Optical star coupler for plastic optical fibers

摘要

A method and apparatus for assembling an optical coupler system. A first plurality of optical fibers is connected to a first receptacle using an alignment system to align the first plurality of optical fibers in the first receptacle. A second plurality of optical fibers is connected to a second receptacle using the alignment system to align the second plurality of optical fibers in the second receptacle. The first receptacle is connected to a star coupler. The first plurality of optical fibers is optically connected to a mixing channel in the star coupler. The second receptacle is connected to the star coupler. The second plurality of optical fibers is optically connected to the mixing channel in the star coupler. The first and second receptacle each have a main housing and a funneling structure. The main housing of the first / second receptacle is configured to receive the first / second plurality of optical fibers in a channel in the main housing. The funneling structure of the first / second receptacle receives an unjacketed portion of the first / second plurality of optical fibers in a channel of reduced size in the funneling structure.