An optical connector includes: a ferrule that holds an end part of a fiber; and a holding member including: a holding part that slidably holds the ferrule; a fixing part through which the fiber extending from the ferrule is inserted and to which a sleeve for protecting a fusion splice point between the fiber and an optical fiber is fixed; and a housing part that houses the fiber between the holding part and the fixing part when the fiber is bent and the ferrule moves rearward of the housing part.

An example single-station splicing unit is provided that includes a housing, an alignment element, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The housing includes an interior space and at least one cover configured to be interlocked with the housing to enclose the interior space. The alignment element is disposed within the interior space of the housing. The first electrode is disposed on one side of the housing, and the second electrode is disposed in the housing on an opposing side from the first electrode and in a facing relationship with the first electrode. The housing is configured to receive fibers in an opposing and abutting relationship to splice the fibers, and the housing remains secured to the fibers after splicing.

This optical fiber alignment jig for aligning a plurality of optical fibers with the tip end coating stripped off to expose glass fiber includes a rail; a convex push-up part capable of moving in the extending direction of the rail; and a plurality of plate-shaped parts that each have a first surface and a second surface perpendicular to the extending direction of the rail and an inclined surface that can carry a respective optical fiber, the inclined surfaces of the plurality of plate-shaped parts being inclined, relative to the extending direction of the rail, in the same direction. The plurality of plate-shaped parts are arranged side by side along the extending direction of the rail with the first surface of one plate-shaped part facing the second surface of an adjacent plate-shaped part and are contacted by the push-up part so as to move toward the inclined surface side.

This optical fiber alignment jig for aligning a plurality of optical fibers with the tip end coating stripped off to expose glass fiber includes a rail; a convex push-up part capable of moving in the extending direction of the rail; and a plurality of plate-shaped parts that each have a first surface and a second surface perpendicular to the extending direction of the rail and an inclined surface that can carry a respective optical fiber, the inclined surfaces of the plurality of plate-shaped parts being inclined, relative to the extending direction of the rail, in the same direction. The plurality of plate-shaped parts are arranged side by side along the extending direction of the rail with the first surface of one plate-shaped part facing the second surface of an adjacent plate-shaped part and are contacted by the push-up part so as to move toward the inclined surface side.

The present disclosure relates to an optical splice package for splicing together first and second optical fibers or first and second sets of optical fibers. The optical fibers have elastic bending characteristics. The splice package includes a splice housing including a mechanical alignment feature for co-axially aligning ends of the first and second optical fibers or sets of optical fibers within the splice housing. The splice housing contains adhesive for securing the ends of the first and second optical fibers or sets of optical fibers within the splice housing. The optical package has a weight less than a spring force corresponding to the elastic bending characteristics of the first and second optical fibers or sets of optical fibers.

The fusion splicer includes a first holding unit, a second holding unit, a screen, a first measurement device, a first driving unit, a second driving unit, and a third driving unit. The screen has a light guide portion through which only test light emitted from one of the plurality of cores of the first optical fiber can pass. The screen is disposed between the end face of the first optical fiber and the end face of the second optical fiber. The first measurement device measures the intensity of leakage light leaking from the second optical fiber. The third driving unit adjusts the position of the screen such that the light guide portion is aligned with one of the plurality of cores of the first optical fiber in the axial direction of the first optical fiber.

A splice holder tray has a splice holder section that includes a plurality of inclined channels. Each of the plurality of inclined channels includes a first portion presenting a cross section area that is measured on a reference plane, two opposite lateral openings, and a top opening and a bottom opening. The bottom opening has an area smaller than the cross section area.

Arrays of fiber pigtails can be used to project and receive light. Unfortunately, most fiber pigtail arrays are not aligned well enough for coherently combining different optical beams. This imprecision stems in part from misalignment between the optical fiber and the endcap spliced to the end of the optical fiber. The endcap is often polished, curved, or patterned, causing the light emitted by the endcapped fiber to refract or diffract as it exits the endcap. This refraction or diffraction shifts the apparent position of the beam waist from its actual position. Measuring this virtual beam waist position before and after splicing the endcap to the fiber increases the absolute precision with which the fiber is aligned to the endcap. This increase in absolute precision reduces the deviation in virtual beam waist position among endcapped fibers, making it easier to produce arrays of endcapped fibers aligned precisely enough for coherent beam combining.

A fiber optic cable assembly includes first and second fiber optic ribbons and a splice protector. The ribbons are spliced together such that the corresponding spliced fibers at the splice have a common lengthwise axis, widthwise axis orthogonal to the lengthwise axis, and thickness axis orthogonal to the lengthwise and widthwise axes. The splice protector supports the ribbons that are spliced to one another at the splice. The splice protector may include or even consist essentially of an adhesive that provides a flexible support for the splice. The splice protector may be at least half as flexible when cured over the splice as the first and second ribbons in bending about the widthwise axis.

The present disclosure relates to an optical splice package for splicing together first and second optical fibers or first and second sets of optical fibers. The optical fibers have elastic bending characteristics. The splice package includes a splice housing including a mechanical alignment feature for co-axially aligning ends of the first and second optical fibers or sets of optical fibers within the splice housing. The splice housing contains adhesive for securing the ends of the first and second optical fibers or sets of optical fibers within the splice housing. The optical package has a weight less than a spring force corresponding to the elastic bending characteristics of the first and second optical fibers or sets of optical fibers.