US 12,242,116 B2
Optical fiber connector device and method
Jinxi Shen, San Ramon, CA (US); Wei Hou, Shanghai (CN); Lianjun Zhang, Shanghai (CN); and Bin Xu, Shanghai (CN)
Assigned to Twinstar Technologies Co. Ltd., Shanghai (CN)
Filed by Twinstar Technologies Co. Ltd., Shanghai (CN)
Filed on Jun. 10, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/738,119.
Claims priority of application No. 202321796811.8 (CN), filed on Jul. 10, 2023; and application No. 202322219242.7 (CN), filed on Aug. 17, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2025/0020869 A1, Jan. 16, 2025
Int. Cl. G02B 6/38 (2006.01)
CPC G02B 6/3885 (2013.01) [G02B 6/3839 (2013.01); G02B 6/3858 (2013.01); G02B 6/3897 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An optical connector, comprising:
a frame comprising a shelf and two walls projecting therefrom, the walls being spaced apart to define a longitudinally extending trench therebetween;
a positioning assembly for positioning an array of optical fibers within the trench to optically couple with an optical device disposed in the trench, comprising:
a fiber support member comprising a planar top surface having a plurality of longitudinal grooves formed therein;
the array of optical fibers disposed in the grooves, top portions of the optical fibers of the array projecting above the top surface of the fiber support member; and
a cap fixedly disposed over the fiber support member, the cap having an alignment surface resting upon the top portions of the optical fibers of the array;
wherein the cap is wider than the fiber support member, such that, when the fiber support member is disposed within the trench in an operating position, free portions of the alignment surface of the cap rest upon the walls to control a vertical alignment of the fiber support member within the trench.