Optical connector, optical fiber with connector, optical fiber connecting device, and optical fiber connection method
View Patent ↗A plug-type optical connector is provided with a ferrule and an aligning sleeve member. The aligning sleeve member receives a portion of the ferrule including an abutting end face inside a bore to prevent staining and damage and uses a movable shutter to prevent light emitted through the ferrule from leaking to the outside. The socket type optical connector is provided with a ferrule and a holding section. The optical connector is not provided with an aligning sleeve member and further can hold a coated optical fiber by a holding section behind the ferrule by a radius of curvature of at least a prescribed minimum radius of curvature. Optical loss in the coated optical fiber can be reduced while effectively reducing the external dimensions in the direction of extension of the ferrule at the time of use. An optical fiber connecting device that includes a combination of a pair of optical connectors is also provided to be suitably applied to an optical transmission line laid indoors.
1. An optical fiber with a connector, comprising an optical connector with a ferrule and a coated optical fiber having a core and an outer cladding, wherein:
said ferrule is provided with an abutting end face to abut against the end face of another ferrule and a fiber holding channel opening in said abutting end face and accommodating an optical fiber of said coated optical fiber disposed therein; and wherein
said coated optical fiber includes a beveled area formed adjoining an axial end face of said optical fiber and extending to be tapered toward said axial end face, the axial end face configured to abut against an end face of another optical fiber, and a free area formed within at least a portion of the fiber holding channel adjoining said beveled area, the free area being free of adhesive such that the outer cladding of the optical fiber is not secured to an inner wall of said fiber holding channel across a range of a desired length, wherein when a compressing force is applied the fiber, stress at the axial end face is reduced.
2. The optical fiber with a connector of claim 1 , wherein the optical fiber is secured to the connector outside the ferrule by a mechanical securing structure.