Abstract: Provided is a heat storage unit having a simple configuration, capable of being attached to various objects, and capable of efficiently performing heat exchange. The heat storage unit has at least one inorganic fiber member configured by binding or entangling flexible inorganic fibers and having a desired shape; and a heat storage material in contact with the inorganic fibers.

Abstract: An optical fiber connecting method not causing any damage to the optical fibers and enabling effective use of space and an optical fiber connection structure formed by the method. The optical fiber connection structure is for connecting optical fibers by means of a component for connecting optical fibers comprising two plugs for aligning at least two optical fibers and connecting them and an adapter for fixing the plugs. Each plug in which an optical fiber is inserted is attached to an adapter in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the optical fiber, and the plug and adapter are fixed. A modification may be made in which a latch member is provided to at least one of the plug and adapter, a latch engaging section is provided to the other, the latch member is engaged with the latch engaging section, and the plug and adapter are fixed.

Abstract: An optical fiber tape core comprises an optical fiber core assembly and a coating layer formed of silicone rubber and arranged on at least one side of the optical fiber core assembly. In the optical fiber core assembly, plural optical fiber cores two-dimensionally are arranged in parallel with each other. The silicone rubber which forms the coating layer has a hardness of from 20 to 90 and a tensile strength of from 15 to 80 kgf/cm2.

Abstract: An optical fiber tape core comprises an optical fiber core assembly and a coating layer formed of silicone rubber and arranged on at least one side of the optical fiber core assembly. In the optical fiber core assembly, plural optical fiber cores two-dimensionally are arranged in parallel with each other. The silicone rubber which forms the coating layer has a hardness of from 20 to 90 and a tensile strength of from 15 to 80 kgf/cm2.

Abstract: An optical fiber tape core comprises an optical fiber core assembly and a coating layer formed of silicone rubber and arranged on at least one side of the optical fiber core assembly. In the optical fiber core assembly, plural optical fiber cores two-dimensionally are arranged in parallel with each other. The silicone rubber which forms the coating layer has a hardness of from 20 to 90 and a tensile strength of from 15 to 80 kgf/cm2.

Abstract: An optical fiber connection component which is easy to adjust the distance between the optical fiber ends before connection, hardly damages the optical fiber during transportation or connection, and saves the number of parts and the cost, and a method for connecting optical fibers by using this component. The optical fiber connection component used for the optical fiber connection method consists of a connection member having one or more optical fiber through-holes provided with guides for rodlike coupling member at or near both side ends, rodlike coupling members, and a plug having through-holes for rodlike coupling members. The connection member is arranged in the plug slidably with the rodlike coupling member inserted in the plug. Two such optical fiber connection components are opposed to the optical fiber inserted in the through-hole to butt the through-holes of both the connection members against each other.

Abstract: An optical fiber connecting method not causing any damage to the optical fibers and enabling effective use of space and an optical fiber connection structure formed by the method. The optical fiber connection structure is for connecting optical fibers by means of a component for connecting optical fibers comprising two plugs for aligning at least two optical fibers and connecting them and an adapter for fixing the plugs. Each plug in which an optical fiber is inserted is attached to an adapter in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the optical fiber, and the plug and adapter are fixed. A modification may be made in which a latch member is provided to at least one of the plug and adapter, a latch engaging section is provided to the other, the latch member is engaged with the latch engaging section, and the plug and adapter are fixed.

Abstract: The invention provides a connection structure of optical fibers and a process for connecting optical fibers, by which the optical fibers are prevented from being damaged, the working time required for the connection is shortened, yield is improved, and efficiency of connection working is improved. The connection structure of optical fibers comprises 2 connecting members and brought face to face with each other and each having a through-hole and 2 optical fibers inserted into the respective through-holes of the connecting members. The 2 optical fibers are connected within the through-hole of one connecting member.

Abstract: An optical fiber connection component which is easy to adjust the distance between the optical fiber ends before connection, hardly damages the optical fiber during transportation or connection, and saves the number of parts and the cost, and a method for connecting optical fibers by using this component. The optical fiber connection component used for the optical fiber connection method consists of a connection member having one or more optical fiber through-holes provided with guides for rodlike coupling member at or near both side ends, rodlike coupling members, and a plug having through-holes for rodlike coupling members. The connection member is arranged in the plug slidably with the rodlike coupling member inserted in the plug. Two such optical fiber connection components are opposed to the optical fiber inserted in the through-hole to butt the through-holes of both the connection members against each other.

Abstract: An optical interconnection apparatus which is very easy to handle and does not cause excessive bending and breakage of the optical fibers when connecting with other optical apparatus is provided. The optical interconnection apparatus includes a base sheet and plural optical fibers two-dimensionally routed on the base sheet via an adhesive layer. The optical fibers form a routing pattern having at least a straight part, a crossing part, a curved part or a fiber pitch changing part. The apparatus further includes another base sheet this is adhered on the said routed optical fibers. The two base sheets have a different sizes so that one of the base sheets does not exist in the vicinity of the edge of the other base sheet at which the optical fibers are outwardly extended.

