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.

Optical connectors that substantially preserve alignment and are easy to manufacture. The alignment system using the optical connectors disclosed herein include a first housing, a second housing and an alignment component, the said alignment component configured to provide optical alignment between the optical components.

A sealed terminal has a housing, a splice tray, and a faceplate. The housing has an interior compartment and a first perimeter flange defining an opening into the interior compartment. The splice tray is positioned in the interior compartment and is configured to support a module or a cartridge. The faceplate has a plurality of ports and a second perimeter flange extending at a perimeter edge of the faceplate. The sealed terminal also has at least one connection bracket and a gasket for connecting the housing and the faceplate to each other. The connection bracket has a slot receiving the first perimeter flange and the second flange in an abutting position. The gasket is positioned between the first perimeter flange and the second perimeter flange and configured to seal any gap therebetween.

An optical fiber connection system (600) configured to interconnect a plurality of first and second optical fibers (54, 54′) is described. The connection system comprises a first bare fiber holder (620) that includes a clamping plate (540) having an interconnection portion (544) with a generally planar surface, wherein bare ends of the plurality of first optical fibers (54) are disposed adjacent to interconnection portion (544) and wherein the plurality of first optical fibers (54) are secured in the first bare fiber holder (620) at a first distance from the bare ends of the plurality of first optical fibers (54) and a second bare fiber holder (620′) that includes a splicing plate (580) having a plurality of alignment channels (585), wherein a bare end of each of the second optical fibers (54′) extend at least partially into one of the plurality of alignment channels (585) and wherein the plurality of second optical fibers (54′) are held at a second distance from the bare ends of the plurality of second optical fibers (54′).

A fiber structure includes first and second optical fibers disposed such that end portions thereof butt, a sheet-shaped saturable absorber including a carbon nanotube and disposed between the end portion of the first optical fiber and the end portion of the second optical fiber, and a housing internally accommodating the end portion of the first optical fiber and the end portion of the second optical fiber. A space in the housing including the saturable absorber is airtight.

A fiber structure includes first and second optical fibers disposed such that end portions thereof butt, a sheet-shaped saturable absorber including a carbon nanotube and disposed between the end portion of the first optical fiber and the end portion of the second optical fiber, and a housing internally accommodating the end portion of the first optical fiber and the end portion of the second optical fiber. A space in the housing including the saturable absorber is airtight.

A sealed terminal has a housing, a splice tray, and a faceplate. The housing has an interior compartment and a first perimeter flange defining an opening into the interior compartment. The splice tray is positioned in the interior compartment and is configured to support a module or a cartridge. The faceplate has a plurality of ports and a second perimeter flange extending at a perimeter edge of the faceplate. The sealed terminal also has at least one connection bracket and a gasket for connecting the housing and the faceplate to each other. The connection bracket has a slot receiving the first perimeter flange and the second flange in an abutting position. The gasket is positioned between the first perimeter flange and the second perimeter flange and configured to seal any gap therebetween.

Methods and systems that can be used for aligning and positioning of an optical fiber are provided herein. For example, an optical fiber alignment and positioning system including a vacuum stage may be provided. The vacuum stage may include a vacuum inlet operable to be in fluid communication with a vacuum source and one or more passages extending through the vacuum stage. The vacuum stage may include an optical fiber channel. A plurality of vacuum ports may pass through the optical fiber channel. The optical fiber channel may include a directional friction surface. The directional friction surface may include a first friction factor in a first direction and a second friction factor in a second direction. The directional friction surface may contact a portion of the optical fiber and may allow movement in the second direction but resist movement of the optical fiber in the first direction.

The present disclosure relates to optical fiber alignment devices and systems for use in implementing optical splices between optical fibers. In certain examples, the optical fiber alignment devices and systems can include fiber alignment structures capable of clamping optical fibers in a co-axially aligned orientation.

Provided is an optical fiber holder comprising a holder body and a cover. The holder body has an accommodation section capable of accommodating a plurality of optical fibers. The holder body or the cover has at least one ridge which can be disposed within the accommodation section. When the cover is closed over the holder body, a plurality of sections which can parallelly accommodate the plurality of optical fibers are parallelly formed by the inner surface of the accommodation section, the lower surface of the cover, and the ridge.