# US 2021/0333484 A1 · Fiber connection structure provided with optical connector, module, and assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0333484 A1 - Document ID: US20210333484A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/273,383 - Filed: 2018-10-26 - Published: 2021-10-28 - Earliest claimed: 2018-10-26 - Assignees: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. - Applicants: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. - Inventors: Kazuya MASUDA; Masakazu SHIGEHARA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210333484A1 ## CPC - G02B 6/3885: {Multicore or multichannel optical connectors, i.e. one single ferrule containing more than one fibre, e.g. ribbon type (optical ribbon cable G02B6/4403, G02B6/448)} - G02B 6/3897: {Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards (G02B6/44528 takes precedence)} - G02B 6/44526: {Panels or rackmounts covering a whole width of the frame or rack} - G02B 6/4453: {Cassettes} - G02B 6/3644: {the coupling means being through-holes or wall apertures} - G02B 6/40: having fibre bundle mating means - G02B 6/4401: {Optical cables (glass fibres with a protective coating G02B6/02395)} - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract An optical connector-equipped fiber connection structure according to an embodiment includes at least three groups including two or more optical fibers adjacent to each other. In the groups, two or more of the optical fibers extend from a first multi-core connector to a second multi-core connector without intersecting with each other. Optical fibers of two groups in the at least three groups intersect with each other in a midway point going from the first multi-core connector to the second multi-core connector. Optical fibers of groups other than the two groups extend from the first multi-core connector to the second multi-core connector without intersecting with the other optical fibers extending from the first multi-core connector. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An optical connector-equipped fiber connection structure comprising a first multi-core connector, a second multi-core connector, and a plurality of optical fibers configured to connect the first multi-core connector to the second multi-core connector, wherein the plurality of optical fibers has at least three groups including two or more of the optical fibers adjacent to each other in the first multi-core connector, in the groups, two or more of the optical fibers extend from the first multi-core connector to the second multi-core connector without intersecting with each other, the optical fibers of the two groups in the at least three groups intersect with each other in a midway point going from the first multi-core connector to the second multi-core connector, and the optical fibers of the group other than the two groups extend from the first multi-core connector to the second multi-core connector without intersecting with other optical fibers extending from the first multi-core connector. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The optical connector-equipped fiber connection structure according to claim 1, wherein the at least three groups include a first group, a second group adjacent to the first group, a third group adjacent to the second group, and a fourth group adjacent to the third group, the optical fibers of the first group and the optical fibers of the second group extend from the first multi-core connector to the second multi-core connector without intersecting with the other optical fibers extending from the first multi-core connector, and the optical fibers of the third group and the optical fibers of the fourth group intersect with each other in a midway point going from the first multi-core connector to the second multi-core connector. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The optical connector-equipped fiber connection structure according to claim 1, wherein the at least three groups include a first group, a second group adjacent to the first group, a third group adjacent to the second group, and a fourth group adjacent to the third group, the optical fibers of the first group extend from the first multi-core connector to the second multi-core connector without intersecting with the other optical fibers extending from the first multi-core connector, the optical fibers of the second group intersect with the optical fibers of the third group in a midway point going from the first multi-core connector to the second multi-core connector and intersect with the optical fibers of the fourth group, and the optical fibers of the third group and the optical fibers of the fourth group extend from the first multi-core connector to the second multi-core connector without intersecting with each other. ### Claim 4 An optical connector-equipped fiber connection structure comprising a first multi-core connector, a second multi-core connector, and a plurality of optical fibers configured to connect the first multi-core connector to the second multi-core connector, wherein the plurality of optical fibers is arrayed in two groups in the second multi-core connector, the plurality of optical fibers has at least four groups including two or more of the optical fibers adjacent to each other in the first multi-core connector, optical fibers of a first group and a fourth group in the first multi-core connector are arrayed at equal positions in groups different from each other in the second multi-core connector, and optical fibers of a second group and a third group in the first multi-core connector are arrayed at equal positions in groups different from each other in the second multi-core connector. