METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR POSITIONING AN OPTICAL FIBER

摘要

Eccentricity of a optical fiber installed in a passageway of a ferrule is minimized by imposing a force on the end of the optical fiber projecting from the passageway at the ferrule end face to push the optical fiber to a desired position in the passageway, prior to curing an adhesive used for fixing the optical fiber in the passageway, so as to compensate for eccentricity of the passageway. In one embodiment, the force is imposed on the optical fiber by hanging a weight on the optical fiber. In another embodiment, the force is imposed on the optical fiber by using a pressurized jet of fluid. The point of application of the force, the magnitude of the force, and the viscosity of the adhesive are selected such that minimal optical fiber bending occurs, thereby assuring that the optical fiber is positioned at the desired position in the passageway for an appreciable distance from the ferrule end face along the passageway.