Optical waveguide connector using resilient material and V-groove

An optical fiber connector comprising

• a first member of resilient material having a plurality of elongated V-shaped grooves in a surface thereof, each of said grooves being adapted to receive a pair of fibers, one from each of a pair of fiber cables that are to be connected, the two walls forming each of said V-shaped grooves being substantially symmetrical about a plane, the axes of said pair of fibers being disposed in the plane of the groove in which they are disposed,
• a second member of resilient material having a plurality of elongated elevated portions each elevated portion being aligned with one of said grooves and forming therewith an aperture which is adapted to receive said pair of fibers, said second member being adapted to contact that surface of said pair of fibers opposite said groove, said first and second members each comprising first and second sections which are secured together in abutting relationship, a given length of the first section of said first member extending beyond the first section of said second member, the second section of said second member extending beyond the second section of said first member a distance equal to said given length, and means for securing together said first section of said first member and said second section of said second member so that the given length of said first section member becomes aligned with the corresponding extending portion of said second member, said pair of fibers being adapted to be connected along the overlapping portions of sad first and second members, and
• means for applying a force to said first and second members in a direction perpendicular to said axes and in the planes of said grooves, said force tending to bring said members together and causing said members to deform against the adjacent surfaces of each pair of fibers, thereby simultaneously aligning and mechanically securing each pair of fibers.

An optical fiber connector capable of securing in axial alignment corresponding fibers having substantially circular cross sections from first and second fiber cables even if said corresponding fibers have different diameters, said connector comprising

• a first housing having a first member of resilient material in which are disposed a plurality of parallel, V-shaped grooves having a circularly shaped cross-section, the two walls forming each of said V-shaped grooves being convexly shaped and substantially symmetrical about a plane, the fibers from said first cable being adapted to be disposed in said grooves, the ends of said fibers being adapted to be disposed in a substantially planar array a given distance from a first end of said first member
• a second housing a second member of resilient material in which there are disposed a plurality of parallel, elongated, elevated portions having the same spacing as said V-shaped grooves, that part of each of said elevated portions which contacts said fibers being circular in cross section and being symmetrical with respect to said planes of symmetry,
• means for securing each of the fibers from said second cable so that the end portion of each fiber is adapted to extend along a corresponding one of said elevated portions, the ends of said fibers of said second cable being adapted to be disposed in a substantially planar array, and
• means for securing together said first and second housings with such an orientation that each of the fibers of said second cable is adapted to be disposed in a groove of said first housing with the endface thereof adapted to be adjacent to the endface of the corresponding fiber of said first cable, said means for securing applying a force to said first member of said first housing and to said second member of said second housing, said force being adapted to be applied in a direction perpendicular to the axes of said fibers and in a direction parallel to the planes about which said groove forming walls are symmetrical, said force tending to bring said members of said first and second housings together and being adapted to cause said members to deform against the adjacent surfaces of said fibers, thereby simultaneously aligning and mechanically securing said fibers.

An optical fiber connector capable of securing in axial alignment corresponding fibers having substantially circular cross sections from first and second fiber cables even if said corresponding fibers have different diameters, said connector comprising

• a first housing having a first member of resilient material in which a plurality of parallel, V-shaped grooves are disposed, the two walls forming each of said V-shaped grooves being substantially symmetrical about a plane, said walls intersecting at an angle less than 180.degree., the fibers from said first cable being adapted to be disposed in said grooves, the ends of said fibers being adapted to be disposed in a substantially planar array a given distance from a first end of said first member,
• a second housing having a second member of resilient material in which there are disposed a plurality of parallel, elongated, elevated portions having the same spacing as said V-shaped grooves,
• means for securing each of the fibers from said second cable so that the end portion of each fiber is adapted to extend along a corresponding one of said elevated portions, the ends of said fibers of said second cable being adapted to be disposed in a planar array, and
• means for securing together said first and second housings with such an orientation that each of the fibers of said second cable is adapted to be disposed in a groove of said first housing with the endface thereof adapted to be ajacent to the endface of the corresponding fiber of said first cable, said means for securing applying a force to said first member of said first housing and to said second member of said second housing, said force being adapted to be applied in a direction perpendicular to the axes of said fibers and in a direction parallel to the planes about which said groove forming walls are symmetrical, said force tending to bring said members of said first and second housings together and being adapted to cause said members to deform against the adjacent surfaces of said fibers, thereby simultaneously aligning along a common axis and mechanically securing said fibers.

An optical fiber connector comprising

• a pair of fibers that are to be connected, said fibers being substantially circular in cross section,
• a first member of resilient material having at least one V-shaped groove in a surface thereof, said groove having two sidewalls that intersect at an angle less than 180.degree., said two sidewalls being substantially symmetrical about a plane, said pair of fibers being disposed in said groove with the axes thereof being disposed in said plane, that portion of said groove at which said walls intersect remaining free from contact with said fibers,
• a second member of resilient material having a surface which contacts that surface of said fibers opposite said groove, the two walls of said groove and said second member contacting each of said fibers at three noncontiguous surface areas, and
• means for applying a force to said first and second members in a direction perpendicular to said axes and in said first plane, said force tending to bring said members together and causing said members to deform against the adjacent surfaces of said fibers, thereby simultaneously aligning along a common axis and mechanically securing said fibers.