A fiber optic connector has at least two optical fibers therein have end faces that are positioned such that they are directed in different directions. The end faces can be oriented relative to a key that is provided on a fiber optic connector housing that has a central opening in the main body of the fiber optic connector.

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.

There is provided herein a solution for measuring the optical power loss of duplex optical-fiber devices under test, and particularly those terminated with a duplex connector interface, which allows for a one-cord or one-cord equivalent testing method whichever the format of the duplex connector interface of the optical-fiber device under test, and this without disconnecting the optical fibers of the device under test from their duplex native connector interface. There is provided an optical-fiber expansion device to be used to interconnect and adapt a power meter instrument to a variety of duplex connectors. The proposed optical-fiber expansion device comprises a pair of optical fibers having a core diameter and a numerical aperture that are greater than those of the optical fiber in the DUT connector interface, so as to make it compatible with the one-cord testing method. Interchangeable optical-fiber expansion devices can be used to match the power meter interface on one side, to various duplex connector interfaces under test on the other side.

An optical fiber connection system includes a first and a second optical fiber, each with end portions that are terminated by a first and a second fiber optic connector, respectively. A fiber optic adapter connects the first and the second fiber optic connectors. A fiber alignment apparatus includes V-blocks and gel blocks. Each of the fiber optic connectors includes a connector housing and a sheath. The end portions of the optical fibers are positioned beyond distal ends of the respective connector housings. The sheath is slidably connected to the connector housing and slides between an extended configuration and a retracted configuration. The sheath covers the end portion of the respective optical fiber when the sheath is at the extended configuration and exposes the end portion when at the retracted configuration. The end portions of the optical fibers are cleaned when slid between the V-blocks and the gel blocks.

An optical fiber connection system includes a first and a second optical fiber, each with end portions that are terminated by a first and a second fiber optic connector, respectively. A fiber optic adapter connects the first and the second fiber optic connectors. A fiber alignment apparatus includes V-blocks and gel blocks. Each of the fiber optic connectors includes a connector housing and a sheath. The end portions of the optical fibers are positioned beyond distal ends of the respective connector housings. The sheath is slidably connected to the connector housing and slides between an extended configuration and a retracted configuration. The sheath covers the end portion of the respective optical fiber when the sheath is at the extended configuration and exposes the end portion when at the retracted configuration. The end portions of the optical fibers are cleaned when slid between the V-blocks and the gel blocks.

An optical fiber connecting component includes a glass plate having a plurality of first through holes, a resin ferrule fixed to the glass plate and having a plurality of second through holes that are each coaxial with corresponding one of the plurality of first through holes, and a plurality of optical fibers including a glass fiber and a resin coating that covers the glass fiber. The glass fiber exposed from a tip of each of the optical fibers is held in corresponding one of the first through holes and corresponding one of the second through holes, and a material for the resin ferrule has a flexural modulus of 5 GPa or more at 200° C.

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.

An optical device that includes a multicore optical fiber having at least two cores. An alignment feature is attached at the first end of the first multicore optical fiber. The device also includes a substrate having at least two waveguides, each waveguide comprising a redirecting feature. A fiber holder is located on the substrate to hold the multicore fiber in a correct axially rotational orientation using the alignment feature, so that light couples between the cores of the multicore fiber and respective waveguides in the substrate.

A fiber optic alignment device includes a first and a second alignment block and a first and a second gel block. A fiber passage extends from a first end to a second end of the fiber optic alignment device. The fiber passage is adapted to receive a first optical fiber through the first end and a second optical fiber through the second end. An intermediate portion of the fiber passage is positioned between the first and the second ends. The intermediate portion is adapted to align the first and the second optical fibers between the first and the second alignment blocks. A first portion of the fiber passage is positioned between the first end and the intermediate portion of the fiber passage. The first portion extends between the first alignment block and the first gel block. A second portion of the fiber passage is positioned between the second end and the intermediate portion of the fiber passage. The second portion extends between the second alignment block and the second gel block. End portions of the first and the second optical fibers may be cleaned when slid between the alignment blocks and the gel blocks. The fiber passage may include an undulating portion.

An optical system may include an objective lens system having a primary optical axis and a relay lens system having a relay optical axis. The relay optical axis may have a first angular offset with respect to the primary optical axis. The objective lens system may be configured to provide light from a light source to the relay lens system and provide light from the relay lens system to an image sensor. The relay lens system may be configured to provide light from the objective lens system to an end face of an optical fiber, where the end face has a second angular offset with respect to a cross-sectional axis of the optical fiber. The relay lens system may provide light reflected from the end face to the objective lens system.