Patent ID: 9696502
Date: 2017-07-04
CPC Classifications: G02B

Claim:
1. An expanded beam (EB) optical connector, comprising: a contact tube holder having a first end and a second end; a rigid, hollow, straight contact tube having a first end, a second end, and a centerline axis, said contact tube defining an empty space that extends the entire length of the contact tube; and a collimator assembly having an optical axis and comprising an optical fiber and a collimating lens, wherein the contact tube is not a lens holder, the centerline axis of the contact tube is at least substantially aligned with the optical axis such that collimated light produced by the lens from light exiting the fiber travels through the empty space defined by the contact tube and the loss of light caused by misalignment of the axes is not more than about 2 dB, the contact tube does not abut the collimating lens, the contract tube is elongate, the first end of the contact tube is disposed within a cavity formed by the contact tube holder, and the second end of the contact tube is positioned beyond the second end of contact tube holder.