JP2000304974A - Optical fiber connector - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To prevent a small diameter bending of an optical fiber projecting from a connector due to its own weight or the like. A fixed part having a ferrule and a movable part are connected by a ring member so as to be relatively rotatable. The ring member 17 has a hollow portion 19 penetrating therethrough, and an inner wall 20 constituting the hollow portion 19 has a cylindrical wall portion 20a.
Are formed on both sides of the curved wall surfaces 20b and 20c having a radius of R or more. The optical fiber 6 whose distal end is connected to the ferrule 12 extends from the fixed part 13 to the movable part 14 through the hollow part 19 inside the connector 10 and protrudes from the outlet 23 to the outside. With the connector 10 inserted into the socket, the movable part 14
When rotated, the optical fiber 6 is bent by the hollow portion 19 in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction with a radius of r or more, protrudes from the outlet 23, and hangs down as it is.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an optical fiber core,
The present invention relates to a connector for an optical fiber such as a plastic optical fiber that can be used as an optical fiber cord or an optical fiber cable.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, cables such as plastic optical fibers are often laid along wall surfaces. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the socket 2 of the optical fiber 1 laid inside the wall is attached to the wall as a connection target, and the tip of the optical fiber 1 is positioned in the insertion concave portion 3 of the socket 2 and the caulking member 8 It is fixed at. The connector 4 to be inserted and fitted into the socket 2 is provided with a ferrule 9 inserted into the concave portion 3 at the tip of the main body 5.
The tip of the optical fiber 6 is housed inside the main body 5, connected to the ferrule 9, and fixed by the caulking member 7.

[0003]

However, in such a connector 4, since the connector 4 is inserted perpendicularly to the socket 2 and the wall surface, the optical fiber 6 exposed at the rear of the connector 4 is similarly connected to the socket 2. , And is bent at a substantially right angle with the curved portion 6a due to its own weight or the like and hangs down. In this case, the bending portion 6 of the optical fiber 6
It is required that the minimum recommended bend (allowable radius of curvature) R that can prevent excessive stress due to bending on a is usually about 25 mm or more for a single-core plastic optical fiber and about 15 mm or more for a multi-core plastic optical fiber. I have. However, in the laid state by the connector 4 as described above, there is a possibility that the curvature radius ra due to the weight of the optical fiber 6 or the like may be excessively smaller than the recommended bend R, resulting in an increase in light transmission loss or an increase in the optical fiber. There is a disadvantage that the wire 6 may be disconnected.

An object of the present invention is to provide an optical fiber connector in which an optical fiber does not bend unreasonably less than an allowable radius of curvature R in view of such a problem.

[0005]

An optical fiber connector according to the present invention is an optical fiber connector in which an optical fiber is disposed, wherein the first holding portion and the second holding portion each having a plug are provided. Are connected by a connecting member having a hollow portion so as to be relatively rotatable, and the optical fiber is inserted into the first holding portion and the second holding portion through the hollow portion of the connecting member. In the present invention, the first holding portion and the second holding portion are relatively rotatable, and by bending the optical fiber inside the connector, the radius of curvature can be set to an allowable radius or more, As in the conventional case, it is possible to prevent the optical fiber from being bent at a curvature equal to or less than the allowable radius of curvature R due to an uncontrollable factor such as its own weight which protrudes outside the connector. Preferably, the plug and the optical fiber of the second holding portion are projected to the outside so that the radius of curvature of the optical fiber that bends in the horizontal and vertical directions with the connecting member inside the connector is not less than the allowable radius of curvature R. The positional relationship in the XY direction in the horizontal section between the outlet to be connected and the connection member is appropriately set.

Further, the inner wall forming the hollow portion of the connecting member may have a convex curved region whose inner diameter gradually decreases from both ends toward the center in the cross-sectional shape. With such a structure, the optical fiber disposed inside the connector has an inner wall forming the hollow portion of the connection member serving as a guide for the curvature, so that the curvature radius is less than the allowable curvature radius R. It can be reliably prevented. Further, the radius of curvature of the convexly curved region may be set to be equal to or larger than the allowable radius of curvature R of the optical fiber. If the radius of curvature of the convex curved region of the inner wall is set to be equal to or larger than the allowable radius of curvature R of the optical fiber, the radius of curvature of the optical fiber becomes larger when the convex curved region of the inner wall acts as a guide for bending. It does not become smaller than the radius R.

