JP2019003077A - Optical connection member and optical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

To easily position an end face of a glass optical fiber and a collimator lens without damaging the glass optical fiber while suppressing an increase in cost. A cylindrical holder (11), a collimator lens (12) housed in a housing part (11c) formed at one end of the holder, and an insertion hole (11a) formed at the other end of the holder. And a fiber holding member (14) for holding one end of the optical fiber (13). The fiber fixing member has an end surface (131) on the collimator lens side of the optical fiber and a collimator lens. It was set as the structure inserted in the fixed position with respect to a holder in the state holding the optical fiber so that it may be arrange | positioned on the same plane as the surface (141) of the opposing one end side. [Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical connection member and an optical connector that are used when light from a light emitting element is condensed and incident on an optical fiber, or light emitted from the optical fiber is condensed on a light receiving element.

  The optical collimator included in the optical connecting member propagates the light emitted from the light source in the optical fiber and emits it in the air as necessary, or enters the light propagating in the air into the optical fiber. used. In such an optical collimator, it is necessary to position the end face of the optical fiber and the collimator lens with high accuracy in order to ensure the light propagation efficiency. Conventionally, there has been proposed an optical collimator that easily positions an optical fiber and a collimator lens while suppressing an increase in cost associated with manufacturing and processing (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In the optical collimator described in Patent Document 1, a cylindrical holding member, a collimator lens housed in a housing part formed at one end of the holding member, and an insertion hole formed at the other end of the holding member are inserted. And positioning the optical fiber by bringing the end face of the optical fiber and the collimator lens into contact with a depression formed in the vicinity of the holding portion of the holding member. Since the optical fiber and the collimator lens are positioned with reference to the depressed portion, it is possible to easily position the optical fiber and the collimator lens while suppressing an increase in cost.

JP 2011-227201 A

  By the way, as an optical fiber, a glass optical fiber (GOF: Glass Optical Fiber) and a plastic optical fiber (POF: Plastic Optical Fiber) are widely used. In general, GOF has a smaller core diameter and is less susceptible to bending than POF, but has low transmission loss and is suitable for long-distance high-speed transmission. Conversely, POF has a thicker core diameter and stronger bending than GOF, but has a large transmission loss and is not suitable for long-distance high-speed transmission. These optical fibers are properly used depending on the application.

  The outer diameter of the clad covering the core of a general GOF is set to 125 μm. In the optical collimator, it is required to position the end face of the small-diameter GOF and the collimator lens without requiring complicated work. In addition, the optical collimator is also required to suppress an increase in cost associated with manufacturing and processing.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an optical connection member and an optical connector that can easily position an end face of a small-diameter optical fiber and a lens while suppressing an increase in cost. The purpose is to provide.

  The optical connection member of the present invention is inserted through a holding member having a cylindrical shape, a lens housed in a housing part formed at one end of the holding member, and an insertion hole formed at the other end of the holding member, A fiber fixing member that holds one end of the optical fiber, and the fiber fixing member is arranged such that an end surface on the lens side of the optical fiber is flush with a surface on one end side facing the lens. As described above, the optical fiber is inserted into a predetermined position with respect to the holding member while being held.

  According to the optical connecting member, the fiber fixing member is inserted up to a certain position with respect to the holding member in a state where the lens-side end surface of the optical fiber is arranged on the same plane as the lens-side surface of the fiber fixing member. By simply inserting the fiber fixing member up to a predetermined position, the optical fiber and the lens can be positioned without having a special configuration. For this reason, it becomes possible to easily position the end face of the small-diameter optical fiber and the lens while suppressing an increase in cost as compared with the case where a configuration for positioning is provided by cutting or the like.

  For example, in the optical connection member, the fiber fixing member is positioned such that a surface on the other end side opposite to the surface on the one end side is arranged on the same plane as the end surface on the insertion hole side of the holding member. Until it is inserted into the holding member. According to this configuration, the surface of the fiber fixing member opposite to the lens side surface is arranged on the same plane as the end surface of the holding member on the insertion hole side, so that the fiber fixing can be performed without protruding from the holding member. Since a member can be accommodated, it becomes possible to make the dimension of the whole optical connection member compact.

  In the optical connecting member, the fiber fixing member has an end on the opposite side to the surface on the one end side held by a jig, and a part of the jig is an end surface on the insertion hole side of the holding member. It is good also as a structure inserted in the said holding member to the position contact | abutted with. According to this configuration, since the fiber fixing member is inserted to a position where a part of the jig holding the fiber fixing member comes into contact with the end surface on the insertion hole side of the holding member, the fiber fixing member has a special configuration. Since the fiber fixing member can be inserted into the holding member to a desired position without any problem, the optical fiber and the lens held by the fiber fixing member can be positioned easily and reliably.

