Abstract: An optical connector according to the present invention is comprised of a ferrule having at least one optical fiber and a plurality of guide holes, and a plurality of guide pins each being inserted in each of the holes. The guide pin is capable of being attached into and detached from the hole. At least one of an inner diameter of the guide hole and an outer diameter of the guide pin change the longitudinal direction thereof, and at least a part of the guide pin is in contact with the guide hole.

Abstract: An optical connector that can stably connect even a tension-resistant jacket-covered optical fiber cord is provided. In an optical connector, which includes an optical connector plug 10 having a ferrule 14 holding an optical fiber and a housing 16 accommodating the ferrule, and an adapter connecting the optical connector plugs; the optical fiber is an optical fiber cord 12 in which at least the jacket carries tension, a secondary coated optical fiber (120) and the jacket (123) carrying the tension of the optical fiber cord 12 are secured to the ferrule 14, and the ferrule 14 is immovably mounted to the housing 16.

Abstract: A novel optical connector that includes the following: an optical connector ferrule which is capable of fixing optical fibers; optical fibers fixed onto the optical connector ferrule, such that the end surfaces of the optical fibers project beyond an end surface of the optical connector ferrule; an adhesive for fixing the optical fibers onto the optical connector ferrule; and a member whose Young's Modulus is less than that of the optical fiber and is provided to an area on the end surface of the optical connector ferrule surrounding, at a minimum, the projected portions of the optical fibers. And when the end surface of the optical connector is polished, the ends of the optical fibers are capable of projecting from the end surface of the optical connector ferrule, even if the end surface portion of the optical connector ferrule contains a filler, the hardness of which is less than that of the optical fibers.

Abstract: The invention relates to coating composition, coated articles of manufacture, and to the formation of the coated articles. The coating is an energy-beam set resin containing fluid containing heat-expandable, fluid-encapsulating hollow spheres in the resin. The coating of a substrate, such as a communication line material, is accomplished by coating the material with a resin mixture containing expandable spheres and then exposing the coated material to an energy-beam source for a period of time to cure the resin and expand the spheres. The coating is applied to at least one filament of a communication line material. Such filaments can be gathered into bundles which are first extrusion coated with a thermoplastic polymer before being coated with the resin mixture. The composition of the resin material can be varied by changing the volume percent of the hollow spheres present in the resin mixture.

Abstract: A novel optical connector that includes the following: a optical connector ferrule which is capable of fixing optical fibers; optical fibers fixed onto the optical connector ferrule, such that the end surfaces of the optical fibers project beyond an end surface of the optical connector ferrule; an adhesive for fixing the opticalfibers onto the optical connector ferrule; and a member whose Young's Modulus is less than that of the optical fiber and is provided to an area on the end surface of the optical connector ferrule surronding, at a minimum, the projected portions of the optical fibers. And when the end surface of the optical connector is polished, the ends of the optical fibers are capable of projecting from the end surface of the optical connector ferrule, even if the end surface portion of the optical connector ferrule contains afiller, the hardness of which is less than that oaf the optical fibers.

Abstract: The invention relates to coating composition, coated articles of manufacture, and to the formation of the coated articles. The coating is an energy-beam set resin containing fluid containing heat- expandable, fluid-encapsulating hollow spheres in the resin. The coating of a substrate, such as a communication line material, is accomplished by coating the material with a resin mixture containing expandable spheres and then exposing the coated material to an energy-beam source for a period of time to cure the resin and expand the spheres. The coating is applied to at least one filament of a communication line material. Such filaments can be gathered into bundles which are first extrusion coated with a thermoplastic polymer before being coated with the resin mixture. The composition of the resin material can be varied by changing the volume percent of the hollow spheres present in the resin mixture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an adhesive for connecting and fixing an optical fiber to an optical connector and to an optical connector which uses that adhesive. The adhesive prevents deformation of the optical connector ferrule and stressing of the optical fiber due to hardening shrinkage during the hardening of the adhesive and/or a shrinkage during cooling of the adhesive. In accordance with the invention, (1) the value of (the coefficient of linear expansion (.degree.C..sup.-1) of the adhesive).times.(the difference between a hardening temperature of the adhesive and room temperature (.degree.C.)).times.(Young's Modulus (kg/mm.sup.2) of the adhesive) is equal to or less than about 2.5, (2) the value of (the rate of hardening shrinkage (%) of the adhesive).times.(Young's Modulus (kg/mm.sup.2) of the adhesive) is equal to or less than about 1000 and/or (3) the adhesive hardens at room temperature.

Abstract: An optical connector in which the deformation of the connector caused by the shrinkage of an adhesive at the time of adhering and fixing an optical fiber and a ferrule is small, and the increment of loss in connection is suppressed.The optical connector in which different adhesives are used in an optical fiber insertion hole portion and an adhesive injection opening portion respectively.

Abstract: An optical connector for connecting optical fibers, comprises: a guide-groove substrate having grooves for positioning optical fibers and guide pins; an upper plate having groove portions each for covering the guide pins positioned in the guide grooves of the guide-groove substrate; elastic guide-pin pressing members each provided in the groove portions of the upper plate above portions where the guide pin grooves are in contact with the guide pins. In such a arrangement, it is preferable to forman oxide film on said V-grooves of the guide-groove substrate at least in the vicinity of contact points between the guide pins and the V-grooves. The optical connector further includes a resin molding portion for surrounding the substrate and the upper plate, the resin molding portion including a pair of opposite opened portions at top and bottom surfaces thereof.

