Optical fiber connection system including optical fiber alignment device

Abstract

A self-centering structure (300) for aligning optical fibers (308) desired to be optically coupled together is disclosed. The self-centering structure (300) including a body (310) having a first end (312) and a second end (314). The first end (312) defines a first opening (303) and the second end (314) defines a second opening (304). The self-centering structure (300) includes a plurality of groove structures (306) integrally formed in the body (310) of the self-centering structure for receiving the optical fibers (308) and a fiber alignment region (305) positioned at an intermediate location between the first and second ends (312, 314) to facilitate centering and alignment of the optical fibers (308). The plurality of cantilever members (322) is flexible and configured for urging the optical fibers (308) into their respective groove structures (306).

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An optical fiber alignment device comprising:
 a first alignment part having a first mating region; and   a second alignment part having a second mating region;   wherein the first and second alignment parts are press-fit together such that the first mating region of the first alignment part engages the second mating region of the second alignment part to form a fiber alignment unit;   wherein the first alignment part defines a plurality of parallel grooves sized for receiving optical fibers; and   wherein the second alignment part includes a plurality of elastic beams that are aligned over the plurality of parallel grooves for generating biasing forces for pressing the optical fibers into the plurality of parallel grooves.   
     
     
         3 . The optical fiber alignment device of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of elastic beams have free ends and base ends, the base ends being unitarily formed with the second alignment part. 
     
     
         4 . The optical fiber alignment device of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of parallel grooves are V-grooves. 
     
     
         5 . The optical fiber alignment device of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second mating regions are planar. 
     
     
         6 . The optical fiber alignment device of  claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of elastic beams corresponds to only one of the plurality of parallel grooves. 
     
     
         7 . The optical fiber alignment device of  claim 2 , wherein at least portions of the plurality of elastic beams angle toward the plurality of parallel grooves. 
     
     
         8 . The optical fiber alignment device of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of elastic beams has lengths that extend along lengths of the plurality of parallel grooves. 
     
     
         9 . The optical fiber alignment device of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of elastic beams includes projections that extend from respective bodies of the plurality of elastic beams toward the plurality of parallel grooves. 
     
     
         10 . A fiber alignment assembly including a main body having a first end that defines a first opening and a second end that defines an opposite, second opening, the main body of the fiber alignment assembly comprising:
 a plurality of grooves;   a plurality of parallel elastic beams being aligned over the plurality of grooves;   a first connector including a first plurality of optical fibers; and   a second connector including a second plurality of optical fibers;   wherein the first connector is removably insertable into the first opening of the main body such that the first plurality of optical fibers are inserted into the plurality of grooves and the second connector is removably insertable into the second opening of the main body such that the second plurality of optical fibers are centered and aligned with the first plurality of optical fibers within the plurality of grooves; and   wherein the plurality of parallel elastic beams generates biasing forces for pressing the first and second plurality of optical fibers into the plurality of grooves.   
     
     
         11 . The fiber alignment assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the fiber alignment assembly include a first structure that defines the plurality of grooves, the first structure having a first planar region and a second structure that includes the plurality of parallel elastic beams, the second structure having a second planar region that mates with the first planar region when the first and second structures are fitted together. 
     
     
         12 . The fiber alignment assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of elastic beams have free ends and base ends, the base ends being unitarily formed with the second structure. 
     
     
         13 . The fiber alignment assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of elastic beams is separated into independent elastic beams by slots defined in the second structure. 
     
     
         14 . The fiber alignment assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of grooves are V-grooves. 
     
     
         15 . The fiber alignment assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second structures are press-fit together. 
     
     
         16 . The fiber alignment assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of elastic beams includes projections that extend from respective bodies of the plurality of elastic beams toward the plurality of grooves. 
     
     
         17 . An alignment device for co-axially aligning first and second optical fibers, the alignment device comprising:
 a contact zone in which end faces of the first and second optical fibers are optically coupled to provide an optical interface, the first and second optical fibers being positioned within an alignment groove defined in the alignment device;   a first inner biasing device positioned at a first side of the contact zone;   a second inner biasing device positioned at a second side of the contact zone and axially aligned with the first biasing device;   a first outer biasing device stacked on the first inner biasing device; and   a second outer biasing device stacked on the second inner biasing device;   the first and second inner biasing devices and the first and second outer biasing devices each having cantilever members for centering and aligning the first and second optical fibers toward the alignment groove.   
     
     
         18 . The alignment device of  claim 17 , wherein the first and second inner and outer biasing devices each define a funnel shape to facilitate entry of the first and second optical fibers along a fiber alignment axis. 
     
     
         19 . The alignment device of  claim 17 , wherein the alignment groove is a V-groove. 
     
     
         20 . The alignment device of  claim 17 , wherein the first and second outer biasing devices are a pre-alignment structure. 
     
     
         21 . The alignment device of  claim 17 , wherein the first and second inner biasing devices are adapted to align the end faces of the first and second optical fibers.