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.

A fiber alignment device is provided that includes a curable refractive index-matching gel that exhibits self-cleaning and self-healing characteristics upon multiple cycles of insertion and removal of an optical fiber.

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.

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.

The present disclosure relates to optical fiber coupling systems and methods of coupling optical fibers across and with a magnetic field.

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.

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 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.

Technologies are generally described to communicatively couple an optical fiber to an optical element using a polymer layer. An optical fiber may be coupled to an optical element, such as an optical waveguide or another optical fiber, using a layer of rewritable photorefractive polymer positioned between the optical fiber and the optical element. Light from a light source may be applied to the optical fiber to initiate a transient photorefractive effect in the polymer layer facilitating corrections of misalignment. A path of high refractive index may be formed in the polymer layer, where the path of high refractive index communicatively couples the optical fiber to the optical element reducing alignment concerns and increasing alignment tolerances of optical elements. In some examples, the path of high refractive index may be re-established by rewriting the polymer layer through another application of light from the light source if the communicative coupling is disrupted.