Abstract: An optical fiber switching apparatus having a guide frame which is supported by an apparatus body. The guide frame has a guide groove. Disposed on the guide grooves is a movable moving member. The moving member can be moved by the apparatus along the guide groove. A slide terminal is connected by a support to the moving member. The support allows the slide terminal to approach the moving member and thereby causing the slide terminal to enter an unlocked position or to move away from the moving member and thereby causing the slide terminal to enter a locked position. The slide terminal support an end face of an optical fiber. The apparatus also includes a driving wire which has two end portions. The end portions are disposed through the moving member and are coupled to the slide terminal, thereby forming a loop in the driving wire.

Abstract: An optical connector for connecting optical fibers, comprises: a guide-groove substrate having grooves for positioning optical fibers and guide pins; an upper plate having groove portions each for covering the guide pins positioned in the guide grooves of the guide-groove substrate; elastic guide-pin pressing members each provided in the groove portions of the upper plate above portions where the guide pin grooves are in contact with the guide pins. In such a arrangement, it is preferable to form an oxide film on said V-grooves of the guide-groove substrate at least in the vicinity of contact points between the guide pins and the V-grooves. The optical connector further includes a resin molding portion for surrounding the substrate and the upper plate, the resin molding portion including a pair of opposite opened portions at a front and back surfaces thereof.

Abstract: An optical connector for connecting optical fibers, comprises: a guide-groove substrate having grooves for positioning optical fibers and guide pins; an upper plate having groove portions each for covering the guide pins positioned in the guide grooves of the guide-groove substrate; elastic guide-pin pressing members each provided in the groove portions of the upper plate above portions where the guide pin grooves are in contact with the guide pins. In such a arrangement, it is preferable to form an oxide film on said V-grooves of the guide-groove substrate at least in the vicinity of contact points between the guide pins and the V-grooves. The optical connector further includes a resin molding portion for surrounding the substrate and the upper plate, the resin molding portion including a pair of opposite opened portions at a front and back surfaces thereof.

Abstract: A process for producing an insulated electric wire, comprising the steps of coating around a conductor an energy radiation curable resin composition having heat expansible microspheres incorporated therein, and curing the energy radiation curable resin composition thus coating on the conductor by exposure to an energy radiation. The process also comprises the step of heating the energy radiation curable resin composition to expand the heat expansible microspheres in the energy radiation curable resin composition, thereby forming a high-porosity insulation layer on the conductor. An insulated electric wire comprises a conductor; an energy radiation curable resin composition layer having microspheres incorporated therein and surrounding the conductor, the outside diameter of the microspheres in the energy radiation curable resin composition layer being maximum in the vicinity of the conductor and decreasing gradually toward the periphery of the energy radiation curable resin composition layer.

Abstract: A process for producing an insulated electric wire, comprising the steps of coating around a conductor an energy radiation curable resin composition having heat expansible microspheres incorporated therein, and curing the energy radiation curable resin composition thus coated on the conductor by exposure to an energy radiation. The process also comprises the step of heating the energy radiation curable resin composition to expand the heat expansible microspheres in the energy radiaiton curable resin composition, thereby forming a high-porosity insulation layer on the conductor. An insulated electric wire comprises a conductor; an energy radiation curable resin composition layer having microspheres incorporated therein and surrounding the conductor, the outside diameter of the microspheres in the energy radiation curable resin composition layer being maximum in the vicinity of the conductor and decreasing gradually toward the periphery of the energy radiation curable resin composition layer.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel coating structure composed of a mixture of an energy irradiation curable resin composition and microspheres, which is used to form a thinfilm coating on a small diameter conductor, thus producing an insulated conductor which has low capacitance obtained in spite of the thin-film coating, has very little variation in capacitance due to the manufacturing process, has a smooth coating layer, and can be manufactured quickly.

Abstract: A coupler-type optical switch and a process for producing the same are disclosed, which coupler-type optical switch comprises an optical fiber coupler and a medium surrounding the photocoupler part of the optical fiber coupler and in which the refractive index of the medium is controllable, the medium comprising an energy-curing resin or a transparent liquid material and, dispersed or dissolved in the resin or liquid material, an optical material whose refractive index changes by the action of an electric or magnetic field.

Abstract: A tape-like coated optical fiber comprises: a plurality of optical fiber strands arranged side by side on a plane; and a tape coating of ultraviolet curable resin applied onto an outer periphery of the plurality of optical fiber strands so as to integrate the plurality of optical fiber strands with each other; each of the plurality of optical fiber strands having an optical fiber glass, a coating layer of ultraviolet curable resin provided on an outer periphery of the optical fiber glass, and a colored layer provided on the coating layer of ultraviolet curable resin. The weight of a volatile component contained in a coloring material used in the colored layer at 60.degree. C. is not larger than 5% of weight of the coloring material.

Abstract: A polymer clad optical fiber comprising a core made of glass selected from the group consisting of quartz glass and optical glass, a cladding made of a cured material of a polymer composition comprising a ladder type polymethylsiloxane, a linear polymethylsiloxane having hydroxyl groups and optionally a solvent, and optionally a protecting layer made of a polymer material comprising a ladder type polysiloxane having phenyl side groups, which has low light transmission loss and increased mechanical strength.

Abstract: A waterproof optical fiber cable comprising at least one coated optical fiber and a waterproof compound surround said at least one coated optical fiber, wherein a swelling degree of a coating material of the optical fiber induced by said waterproof compound is not larger than 10%, which optical fiber cable has stable performances.

Abstract: An optical fiber which comprises a light-guiding glass fiber and a coating around the glass fiber, the coating consisting of at least two layers of polyorganosiloxane resin compositions having a ladder portion and a linear portion, and a ratio of the ladder portion and the linear portion in one layer being different from that in other layer, has good strength and good thermal resistance.