Abstract: To realize an optical fiber connector coupled or decoupled by simple insertion and removal operation without applying ferrule connecting force to other elements (package board or back panel), the optical connector comprises a first housing (33); a second housing (34); a third housing (36) slidably housed within the second housing; a first engage mechanism (37, 38) provided between the second and third housings, for engaging these two housings when the first and third housings are not coupled; a second engage mechanism (39, 40) provided between the first and third housings, for engaging these two housings when the first housing is coupled to second and third housings; a first release member (41) provided for the first housings, for releasing the first engage mechanism when the third housing is engaged to the first housing; and a second release member (42) provided for the second housing, for releasing the second engage mechanism when the second housing is coupled to the third housing or the first housing is de

Abstract: To realize an optical fiber connector coupled or decoupled by simple insertion and removal operation without applying ferrule connecting force to other elements (package board or back panel), the optical connector comprises a first housing (33); a second housing (34); a third housing (36) slidably housed within the second housing; a first engage mechanism (37, 38) provided between the second and third housings, for engaging these two housings when the first and third housings are not coupled; a second engage mechanism (39, 40) provided between the first and third housings, for engaging these two housings when the first housing is coupled to second and third housings; a first release member (41) provided for the first housings, for releasing the first engage mechanism when the third housing is engaged to the first housing; and a second release member (42) provided for the second housing, for releasing the second engage mechanism when the second housing is coupled to the third housing or the first housing is de

Abstract: To realize an optical fiber connector coupled or decoupled by simple insertion and removal operation without applying ferrule connecting force to other elements (package board or back panel), the optical connector comprises a first housing (33); a second housing (34); a third housing (36) slidably housed within the second housing; a first engage mechanism (37, 38) provided between the second and third housings, for engaging these two housings when the first and third housings are not coupled; a second engage mechanism (39, 40) provided between the first and third housings, for engaging these two housings when the first housing is coupled to second and third housings; a first release member (41) provided for the first housings, for releasing the first engage mechanism when the third housing is engaged to the first housing; and a second release member (42) provided for the second housing, for releasing the second engage mechanism when the second housing is coupled to the third housing or the first housing is de

Abstract: An optical switching module has an optical waveguide substrate mounted on an electronic circuit substrate. According to a first aspect of the invention, the optical waveguide substrate has thin-film heaters, and the electronic circuit substrate has trimmable thick-film resistors for adjusting current fed to the thin-film heaters. According to a second aspect of the invention, the optical switching module also has a pair of fiber pigtails butt-coupled to the optical waveguide substrate. The fiber pigtails are secured to the ends of a supporter, which is attached to a heat sink fastened below the electronic circuit substrate. According to a third aspect of the invention, the optical waveguide substrate is mounted in a depression in the electronic circuit substrate. The invention reduces the size of the optical switching module.

Abstract: An adapter for an optical connector including securing first and second adapter elements which are opposed to each other and a sleeve holder having an alignment sleeve therein, which is sandwiched between said adapter elements, wherein each adapter element has a seat which is in contact with part of the sleeve holder for sandwiching said sleeve therebetween, the sleeve holder has a pair of metallic sleeve holder elements, one of the sleeve holder elements being pressure fitted to the other sleeve holder element so that it will not be moved relative the other sleeve holder element, the sleeve holder has on the periphery thereof in the intermediate position along the length thereof a flange which is complimentary in shape with the seat of each adapter element.

Abstract: To provide an optical connector which can slidably and stably support the optical connector element (ferrule) within the connector housing without increasing the axial length of the ferrule, the optical connector plug comprising: (a) a plug housing (202) formed with a shoulder portion (253) between a large hollow portion (254) and a small hollow portion (252) and formed with no projection between said two portions; (b) a plug ferrule (201) connected to an optical fiber (204) and formed with a flange portion (201b) slidably fitted into the large hollow portion of said plug housing and an end portion (201a) passed through the small hollow portion of said plug housing; and (c) a spring (203) housed within said plug housing to urge the flange portion of said plug ferrule against the shoulder portion (253) of said plug housing.

