Optical fiber connector and optical communication module using the same
AssigneeAlps Electric Co., Ltd.
InventorsKen Okochi, Kimihiro Kikuchi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An optical fiber connector includes a receptacle casing, a cylinder provided in the receptacle casing, and a wire spring disposed on the inner wall of the cylinder. In the optical fiber connector, a fiber holding part provided at an end of an optical fiber is inserted into the cylinder, the outer periphery of the fiber holding part is elastically pressed by the wire spring in the direction perpendicular to an optical axis of the optical fiber, the outer periphery of the fiber holding part is brought into abutment with the inner wall of the cylinder, and the end of the optical fiber is fitted to the receptacle casing.
Claims28
An optical fiber connector to connect an inserted optical fiber, the optical fiber having an end and an optical axis, a portion of the optical fiber contained within a fiber holding part provided at the end of the optical fiber, the fiber holding part having an outer periphery, the optical fiber connector comprising:
- a receptacle casing having an end;
- a cylinder provided in the receptacle casing and having an inner wall;
- and
- an elastic member accommodated in the inner wall of the cylinder and elastically pressing the outer periphery of the fiber holding part in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical fiber;
- wherein the inner wall of the cylinder abuts the outer periphery of the fiber holding part, and the end of the receptacle casing is aligned with the end of the optical fiber.
A method for decreasing coupling losses between an optical fiber and an optical member that one of emits and receives light, the optical fiber having an optical axis, contained within a fiber holding part having an outer periphery, and inserted in an optical fiber connector, the optical member disposed on an outside of the optical fiber connector, the method comprising:
- adjusting a position of the outer periphery of the fiber holding part by elastically pressing the outer periphery of the fiber holding part in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical fiber;
- and
- aligning the optical fiber with the optical member.
A method for increasing allowable variations in inner dimensions of an optical fiber connector that couples an optical fiber and an optical member that one of emits and receives light, the optical fiber having an optical axis, inserted into the optical fiber connector, and contained within a fiber holding part having an outer periphery, the optical member disposed on an outside of an optical fiber connector, the method comprising:
- adjusting a position of the outer periphery of the fiber holding part a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical fiber using an elastic member accommodated within the optical fiber connector;
- and
- aligning the optical fiber with the optical member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.