An optical fiber connecting device (100) and method of optically connecting two optical fibers (50, 50) is described. The device (100) includes a housing (110), and first and second mechanical elements (130, 150) disposed within the housing (110). A first actuation cap (140) is disposed adjacent the first mechanical element (130) to secure a first optical fiber (50) within the first mechanical element (130) upon actuation, and a second actuation cap (160) disposed adjacent the second mechanical element (150) to secure a second optical fiber (50) within the second mechanical element (150) upon actuation. The first and second optical fibers (50, 50) can be positioned, secured and actuated in the connection device (100) at the same or at different times.

An assembly for splicing first and second optical fibers is contemplated. The assembly typically comprises a splicing member disposed within a barrel member. A first optical fiber can be inserted through a first end of the barrel member, and a second optical fiber can be inserted through a second end of the barrel member to splice ends of the first and second optical fibers in the splicing member. A recess at the second end of the barrel can be used to lock the second optical cable, and a clamping member can be used to hold the second optical fiber. An optical fiber stub holder can couple the first end of the barrel member and an optical fiber stub from which the first optical fiber extends. Thus, the first and second optical fibers can be effectively secured in a splicing relationship using the assembly.

An assembly for splicing first and second optical fibers is contemplated. The assembly typically comprises a splicing member disposed within a barrel member. A first optical fiber can be inserted through a first end of the barrel member, and a second optical fiber can be inserted through a second end of the barrel member to splice ends of the first and second optical fibers in the splicing member. A recess at the second end of the barrel can be used to lock the second optical cable, and a clamping member can be used to hold the second optical fiber. An optical fiber stub holder can couple the first end of the barrel member and an optical fiber stub from which the first optical fiber extends. Thus, the first and second optical fibers can be effectively secured in a splicing relationship using the assembly.

An optical connector includes a ferrule, a first optical fiber retained in the ferrule, a clamp section including an insertion section where a second optical fiber is inserted, a solid index-matching material disposed on an end face of the first optical fiber on an insertion section side, and a projecting portion on the end face of the first optical fiber and that projects more toward the insertion section side than a central region of the end face. The clamp section centers and fixes the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber.

The present invention relates to an optical fiber connector to position and align an optical fiber into an analytical device, in particular into a bioanalytical device. Also a method for positioning and aligning an optical fiber in such a device is disclosed.

An optical connector includes a holding member that has a main body section including a bottom wall section and a pair of side wall sections. The holding member is capable of holding, in a space surrounded by the bottom wall section and the pair of side wall sections, an optical cable including a layer of a fibrous tensile member and an optical connector main body including a fixing section that fixes the holding member. The holding member also includes a pinching member that is configured to pinch the fibrous tensile member between itself and an outer surface of the bottom wall section of the main body section. The fixing section includes a pair of inner surfaces that pinches the main body section and the pinching member from a direction in which the pinching member and the bottom wall section pinch the fibrous tensile member.

An optical connector includes a holding member that has a main body section including a bottom wall section and a pair of side wall sections. The holding member is capable of holding, in a space surrounded by the bottom wall section and the pair of side wall sections, an optical cable including a layer of a fibrous tensile member and an optical connector main body including a fixing section that fixes the holding member. The holding member also includes a pinching member that is configured to pinch the fibrous tensile member between itself and an outer surface of the bottom wall section of the main body section. The fixing section includes a pair of inner surfaces that pinches the main body section and the pinching member from a direction in which the pinching member and the bottom wall section pinch the fibrous tensile member.

An optical fiber splicing tool of the invention include: an optical fiber splicing unit that includes: an optical fiber grasper that grasps a first optical fiber at a mechanical splice; and a guide target that is slidable along a guide provided at a connecting jig that fixes a second optical fiber to be butt-jointed to the first optical fiber; and a connecting jig that includes: a guide that guides the optical fiber splicing unit; and an optical fiber fixer that fixes the second optical fiber. The optical fiber splicing unit provides a first flexure width between one end side of the mechanical splice and the optical fiber grasper, and a second flexure width shorter than the first flexure width is ensured between the other end side of the mechanical splice and the optical fiber fixer when butt-jointing is carried out.

An optical connector includes a ferrule, a first optical fiber retained in the ferrule, a clamp section including an insertion section where a second optical fiber is inserted, a solid index-matching material disposed on an end face of the first optical fiber on an insertion section side, and a projecting portion on the end face of the first optical fiber and that projects more toward the insertion section side than a central region of the end face. The clamp section centers and fixes the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber.

An optical fiber connecting device (100) and method of optically connecting two optical fibers (50, 50) is described. The device (100) includes a housing (110), and first and second mechanical elements (130, 150) disposed within the housing (110). A first actuation cap (140) is disposed adjacent the first mechanical element (130) to secure a first optical fiber (50) within the first mechanical element (130) upon actuation, and a second actuation cap (160) disposed adjacent the second mechanical element (150) to secure a second optical fiber (50) within the second mechanical element (150) upon actuation. The first and second optical fibers (50, 50) can be positioned, secured and actuated in the connection device (100) at the same or at different times.