Low-loss lens connector for single-mode fibers

S. Masuda; T. Iwama

doi:10.1364/AO.21.003475

Applied Optics
Vol. 21,
Issue 19,
pp. 3475-3483
(1982)
•https://doi.org/10.1364/AO.21.003475

Low-loss lens connector for single-mode fibers

S. Masuda and T. Iwama

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S. Masuda and T. Iwama, "Low-loss lens connector for single-mode fibers," Appl. Opt. 21, 3475-3483 (1982)

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Abstract

A compact (plug = 1.5 g) low-loss lens connector for single-mode fibers (SMF) which can operate in a wide range of wavelengths was developed. This lens connector consists of two lens assemblies using 250-μm diam AR coated sapphire balls precisely positioned between the SMF endfaces. The lens connection loss between the same kind of SMFs with a Gaussian beam spot radius ranging from 3.55 to 6.63 μm is predicted to be ≤1.0 dB. The average lens connection loss is 0.54 dB. Loss reproducibility after connecting 1000 times is less than or equal to ±0.15 dB.

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Connection loss factors	Lateral offset (μm)	Tilt angle (radian)	Relation
Plug ferrule axis/small hole axis	(E1)	(φ1)
Plug ferrule axis/small hole axis	≤0.5	≤0.5/2500 = 2 × 10⁻⁴	φ1 ≤ E1/Lp
Clearance between fiber cladding/small hole	(E2)	(φ2)
Clearance between fiber cladding/small hole	≤0.5	≤0.5/2500 = 2 × 10⁻⁴	φ2 < E2/Lp
Eccentricity of cladding/core	(E3)
Eccentricity of cladding/core	≤0.5	0
Accuracy of ferrule endface perpendicular polishing		(φ3)
Accuracy of ferrule endface perpendicular polishing		≤(0.5/2500)(n − 1) ≒ 9 × 10⁻⁵	φ3 ≤ (J1/J2) (n − 1)
Clearance between plug ferrule/socket	(Ea)	(φa)
Clearance between plug ferrule/socket	≤0.5	≤0.5/500 = 1 × 10⁻³	φa ≤ Ea/La

Mechanical alignment (listed in Table I)
2(Ep + y)
Lateral offset between connecting fibers in ferrule		Lens connector loss factor
(Ep ≤ E1 + E2 + E3)		Y ≤ 2(Ep + y + φpF)
2(φp)
Tilt angle between the fiber output beams (optical axis)		Lateral offset between the optical beam axes at lens interface
(φp ≤ φ1 + φ2 + φ3)
2(x)
Tilt angle caused by clearance between ferrule and socket		Lens connector loss factor
		θ ≤ 2(x + S/F)
2(S)
Offset error between lens center and core axis.		Tilt angle between optical beam axes at lens interface

Fiber parameter			Gaussian beam spot radius w (μm)

	Core radius (μm)	Index difference (%)	λ = 1.2 μm	λ = 1.55 μm
No. 1	4.48	0.248	4.94	6.10
No. 2	2.7	0.44	3.55	4.88
No. 3	5.3	0.212	(5.52)a	6.63
No. 4	4.6	0.25	(4.97)	6.08

	Butting connector				Our lens connector

	w = 3.55 μm		w = 6.63 μm		w = 3.55 μm		w = 6.63 μm
	λ = 1.2 μm		λ = 1.55 μm		λ = 1.2 μm		λ = 1.55 μm
Ep = E1 + E2 + E3	Fiber no. 2 (dB)		Fiber no. 3 (dB)		Fiber no. 2 (dB)		Fiber no. 3 (dB)
					Worst lens connection loss
		Total		Total		Total		Total
Ep = 1.5 μm	G_θ = 0		G_θ = 0		G_θ = 0.575		G_θ = 0.13
		6.19		1.58		0.75		0.76
	G_Y = 6.19		G_Y = 1.58		G_Y = 0.174		G_Y = 0.63
Ep = 0.5 μm	G_θ = 0		G_θ = 0		G_θ = 0.575		G_θ = 0.13
		1.55		0.4		0.6		0.3
	G_Y = 1.55		G_Y = 0.4		G_Y = 0.023		G_Y = 0.169
					y = 0,		y = Ea,
					x = Ea/La		x = Ea/(2La)
					Ea = 0.5 μm, La = 500 μm, S = 0.5 μm, F = 146 μm

Lens radius of curvature	R = 125 μm ± 0.5 μm
Lens material	Synthetic sapphire N = 1.75
Lens focal distance	F = 146 μm
Plug ferrule length	Lp ≥ 2500 μm
Eccentricity of fiber core center and ferrule center	Ep ≤ 1.5 μm (=E1 + E2 + E3)
Offset between lens center and core axis	S ≤ 0.5 μm
Clearance between ferrule and socket	Ea ≤ 0.5 μm
A ferrule and a socket contact length	La ≥ 500 μm
Tilt angle between light beam axis and the ferrule axis	φp ≤ 5 × 10⁻⁴ (=φ1 + φ2 + φ3)
Lens connector resultant alignment conditions
Lateral offset between optical axes at lens interface	Y ≤ 4.14 μm
Tilt angle between optical axes at lens interface	θ ≤ 0.51°
Lens longitudinal alignment error from confocal distance d3	D ≤ 30 μm

Abstract

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Equations (44)

Applied Optics