Optical cable assembly with mismatched fiber length
An optical connector assembly includes a first optical connector and a second optical connector. The first optical connector includes a first housing, a plurality of first optical fibers, a first cable retainer and a first light coupling unit attached to the plurality of first optical fibers and separated by a first optical fiber length L 1. The second optical connector includes a second housing, a plurality of second optical fibers, a second cable retainer and a second light coupling unit attached to the plurality of second optical fibers and separated by a second optical fiber length L 2, different from L 1. The ratio of L 1/ L 2 is such that, when the first optical connector is mated with the second optical connector, the first light coupling unit and the second light coupling unit rotate relative to the first housing and the second housing, respectively, and mate.
1 . An optical connector assembly, comprising:
a first optical connector, comprising a plurality of first optical fibers having a first nominal fiber cladding diameter, D 1 , extending between and held by a first attachment area of the first optical connector and a second attachment area of the first optical connector, the first attachment area of the first optical connector and the second attachment area of the first optical connector separated by a distance L 1 , the plurality of first optical fibers free to bend over the distance L 1 ; and
a second optical connector configured to be mated with the first optical connector, comprising a plurality of second optical fibers having a second nominal fiber cladding diameter, D 2 , different from D 1 by at least 10% extending between and held by a first attachment area of the second optical connector and a second attachment area of the second optical connector, the first attachment area of the second optical connector and the second attachment area of the second optical connector separated by a distance L 2 different than L 1 , the plurality of second optical fibers free to bend over the distance L 2 ;
wherein a ratio of L 1 /L 2 is within 5% of (D 1 /D 2 ) 2 .
2 . The optical connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first optical fibers and the plurality of second optical fibers each bend when the first optical connector is mated with the second optical connector.