Optical fiber assembly and manufacturing method for the same

Abstract

An optical fiber assembly which can be used without deterioration in the performance thereof even when it is used under a severe environmental condition wherein temperature frequently changes over a wide temperature range. The structure of an optical fiber assembly in accordance with the invention may be applied to an optical fiber connector plug and the like. The optical fiber connector plug is constituted by an optical fiber having an end with a protective sheath thereof removed, a ferrule of a support for fixing of the optical fiber, a thin-wall metal pipe which receives the protective sheath on the optical fiber and fixes it by crimping a plurality of places thereof, and a metal supporting sleeve with a flange which is provided as an integral part of the ferrule and which supports the thin-wall metal pipe. The optical fiber and the thin-wall metal pipe are fixed to the ferrule and the metal supporting sleeve, respectively, at the same time by gluing with thermosetting resin. The physical properties such as the hardness of the protective sheath of the optical fiber assembly change in a reversible manner between the upper and lower extremes of the environment wherein the optical fiber assembly is used; however, the problem of slipping out (pistoning) observed in a conventional optical fiber assembly is reliably prevented.