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 fiber optic connector includes polymeric material arranged within a front end portion of at least one internal bore of a ferrule. At least a portion of the polymeric material extends from a terminal end of at least one optical fiber to at least a front end of the ferrule. A polymeric material end face serving as a conduit for transmitting optical signals to and/or from the at least one optical fiber. Waveguiding regions may be incorporated in polymeric material assemblies. Polymeric material may be printed, dispensed, or otherwise applied over the terminal end of the at least one optical fiber in the at least one internal bore, and subsequently cured. Polymeric material arranged over (e.g., in contact with) the terminal end of an optical fiber may reduce or eliminate the need for fiber end face polishing, and creates physical contact through an optical interface without exerting undue mechanical stresses on the optical fiber.

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 plug connector device includes at least one lens array and at least one fiber holder, which is designed to position end regions of a plurality of optical fibers relative to the lens array, and which has at least one first fiber holding element wherein the fiber holder comprises at least one second fiber holding element having a higher manufacturing precision than the first fiber holding element.

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.

Improved optical fiber coupling reliability is realized by improving structures and materials used at the fiber joint. When ceramic ferrules are used at the fiber joint, the penetration of a UV-cured optical adhesive between the ceramic ferrules and the fiber ends is avoided or prevented, while an anti-reflective coating, an uncured optical adhesive, or a refractive index matching gel may be applied between the ceramic ferrules. When glass ferrules are used at the fiber joint, the UV-cured optical adhesive may be applied and fully cured between the glass ferrules and the fiber ends.

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 m?n optical fibers in the first optical fiber group are housed in any of the plurality of first connectors, and the m?n 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 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.

Improved optical fiber coupling reliability is realized by improving structures and materials used at the fiber joint. When ceramic ferrules are used at the fiber joint, the penetration of a UV-cured optical adhesive between the ceramic ferrules and the fiber ends is avoided or prevented, while an anti-reflective coating, an uncured optical adhesive, or a refractive index matching gel may be applied between the ceramic ferrules. When glass ferrules are used at the fiber joint, the UV-cured optical adhesive may be applied and fully cured between the glass ferrules and the fiber ends.

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.