The present disclosure relates generally to methods for processing ferrules of fiber optic connectors such that the amount of cleaving and/or polishing that is required is eliminated or at least reduced. An apparatus and method of dispensing adhesive through a front end face of a fiber optic ferrule are provided.

An example method of filling epoxy in a fiber optic connector includes: applying the epoxy to a ferrule of a first connector at a first pressure for a first period of time; applying the epoxy to the first connector at a second pressure for a second period of time until the epoxy is sensed to exit a hole defined by the ferrule of the first connector; comparing the second period of time to a threshold; when the second period of time is greater than the threshold, increasing the first pressure, the first period of time, or the second pressure; and when the second period of time is less than the threshold, decreasing the first pressure, the first period of time, or the second pressure.

An optical connection structure includes a MCF, a first ferrule, a plurality of optical fibers, and a second ferrule. The MCF includes first cores and a first cladding. The first ferrule has a first inner hole and a first ferrule end surface. Each optical fiber optically connected to the MCF includes a second core and a second cladding. The second ferrule has a second inner hole housing tip parts of the optical fibers, and a second ferrule end surface. The second ferrule fixes the tip parts of the optical fibers in the second inner hole by an adhesive. The adhesive is packed in the second inner hole such that a surface of the adhesive is recessed from the second ferrule end surface into the second inner hole. A refractive-index matching material is applied in a space sealed by the first ferrule end surface and the second ferrule end surface.

An optical fiber array includes a plurality of single-core fibers each having a core and a cladding and each having, in a distal end surface thereof, a beam expanding portion capable of expanding a mode field diameter (MFD) of light propagating in the core, and a ferrule having an optical fiber holding hole into which the plurality of single-core fibers are inserted, and an end surface in which the optical fiber holding hole opens. A cladding diameter of each of single-core fiber in the beam expanding portion decreases toward the distal end surface. The optical fiber holding hole has a tapered portion whose inner diameter decreases toward the end surface and against which the distal end surfaces abut.

A windowless multi-fiber ferrule including a ferrule body. The ferrule body includes a plurality of outer slots. The ferrule body defines an inner passage that extends through a length of the ferrule body from a front end to a rear end. The inner passage includes a main chamber and a row of parallel fiber bores. The ferrule body includes a first and a second major side which each define a plurality of slots. The ferrule body includes ferrule walls which are located between the main chamber and the major sides. The ferrule walls have a first thickness at the outer slots and a second thickness at the regions between the outer slots which is thicker than the first thickness. The main chamber includes sink locations adjacent the regions between the outer slots.

An object of the present invention is to provide a core position recognition method, a connection method, and a connection apparatus that can simplify connection operations, and reduce rotational displacement and positional displacement. The connection apparatus according to the present invention includes a function capable of acquiring the rotation amount of an MCF during the bonding/fixing step. Specifically, the connection apparatus of the present invention uses an MCF with lines drawn on a side surface thereof, thereby recognizing the rotation amount of the MCF from the side surface, and calculating the absolute positions of the cores. The connection apparatus according to the present invention can recognize the absolute position s of the cores from a side image of an MCF in a state in which the MCF has been rotated. By forming a waveguide on a glass substrate serving as a connection destination so as to match the absolute positions of the cores, the rotational and positional displacements of the MCF can be eliminated, thus making it possible to reduce the connection loss.

An optical fiber module includes an optical fiber containing a glass component, and a ferrule which is tubular in shape and covers an outer circumferential surface in an end portion of the optical fiber. The outer circumferential surface of the optical fiber and an inner circumferential surface of the ferrule are bonded by a silicone resin containing siloxane bonds at cross-linking points.

The present disclosure relates generally to methods for processing ferrules of fiber optic connectors such that the amount of polishing that is required is eliminated or at least reduced. In one example, a forward volume of adhesive is removed with a first laser beam having a first laser property and a front portion of the optical fiber is cleaved with a second laser beam having a second laser property that is different than the first laser property.

A coupling unit includes a light coupling element comprising an attachment area for receiving and permanently attaching to a plurality of optical waveguides. One or more grooves are provided at the attachment area. Each groove is configured to receive an optical waveguide and defined by a bottom surface, a first region, a second region, and an opening. The first region is defined between the bottom surface and the second region. The first region in cross section has substantially parallel sidewalls separated by a spacing. The second region is disposed between the first region and the opening. A width of the opening is greater than the spacing.

Provided is an optical connector that includes a ferrule and an optical fiber as a plastic optical fiber. The ferrule has a leading end face and a through hole for holding a fiber, the through hole having an opening end in the leading end face. The optical fiber has a leading end. The leading end of the optical fiber is inserted in the through hole and located at a retraction position retracted from the leading end face.