DESIGN FOR MU-TYPE SINGLE-MODE MINIATURE OPTICAL CONNECTOR

This paper presents a design approach for developing MU-type single-mo de miniature optical connectors featuring 1.25 mm diameter zirconia fe rrules. They are smaller and have a higher packaging density than conv entional optical connectors. The ferrule pitch is 1/2, the plug volume 2/5 and the cross-sectional area 2/5 that of the SC connector. The ai m of our approach is to reduce the ferrule size and to realize durable connectors. With 10/125 SM fibers. these MU connectors produced an av erage insertion loss of 0.07 dB and an average return loss of 49.4 dB, and there was no degradation during or after mechanical and environme ntal tests.