Abstract: An optical fiber tape core comprises an optical fiber core assembly and a coating layer formed of silicone rubber and arranged on at least one side of the optical fiber core assembly. In the optical fiber core assembly, plural optical fiber cores two-dimensionally are arranged in parallel with each other. The silicone rubber which forms the coating layer has a hardness of from 20 to 90 and a tensile strength of from 15 to 80 kgf/cm2.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical interconnection apparatus free from attaching, fixing or adhering when come into contact with each other or with another material, and easy to handle. The optical interconnection apparatus according to the invention comprises a substrate (1), a protective resin layer (2) composed of a silicone based rubber-like or gel-like material on one side or both sides of said substrate, and plural optical fibers (4) which are routed two-dimensionally routed on the substrate and provided at ends thereof with end portions (5) adapted to permit optical interconnections, and said optical fibers being held in place by said protective resin layer, wherein a non-tacky surface layer (8) is provided on the surface of said protective resin layer. The non-tacky surface layer is preferred to be composed of a silicone-based material and having a kinetic friction coefficient of 3.0 or less.

Abstract: An optical inter-connection apparatus according to this invention has plural optical fibers 4, which are routed in a two-dimensional plane and are provided at opposite ends thereof with end portions 5 adapted to permit optical interconnections thereto, and at least one protective resin layer 2 by which the optical fibers are held in place. The protective resin layer 2 is formed from a silicone-base material curable through a condensation reaction with liberation of an oxime or liberation of an alcohol or from a silicone-base material, which is curable by crosslinking through a hydrosilation reaction, and an adhesion promoter, and is joined with a base 1 or another protective resin layer via an adhesive layer 3. The adhesive layer comprises an acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive. As an alternative, the adhesive layer may comprise a silicone-base pressure-sensitive adhesive which is curable by crosslinking through a hydrosilation reaction.

Abstract: An optical interconnection apparatus which is very easy to handle and does not cause excessive bending and breakage of the optical fibers when connecting with other optical apparatus is provided. The optical interconnection apparatus comprises a base sheet, plural optical fibers two-dimensionally routed on said base sheet via an adhesive layer so as to form a routing pattern having at least a straight part, a crossing part, a curved part or a fiber pitch changing part, and another base sheet adhered on said routed optical fibers, wherein said two base sheets have each a different size and one of said base sheets does not exist in the vicinity of the edge of the other base sheet at which the optical fibers are outwardly extended.

Abstract: An optical interconnection apparatus comprises an adhesive layer having a 2-dimensional plane, and optical fibers secured on the adhesive layer. The optical fibers are routed on the adhesive layer so as to have at least one of an intersection portion, a bent portion, and a changing portion of fiber pitch, and to have a end portion outwardly projecting from the adhesive layer. The projecting end portion is used for optical interconnection. At least a portion of the circumferential edge surface of the adhesive layer is covered by a flame resistant material at an end of the optical fiber and in the vicinity thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical interconnection apparatus free from attaching, fixing or adhering when come into contact with each other or with another material, and easy to handle. The optical interconnection apparatus according to the invention comprises a substrate (1), a protective resin layer (2) composed of a silicone based rubber-like or gel-like material on one side or both sides of said substrate, and plural optical fibers (4) which are routed two-dimensionally routed on the substrate and provided at ends thereof with end portions (5) adapted to permit optical interconnections, and said optical fibers being held in place by said protective resin layer, wherein a non-tacky surface layer (8) is provided on the surface of said protective resin layer. The non-tacky surface layer is preferred to be composed of a silicone-based material and having a kinetic friction coefficient of 3.0 or less.

Abstract: This invention provides optical interconnection apparatus, which permit easy optical interconnections without a loss in the intactness of a routing pattern of optical fibers, and also their fabrication processes. An optical interconnection apparatus according to this invention has a base film having a two-dimensional plane, plural optical fibers routed on the base film an edge-dam arranged along or in a vicinity of a peripheral edge of the base film, a protective resin layer holding in place and protecting the plural optical fibers routed on the two-dimensional plane of the base film, and end portions located at opposite ends of the optical fibers and adapted to permit optical interconnections. The protective resin layer is formed, for example, by filling a resin material inside the edge-dam arranged along or in the vicinity of the peripheral edge of the base film and then solidifying it.

Abstract: The invention provides a connection structure of optical fibers and a process for connecting optical fibers, by which the optical fibers are prevented from being damaged, the working time required for the connection is shortened, yield is improved, and efficiency of connection working is improved. The connection structure of optical fibers comprises 2 connecting members and brought face to face with each other and each having a through-hole and 2 optical fibers inserted into the respective through-holes of the connecting members. The 2 optical fibers are connected within the through-hole of one connecting member.

Abstract: A process is disclosed to fabricate an optical interconnection apparatus in which plural optical fibers having end portions are provided at ports of the optical interconnection apparatus for optical interconnection, the plural optical fibers are routed in a two-dimensional plane such that a routing pattern having at least one type of parts selected from overlapping parts, curved parts or fiber pitch change partsis formed and the end portions of the optical fibers are located extending out from the ports of the optical interconnection apparatus and are protected by protective boots. According to the process, an edge-dam member, which is provided with protruding portions for forming protective boots, is formed along or in a vicinity of a peripheral edge of a base film for supporting the thus-routed optical fibers thereon.

Abstract: An optical interconnection apparatus (8) comprises a two-dimensional flexible base film (1), a plurality of optical fibers (4) with end portion for optical connection (e.g., optical connectors), and a protective resin layer (2) of plastic material filled inside edge-dam (7) formed along or in the vicinity of the peripheral edges of the base film (1). The base film (1) has an opening, in which the protective resin layer (2) covers the optical fibers (4) to fix them. A plurality of such apparatus (8) can be stacked to form a laminate. Since the base film (1) has the opening where the optical fibers (4) are routed intricately, the optical interconnection apparatus (8) has improved flexibility and can be used in a narrow space.