Optical connector

Abstract

The present embodiment relates to an optical connector capable of reducing a pressing force applied to each of a plurality of optical fibers simultaneously held by a ferrule and effectively reducing fiber damage. The optical connector includes a ferrule including a plurality of through holes and a plurality of optical fibers held by the ferrule with end faces of the optical fibers protruding from the ferrule. The maximum curvature of the end face of each of the optical fibers and a variation amount of a protrusion amount of each of the optical fibers are adjusted to enable excellent many-to-many PC connection.

1 - 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . An optical connector comprising:
 a first optical fiber; and   a first ferrule comprised of zirconia, the first ferrule including one end face and a through hole having an opening on the one end face, the first ferrule holding a tip part including an end face of the first optical fiber by the through hole, wherein   a maximum curvature radius r (=1/R) is 10 mm or more, and a retraction amount d is −0.05 μm or more and +0.1 μm or less, the maximum curvature radius r (=1/R) being defined by a maximum curvature R of the end face of the first optical fiber and the retraction amount d being defined along a central axis of the first optical fiber from the one end face of the first ferrule to the end face of the first optical fiber.   
     
     
         8 . The optical connector according to  claim 7 , wherein a side face of the tip part of the first optical fiber and an inner wall surface of the through hole of the first ferrule are bonded and fixed to each other. 
     
     
         9 . The optical connector according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a second optical fiber having the same structure as the first optical fiber;   a second ferrule having the same structure as the first ferrule, the second ferrule holding a tip part including an end face of the second optical fiber;   a guide structure for opposing the first ferrule and the second ferrule to each other; and   a press applying structure for butting the one end face of the first ferrule and one end face of the second ferrule against each other while applying a pressing force of 5 N or more.