  Further, in the optical connection member, the fiber fixing member is provided with a flange portion at an end portion on the opposite side to the surface on the one end side, and the flange portion abuts on an end surface on the insertion hole side of the holding member. It is good also as a structure inserted in the said holding member to a position. According to this configuration, the fiber fixing member is inserted to a position where the flange portion provided at the end of the fiber fixing member on the side opposite to the lens side comes into contact with the end surface of the holding member on the insertion hole side. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the fiber fixing member from entering the holding member too much, and it is possible to easily and reliably position the optical fiber and the lens held by the fiber fixing member.

  For example, in the optical connection member, the optical fiber is a glass optical fiber, and the fiber fixing member holds at least a core and a clad of the glass optical fiber. In this case, since the core and the clad sensitive to impact are held by the fiber fixing member, the glass optical fiber can prevent the core and the clad from being damaged during the positioning operation.

  An optical connector according to the present invention includes any one of the above optical connection members. According to the optical connector of the present invention, the effect obtained by the above-described optical connection member can be enjoyed by the optical connector.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to easily position an end face of a small-diameter optical fiber and a lens while suppressing an increase in cost.

It is explanatory drawing of the optical collimator which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the assembly process of the optical collimator which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the optical collimator which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the assembly process of the optical collimator which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the optical collimator which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the assembly process of the optical collimator which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the optical collimator which concerns on the modification of this Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, a plurality of embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, about the optical connection member which concerns on this invention, it is not limited to embodiment shown below, It can implement in various deformation | transformation within the range of the meaning of the invention. In the following, an optical collimator will be used as an example of the optical connection member according to the present invention. However, the application target of the optical connection member according to the present invention is not limited to the optical collimator, and can be appropriately changed.

  An optical collimator according to the present invention includes a general plastic optical fiber (hereinafter referred to as “POF: Plastic Optical Fiber”) and a glass optical fiber (hereinafter referred to as “GOF: Glass Optical”) having a relatively smaller diameter than POF. It is configured so that it can be selectively held. In the optical collimator according to the present invention, the GOF is held via a fiber fixing member 14 described later. The GOF includes a hard plastic clad fiber (H-PCF) that uses quartz glass for the core 13a described later and plastic for the clad 13b. On the other hand, in the optical collimator according to the present invention, the POF is held via a fiber fixing member 16 described later (see FIG. 7).

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an optical collimator 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a case where a GOF is held in the optical collimator 10 as an example of a small-diameter optical fiber. Moreover, in the optical collimator 10 shown in FIG. 1, the cross section which passes along the center of GOF is shown typically. The same applies to FIGS. 2 to 6 described below.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the optical collimator 10 according to the first embodiment includes a holder 11 as a holding member having a cylindrical shape, and one end of the holder 11 (the left side end shown in FIG. 1). A collimator lens 12 as a lens to be held, and a fiber fixing member that is inserted from an insertion hole 11a provided in the other end portion (right side end portion shown in FIG. 1) of the holder 11 and holds a part of the GOF 13 ( In the following, it is simply referred to as a “fixing member” 14.

  The holder 11 is made of a metal material such as nickel or stainless steel, for example. The holder 11 has a generally cylindrical shape, but the shape is not limited to the cylindrical shape, and can be changed to an arbitrary cylindrical shape such as a square cylindrical shape. As shown in FIG. 1, an opening 11b is provided at the end of the holder 11 on the collimator lens 12 side. A housing portion 11c for housing the collimator lens 12 is provided inside the opening portion 11b. The accommodating portion 11c is provided with a size slightly smaller than the diameter of the collimator lens 12, and is configured such that the collimator lens 12 can be press-fitted.

  In order to prevent damage to the surface of the collimator lens 12, the accommodating portion 11c is provided with a size that allows the entire collimator lens 12 to be accommodated therein. In addition, a through hole 11 d having a diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the fixing member 14 is provided inside the holder 11. The through hole 11d communicates with the insertion hole 11a and is also communicated with the accommodating portion 11c.

  The collimator lens 12 is formed of, for example, a glass material and is configured by a ball lens having a spherical shape. In the present embodiment, the case where the collimator lens 12 is provided as a lens is described. However, the configuration of the lens is not limited to the collimator lens 12, and a lens that does not have a collimating function may be used. Good. Further, the shape of the lens may be a shape other than the ball lens (for example, an aspheric lens).

