The present disclosure has been proposed in view of the above circumstances, and an object is to provide a multi-core optical connector that does not need to increase a spring pressing force even when the number of cores to be connected increases.

The present disclosure is an optical connector including: a ferrule that holds a plurality of optical fibers in a state where end faces of the plurality of optical fibers are arranged on the same plane; and a refractive index matching portion that is deformable, in close contact with the end faces of the plurality of optical fibers arranged on the ferrule, and performs matching of a refractive index with the plurality of optical fibers.

An optical cross-connect component mutually connecting an end of a first optical fiber group and an end of a second optical fiber group is disclosed. The optical cross-connect component includes a plurality of first connectors housing therein the end of the first optical fiber group, and a plurality of second connectors housing therein the end of the second optical fiber group. The mn optical fibers in the first optical fiber group are housed in any of the plurality of first connectors, and the mn optical fibers in the second optical fiber group are housed in any of the plurality of second connectors. The end of the first optical fiber group and the end of the second optical fiber group are connected so as to be butted to each other.

A protective assembly method using a transparent layer within the fiber interconnect system aids in optical coupling by preventing an air gap from forming between the fiber cores within a connector. A thin transparent film (or with adhesive) is placed over the fiber end-faces at the connector interface, the film having characteristics which allows it to conform to the fiber end and minimize coupling loss between fibers. The film is sized to fit connectors faces and can be temporary, being replaced with each installation. A coating can also applied to the connector surface, providing a similar effect, as well as structurally enhancing the connector surfaces.

A ferrule includes a ferrule matrix, an optical fiber, and a dielectric reflective film. The optical fiber is disposed in an accommodating through hole of the ferrule matrix, and the dielectric reflective film covers an optical transmission surface of the optical fiber and a surface that is of the ferrule matrix and that faces a matching ferrule. The dielectric reflective film has a through hole, such that the dielectric reflective film does not shield a main optical path area of the optical transmission surface of the optical fiber. A reflective band of the dielectric reflective film includes at least a part of a communication band of the optical fiber. In this way, when light from the matching ferrule is transmitted to the ferrule matrix and the optical fiber, the dielectric reflective film reflects the light.

The disclosure generally relates to individual optical waveguides, sets of optical waveguides such as optical fiber ribbons, and fiber optic connectors useful for connecting individual optical waveguides or multiple optical fibers such as in optical fiber ribbon cables. In particular, the disclosure provides an efficient, compact, and reliable optical fiber connector that exhibits a low insertion loss for use with multimode optical waveguides. The optical connectors incorporate a unitary light coupling unit combining the features of optical fiber alignment, along with redirecting and shaping of the optical beam.

An optical-fiber-attached ferrule includes: an optical fiber hole into which an optical fiber is inserted; and a filling section filled with a liquid refractive index-matching material. The filling section internally includes an opening surface of the optical fiber hole and an opposed surface that is opposed to the opening surface, and the filling section is filled with the liquid refractive index-matching material while an end surface of the optical fiber inserted into the optical fiber hole abuts with the opposed surface

An optical ferrule includes at least one light affecting element configured to affect one or more characteristics of light from an optical waveguide as the light propagates in the optical ferrule, the light affecting element having an input surface. At least one receiving element receives and secures the optical waveguide to the ferrule so that an output surface of the waveguide is optically coupled to the input surface of the light affecting element. A waveguide stop limits movement of the waveguide toward the input surface of the light affecting element when the optical waveguide is installed in the receiving element. A space between the output surface of the optical waveguide and the input surface of the light affecting element is inaccessible to the optical waveguide when the optical waveguide is installed in the receiving element.

Disclosed are optical connectors and methods for making the same. In one embodiment, the optical connector comprises an optical body, one or more first magnetic materials attached to the optical body, a housing, and one or more second magnetic materials attached to the housing. The first magnetic material(s) provide alignment with an optical element of a complimentary receptacle and the optical body may include one or more openings for receiving the first magnetic materials. The second magnetic material(s) attached to the housing provide retention of the optical connector with the complimentary receptacle when mated together. Consequently, the optical connector allows for quick and easy assembly along with a robust structure for a large number of mating/unmating cycles. In other embodiments, the optical devices disclosed may further include one or more electrical contacts for making a hybrid connection or have a TIR surface integrated into a portion of a housing.

An optical receptacle includes a fiber stub including an optical fiber, a ferrule having a through-hole fixing the optical fiber, an isolator filled into the through-hole of the ferrule with the optical fiber, and a holder holding the fiber stub. The through-hole has a small and large diameter portions, the optical fiber is disposed in the small diameter portion over the entire region of the optical fiber, the large diameter portion is provided opposite to a side to be optically connected to a plug ferrule, the isolator has substantially the same refractive index as the fiber's core, is filled into the small and large diameter portions, and is polished to cause at least a portion of the isolator to be flat at an end surface portion of the fiber stub on the side with the large diameter portion.

A terminus for a fiber optic cable includes a ferrule. In one embodiment, an optical fiber of the cable passes through a central bore of the ferrule and is attached to a lens seated in a conical or cylindrical seat formed in an end surface of the ferrule by an epoxy. In a second embodiment, an optical fiber of the cable passes through the central bore of the ferrule. Next, a cap sleeve with a lens therein is slid over and attached to the ferrule such that the lens abuts or is attached to the optical fiber. In either embodiment, an inspection slot may optionally be formed in the ferrule and/or the cap sleeve to allow a technician to inspect the state of the attachment and/or abutment and/or spacing of the optical fiber and the lens.