Low-reflection, single-mode multifiber array connector (MAC)

The multifiber array connector (MAC) is a FASTECH optical connector for simultaneously connecting up to 18 single-mode or multimode fibers through the backplane. A low reflection version of a single-mode, 12-fiber MAC was assembled and tested. The fiber end faces were polished at a slight angle to the plane perpendicular to the axis so that the reflection was cast outside the fiber acceptance angle of the transmitting fiber. When the bevel angle was 5.50°, the reflection was less than -40 dB, and the connection loss averaged 0.6 dB with a maximum of 0.95 dB. Compared with samples with smaller bevel angles, these connection losses were within the range of scatter, and hence the effect of bevel on connection loss is deemed negligible. The measured reflections from both mated and unmated connectors followed the theoretical predictions closely for smaller bevel angles. For larger angles (e.g. 5.50°), the measured values exceeded the theoretical values