Methods of and apparatus for reconfiguring optical fiber connector components and products produced thereby.

摘要

A biconic connector includes two plugs (44-44) each of which terminates a single fiber optical cable (55) and each of which includes a conically shaped end portion (50). The connector also includes an alignment sleeve (86) having back-to-back conically shaped cavities each of which is adapted to receive and end portion of a plug. In order to minimize loss through a connection, it becomes important for the axis of an end portion of the optical fiber in the conically shaped end portion of the plug to be substantially coincident with the axis of revolution of the conically shaped end portion. This is accomplished by holding the plug in a fixture such that its conically shaped end portion is exposed and the fixture adapted to be turned about an axis of rotation (105). Scattered light from a laser (166) directed toward a gauging length (100) of optical fiber in a passageway of the plug and extending beyond an end face thereof as the plug is turned rotatably is received on a target area. The fixture which holds the plug is turned pivotally to cause the axis of the gauging length of optical fiber to parallel the axis of rotation. Images of light are launched toward the optical fiber transversely of the longitudinal axis of the optical fiber at a plurality of positions spaced apart circumferentially through a known angle. The axis of rotation and the eccentricity of a centroid of the gauging length of optical fiber are determined from these images. Adjustments are then made to cause the centroid of the fiber to be coincident with the axis of rotation. Subsequently, the end portion of the plug is reconfigured to cause the axis of revolution of the reconfigured end portion and a portion of the axis of the gauging length of optical fiber to be substantially coincident.