Expanded beam optical connector and method of making the same

摘要

An expanded beam (EB) optical connector. In some embodiments, the EB optical connector includes: a rigid, hollow, straight contact tube having a centerline axis; and a collimator assembly having an optical axis and comprising an optical fiber and a collimating lens, wherein the centerline axis of the contact tube is at least substantially aligned with the optical axis such that collimated light produced by the lens from light exiting the fiber travels though the contact tube and the loss of light caused by misalignment of the axes is not more than 2 dB.

主权项

1. An expanded beam (EB) optical connector, comprising:
a rigid, hollow, straight contact tube having a centerline axis, said contact tube defining an empty space that extends the entire length of the contact tube; and a collimator assembly having an optical axis and comprising an optical fiber and a collimating lens, wherein the contact tube is not a lens holder, the centerline axis of the contact tube is at least substantially aligned with the optical axis such that collimated light produced by the lens from light exiting the fiber travels through the empty space defined by the contact tube and the loss of light caused by misalignment of the axes is not more than about 2 dB, the collimator assembly further comprises a lens holding tube open at both ends, at least a portion of the lens is housed within a first end portion of the lens holding tube, at least a portion of the optical fiber is housed within a second end portion of the lens holding tube, the EB optical connector further comprises a rigid, hollow contact tube holder having a first tubular end portion defining a first tubular cavity and a second tubular end portion defining a second tubular cavity, a first end of the contact tube is disposed within said first tubular cavity, and the first end portion of the lens holding tube is disposed within said second tubular cavity such that at least a portion of the lens is also disposed within said second tubular portion.