[0007]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.
8A to 8C, the same parts as those in the above-described related art will be described using the same reference numerals. 1 to 5 relate to an optical fiber connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a horizontal sectional view of a main part of the optical fiber connector according to the embodiment, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the optical fiber connector viewed from the direction in which the connector is exposed from the optical fiber connector, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the ring member, and FIG. ,
FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the connector in the state shown in FIG.
An optical fiber connector (hereinafter simply referred to as a connector) 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a two-wire connector in which two plastic optical fibers (hereinafter simply referred to as optical fibers) 6 and 6 are accommodated. , A pair of ferrules 1 as its body 11
2 and 12 (plugs) are composed of a fixed portion 13 provided substantially parallel to the distal end surface 13a, and a movable portion 14 that can rotate relative to the fixed portion 13. The fixed portion 13 and the movable portion 14
Is formed in a hollow frame shape. The fixing part 13 is shown in FIG.
When viewed from the horizontal cross section shown in FIG. 1, the rear end face 13b facing the front end face 13a has a concave portion 15 with its central portion depressed toward the front end face 13a. The recessed portion 15 is provided with a substantially box-shaped movable portion 14 fitted with a slight gap, and the movable portion 14 is provided on both sides 14a and 14b facing each other via a ring member 17 having a substantially H shape. It is connected to the fixed part 13 so as to be relatively rotatable. Main body 1 composed of fixed part 13 and movable part 14
1 has a substantially rectangular plate shape as a whole, for example.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the ring member 17 is formed by large-diameter flange portions 18a and 18b on both sides and a small-diameter shaft portion 18c connecting these flange portions. It has been. The inner wall 20 constituting the hollow portion 19 has a cylindrical wall portion 20a formed at the center as viewed in the direction of the central axis O of the hollow portion 19, and a convex portion having a radius r from both ends toward the center direction on both sides thereof. A curved wall portion 20b connected to the central cylindrical wall portion 20b by drawing a curve,
20c. Here, the curved wall portion 20b,
The radius r of 20c is preferably set to a radius of curvature equal to or more than the recommended bending (allowable radius of curvature) R of the optical fiber 6 (R ≦ r). The curved wall portions 20b and 20c are ring members 17
Is a guide for the optical fiber 6 disposed in the hollow portion 19 of the optical fiber 6.
Can be prevented from bending below the recommended bend R described above.

As shown in FIG. 1, a pair of side surfaces 14a, 14b of the movable portion 14 and inner side surfaces 13c, 13d forming the recessed portion 15 of the fixed portion 13 opposed thereto are respectively provided with flange portions of the ring member 17. Holes 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d smaller than 18a, 18b are formed, and the shaft portions 18c, 18c of the ring members 17, 17 are relatively rotatable in each pair of holes 22a, 22c and holes 22b, 22d. Mated. In this state, the pair of ring members 17 and 17 are arranged in the same straight line, and the fixed portion 13 and the movable portion 14 are connected by the ring member 17 to form the shaft portion 1.
8c is relatively rotatable. If the inner wall 20 of the ring member 17 is formed only of the curved wall portions 20b and 20c and the cylindrical wall portion 20a is omitted, not only the ring member 17 but also the fixed portion 13 and the movable portion 14 can be reduced in size. .

An elliptical hole is formed in the end face 14c of the movable part 14 aligned with the rear end face 13b of the fixed part 13 as an outlet 23 for the two optical fibers 6,6. A cylindrical protection member 24 that partially covers 6 is provided. One end of each of the two optical fibers 6 and 6 mounted inside the connector 10 is a ferrule 1.
2 are arranged in the movable part 14 from the fixed part 13 through the hollow part 19 of the ring member 17, are united at the outlet 23, and extend outside through the protective member 24.
These optical fibers 6 are connected to the ferrule 12 in the fixed portion 13.
It is fixed by a caulking member 24 in the vicinity. In addition, fixed part 1
3, when assembling the movable part 14 and the ring member 17, the fixed part 13 and the movable part 14 are divided into two half members 13A, 13B, 14A, 14B as shown in FIG. What is necessary is just to fit together with the member 17 interposed.

An optical fiber connector 1 according to the present embodiment.
0 is configured as described above,
Is inserted into the socket 2 as shown in FIG. 9, first, the ferrules 12, 12 of the connector 10 in which the fixed portion 13 and the movable portion 14 are in a parallel state as shown in FIG. When the movable portion 14 is rotated by a predetermined angle, for example, approximately 90 ° as shown in FIG. 4, the movable portion 14 rotates with respect to the fixed portion 13 about the pair of ring members 17 and 17. In this case, the optical fiber 6 in the connector 10 smoothly curves horizontally in the hollow portion 19 of the ring member 17 along the curved wall portion 20b of the inner wall 20 in the flange portion 18a on the fixed portion 13 side, and the movable portion 14 (see FIG. 1). The flange portion 18b on the movable portion 14 side, which has been curved in the horizontal direction along the curved wall portion 20c, is rotated in the vertical direction, curved in the vertical direction, and droops outward from the outlet 23 facing downward. Will do. As described above, the optical fiber 6 can be bent in the horizontal and vertical directions in the hollow portion 19 of the ring member 17 to change its direction.
Since the curved wall portions 20b and 20c serve as guides for bending, the bending radius of the optical fiber does not become smaller than the recommended bending radius R. Can be prevented.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the connector 10 is inserted into the socket 2 or the like on the wall, the connector 10
The optical fiber 6 can be smoothly curved smoothly with a radius of curvature r greater than or equal to the recommended bend R in the hollow portion 19, and can be hung downward. The optical fiber 6 exposed from the connector 10 has a small radius due to its own weight or the like. It does not cause excessive bending or bending.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, and the same or similar parts as those in the above embodiment will be described using the same reference numerals. FIG. 6 is a horizontal sectional view of the single-wire optical fiber connector, and FIG. 7 is a rear transparent view of the connector shown in FIG. 6 and 7 show a connector for plastic optical fiber (hereinafter referred to as a connector).
At 0, the basic configuration is the same as that of the connector 10 according to the first embodiment, and only different configurations will be described. The ferrule 12 is provided near one end of the distal end surface 13a of the fixed portion 13, and an outlet 23 formed on the end surface 14c of the movable portion 14 facing the distal end surface 13a is located on the opposite side of the ferrule 12 from the center. It is located eccentrically. A pair of ring members 17 for connecting the fixed portion 13 and the movable portion 14 so as to be relatively rotatable is provided, but since only one optical fiber 6 is provided, at least one of the ring members 17 has a hollow portion. The optical fiber 6 is provided through the inside of the hollow portion 19.

