Optical Connector Tuning and Testing

With the ever-increasing demand for higher performance in the optical network, there is a need for higher performance in optical connectors. Connector performance is typically defined as a measurement of insertion loss that occurs when the connector is mated to a reference connector. Manufacturers use reference connectors for production testing of insertion loss because they provide a repeatable reference point. For a connector with a cylindrical ferrule, a reference connector is one selected for low insertion loss when mated with another reference connector regardless of rotational orientation. The low insertion loss indicates that the cores of the fibers are highly concentric relative to the outside diameter of the ferrules....