Nippon Sheet Glass Company, Limited

Masatake Ishikawa

Satoshi Taniguchi

Hiroshi Koshi

Kazuya Ookawa

A compact gradient index rod lens that can be manufactured without decreasing the amount of incident light. The gradient index rod lens includes a lens body radially distributing refractive indexes. The lens body has a cross sectional outline formed by removing at least part of a peripheral portion of an original lens body.

Gradient index rod lens, method for manufacturing gradient index rod lens, and lens array

A rod lens for an optical communication module is not easily damaged. An input side end surface of the rod lens has an inclined surface. The inclined surface is inclined by a predetermined angle with respect to a central axis of the rod lens to reduce the reflection loss. A flat contact surface, which is perpendicular to the central axis, is formed on the distal end of the rod lens. By simply arranging two of the rod lenses to contact each other, the rod lenses are optically coupled in the optimum manner without being damaged.

Optical element having inclined surface

A fiber optic connector includes a plug having a ferrule adapted to be connected to a tip end of an optical fiber, a receptacle associated with a light-emitting element and having a ferrule insertion hole defined therein for receiving the plug therein, the ferrule insertion hole being held in light-transmitting communication with the light-emitting element, the receptacle being arranged such that the receptacle establishes an optical path between the light-emitting element and the optical fiber for optical coupling therebetween when the ferrule is inserted into the ferrule insertion hole, and a light blocking element for interrupting the optical path within the ferrule insertion hole in response to insertion of the ferrule into the ferrule insertion hole. The light blocking element comprises a resilient member such as a leaf spring disposed in the ferrule insertion hole and resiliently displaceable into an inner circumferential surface of the ferrule insertion hole when pressed by the ferrule, thereby allowing the ferrule to be inserted into the ferrule insertion hole.

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Osaka, Japan

Masatake Ishikawa