| 摘要 |
<p>A high-performance connector for optical fibers includes a cylindrical ceramic or metallic ferrule installed in a structure. This structure is positioned in a non-plastic (metallic system) base member to form a fiber holder. This overall generally cylindrical structure includes a small passageway along its central axis for holding an optical fiber. This entire structure is mounted within the non-plastic housing that includes an opening at one end thereof from which the ceramic ferrule protrudes. A cylindrical spring that is integral to the ferrule support structure and interacts with an interior surface of the surrounding structure via a secondary piece of the cylindrical structure urges the ceramic ferrule outward from the opening in the housing. The housing includes a metallic leaf-spring latch which is located on a single surface thereof, which is manually operable and used to lock the connector to an associated receptacle. Said connector; because it is manufactured of non-plastics in its structural elements (metallics and/or ceramics) has very stable optical performance criteria over a broad range of environments (both thermal and mechanical). The high performance optical connector also introduces the ability to remove the cylindrical fiber holder to directly inspect or clean the sensitive internal components (springs, internal metallic or ceramic components). In addition, the cylindrical structure provides a mean of "tuning" it to remove the effects of fiber eccentricity. When tuned, the fiber holder retains such tuning even outside the housing allowing re-assembly of the high-performance connector without loss of "tuning".</p> |
