Device for aligning optical fibers

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a fiber alignment device including a guide feature defining a fiber alignment groove. The fiber alignment device also includes a fiber engagement component defining a reference surface arrangement and elastic cantilever arms for pressing optical fibers into the fiber alignment groove. First portions of the guide feature engage the reference surface arrangement. Second portions of the guide feature engage the cantilever arms to flex the cantilever arms to a staged position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fiber alignment device comprising:
 a guide feature defining a fiber alignment groove; and   a groove opposing component that cooperates with the guide feature to define a fiber alignment passage, the groove opposing component including a groove opposing surface that opposes the fiber alignment groove, the groove opposing surface and the groove defining a fixed transverse cross-sectional shape of the fiber alignment passage that does not change when an optical fiber is inserted into the fiber alignment passage, the fiber alignment device not including any flexible cantilevers or other deformable features associated with the fiber alignment passage that deform when the optical fiber is inserted in the fiber alignment passage.   
     
     
         2 . The fiber alignment device of  claim 1 , wherein the guide feature and the groove opposing component mount within an outer fiber alignment housing. 
     
     
         3 . The fiber alignment device of  claim 1 , wherein the guide feature and the groove opposing component are separately molded parts. 
     
     
         4 . The fiber alignment device of  claim 1 , wherein the groove opposing surface is planar. 
     
     
         5 . The fiber alignment device of  claim 1 , wherein the groove opposing component incudes a plurality of groove opposing surfaces that are axially separated by recesses. 
     
     
         6 . The fiber alignment device of  claim 1 , wherein the transverse cross-sectional shape of the fiber alignment passage defines a cross dimension in the range of 125.5-126.5 microns. 
     
     
         7 . The fiber alignment device of  claim 1 , wherein the transverse cross-sectional shape defines a cross dimension that is larger than an outer diameter of the optical fiber intended to be received in the fiber alignment passage and no more than 15 microns, or 1.0 microns, or 0.5 microns larger than the outer diameter than of the optical fiber. 
     
     
         8 . An optical fiber alignment assembly comprising:
 (a) a guide member defining a fiber alignment groove; and   (b) a biasing member for urging first and second optical fibers toward the fiber alignment groove, the biasing member including:
 (i) a main body having a first end and an opposite second end; 
 (ii) a plurality of tabs positioned on first and second sides of the main body between the first and second ends, the plurality of tabs being adapted to hold the first and second fiber alignment rods; and 
 (iii) first and second springs respectively positioned at the first and second ends of the main body, the first and second springs being configured to respectively apply biasing pressure to the first and second optical fibers within the fiber alignment groove. 
   
     
     
         9 . The optical fiber alignment assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the biasing member includes a spring clip. 
     
     
         10 . The optical fiber alignment assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the spring clip comprises a metal material. 
     
     
         11 . The optical fiber alignment assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second springs are integrally formed with the biasing member. 
     
     
         12 . The optical fiber alignment assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second springs comprise leaf springs. 
     
     
         13 . The optical fiber alignment assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the guide member includes first and second alignment rods. 
     
     
         14 . The optical fiber alignment assembly of  claim 13 , further comprising a housing that mounts over the biasing member and the first and second alignment rods. 
     
     
         15 . The optical fiber alignment assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the biasing member includes first and second extensions that respectively extend from the first and second sides of the main body, and wherein the housing defines first and second slots for receiving the first and second extensions when the housing is mounted over the biasing member. 
     
     
         16 . The optical fiber alignment assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the housing includes internal structure for aligning the first and second alignment rods inside the housing. 
     
     
         17 . The optical fiber alignment assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the internal structure includes a support member and a retention member that cooperate together to align the first and second alignment rods in x and y directions. 
     
     
         18 . The optical fiber alignment assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the housing includes first and second ends, the alignment housing defining a fiber insertion axis that extends through the alignment housing between the first and second ends of the housing. 
     
     
         19 . The optical fiber alignment assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the fiber alignment groove extends along the fiber insertion axis. 
     
     
         20 . The optical fiber alignment assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second extensions extend from an intermediate location of the main body between the first and second ends thereof. 
     
     
         21 . A fiber alignment device comprising:
 (a) an optical fiber alignment assembly defining a fiber alignment groove and a biasing member having tabs for holding the rods, the biasing member including flexible cantilevers for pressing optical fibers into the fiber alignment groove; and   (b) a housing defining an interior that receives the optical fiber alignment assembly, the housing including slots for receiving tabs of the biasing member for mounting the biasing member within the interior of the housing.   , and the housing including a support member and a retention member that cooperate together to align the rods in x and y directions within the interior of the housing.   
     
     
         22 . The fiber alignment device of  claim 21 , wherein the biasing member includes a clip. 
     
     
         23 . The fiber alignment device of  claim 22 , wherein the clip comprises a metal material. 
     
     
         24 . The fiber alignment device of  claim 21 , wherein the flexible cantilevers are integrally formed with the biasing member. 
     
     
         25 . The fiber alignment device of  claim 21 , wherein the optical fiber alignment assembly includes rods. 
     
     
         26 . The fiber alignment device of  claim 25 , wherein the housing includes a support member and a retention member that cooperate together to align the rods in x and y directions within the interior of the housing.