Optical Component

With the spread of data centers and 5G, the construction of optical fiber networks is progressing rapidly in countries all over the world. For this purpose, connection technology for connecting optical fibers is necessary, and various connection technologies have been developed according to applications such as connector connection, fusion connection, and mechanical splice. Especially in the case of outdoor connection, a connection technology called FA (Field Assembly) connector (Fig. 1) has been developed because simple connection in the field and high reliability are required. The FA connector consists of a ferrule with internal fiber bonded, fixed and polished at the factory. It is connected by a mechanical splice (FIG. 2) to an optical fiber that has been processed in the field. The mechanical splice comprises a V-groove substrate, an upper lid, and a U-shaped spring, and when the optical fibers are connected, a wedge is inserted from the side of the mechanical splice, and the opposed optical fibers are connected by pushing each other. Then, the wedge is pulled out to be mechanically fixed by a U-shaped spring. A refractive index matching gel is used between the end faces of the connected optical fibers to avoid Fresnel reflection. There is no adhesive and polishing process to assemble a mechanical splice in the field, and it is also unnecessary a power supply for the assembly. For the reliability of the optical fiber network, how the optical fiber is stored and maintained after it is connected is very important, and it is necessary to ensure the long-term reliability in various environments in the field such as rain, wind, and ultraviolet rays. FIG. 3 is a connector connection housing case, which is constructed of a plastic housing and a rubber packing, and has an economical structure that ensures long-term reliability.

Optical Connector

Optical connectors are products that realize low-loss, high-reliability repeated connections by precisely aligning optical fibers with each other and bringing the end faces close or in contact. Optical connectors are applied from single-fiber connections to multi-fiber bulk connections with multiple connection method. Fujikura has core technologies for each connection method, and provides a variety of solutions to meet customer needs.
Physical contact (Fig. 1) is a method in which optical fiber end faces are physically brought into contact with each other. Fujikura has made progress in reducing the loss and increasing the number of cores of optical connectors through high-precision polishing technology and precision molding technology. We also offer field assembled optical connector (Figure 2) solutions that combine physical contact with refractive index matching and fused connections.
In recent years, with the increase of traffic in optical transmission equipment or advances in silicon photonics technology, the proximity and non-contact connection of optical fibers in optical modules or devices has attracted greater attention. Fujikura is developing solutions in these new fields, such as butt joint connection technology (Fig. 3) which realizes optical coupling by adjusting the mode field of optical fibers for optical devices, and lens connection technology (Fig. 4) which combines free-space optical design with optical resin molding technology.

Optical Fiber Fusion Splicer

We are engaged in research and development of equipment to remove coating, cut and splice optical fibers. The core position of an optical fiber is measured with high accuracy, and two optical fibers are aligned at the submicron level by a precise axis alignment mechanism, and then spliced by quasi-corona discharge or CO2 laser. Fusion splicers using quasi-corona discharge with tungsten electrode can be miniaturized and is mainly used for splicing optical fiber for telecommunication. On the other hand, fusion splicers that use CO2 lasers do not have tungsten adhered to optical fibers, and are mainly used for processing specialty optical fibers. The characteristics of CO2 lasers are utilized not only in splicing but also in tip lens processing and optical coupler manufacturing. Our splicer, which makes full use of mechatronics technology, has the world's top share.

12-fiber Mass Fusion Splicer	12-fiber fusion splicing by discharge	Laser Fusion Splicer	Fusion splicing type ball lens

Optical Fiber Cable

We have developed Spider Web Ribbon® (SWR®) in which the intermittently bonded fibers are flexible to form bundle compared to conventional ribbon structure, and Wrapping Tube Cable® (WTC®), which is a cable made by bundling and effectively packing the SWRs. Thanks to the innovative technologies of SWR and WTC, we have succeeded in the development of ultra-high density optical cables with the world's highest core count. This technology was awarded the "ICT Business Development Prize" by The Telecommunications Association of Japan, and is contributing to the construction of optical communications networks not only in Japan but also around the world. Using SWR & WTC, we are developing ultra-high density optical fiber cables and components to support large-capacity optical communications, as well as high-performance optical fiber cables tailored to applications in countries around the world.
Please visit our special site (https://swrwtc.fujikura.jp/wrapping-tube-cable) for further information

Optical Fiber

Image Fiber

An image fiber is an optical fiber that transmits an image formed on a fiber end surface to the other end through a lens, and it is used in industrial applications and medical endoscopes that observe the inside of the human body.
Fujikura's image fiber is silica glass based image fiber and have the largest share in the world market. These products have the unique properties that utilizes the sophisticated optical fiber design and the manufacturing technologies over many years.
On this time, the high-resolution image fiber has been developed in accordance with the customer requests for higher image quality. That has approximately three times the number of pixels while maintaining the outer diameter of the fiber.
The high-resolution has been achieved by applying the shorter distance from pixel to pixel, which is difficult with standard image fibers.
And, by optimizing the entire design, the color reproducibility has succeed to keep as almost same as standard products.
The good reputation for this product has been already received from customers in the industrial and medical fields, and this new product is hoped to further contribute to the visualization technology of narrow places, which has been difficult to observe up to now.
Fujikura is going to challenge the new technology and to contribute to society by utilizing its optical fiber technology.

Miniature CMOS image sensor module for Endoscope

Fujikura has realized an ultra-thin camera module that revolutionizes the medical technology by combining in-house technologies such as optical, micro-coaxial cable and micro-assembly technologies.
The camera module realized 1.4mm diameter with 160,000 pixel image quality as well as high flexibility and this technology becomes possible to take clear images of affected area inside body directly with less pain and minimum-invasion which were not enable with existing technologies.
The camera module provides a very low cost that can be also used for single-use video endoscope to avoid the risk of secondary infections.
With the aim of maintaining and improving the quality of life (QOL) of people and contributing to
innovation in medical technology, we will continue to promote research and development activities to
create medical innovations through the fusion of optical and electronic technologies.

Miniature CMOS image sensor module for Endoscope

Optical Fiber Sensor

Fiber-optic sensing is an emerging technology that utilizes optical fiber as a medium. This technology takes advantage of its characteristics to sense external perturbations such as temperature variations and strain by detecting the induced modulations of light propagating through an optical fiber. In recent years, fiber-optic sensors have attracted lots of attention in a wide range of applications such as structual health monitoring of social infrastructures and airplanes. Moreover, such sensors, especially those with multicores, have driven many disruptive innovations, including navigation in special enviroments (e.g. in-body, underwater) and precise 3D-shape sensing in wearable devices and composite materials.
Fujikura, by exploring and exploiting the technologies for telecommunication fiber and fiber-optic components, has developed special spun multicore fibers for advanced sensing uses. Employing a novel spool-to-spool platform has enabled the inscription of ultra-long gauge fiber Bragg gratings into the multicore fiber lenghwise and the sensing of 3D shapes. The Fujikura R&D team focus on fundamental and application research on high-performance fiber sensors, aiming at the application of these technologies in a broad variety of fields in the future.