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The optical connector-equipped fiber connection structure according to claim 1, wherein in the second multi-core connector, the plurality of optical fibers is arrayed along each of two lines, the plurality of optical fibers arrayed on one line of the two lines does not intersect with the other optical fibers extending from the first multi-core connector in a midway point going from the first multi-core connector to the second multi-core connector, and the plurality of optical fibers arrayed on another line of the two lines intersects with the other optical fibers extending from the first multi-core connector in a midway point going from the first multi-core connector to the second multi-core connector. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The optical connector-equipped fiber connection structure according to claim 1, wherein the first multi-core connector has a plurality of optical fiber retention holes, and the optical fiber extending to the second multi-core connector is inserted into a part of optical fiber retention holes in the plurality of optical fiber retention holes, and the optical fiber extending to the second multi-core connector is not inserted into remaining optical fiber retention holes in the plurality of optical fiber retention holes. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The optical connector-equipped fiber connection structure according to claim 1, wherein the optical fibers comprising eight optical fibers are connected to the first multi-core connector, and the optical fibers comprising 12×n (n is a natural number) optical fibers are connected to the second multi-core connector. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The optical connector-equipped fiber connection structure according to claim 1, wherein the second multi-core connector is a 24-core MPO connector. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The optical connector-equipped fiber connection structure according to claim 1, wherein the second multi-core connector includes two 12-core MPO connectors. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A module comprising: a first adapter having a first multi-core connector of optical connector-equipped fiber connection structure connected; a first wall surface exposing and supporting the first adapter; a second adapter having a second multi-core connector of the optical connector-equipped fiber connection structure connected; a second wall surface exposing and supporting the second adapter; and the optical connector-equipped fiber connection structure according to claim 1 configured to optically couple the first adapter to the second adapter. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The module according to claim 10, comprising a casing having the first wall surface, the second wall surface opposed to the first wall surface, and a third wall surface joining the first wall surface to the second wall surface, the casing being configured to house the fiber connection structure. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) An assembly comprising a plurality of the modules according to claim 10, and a polarity C wiring structure configured to optically couple the plurality of modules to each other. ### Claim 13 (depends on 4) The optical connector-equipped fiber connection structure according to claim 4, wherein in the second multi-core connector, the plurality of optical fibers is arrayed along each of two lines, the plurality of optical fibers arrayed on one line of the two lines does not intersect with the other optical fibers extending from the first multi-core connector in a midway point going from the first multi-core connector to the second multi-core connector, and the plurality of optical fibers arrayed on another line of the two lines intersects with the other optical fibers extending from the first multi-core connector in a midway point going from the first multi-core connector to the second multi-core connector. ### Claim 14 (depends on 4) The optical connector-equipped fiber connection structure according to claim 4, wherein the first multi-core connector has a plurality of optical fiber retention holes, and the optical fiber extending to the second multi-core connector is inserted into a part of optical fiber retention holes in the plurality of optical fiber retention holes, and the optical fiber extending to the second multi-core connector is not inserted into remaining optical fiber retention holes in the plurality of optical fiber retention holes. ### Claim 15 (depends on 4) The optical connector-equipped fiber connection structure according to claim 4, wherein the optical fibers comprising eight optical fibers are connected to the first multi-core connector, and the optical fibers comprising 12×n (n is a natural number) optical fibers are connected to the second multi-core connector. ### Claim 16 (depends on 4) The optical connector-equipped fiber connection structure according to claim 4, wherein the second multi-core connector is a 24-core MPO connector. ### Claim 17 (depends on 4) The optical connector-equipped fiber connection structure according to claim 4, wherein the second multi-core connector includes two 12-core MPO connectors. ### Claim 18 (depends on 4) A module comprising: a first adapter having a first multi-core connector of optical connector-equipped fiber connection structure connected; a first wall surface exposing and supporting the first adapter; a second adapter having a second multi-core connector of the optical connector-equipped fiber connection structure connected; a second wall surface exposing and supporting the second adapter; and the optical connector-equipped fiber connection structure according to claim 4 configured to optically couple the first adapter to the second adapter. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The module according to claim 18, comprising a casing having the first wall surface, the second wall surface opposed to the first wall surface, and a third wall surface joining the first wall surface to the second wall surface, the casing being configured to house the fiber connection structure. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) An assembly comprising a plurality of the modules according to claim 18, and a polarity C wiring structure configured to optically couple the plurality of modules to each other.