Patent ID: 8764311

Claim:
An optical fiber connector for use at an operating wavelength, comprising: a single-mode optical fiber having the operating wavelength λ which generally defines single-mode operation of the single-mode optical fiber for lengths greater than 2 meters, the single-mode optical fiber having a length L in the range from 10 mm to 20 mm over which multiple modes at the operating wavelength λ are supported, the single-mode optical fiber comprising a core of radius r 0 , and a cladding immediately surrounding the core, wherein the core and cladding: support multiple modes at the operating wavelength λ for the length L define a relative refractive index profile Δ that is either substantially parabolic or substantially step-like and that defines a cutoff wavelength λ C ≦1200 nm; define a mode-field diameter MFD NS that is: a) between 8.2 μm and 9.7 μm when the operating wavelength λ=1310 nm, and b) between 9.2 μm and 10.9 μm when the operating wavelength λ=1550 nm; wherein the relative refractive index profile Δ of the single-mode optical fiber has a maximum Δ 0 in the range of 0.26% to 0.40%, wherein the core radius r 0 is in the range from 3.5 μm to 5.5 μm, and wherein the relative refractive index profile has a maximum Δ 0 located in the core radius r 0 range from 2 μm to 3 μm; a first alignment member that operably supports the single-mode optical fiber, wherein the single-mode optical fiber serves as a stub fiber having a first end; and a single-mode field optical fiber having a second end and operably supported relative to the first alignment member by a second alignment member such that the respective first and second ends of the stub fiber and the single-mode field optical fiber are operably aligned and interfaced.