Abstract: To microscopically clean the ferrule end surface of an optical connector simply, uniformly and securely, the optical connector cleaner comprises a cleaning cloth woven with ultrafine fiber less than 0.1 denier; a casing formed with at least one opening for protecting the cleaning cloth from dust; and a mechanism for shifting the cleaning cloth exposed in the opening for cloth renewing, after the ferrule end surface has been rubbed with the cleaning cloth for cleaning. Further, it is preferable to provide an elastic member under the cleaning cloth for applying a constant cleaning pressure against the cloth and a guide member over the cleaning cloth for securely cleaning the ferrule end surface. The cloth shift mechanism is operated manually by the user or automatically by a motor. A holder jig holds the optical connector to facilitate cleaning of the ferrule end surface. The holder jig supports the optical connector such that the ferrule projects from the holder jig.

Abstract: This invention presents a method and an apparatus for adjusting the axial orientation angle between the principal axis of a polarization maintaining fiber (PMF) and a ferrule with ease and precision. The invented ferrule is composed of a ferrule body, having a through hole into which a PMF is inserted, and a ring-shaped flange, having a keyway on the circumferential rim, installed on the outer periphery of the ferrule body. An engaging part is provided on the periphery to restrain the forward movement of the ferrule body by engaging with the flange. The invented ferrule enables adjustment of the axial angle, between the principal axis of the PMF and the keyway of the flange, to be made after adhesively bonding the PMF onto the ferrule body and polishing the end of the fiber. Therefore, the axial angle adjustment is carried out conveniently and accurately, without being affected by the processing effects, such as curing of the adhesive.

Abstract: To realize an optical fiber connector coupled or decoupled by simple insertion and removal operation without applying ferrule connecting force to other elements (package board or back panel), the optical connector comprises a first housing (33); a second housing (34); a third housing (36) slidably housed within the second housing; a first engage mechanism (37, 38) provided between the second and third housings, for engaging these two housings when the first and third housings are not coupled; a second engage mechanism (39, 40) provided between the first and third housings, for engaging these two housings when the first housing is coupled to second and third housings; a first release member (41) provided for the first housings, for releasing the first engage mechanism when the third housing is engaged to the first housing; and a second release member (42) provided for the second housing, for releasing the second engage mechanism when the second housing is coupled to the third housing or the first housing is de

Abstract: A cylindrical split alignment sleeve of ceramic material has an axial slit and is used in an optical fiber connector for connecting optical fibers to each other. In order to establish the strength reliability of the split ceramic alignment sleeve, a predetermined stress is applied to it by a test procedure ensuring no damage to the sleeve. According to the invention, a test load is applied to the inner circumferential surface of the split ceramic alignment sleeve by a loading part which includes stationary and movable members having inclined slidable contact surfaces. The sleeve is applied onto the load part and the movable member is displaced to apply load to the sleeve. The magnitude of load can be detected by deformation of the loading part or by displacement of the movable member.

Abstract: Means and method for assembling an optical fiber cable with a tubular member that secures an outside protective jacket of the cable. The inside wall of the tubular member is provided with serrations such that when the wall is physically reduced on the protective jacket, the serrations engage and retain the jacket without compressing the inner optical fiber so that it is free to move longitudinally within the jacket. This is accomplished by using a crimping device having a crimping aperture that is sized to precisely control the amount of reduction of the tube wall onto the protective jacket.

Abstract: A ferrule for optical fibers transmitting linearly polarized light capable of preventing deterioration and fluctuation of the extinction ratio. The ferrule incorporates at least two paths connecting a region in a vicinity of an end of a puncture for an optical fiber inside the flange portion with outside of the ferrule. These paths effectively enable the removal of air in such a region which could have caused an extraneous stress on the optical fiber resulting in deterioration of the extinction ratio. An optical fiber connector using this ferrule is also disclosed.

Abstract: In a plug-in connector for connecting elements mounted on a backage board to other elements arranged on a back wiring board disposed perpendicular to the package board, the guide pin and the connector housing fixing screw are formed integral with each other to realize a floating connector coupling structure which is high in mounting efficiency and precision and small in size. Further, the plug-in connector can connect two different, optical and electrical connectors. Further, there is disclosed a novel optical connector plug whose radial eccentricity direction can be matched with that of a mated optical connector jack with an optical fiber aligning jig to minimize the optical fiber coupling power loss.