This letter describes design and performance of a multicore fiber connector with a plastic-molded ferrule. Discussing ferrule fabrication errors, the connector loss and crosstalk were evaluated. The constructed connector for joining and fanouting multimode two-core fibers showed an insertion loss of 0.4 dB and a crosstalk of less than 35 dB.

New splicers and connectors for multimode fibers have been fabricated. They contain precision multi-glass-rod arrangement, made by drawing, for aligning the fibers. In the multirod fabrication, the rod deformation of pyrex glass due to fusing is less than 1% in the rod array direction, in the 9001000 heating temperature range. The small deformation of 1% has no effect on splicing loss and fiber setting on the fabricated grooves. The multirod arrangement exhibits about 1 µm fabrication precision, because of the scaling down effect due to the drawing process. The splicers using a linear-multi-glass-rod arrangement exhibit 0.1 dB average splicing losses and slight loss fluctuation, less than 0.05 dB, in the 20 +60 temperature range. The connectors using a polygonal-multi-glass-rod arrangement exhibit 0.2 dB average connecting losses with index matching and 3.5 µm average off-axes. The splicers and connectors are potentially low in cost.

Single-mode 1 N switch for 10-fiber ribbon has been developed. The switch has a movable 10-fiber connector plug and linear arrangement of 10-fiber plugs to be mated. The plugs are precisely aligned by inserting alignment pins. The tested 1 50 switch exhibits an average insertion loss of 0.5 dB for single-mode potical fibers with 10µm core. The minimum and the maximum switching times are 17 msec for port 1 to 2 and 80 msec for port 1 to 50, respectively. Insertion loss change after over 1000 times switching is less than 0.1 dB.

This paper describes design and performance of a small-size ribbon-to-single-fiber fanout connector assembled with a fanout unit and push-on type connectors. The structural design for reducing the fanout connector size has been investigated. As a result, the minimum dimensions of the fanout unit and the push-on type connector coupling have been clarified. The constructed fanout connectors have shown average insertion losses of 0.4 dB for multimode 5-fiber ribbons and 0.7 dB for single-mode 10-fiber ribbons. Mechanical and heat-cycle test results were satisfactory for the practical use of the connector.

We have developed an easily-assembled optical coupling device that consists of two multifiber array connectors and a single-mode planar waveguide chip whose ends are passively positioned in novel plastic plug components compatible with the multi-fiber array connectors. The assembled 18 splitter devices are connected and disconnected easily and exhibit excellent levels of optical performance.

A Multifiber mechanical switch with a plastic-molded ferrule and two guide-pins has been developed for transfer connection of 1.55µm zero-dispersion fibers. The switch has a low insertion loss of 0.35 dB and a switching time of 3 ms. In this letter, the structural design and performance are described.

We have developed an easily-assembled optical coupling device which consists of two multifiber array connectors and a single-mode planar waveguide chip whose ends are passively positioned in novel plastic plug components compatible with the multifiber array connectors. The assembled 18 splitter device exhibits a low exess loss of 0.8 dB.

This letter proposes a novel type of 12 optical switch with a plastic-molded ferrule wherein an alignment mechanism is formed. Discussing the errors in ferrule fabrication, the insertion loss of the switch has been evaluated. The constructed switch for multimode fibers has shown an insertion loss of 0.7 dB and a switching time of 4 msec.

This letter describes structural design of a ribbon-to-single-fiber fanout connector. Considering bending strain and bending loss applied to the fibers for fanout, the relationship between the number fibers in the ribbon and the minimum length for fanout has been clarified.

This letter describes design and performance of small-size push-on type connectors. Considering bending and tensile stress applied to the push-on type coupling, the minimum dimensions of the coupling have been clarified. The constructed connectors for multimode fibers showed average insertion losses of 0.1-0.2 dB.

A demountable optical connector for a single-mode fiber-ribbon has been developed, using a multi-V-groove molding method. The connecting loss due to the errors in ferrule fabrication has been analyzed in detail. The fabricated 5-fiber connector exhibited an average connecting loss of 0.5 dB.

High density and small diameter optical fiber cables are required in order to construct "Fiber To The Home (FTTH)" to support multi media services economically. By reducing the cable diameter and weight, it will be possible to install longer lengths of cable and use conduits more effectively. Moreover, the development of low loss multifiber connectors and joint boxes will reduce the joining time. It is expected that the achievement of the above will lead to reductions in installation and joining costs. This paper describes the design and performance of 1000-fiber single slotted core cable. Its diameter is 30 mm compared to 40 mm for currently used multi slotted core cable, and its weight is 0.85 kg/m compared to 1.4 kg/m. The reduced cable outer diameter and weight allow us to increase both the installed length from 1 to 2 km (pre-connectorized) and the maximum fiber count from 1000 to 1600 for multiple installation in a conduit. We also describe low loss 4, and 8 mechanically transferable (MT) connectors, a pulling head and a joint box. The average connection loss of those connectors is reduced from 0.35 to 0.2 dB. The cable joining time was greatly reduced from 9 to 4.5 hours by using 5 stacks of multi fiber connectors and newly developed pulling heads and a joint boxes. Finally, we describe field test results for 1000-fiber pre-connectorized cable. In field tests, this preconnectorized cable is sufficiently stable with present installation methods. These results will lead to reductions in installation and joining costs. The 1000-fiber pre-connectorized single slotted core cable is promising with regard to upgrading the access network towards FTTH.