element having a third diameter larger than the second diameter, the first pin section of the first guide element positioned within the first guide element alignment structure of the lower plate, the second pin section of the first guide element positioned outside of the periphery of the lower plate at the first end of the lower plate;
- a second guide element positioned to extend outside of the periphery of the lower plate at the first end of the lower plate, wherein the second guide element includes a first pin section and a second pin section, the first pin section of the second guide element having the second diameter, the second pin section of the second guide element having the third diameter, the first pin section of the second guide element positioned within the second guide element alignment structure of the lower plate, the second pin section of the second guide element positioned outside of the periphery of the lower plate at the first end of the lower plate;
- a cover plate disposed over the plurality of optical fiber alignment structures, the cover plate positioned between the first guide element and the second guide element, the cover plate secured to the lower plate to hold the plurality of optical fibers within the plurality of optical fiber alignment structures of the lower plate;
- and
- an upper plate disposed over each of the cover plate, the first guide element, and the second guide element, the upper plate secured to the lower plate to hold the first guide element within the first guide element alignment structure of the lower plate and the second guide element within the second guide element alignment structure of the lower plate.