In the connector 30 constructed as described above, similarly, by inserting the socket 2 into the socket 2 and rotating the movable portion 14, the connector 30 is guided by the inner wall 20 of one of the ring members 17 so as to be moved in the horizontal and vertical directions. Curved optical fiber 6
Is bent with a radius of curvature r larger than the recommended bending R, protrudes from the connector 30 and hangs down as it is, so that excessive bending or bending does not occur.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the inner wall 20 of the ring member 17 is used as a guide for bending the optical fiber 6 so that the radius r of the curved wall portions 20b and 20c at both ends is equal to or more than the recommended bending R. However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. For example, as shown in a partial horizontal sectional view of the connector 10 (30) in FIG. 8, the radius of curvature r of the optical fiber 6 in the connector 10 is equal to the bending start points P1 and P of the optical fiber 6.
3 and the bending end points P2 and P4 are set by equal (or different) distances Lx and Ly in the X and Y directions.
If the distances Lx and Ly are set to values equal to or greater than the recommended bending R, the radius of curvature r will be equal to or greater than the recommended bending R. for that reason,
For example, the hollow portion 33 of the ring member 32 and the outlet 2 outside the hollow portion 33
If the distances Lx and Ly in the X and Y directions in each horizontal cross section with the ferrule 3 and the ferrule 12 are set to R or more, even if the inner wall 34 of the ring member 32 has a non-drum-shaped shape, for example, a straight cylindrical shape, The radius of curvature r of 6 is recommended bending R
The above can be set.

Although the plastic optical fiber 6 has been described in the above embodiment, the present invention can be applied to a connector of another type of optical fiber such as glass. It can also be used for various optical fibers such as single core and multi core. The fixing part 13 of the connector 10, 30 is a first holding part,
The movable part 14 constitutes a second holding part, and the ring members 17 and 3
2 constitutes a connection member.

[0017]

As described above, in the optical fiber connector according to the present invention, the first holding portion provided with the plug and the second holding portion are relatively rotatably connected by the connecting member having the hollow portion. Since the optical fiber is inserted into the first holding portion and the second holding portion through the hollow portion of the connecting member, the optical fiber is rotated inside the connector by relatively rotating the first holding portion and the second holding portion. And the radius of curvature can be set to be equal to or larger than the allowable radius, and the optical fiber protrudes to the outside of the connector and bends at its own weight or the like with a curvature smaller than the allowable radius of curvature, as in the conventional case. Can be reliably prevented.

Further, since the inner wall forming the hollow portion of the connecting member has a convex curved region in which the inner diameter gradually decreases from both ends toward the center, the optical fiber disposed inside the connector is connected to the connecting member. Since the inner wall serves as a guide for curvature, the radius of curvature can be reliably prevented from becoming smaller than the allowable radius. Further, since the radius of curvature of the convex curved region is set to be equal to or larger than the allowable radius of curvature of the optical fiber, the bending radius of the optical fiber becomes smaller than the allowable radius of curvature when the convex curved region acts as a guide for bending. It will not be.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a horizontal sectional view of a main part of an optical fiber connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of a main body viewed from a direction in which an optical fiber is exposed from a connector.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a ring member.

FIG. 4 is a main part side view showing a use state of the connector according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the connector shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a horizontal sectional view of a connector for an optical fiber according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of the connector shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a horizontal partial sectional view of a connector showing a modification of the connector for optical fibers.

FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state where a conventional optical fiber connector is fitted to a socket.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 6 optical fiber 10, 30 connector 11 main body 12 ferrule (plug) 13 fixed part (first holding part) 14 movable part (second holding part) 17, 32 ring member (connection member) 19, 33 hollow part 20.34 Inner walls 20b, 20c Curved wall 23 Exit

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An optical fiber connector having an optical fiber disposed therein, wherein a first holding portion provided with a plug and a second holding portion are connected to each other by a connecting member having a hollow portion so as to be relatively rotatable. An optical fiber connector, wherein an optical fiber is inserted into the first holding portion and the second holding portion through a hollow portion of the connecting member. 2. The optical fiber according to claim 1, wherein the inner wall forming the hollow portion of the connecting member has a convex curved area whose inner diameter gradually decreases from both ends toward the center. Connector. 3. The optical fiber connector according to claim 2, wherein a radius of curvature of the convex curved region is set to be equal to or larger than an allowable radius of curvature of the optical fiber.