OPTICAL FIBER CONNECTOR AND METHOD OF MAKING

摘要

In a disconnectable low-loss optical connection for optical fibers, each fiber in a pair of optical fibers is surrounded by a connector body to the conical frustu? mating end of which is applied a tiny, transparent, flexible index matching dome of silicone rubber or equivalent material. The connector bodies are held together by mating to each other or to a common alignment receptacle having conically hollow receiving surfaces, so that the fiber ends are aligned and the domes touch and flex completing the optical connection. The optical fiber connector is suitably manufactured by a method which includes making the connector body around a mandrel or around an optical fiber end in a supporting sleeve in a molding die. The mandrel or fiber end is compressively centered by means of a deformable annulus. Then the die is evacuated and a transfer molding compound of polyester or epoxy is forced around the mandrel or the fiber end. After removal of the molded connector body and extraction of the mandrel, if used, the fiber end is prepared so as to be exposed only near the tip of the connector body. Then the exposed face of the fiber end and the adjacent portion of the connector body are covered with a transparent dome by dipping an applicator tip in silicone rubber in liquid form, applying a drop from the applicator over the fiber end, and curing the silicone rubber as a dome. The connector has a variety of applications. For example, an optical fiber repeater module-to-rack connector is fabricated with guide pins for coarse alignment, and automatic dust cover, crown springs for retaining the connector bodies, and conical alignment receiving surfaces having grooves for self-cleaning. When the repeater is placed in the rack, domes on the tips of the connector bodies touch and flex completing the optical connection.