Corning Optical Communications LLC

Adam Joseph Fusco

James Scott Sutherland

Daniel Ohen Ricketts

Elvis Alberto Zambrano

Neil David Vance

A non-contact method of measuring an insertion loss of a DUT connector is disclosed. The DUT connector has a first ferrule with a first optical fiber and a first end face. The method utilizes a reference connector having a second ferrule with a second optical fiber and a second end face. The method includes: axially aligning the first and second ferrules so that the first and second end faces are confronting and spaced apart to define a gap with an axial gap distance d; measuring values of the insertion loss between the first and second optical fibers for different gap distances d&#x3e;0; and estimating a value for the insertion loss for a gap distance of d=0 based on the measured values of the insertion loss when d&#x3e;0.

Non-contact methods of measuring insertion loss in optical fiber connectors

A controlled-contact method of measuring an insertion loss of a compressible DUT having a first ferrule with a first optical fiber and a first end face is disclosed. The method utilizes a compressible reference connector having a second ferrule with a second optical fiber and a second end face. The method includes: axially aligning the first and second ferrules to define a gap with an axial gap distance of greater than 150 &#x3bc;m; moving the reference connector at a connector velocity in the range from 1 mm/s to 5 mm/s; when the gap distance is less than 150 &#x3bc;m, reducing the connector velocity to between 10 &#x3bc;m/s and 500 &#x3bc;m/s until contact while continuing to measure the coupled optical power; after contact, increasing the connector velocity as the reference and DUT connector axially compress. The insertion loss is determined from ongoing measurements of the coupled optical power.

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Corning, NY, United States of America

Adam Joseph Fusco