Abstract: There is provided an optical connector module of which an optical transmission/reception wafer and an optical waveguide wafer can be registered with each other easily and accurately without misregistration. An optical transmission/reception wafer has guide pin-receiving V-grooves with a V-shaped cross-section, formed at locations preset in association with an optical transmission/reception end of an optical transmission/reception section. An optical waveguide-side connector has an optical waveguide wafer formed with guide pin-receiving V-grooves in association with the guide pin-receiving V-grooves of the optical transmission/reception wafer. Wafer registration guide pins are inserted in these guide pin-receiving V-grooves, and the optical transmission/reception wafer and the optical waveguide wafer are brought close for interconnection such that these guide pins are tightly sandwiched by the guide pin-receiving grooves.

Abstract: An optical fiber connector (100), which is used for interconnecting ends of optical fibers (200) together with a splice device or a similar device, comprises a connector body (10) and a protector (50), which is movably or slidably held by the connector body (10). The connector body (10) is provided with an arranging portion (23), which is separated from and independent of the protector (50). The arranging portion (23) arranges the optical fibers (200) so that the arrangement of the optical fibers (200) falls within a single closed predetermined area in an XZ plane perpendicular to a Y-direction, wherein the single closed predetermined area has a first area size in the XZ plane. The protector (50) is provided with a front end surface (52a), which is formed with a second opening (54). The second opening (54) has a second area size in the XZ plane, which is larger than the first area size.

Abstract: In an optical connector including an optical connector plug holding a first optical fiber and an optical connector plug holding a second optical fiber, the optical connector plugs cooperates with each other to obtain a connected state in which exposed longitudinal ends of the first and the second optical fibers are brought into contact with each other. The first optical fiber includes a long fiber portion and a short fiber portion higher in breakage resistance than the long fiber portion. One of the longitudinal ends of the short fiber is fused to one of longitudinal ends of the long fiber portion. Another of the longitudinal ends of the short fiber portion is exposed to serve as one of the exposed longitudinal ends.

Abstract: A flexible optical connecting part having enhanced flexibility and what is more, increased degree of freedom of routing. The flexible optical connecting part includes a flexible optical board having a body and tabs provided in a manner continuous with the body. Optical connectors are provided on the tabs. Tab-forming parts forming part of the tabs are formed with cuts.

Abstract: An adapter for coupling first and second optical fiber connectors having ferrules, respectively, comprises first and second members and a sleeve. The first and the second members can be detachably coupled to each other. The second member holds the sleeve. To prevent one end of the sleeve from being brought into undesirable contact with end surface of the ferrule of the first optical fiber connector when the first member connected with the first optical fiber connector is coupled with the second member, the first member is formed with first and second positioning holes, while the second member is provided with first and second positioning sticks. The first and the second positioning sticks project beyond the end of the sleeve. The first and the second positioning sticks are inserted into the first and the second positioning holes, respectively, while the ferrule of the first optical fiber connector is suitably inserted into the sleeve when the first and the second members are coupled together.

Abstract: An optical connection adapter (100) for use in splicing optical fibers (300) is disclosed. The adapter (100) comprises a holding assembly (110) and two shutter members (160). The holding assembly (110) has a passage way (136) for positioning and holding each pair of optical fibers (300) upon the splicing. The passage way (136) extends between end portions (112) of the holding assembly (110) and is positioned at a predetermined position in a Z-direction. Each of the shutter members (160) has a flat shutter plate (161) formed with a slit (162) and is movably fitted to one of the end portions (112) of the holding assembly (110). The flat shutter plate (161) is movable between first and second positions in the Z-direction, wherein the first position is a position where the passage way (163) is blocked off by the flat shutter plate (161), while the second position is a position where the passage way (136) is opened through the slit (162) as seen from the Y-direction.

Abstract: An optical connector includes a housing including a coupling portion for coupling another optical connector and a blocking component for blocking an optical axis arranged in the coupling portion. The blocking component has a shutter plate blocking the optical axis and being pivotably supported by the housing with a pivot shaft and an elastic portion for normally biasing the shutter plate to a closed position. The shutter plate pivots between a position blocking the optical axis and a position to which the shutter plate is forced to move by the other optical connector when the other optical connector is inserted into the optical connector.

Abstract: A splice module for optically interconnecting ends of first and second optical fibers (200, 300), each of which has a predetermined radius (Rf). The splice module comprises first and second plates (20, 30), both of which are made of silicon. The first plate 20 is provided with grooves (22). The second plate (30) is arranged on the first plate (20) to cover the grooves (22) and to define passage ways (26) for receiving and aligning the ends of the first and the second optical fibers (200, 300). The passage way (26) has an inscribed circle (28), which has a radius (Rj) larger than the predetermined radius (Rf) by a predetermined difference (D) between 0.5 &mgr;m and 1.0 &mgr;m, both inclusive.

Abstract: An optical fiber connector (100), which is used for interconnecting ends of optical fibers (200) together with a splice device or a similar device, comprises a connector body (10) and a protector (50), which is movably or slidably held by the connector body (10). The connector body (10) is provided with an arranging portion (23), which is separated from and independent of the protector (50). The arranging portion (23) arranges the optical fibers (200) so that the arrangement of the optical fibers (200) falls within a single closed predetermined area in an XZ plane perpendicular to a Y-direction, wherein the single closed predetermined area has a first area size in the XZ plane. The protector (50) is provided with a front end surface (52a), which is formed with a second opening (54). The second opening (54) has a second are size in the XZ plane, which is larger than the first area size.

Abstract: In an optical connector for connecting an optical fiber to a connection counterpart in a first direction, a housing for retaining the optical fiber has a pair of main side surfaces confronting each other in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and a pair of auxiliary side surfaces confronting each other in a third direction perpendicular to the first and the second directions. The housing and an engaging member slidable relative to the housing are biased by a biasing member mutually opposite in the first direction. The engaging member has a pair of engaging strips each extending along the corresponding main side surface of the housing in the first direction and engaging with the corresponding main side surface of the housing in a direction against the biasing member. The engaging member further has a spring strip extending along one of the auxiliary side surfaces in the first direction while being spaced apart therefrom, and being elastically deformable in the third direction.