IP Library › Granted Patent US 12669657
Granted Patent B2
US 12669657 · App. 18/291,628 · Granted Jun 30, 2026

Optical connector ferrule, optical connector, and production method for optical connector

Inventors: Motoyoshi Kimura (Komaki, JP); Masaki Omura (Osaka, JP)
Assignees: NIPPON TSUSHIN DENZAI CO., LTD.; SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
G02B6/403G02B6/3839G02B6/3861G02B6/3882
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12669657
App. No.
18/291,628
Granted
Jun 30, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

In an optical connector ferrule, a side surface of the front end portion is connected to a front end surface of the front end portion and extends in a direction intersecting the front end surface. The flange portion is connected to the front end portion on an opposite side of the front end surface. The flange portion protrudes from the front end portion in a direction along the front end surface. An optical fiber hole opens in the front end surface and extends in an intersecting direction intersecting the front end surface. The window opens in the side surface. A shortest distance between a connection position where the flange portion and the front end portion are connected to each other and a portion which is closest to the front end surface in the edge is less than or equal to a width of the flange portion in the intersecting direction.

Claims (46)

1 . An optical connector ferrule comprising:

a front end portion including a front end surface and a side surface that is connected to the front end surface and extends in a direction intersecting the front end surface; and

a flange portion connected to the front end portion on an opposite side of the front end surface in the front end portion, and protrudes from the front end portion in a direction along the front end surface,

wherein the front end portion includes at least one optical fiber hole opened in the front end surface and extending in an intersecting direction intersecting the front end surface, a window opened in the side surface, and an internal space communicating with the at least one optical fiber hole and the window,

the front end portion includes an edge defining the window, and

a shortest distance between a connection position where the flange portion and the front end portion are connected to each other and a portion which is closest to the front end surface in the edge is less than or equal to a width of the flange portion in the intersecting direction.

2 . The optical connector ferrule according to claim 1 , wherein

a guide hole is formed in the front end portion, and a guide pin configured to fix the optical connector ferrule to another optical connector ferrule is to be inserted into the guide hole, and

the guide hole opens in the front end surface and extends in the intersecting direction intersecting the front end surface.

3 . The optical connector ferrule according to claim 1 , wherein the window is defined by the edge included in the front end portion and the flange portion.

4 . The optical connector ferrule according to claim 1 , wherein the front end portion includes a groove, and, in the groove, an optical fiber inserted into the optical fiber hole is disposed at a position overlapping the window when viewed in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the side surface on which the window is formed.

5 . The optical connector ferrule according to claim 4 , wherein

a plurality of the optical fiber holes are opened in the front end surface, and are disposed in the orthogonal direction orthogonal to the side surface on which the window is formed,

the front end portion includes a plurality of step portions disposed in steps at positions overlapping the window when viewed in the orthogonal direction, and the groove is formed in each of the step portions, and

each of the plurality of optical fiber holes disposed in the orthogonal direction is located on an extension line from the groove formed in each of the step portions different from each other.

6 . An optical connector comprising:

the optical connector ferrule according to claim 1 ;

an optical fiber inserted into the optical fiber hole; and

a resin portion exposed from the window and configured to fix the optical fiber to the optical connector ferrule.

7 . A production method for an optical connector using the optical connector ferrule according to claim 1 , the production method comprising:

inserting an optical fiber into the optical fiber hole;

filling a resin from the window; and

fixing the optical fiber to the optical connector ferrule by curing the resin filled from the window.

8 . An optical connector ferrule comprising:

a front end portion including a front end surface and a side surface that is connected to the front end surface and extends in a direction intersecting the front end surface; and

a flange portion connected to the front end portion on an opposite side of the front end surface in the front end portion, and protrudes from the front end portion in a direction along the front end surface,

wherein the front end portion includes at least one optical fiber hole opened in the front end surface and extending in an intersecting direction intersecting the front end surface, a window opened in the side surface, and an internal space communicating with the at least one optical fiber hole and the window,

the front end portion includes an edge defining the window, and

a shortest distance between a connection position where the flange portion and the front end portion are connected to each other and a portion which is closest to the front end surface in the edge is less than or equal to ⅖ of a shortest distance between the connection position and the front end surface.

9 . The optical connector ferrule according to claim 8 , wherein

a guide hole is formed in the front end portion, and a guide pin configured to fix the optical connector ferrule to another optical connector ferrule is to be inserted into the guide hole, and

the guide hole opens in the front end surface and extends in the intersecting direction intersecting the front end surface.

10 . The optical connector ferrule according to claim 8 , wherein the window is defined by the edge included in the front end portion and the flange portion.

11 . The optical connector ferrule according to claim 8 , wherein the front end portion includes a groove, and, in the groove, an optical fiber inserted into the optical fiber hole is disposed at a position overlapping the window when viewed in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the side surface on which the window is formed.

12 . The optical connector ferrule according to claim 11 , wherein

a plurality of the optical fiber holes are opened in the front end surface, and are disposed in the orthogonal direction orthogonal to the side surface on which the window is formed,

the front end portion includes a plurality of step portions disposed in steps at positions overlapping the window when viewed in the orthogonal direction, and the groove is formed in each of the step portions, and

each of the plurality of optical fiber holes disposed in the orthogonal direction is located on an extension line from the groove formed in each of the step portions different from each other.

13 . An optical connector comprising:

the optical connector ferrule according to claim 8 ;

an optical fiber inserted into the optical fiber hole; and

a resin portion exposed from the window and configured to fix the optical fiber to the optical connector ferrule.

14 . A production method for an optical connector using the optical connector ferrule according to claim 8 , the production method comprising:

inserting an optical fiber into the optical fiber hole;

filling a resin from the window; and

fixing the optical fiber to the optical connector ferrule by curing the resin filled from the window.