  The fixing member 14 is made of, for example, a resin material, a metal material such as nickel alloy or stainless steel, or a ceramic material such as zirconia. In particular, from the viewpoint of processing accuracy and manufacturing cost, the fixing member 14 is preferably formed of a metal material. As shown in FIG. 1, the fixing member 14 has a generally cylindrical shape. The outer diameter of the fixing member 14 is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the through hole 11 d of the holder 11. The fixing member 14 is configured to be press-fit from the insertion hole 11a of the holder 11 into the through hole 11d.

  The fixing member 14 has a front end surface 141 and a rear end surface 142 that are parallel to a plane perpendicular to the insertion direction on the front side and the rear side in the insertion direction with respect to the holder 11. The dimension from the front end surface 141 to the rear end surface 142 is configured to be shorter than the through hole 11 d of the holder 11. Therefore, the fixing member 14 is inserted into a position where the rear end surface 142 is disposed on the same plane as the end surface of the holder 11 on the insertion hole 11a side, as will be described later. Is housed in.

  A through hole 143 that penetrates from the front end surface 141 to the rear end surface 142 is formed at the center of the fixing member 14. The through hole 143 is provided with a diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the cladding 13b of the GOF 13 described later. A recess 144 is formed in the center of the fixing member 14 on the rear end face 142 side. The recess 144 is disposed around the through-hole 143 and has a dimension capable of accommodating one end portion (front end portion, left end portion shown in FIG. 1) of the UV curable resin 13c of the GOF 13 described later.

  The GOF 13 includes a core 13a provided through the center thereof, a clad 13b that covers the core 13a, and an ultraviolet curable resin layer 13c that covers the clad 13b. The core 13a is made of, for example, quartz glass and has an outer diameter of 50 or 62.5 μm. The clad 13b has an outer diameter of 125 μm with the core 13a covered. The ultraviolet curable resin layer 13c has an outer diameter of 250 μm when coated on the clad 13b. By coating the ultraviolet curable resin 13c, the core 13a and the clad 13b are configured to be resistant to bending. The periphery of the ultraviolet curable resin 13c may be covered with a reinforcing layer made of an acrylic resin.

  In the GOF 13, the ultraviolet curable resin layer 13 c is removed, and the core 13 a and the clad 13 b are inserted into the through holes 143 of the fixing member 14. Moreover, as for GOF13, a part of ultraviolet curing resin 13c is accommodated in the recessed part 144. FIG. By accommodating a part of the ultraviolet curable resin 13c covering the core 13a and the clad 13b in the recess 144, the core 13a and the clad 13b are not easily damaged.

  The GOF 13 is bonded and fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the through-hole 143 on the outer peripheral surfaces of the core 13a and the clad 13b, and is fixed to the inner wall surface of the recess 144 on the outer peripheral surface and end surface (front end surface) of the ultraviolet curable resin 13c. . An end face (end face on the collimator lens 12 side) 131 in the insertion direction of the fixing member 14 in the GOF 13 (core 13a and clad 13b) is disposed on the same plane as the front end face 141 of the fixing member 14. In other words, the fixing member 14 holds the GOF 13 so that the end surfaces 131 of the core 13a and the clad 13b are arranged on the same plane as the front end surface 141.

  Hereinafter, a method for assembling the optical collimator 10 having such a configuration will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an assembly process of the optical collimator 10 according to the first embodiment. In the preparatory stage of the assembly work of the optical collimator 10, the collimator lens 12 is accommodated in the accommodating portion 11 c of the holder 11, and the GOF 13 is bonded and fixed to the fixing member 14.

  First, as shown in FIG. 2A, one end portion (the end portion on the front end surface 141 side) of the fixing member 14 is inserted into the insertion hole 11a of the holder 11 in which the collimator lens 12 is held. The inserting operation of the fixing member 14 with respect to the holder 11 can be performed by an assembly robot, but is not limited thereto. For example, the operator may insert the fixing member 14 into the holder 11 by hand.

  The jig J1 is attached to a part of the GOF 13 extending from the rear end surface 142 of the fixing member 14. For example, the jig J1 is configured to be split into two in the vertical direction shown in FIG. 2A. The jig J1 has a plane J11 parallel to at least the rear end surface 142 of the fixing member 14, and a through hole J12 that can penetrate the GOF 13 (more specifically, the ultraviolet curable resin 13c) is formed in the center thereof.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 2B, the jig J <b> 1 is moved to the fixing member 14 side and brought into contact with the rear end surface 142 of the fixing member 14. As a result, the plane J11 of the jig J1 comes into contact with the rear end surface 142 of the fixing member 14. In this state, the jig J1 is pushed into the holder 11 side as shown in FIG. At this time, the jig J1 is pushed in until the plane J11 comes into contact with the end surface of the holder 11 on the insertion hole 11a side.

