Optical Coupler For Multicore Fiber

• US 20160259133A1
• Filed: 03/05/2014
• Published: 09/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adamant Co., Ltd., Optoquest Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Adamant Co., Ltd., Optoquest Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Kobayashi, Tetsuya, Endo, Haruyuki, Ikegai, Kazuaki, Yamauchi, Isao
• Granted Patent: US 9,612,407 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/381 of the ferrule type, e.g. fibre ends embedded in ferrules, connecting a pair of fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3869 Mounting ferrules to connector body, i.e. plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3877 Split sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3885 Multicore or multichannel optical connectors, i.e. one single ferrule containing more than one fibre, e.g. ribbon type optical ribbon cable G02B6/4403, G02B6/448

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a connector whereby rotation of a multicore fiber does not occur.

[Solution] An optical connector (17) of the present invention includes a ferrule (13) that holds a multicore fiber (11), and a plug frame (15) equipping the ferrule (13) housed therein. The ferrule (13) has at least one flat surface (19) on the outer circumferential surface thereof, and the plug frame (15) has a plate spring structure (21) to apply pressure on the flat surface (19). In the optical connector (17) of the present invention, the plate spring structure (21) is casted in the plug frame (15).

Claims

1. An optical coupler for a multicore fiber, wherein:

the optical coupler (17) comprises a ferrule (13) holding a multicore fiber (11) and a plug frame (15) storing the ferrule (13);

the ferrule (13) comprises at least one flat surface (19) on an outer peripheral surface;

the plug frame (15) comprises a plate spring structure (21) to apply pressure on the flat surface (19); and

the plate spring structure (21) is integrally molded in the plug frame (15).

2. The optical coupler according to claim 1, wherein:

the at least one flat surface (19) comprises four flat surfaces (19a, 19b, 19c, and 19d); and

the plate spring structure (21) comprises four plate spring structures (21a, 21b, 21c, and 21d) configured to press the four flat surfaces (19a, 19b, 19c, and 19d).

3. The optical coupler according to claim 1, wherein an outer end (23) of the ferrule (13) is inserted into an optical adapter comprising a split sleeve (25).

4. The optical coupler according to claim 1, wherein the optical coupler is applicable to an SC resin connector, an LC resin connector, and an MU resin connector, used in an optical fiber.