Patent ID: 7209375

Claim:
An apparatus for positioning an optical fiber within a passageway of a ferrule, comprising: a holder configured to receive and support the ferrule, wherein the ferrule has a longitudinally extending passageway and wherein the optical fiber has a diameter less than that of the passageway, the holder positioning the ferrule such that the optical fiber has an end portion projecting out from the passageway beyond an end face of the ferrule; an adhesive application mechanism capable of disposing a fluid adhesive between the optical fiber and an inner surface of the passageway; and a force mechanism for imposing a force F on the end portion of the optical fiber projecting from the ferrule, wherein the force moves the end portion of the optical fiber to a desired position in the passageway and wherein the force F is imposed at a distance D from the ferrule end face such that a resulting moment F·D on the optical fiber maintains the optical fiber straight within at least about 0.05 μm for a distance of at least about 50 μm from the ferrule end face into the passageway.