Patent ID: 6179482
Filing Date: 2001-01-30
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
An optical connector comprising: a housing 21, a ferrule having an optical fiber secured thereinside and a flat tip end face capable of optical connection with another optical component, a connection mechanism located at a rear end side of said ferrule opposite to said tip end face, for positionally aligning and butt connecting and clamping a portion of said optical fiber protruding from a rear end of said ferrule and another optical fiber to thereby maintain a connected condition,said connection mechanism comprises: a hilt portion protruding rearward from the ferrule, a cover which together with the hilt portion clamps therebetween the pair of optical fibers to be butt connected, an alignment device for positionally aligning the pair of optical fibers to be connected between the hilt portion and the cover so as to be able to abut against each other, clamping force applying means for applying a clamping force to said hilt portion and said cover for clamping said optical fibers, and an insertion opening for insertion of a release member for pressing between and opening said hilt portion and said cover against an biasing force of said clamping force applying means, and said insertion opening is opened to the side along an alignment axis direction of the optical fiber.