Importance

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Abstract

A fiber clamp (220) for clamping an optical fiber assembly (16) includes a clamp housing (230) and a member mover (228). The clamp housing (230) includes a base contact area (234) and a flexible member (238) that urges the optical fiber assembly (16) against the base contact area (234) to retain the optical fiber assembly (16). Further, the flexible member (238) includes a member contact area (238B) that engages the optical fiber assembly (16), and a member attachment area (238A). The member mover (228) selectively moves the member contact area (238B) relative to the member attachment area (238A) so that the optical fiber assembly (16) can be easily inserted between the base contact area (234) and the member contact area (238B). Additionally, the base contact area (234), and the flexible member (238) can be made of a one-piece, substantially homogeneous, unitary structure. With this design, the fiber clamp (220) can be made with minimal stack-up of tolerances. Further, the careful manufacture of the fiber clamp (220) guarantees that the forces on all contact areas (234) (238B) between the fiber or ferrule and the fiber clamp (220) are essentially the same. Moreover, the value of the forces is defined by geometry choices and material selection.

First Claim