Optical connections system and methods for positioning an optical fiber within an alignment device

Abstract

A method for positioning an optical fiber having an end portion within an alignment groove of an alignment device includes orienting the optical fiber in the alignment groove of the alignment device; causing the optical fiber to elastically flex; using an interference point to assist in forming a curved profile of the flexed fiber, and using inherent elasticity of the flexed optical fiber to assist in retaining the end portion of the optical fiber in contact with the alignment groove. A connection system includes a connector, alignment device, and adapter, with an interference point on at least one of the connector, alignment device, or adapter.

1 . An optical connection system comprising:
 a fiber optic connector including a connector body defining an internal cavity, the fiber optic connector also including an optical fiber that extends through the internal cavity of the connector body; and   a protrusion structure located within the internal cavity of the connector body, the protrusion structure having a profile adapted to initiate a pre-buckling configuration in the optical fiber prior to mating;   wherein the protrusion structure projects toward a ceiling of the internal cavity of the connector body.   
     
     
         2 . The optical connection system of  claim 1 , wherein the pre-buckled configuration has a fiber portion with a first buckling curvature prior to securing the fiber optic connector to another fiber optic connector. 
     
     
         3 . The optical connection system of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusion structure extends upward from a bottom surface of the internal cavity and wherein a fiber buckling region is defined above the protrusion within the internal cavity. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The optical connection system of  claim 2 , wherein when the fiber optic connector is mated with another fiber optic connector, the optical fiber is pushed backwards such that the optical fiber is encouraged to move to a second buckling curvature. 
     
     
         7 . The optical connection system of  claim 6 , wherein the second buckling curvature has a greater curvature than the first buckling curvature. 
     
     
         8 . The optical connection system of  claim 3 , wherein the interior fiber buckling region is positioned between a front interface end of the connector body and a rear fixation end of the connector body. 
     
     
         9 . The optical connection system of  claim 8 , wherein the rear fixation end is configured to anchor the optical fiber. 
     
     
         10 . The optical connection system of  claim 6 , wherein the internal cavity provides space for accommodating the second buckling curvature such that when the optical fiber is fully deflected, the optical fiber does not make contact with the ceiling of the internal cavity of the connector body. 
     
     
         11 . The optical connection system of  8 , wherein the protrusion structure includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion including an inclined surface as seen moving in a direction toward the rear fixation end of the connector body and the second portion including a declined surface as seen moving in the direction toward the rear fixation end of the connector body. 
     
     
         12 . The optical connection system of  11 , wherein the inclined surface and the declined surface are joined by an apex. 
     
     
         13 . The optical connection system of  8 , wherein the internal cavity includes a top wall with a tapered configuration that increases in a direction toward the rear fixation end of the connector body. 
     
     
         14 . A fiber optic connector comprising:
 a connector body having opposite top and bottom walls that together define a longitudinal passage along a longitudinal axis, the fiber optic connector including an optical fiber that extends through the longitudinal passage of the connector body; and   a geometrical structure located in the bottom wall of the longitudinal passage of the connector body, the geometrical structure being adapted to initiate a first buckling curvature in the optical fiber prior to mating the fiber optic connector to another fiber optic connector, when the fiber optic connector is mated with the another fiber optic connector, the optical fiber is pushed backwards in the connector body such that the optical fiber is moved to a second buckling curvature.   
     
     
         15 . The fiber optic connector of  claim 14 , wherein the second buckling curvature has a steeper curve than the first buckling curvature. 
     
     
         16 . The fiber optic connector of  claim 14 , wherein the longitudinal passage provides space for accommodating the second buckling curvature of the optical fiber such that when the optical fiber is fully deflected, the optical fiber does not make contact with the top wall of the connector body. 
     
     
         17 . The fiber optic connector of  claim 14 , wherein the geometrical structure projects toward the longitudinal axis of the connector body and wherein a fiber buckling region is defined above the geometrical structure within the longitudinal passage. 
     
     
         18 . The fiber optic connector of  claim 17 , wherein the interior fiber buckling region is positioned between a front interface end of the connector body and a rear fixation end of the connector body. 
     
     
         19 . The fiber optic connector of  claim 18 , wherein the rear fixation end is configured to anchor the optical fiber. 
     
     
         20 . The fiber optic connector of  18 , wherein the geometrical structure includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion including an inclined surface as seen moving in a direction toward the rear fixation end of the connector body and the second portion including a declined surface as seen moving in the direction toward the rear fixation end of the connector body. 
     
     
         21 . The fiber optic connector of  20 , wherein the inclined surface and the declined surface are joined by an apex. 
     
     
         22 . The fiber optic connector of  18 , wherein the top wall of the connector body includes a tapered configuration that increases in a direction toward the rear fixation end of the connector body.