ELASTICALLY DEFORMABLE CONNECTOR FOR CONNECTING OPTICAL FIBER RIBBONS

摘要

A ribbon connector mechanically splices optical fibers of a first ribbon to corresponding optical fibers of a second ribbon. The ribbon connector has a connector body made of a highly elastically deformable material such as a shape memory alloy. The connector body has one or more fiber conduits and a central cavity and adjacent deformation slits extending from an outer surface of the connector body into the one or more fiber conduits. The narrow deformation slits enable and then limit deformation of the connector body. The widened central cavity ensures unobstructed access to the fiber conduits when the body is deformed. When force is applied to a first face, a first segment of the conduits expands to allow insertion of the fibers of the first ribbon. When force is applied to a second face, a second segment of the conduits expands to allow insertion of the fibers of the second ribbon.