US 11,740,414 B2
Multifiber optical connector and optical cable connection method
Masaaki Takaya, Musashino (JP); Kazunori Katayama, Musashino (JP); Yoshiteru Abe, Musashino (JP); Ryo Koyama, Musashino (JP); Chisato Fukai, Musashino (JP); and Yusuke Yamada, Musashino (JP)
Assigned to NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION, Tokyo (JP)
Appl. No. 17/285,810
Filed by NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION, Tokyo (JP)
PCT Filed Oct. 9, 2019, PCT No. PCT/JP2019/039847
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Apr. 15, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/085093, PCT Pub. Date Apr. 30, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 2018-200363 (JP), filed on Oct. 24, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0341687 A1, Nov. 4, 2021
Int. Cl. G02B 6/36 (2006.01); G02B 6/40 (2006.01); G02B 6/38 (2006.01)
CPC G02B 6/403 (2013.01) [G02B 6/3882 (2013.01)] 7 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A multifiber optical connector that connects a plurality of optical fiber end faces appearing on a connection surface of a first connector unit and a plurality of optical fiber end faces appearing on a connection surface of a second connector unit by connecting the first connector unit and the second connector unit, the connector comprising:
a plurality of optical connector ferrules configured to group optical fiber end faces at the connection surface of the first connector unit and the connection surface of the second connector unit, respectively;
a plurality of optical connector housings configured to each house one optical connector ferrule of the plurality of optical connector ferrules;
a first alignment unit configured to adjust positions of the connection surface of the first connector unit and the connection surface of the second connector unit;
a second alignment unit configured to adjust positions of the plurality of optical connector housings facing each other after the first alignment unit adjusts the positions of the connection surface of the first connector unit and the connection surface of the second connector unit; and
a third alignment unit configured to adjust positions of the plurality of optical connector ferrules facing each other after the second alignment unit adjusts the positions of the plurality of optical connector housings facing each other.