Abstract: A metal heating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a light output portion for outputting light having a center wavelength in a wavelength range of 200 nm to 600 nm.

Abstract: An optical switch is provided with an optical-fiber-arraying-member 1 in which a plurality of optical fiber fixing grooves 1a extending along radial directions of a virtual circle are radially formed in a predetermined surface of a base material, a plurality of array-side optical fibers 2 arrayed in the plurality of optical fiber fixing grooves 1a of the optical-fiber-arraying-member 1, and a moving-side optical fiber 4 to be selectively optically connected to either of the plurality of array-side optical fibers 2; the moving-side optical fiber 4 and the optical-fiber-arraying-member 1 are rotated relative to each other about a center axis 1o of the virtual circle, and the moving-side optical fiber 4 is selectively optically connected to the array-side optical fiber 2 selected.

Abstract: An optical splicer 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention has a plurality of optical fibers 6, and an optical splice member 8 having a plurality of fiber holes 14 in each of which a portion including one end 6a of each fiber 6 is inserted, and a mode field diameter W1 in one end 6a of optical fiber 6 is enlarged relative to a mode field diameter W2 in the other portion of optical fiber 6.

Abstract: The ferrule part 16 comprises ferrule 60, first and second optical fibers 62 and 64, and optical filter 68. Ferrule 60 has first and second end surface 60a and 60b, ferrule insertion hole 60c, and groove 68. Ferrule insertion hole 60c extends along a first axis, and accommodates first and second optical fibers 62 and 64. Groove 66 extends along a second axis crossing the first axis, and extends so as to extend across ferrule 60. Groove 66 is provided along a plane defined by the second axis and a third axis perpendicular to the first and second axes. Optical filter 68 can reflect a part of light incident on one surface 68b of the pair of surfaces of optical filter 68, and can transmit a part of the light incident on other surface 68a.

Abstract: An optical switch is provided with an optical-fiber-arraying-member 1 in which a plurality of optical fiber fixing grooves 1a extending along radial directions of a virtual circle are radially formed in a predetermined surface of a base material, a plurality of array-side optical fibers 2 arrayed in the plurality of optical fiber fixing grooves 1a of the optical-fiber-arraying-member 1, and a moving-side optical fiber 4 to be selectively optically connected to either of the plurality of array-side optical fibers 2; the moving-side optical fiber 4 and the optical-fiber-arraying-member 1 are rotated relative to each other about a center axis 1o of the virtual circle, and the moving-side optical fiber 4 is selectively optically connected to the array-side optical fiber 2 selected.

Abstract: An optical switch is provided with an optical-fiber-arraying-member 1 in which a plurality of optical fiber fixing grooves 1a extending along radial directions of a virtual circle are radially formed in a predetermined surface of a base material, a plurality of array-side optical fibers 2 arrayed in the plurality of optical fiber fixing grooves 1a of the optical-fiber-arraying-member 1, and a moving-side optical fiber 4 to be selectively optically connected to either of the plurality of array-side optical fibers 2; the moving-side optical fiber 4 and the optical-fiber-arraying-member 1 are rotated relative to each other about a center axis 1o of the virtual circle, and the moving-side optical fiber 4 is selectively optically connected to the array-side optical fiber 2 selected.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an optical device that can restrain the dependence of the center wavelength of reflection at the diffraction grating upon the voltage applied to the piezoelectric element from shifting depending on the temperature. An embodiment of the optical device has the following structure.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for expanding the mode field diameter of an optical fiber by heating a specified region of the optical fiber with a uniform or desired temperature distribution for forming a thermally-diffused expanded core (TEC). The mode field diameter of the optical fiber is expanded by heating an optical fiber 1 with a burner 11 so as to thermally diffuse the dopant forming the refractive-index profile. The burner 11 has a heating surface 11a in which a plurality of gas-issuing holes 12 are arranged such that a plurality of parallel rows each of which is composed of a plurality of gas-issuing holes 12 are parallel to the axis of the optical fiber 1.

Abstract: The ferrule part 16 comprises ferrule 60, first and second optical fibers 62 and 64, and optical filter 68. Ferrule 60 has first and second end surface 60a and 60b, ferrule insertion hole 60c, and groove 68. Ferrule insertion hole 60c extends along a first axis, and accommodates first and second optical fibers 62 and 64. Groove 66 extends along a second axis crossing the first axis, and extends so as to extend across ferrule 60. Groove 66 is provided along a plane defined by the second axis and a third axis perpendicular to the first and second axes. Optical filter 68 can reflect a part of light incident on one surface 68b of the pair of surfaces of optical filter 68, and can transmit a part of the light incident on other surface 68a.

Abstract: This invention provides an optical fiber component or the like having a structure with a high degree of freedom in design as an intermediate member for optically connecting optical functional components having different MFDs without increasing a connection loss. The optical fiber component includes an optical fiber having two end faces polished. The optical fiber has the first MFD conversion portion for changing the mode field diameter at an end portion including one end face, and the second MFD conversion portion for changing the mode field diameter at an end portion including the other end face opposing one end face.

Abstract: Provided are a method of splicing together multiple fibers having different mode field diameters (MFDs) en bloc at a low splicing loss and a multi-fiber component incorporating the fibers thus spliced. After a fusion-splicing operation has been conducted, additional heat treatment is applied to the portion of the fibers thus fusion-spliced so that a dopant contained in the core portions of the fibers is thermally diffused so as to cause the MFDs thereof to match each other. The multiple fibers are disposed in parallel in line. During the fusion-splicing operation, one or both of pairs of fibers 11a and 11b are pushed toward the other to face each other, and the fibers are pulled back in the opposite direction to decrease diameter increment created in fusion spliced portions, and then additional heat treatment is applied to the fusion-spliced portions 16.

