Demountable Connector for Single Mode Optical Fiber

摘要

A single mode fiber optic connector, suitable for making demountable connections with 80 micron diameter optical fibers, has been developed, constructed and tested. The connector uses the four-rod double elbow glass alignment guide principle, previously developed for multimode single fiber connections. The single mode fiber requires an alignment guide with a smaller internal cusp than does the multimode. To obtain the 1.0 dB insertion loss with the approximately 4 micron diameter single mode core, a liquid filled guide and plastic reservoir system were developed. The TRW/Cinch cylindrical connector package (Optalign (R)) is used, with some modifications, to house the single mode guide and reservoir. The means for stripping, scribing and cleaving the single mode fiber are described, including the specially designed scribing machine. In addition to the connector principles, development and construction work, this report describes the results of tests for insertion loss, temperature cycle, repeated matings and vibration. (Author)