Optical fiber connecting device, electronic equipment, network system and optical fiber connecting method

A network system for interconnecting a plurality of electronic equipments comprising:

• a first electronic equipment including a first optical communication circuit, an optical fiber connector, and a first fiber for interconnecting said first optical communication circuit and said optical fiber connector;
• a second electronic equipment having a second optical communication circuit;
• and
• a second optical fiber for interconnecting the optical fiber connector of said first electronic equipment and said second optical communication circuit of said second electronic equipment;
• said optical fiber connector of said first electronic equipment including
• refractive index matching means having a refractive index subsequently equivalent to that of cores of said first and second optical fibers;
• wherein said refractive index matching means is formed by an elastic body;
• and wherein said refractive index matching means includes junction surfaces connected to an end face of said first optical fiber and to an end face of said second optical fiber;
• and optical fiber connecting means for interconnecting said first and second optical fibers in a state in which end faces of said first and second optical fibers are contacted with said refractive index matching means interposed between said first and second optical fibers and wherein the end face of said first optical fiber is protruding beyond a contact area of said connecting means;
• wherein said optical fiber connecting means tightly connects the end faces of said first and second optical fibers to said junction surfaces by elastic deformation of said refractive index matching means;
• wherein said optical fiber connecting means is made up of a first connecting portion, mounted in the vicinity of an end face of said first optical fiber, and a second connecting portion, mounted in the vicinity of an end face of said second optical fiber;
• and wherein
• said first and second connecting portions are interconnected to connect the end face of said first optical fiber and the end face of said second optical fiber in a state in which said end faces are contacted with said refractive index matching means by elastic deformation of said first and second connecting portions caused by connection of said first and second connecting portions and said first connecting portion forms a substantially convex torus and said second connecting portion forms a substantially recessed torus.

An electronic equipment having an optical communication circuit, comprising:

• an optical fiber connector;
• and
• an optical fiber for interconnecting said optical communication circuit and said optical fiber connector;
• said optical fiber connector including
• refractive index matching means having a refractive index subsequently equivalent to that of cores of said first and second optical fibers;
• wherein said refractive index matching means is formed by an elastic body;
• and wherein said refractive index matching means includes junction surfaces connected to an end face of said first optical fiber and to an end face of said second optical fiber;
• and optical fiber connecting means for interconnecting said first and second optical fibers in a state in which end faces of said first and second optical fibers are contacted with said refractive index matching means interposed between said first and second optical fibers and wherein the end face of said first optical fiber is protruding beyond a contact area of said connecting means;
• wherein said optical fiber connecting means tightly connects the end faces of said first and second optical fibers to said junction surfaces by elastic deformation of said refractive index matching means;
• wherein said optical fiber connecting means is made up of a first connecting portion, mounted in the vicinity of an end face of said first optical fiber, and a second connecting portion, mounted in the vicinity of an end face of said second optical fiber;
• and wherein
• said first and second connecting portions are interconnected to connect the end face of said first optical fiber and the end face of said second optical fiber in a state in which said end faces are contacted with said refractive index matching means by elastic deformation of said first and second connecting portions caused by connection of said first and second connecting portions and said first connecting portion forms a substantially convex torus and said second connecting portion forms a substantially recessed torus.