Abstract: In an optical fiber array, an optical fiber, a bundle of optical fibers or an optical fiber ribbon is mounted on an array substrate with a V-groove or V-grooves. A bare fiber portion in which a fiber coating is removed is placed in the V-groove, pressed by a presser member 6 and bonded by adhesives. At the front end, the fiber(s) is/are accurately positioned to connect to optical components or PLCs. The bare fiber portion contains a spliced portion of the dissimilar optical fibers having different mode field diameters and a mode field converting portion. The spliced portion of the dissimilar optical fibers is mounted on the array substrate. A flexible protection member is provided in the fiber coating portion extending over a rear edge of the array substrate. The optical fiber is bonded onto the array substrate, employing three kinds of adhesives that are different in the Young's modulus after hardening and the viscosity before hardening.

Abstract: A desulfurizing agent comprising a silica-alumina carrier having an Si/Al mole ratio of 10 or less and nickel carried thereon; a desulfurizing agent for hydrocarbons derived from petroleum which comprises a carrier and a metal component carried thereon and has a specific surface area of pores having a pore diameter of 3 nm or less of 100 m2/g or more; an Ni-Cu based desulfurizing agent comprising a carrier and, carried thereon, (A) nickel, (B) copper, and (C) an alkali metal or another metal; a desulfurizing agent for hydrocarbons derived from petroleum which comprises a carrier and a metal component carried thereon and has a hydrogen adsorption capacity of 0.4 mmol/g or more; and methods for producing these nickel-based and nickel-copper-based desulfurizing agents. The above desulfurizing agents are capable of adsorbing and removing with good efficiency the sulfur contained in hydrocarbons derived from petroleum to a content of 0.2 wt. ppm or less and have a long service life.

Abstract: A method for heating optical fibers by electric discharge includes fusion splicing optical fibers and then applying a heating to a neighborhood of a fusion splicing part of the optical fibers by the electric discharge. The discharge electrodes are provided in a direction perpendicular to the plane in which the optical fibers are arranged. The heating is applied to the neighborhood of the fusion splicing part by the electric discharge with discharge electrodes. The discharge electrodes are moved not only in a direction of arrangement of the optical fibers but also in an axial direction of the optical fibers such that more thermal energy is applied to an optical fiber positioned closer to a center of the arrangement of the optical fibers than to an optical fiber positioned away from the center.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an optical device that can restrain the dependence of the center wavelength of reflection at the diffraction grating upon the voltage applied to the piezoelectric element from shifting depending on the temperature. An embodiment of the optical device has the following structure.

Abstract: An optical switch 1 of the present invention comprises an optical fiber arraying member 21 for keeping a plurality of first optical fibers 20 juxtaposed with tip portions thereof being aligned, a movable arm 31, opposed to the optical fiber arraying member, for holding a tip portion of at least one second optical fiber 30, a driving mechanism 40 for driving this movable arm 31 to selectively optically coupling the second optical fiber 30 with an arbitrary first optical fiber 20, a supplying mechanism 60 for, when a first optical fiber 20 is optically coupled with the second optical fiber, dropping and charging an index matching agent to a gap between these optical fibers 20, 30, and drop controllers 67, 68 for controlling the supplying mechanism 60, wherein the index matching agent is dropped and charged into only the gap between the optical fibers, so that foreign matter produced in the driving mechanism 40 or the like is prevented from intruding into the coupling part between the optical fibers 20, 30, thus

Abstract: An optical switch of the present invention comprises an optical fiber arranging member in which tip ends of a plurality of first optical fibers are juxtaposed, a movable arm facing the optical fiber arranging member and fixing a tip end of a second optical fiber, and a drive mechanism for driving at least one of the optical fiber arranging member and the movable arm, for switching of optical connection, in an arrangement direction of the first optical fibers and in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the first optical fibers to optically couple the second optical fiber with the first optical fiber, wherein the optical fiber arranging member and the movable arm are encased in a sealing case and wherein an antireflection agent is filled in the sealing case.

Abstract: An optical switch of the present invention comprises an optical fiber arranging member in which tip ends of a plurality of first optical fibers are juxtaposed, a movable arm facing the optical fiber arranging member and fixing a tip end of a second optical fiber, and a drive mechanism For driving at least one of the optical fiber arranging member and the movable arm, for switching of optical connection, in an arrangement direction of the first optical fibers and in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the first optical fibers to optically couple the second optical fiber with the first optical fiber, wherein the optical fiber arranging member and the movable arm are encased in a sealing case and wherein an antireflection agent is filled in the sealing case.

Abstract: There is disclosed a transmission line switching apparatus comprising a coupling board having a first surface adapted to be connected a first line and a second surface adapted to be connected a second line, adjusting means having a line length adjusting unit for handling surplus portions of the second lines and switching means for changing the connection between the first and second lines, and partition means for dividing the second surface of the coupling board into a plural rows.

Abstract: There is disclosed an optical fiber switching device having a coupling board comprising a plurality of first optical fibers connected to one surface of the coupling board in the arrangement to one surface of the coupling board, a plurality of second optical fibers connected to the another surface of the coupling board, an optical fiber length adjusting unit for handling surplus portions of the second optical fibers and switching unit for pulling out any one of the second optical fibers selected from the plural second optical fibers from the another surface of the connecting board and for connecting the any one optical fiber to different switching position of the another surface of the connecting board to coupling the any one optical fiber with any one of the first optical fibers.