Optical fiber connection system including optical fiber alignment device
The present disclosure relates to an optical fiber alignment device that has an alignment housing that includes first and second ends. The alignment housing defines a fiber insertion axis that extends through the alignment housing between the first and second ends. The alignment housing includes a fiber alignment region at an intermediate location between the first and second ends. First and second fiber alignment rods are positioned within the alignment housing. The first and second fiber alignment rods cooperate to define a fiber alignment groove that extends along the fiber insertion axis. The first and second fiber alignment rods each having rounded ends positioned at the first and second ends of the alignment housing.
1. An optical fiber alignment device comprising:
an alignment housing including first and second ends, the alignment housing defining a fiber insertion axis that extends through the alignment housing between the first and second ends, the alignment housing including a fiber alignment region at an intermediate location between the first and second ends;
first and second fiber alignment rods positioned within the alignment housing, the first and second fiber alignment rods cooperating to define a fiber alignment groove that extends along the fiber insertion axis, the first and second fiber alignment rods each having rounded ends positioned at the first and second ends of the alignment housing;
first and second fiber contact members positioned within the alignment housing; and
a biasing arrangement for urging the first and second fiber contact members generally toward the fiber alignment groove,
wherein the first and second ends of the alignment housing define partial funnels that cooperate with the rounded ends of the first and second fiber alignment rods to form fiber guides for guiding optical fibers toward the fiber insertion axis.
2. The optical fiber alignment device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second fiber contact members comprise spheres.
3. The optical fiber alignment device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second contact members comprise balls.
4. The optical fiber alignment device of claim 1 , wherein the alignment housing is a one-piece part.
5. The optical fiber alignment device of claim 1 , wherein the alignment housing is a one-piece molded part.
6. The optical fiber alignment device of claim 1 , wherein the biasing arrangement includes a clip that mounts on the alignment housing such that the first and second contact members are captured within the alignment housing.
7. The optical fiber alignment device of claim 6 , wherein the clip includes first and second springs that respectively apply biasing pressure to the first and second contact members.
8. The optical fiber alignment device of claim 7 , wherein the first and second springs comprise leaf springs.
9. The optical fiber alignment device of claim 6 , wherein the clip is C-shaped.
10. The optical fiber alignment device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second contact members are first and second balls, wherein the alignment housing has a cylindrical outer surface, and wherein a resilient clip including a main body fits over the cylindrical outer surface of the alignment housing, the main body having a generally C-shaped transverse cross-sectional profile, the resilient clip also including first and second leaf springs having base ends integrally formed with the main body, the first and second leaf springs forming the biasing arrangement.
11. The optical fiber alignment device of claim 1 , wherein the rounded ends are semi-spherical in shape.
12. The fiber optic alignment device of claim 1 , wherein the alignment device is incorporated into a fiber optic adapter.
13. The fiber optic alignment claim 1 , wherein the alignment device is incorporated into a converter for converting a ferrule-less connector into a ferruled connector.
14. An optical fiber alignment device comprising:
an alignment housing including first and second ends, the alignment housing defining a fiber insertion axis that extends through the alignment housing between the first and second ends, the alignment housing including a fiber alignment region at an intermediate location between the first and second ends, the alignment housing having a cylindrical outer surface;
first and second balls that fit within the alignment housing; and
a resilient clip including a main body that fits over the cylindrical outer surface of the alignment housing, the main body having a generally C-shaped transverse cross-sectional profile, the resilient clip also including first and second leaf springs having base ends integrally formed with the main body, the first and second leaf springs urging the first and second balls in a direction transverse with respect to the fiber insertion axis,
wherein the first and second ends of the alignment housing define partial funnel structures for guiding optical fibers toward the fiber insertion axis.
15. The optical fiber alignment device of claim 14 , wherein the alignment housing defines an optical fiber alignment groove that extends within the alignment housing along the fiber insertion axis.
16. The optical fiber alignment device of claim 14 , further comprising first and second fiber alignment rods positioned within the alignment housing, the first and second fiber alignment rods cooperating to define a fiber alignment groove that extends along the fiber insertion axis, the first and second fiber alignment rods each having rounded ends positioned at the first and second ends of the alignment housing.
17. The optical fiber alignment device of claim 16 , wherein the rounded ends are semi-spherical in shape.
18. The optical fiber alignment device of claim 16 , wherein the first and second ends of the alignment housing define partial funnels that cooperate with the rounded ends of the first and second fiber alignment rods to form fiber guides for guiding optical fibers toward the fiber insertion axis.
19. An optical fiber alignment device comprising:
an alignment housing including first and second ends, the first and second ends defining partial funnels, the alignment housing defining a fiber insertion axis that extends through the alignment housing between the first and second ends, the alignment housing including a fiber alignment region at an intermediate location between the first and second ends;
first and second fiber alignment rods positioned within the alignment housing, the first and second fiber alignment rods cooperating to define a fiber alignment groove that extends along the fiber insertion axis, the first and second fiber alignment rods each having rounded ends positioned at the first and second ends of the alignment housing, the partial funnels of the first and second ends of the alignment housing cooperating with the rounded ends of the first and second fiber alignment rods to form fiber guides for guiding optical fibers toward the fiber insertion axis; and
a biasing arrangement comprising a cantilevered configuration for urging first and second fiber contact members generally toward the fiber alignment groove.