US 12,276,847 B2
Optical connecting component and optical connecting structure
Kota Shikama, Tokyo (JP); Norio Sato, Tokyo (JP); and Takeshi Sakamoto, Tokyo (JP)
Assigned to Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, Tokyo (JP)
Appl. No. 17/782,475
Filed by Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, Tokyo (JP)
PCT Filed Oct. 28, 2020, PCT No. PCT/JP2020/040440
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jun. 3, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/111773, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 10, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. PCT/JP2019/047636 (WO), filed on Dec. 5, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0003950 A1, Jan. 5, 2023
Int. Cl. G02B 6/38 (2006.01); G02B 6/42 (2006.01)
CPC G02B 6/3886 (2013.01) [G02B 6/3885 (2013.01); G02B 6/4231 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A first optical connecting component configured to be connected to a second optical connecting component, the first optical connecting component comprising:
an optical waveguide component;
an alignment component for fixing the optical waveguide component;
a magnetic structure integrated with the alignment component; and
a positioning structure provided on a connecting end face of the alignment component, wherein the positioning structure is configured to determine a relative position between the connecting end face and a connecting end face of an alignment component provided in the second optical connecting component;
wherein:
the positioning structure is a guide pin protruding from the connecting end face of the alignment component;
the guide pin is configured to be fitted into a guide hole provided on the connecting end face of the alignment component of the second optical connecting component;
the magnetic structure includes: a metal plate made of a soft magnetic material, arranged on an outer periphery face of the alignment component excluding the connecting end face; and a magnet arranged on an opposite side of the metal plate to the connecting end face; and
the metal plate includes a falling preventing structure made of the soft magnetic material, arranged on an opposite side to the connecting end face and configured to prevent the guide pin from falling.