DUAL FUNCTION SPLICE COMPONENT FOR MECHANICAL SPLICE CONNECTOR

摘要

A fiber optic mechanical splice connector (20) including a single connector element operable for providing optical fiber alignment and strain relief includes opposed splice components (46,48) that define first (54) and second grooves (62) for receiving the bare glass portions (32) of mating optical fibers, as well as the coated or buffered portion (30) of at least one of the optical fibers when the splice components (46,48) are biased together by an actuator (38). The mating optical fibers are aligned while the coated or buffered portion (30) of one of the optical fibers is retained within the same connector element, thus eliminating positioning problems that occur when separate connector elements are utilized for fiber alignment and strain relief. The splice components (46,48) may be unbiased to allow removal of at least one of the mating optical fibers without destroying the connector assembly or potentially damaging the optical fibers.