Development of a multifiber optical connector using injection-molded ferrules

摘要

Development of a Multifiber Optical Connector Using Injection-Molded Ferrules - by Hiroshi Katsura, Nobuyuki Sakaue, Hiroyuki Shimada, Wataru Sakurai, Kenichiro Ohtsuka, Tomohiko Ueda and Toshiaki Kakii - The expanding use of the Internet and other telecommunications systems is bringing about a rapid increase in optical fiber communications networks. Under these circumstances, the demand for optical connectors, key optical components used to connect optical fibers, is also increasing. This has in turn been accompanied by an increasingly strong demand for improvements in performance, such as lower connection losses, greater multifiber capability, and lower costs. Sumitomo Electric has developed thermoplastic injection-molded ferrule technology for multifiber optical connectors, which features improved productivity and their insertion loss characteristics and reliability are equivalent to or better than those of conventional multifiber optical connectors. Their feasibility in practical applications has been confirmed, achieving low-loss multifiber optical connection with a maximum connection loss of 0.5 dB, figures determined during random connection. In this report we describe the development of the injection-molded ferrule and the characteristics of MT, MPO and MPX connectors that use this new component.