  When the fixing member 14 is pushed to a position where the plane J11 contacts the end face on the insertion hole 11 side, the fixing member 14 is not pushed any further. At this time, the fixing member 14 is inserted into the holder 11 to a position where the rear end surface 142 is disposed on the same plane as the end surface of the holder 11 on the insertion hole 11a side. Then, the end surface 131 of the GOF 13 held by the fixing member 14 is in a state positioned at a desired position in relation to the collimator lens 12.

  As described above, according to the optical collimator 10 according to the first embodiment, the end surface 131 of the GOF 13 on the collimator lens 12 side is arranged on the same plane as the front end surface 141 of the fixing member 14 on the collimator lens 12 side. Thus, the fixing member 14 is inserted to a certain position with respect to the holder 11. Thereby, the GOF 13 and the collimator lens 12 can be positioned without having a special configuration by only inserting the fixing member 14 to a predetermined position. For this reason, it becomes possible to easily position the end face 131 of the small-diameter GOF 13 and the collimator lens 12 while suppressing an increase in cost as compared with the case where a configuration for positioning is provided by cutting or the like.

  In particular, in the optical collimator 10, the fixing member 14 is inserted into the holder 11 until the rear end surface 142 is disposed on the same plane as the end surface of the holder 11 on the insertion hole 11 a side. Thereby, since the rear end surface 142 of the fixing member 14 is arranged on the same plane as the end surface of the holder 11 on the insertion hole 11a side, the fixing member 14 can be accommodated without protruding from the holder 11. The overall size of the optical collimator 10 can be reduced.

  Further, in the optical collimator 10, the fixing member 14 holds the core 13a and the clad 13b that the GOF 13 has. As described above, since the core 13a and the clad 13b that are sensitive to impact are held by the fixing member 14, it is possible to prevent the core 13a and the clad 13b from being damaged during the positioning operation.

(Second Embodiment)
The optical collimator according to the second embodiment is different from the optical collimator 10 according to the first embodiment in that the length of the fixing member 14 inserted into the holder 11 is configured to be long. Hereinafter, the optical collimator according to the second embodiment will be described focusing on differences from the optical collimator 10 according to the first embodiment.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the optical collimator 20 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 3, the same reference numerals are given to the same components as those of the optical collimator 10 (FIG. 1) according to the first embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in the optical collimator 20, the end of the fixing member 14 on the rear end surface 142 side has a length that protrudes beyond the holder 11 in a state where the holder 11 is inserted to a predetermined position. This is different from the optical collimator 10 according to the first embodiment. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the portion of the fixing member 14 that protrudes from the holder 11 is referred to as a protruding portion 145.

  Hereinafter, a method for assembling the optical collimator 20 having such a configuration will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an assembly process of the optical collimator 20 according to the second embodiment. In the preparatory stage of the assembly work of the optical collimator 20, the collimator lens 12 is accommodated in the accommodating portion 11 c of the holder 11 and the GOF 13 is bonded and fixed to the fixing member 14, as in the first embodiment. .

  First, as shown in FIG. 4A, one end of the fixing member 14 (the end on the front end surface 141 side) is inserted into the insertion hole 11 a of the holder 11 that holds the collimator lens 12. The inserting operation of the fixing member 14 with respect to the holder 11 can be performed by an assembly robot, but is not limited thereto. For example, the operator may insert the fixing member 14 into the holder 11 by hand.

  The jig J2 is attached to a part of the GOF 13 extending from the rear end surface 142 of the fixing member 14. For example, the jig J2 is configured to be split into two in the vertical direction shown in FIG. 4A. The jig J2 includes at least a plane J21 parallel to the rear end surface 142 of the fixing member 14, and a gripping portion J22 that grips the protruding portion 145 of the fixing member 14, and a GOF 13 (more specifically, at the center of the plane J21). Is formed with a through hole J23 capable of penetrating the ultraviolet curable resin 13c).

  For example, the grip portion J22 has an arc-shaped inner peripheral surface that can grip the outer peripheral surface of the protruding portion 145. It is preferable as an embodiment to include a mechanism (for example, a chuck mechanism) that presses the gripping portion J22 toward the projecting portion 145 in order to ensure reliable gripping of the outer peripheral surface of the projecting portion 145. The gripping portion J22 is configured to have a size capable of gripping the entire protruding portion 145 in a state where the rear end surface 142 of the fixing member 14 is in contact with the plane J21.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 4B, the jig J2 is moved to the fixing member 14 side, the flat surface J21 is brought into contact with the rear end surface 142, and the entire protruding portion 145 of the fixing member 14 is held by the holding portion J22. Thereby, the plane J21 comes into contact with the rear end surface 142 of the fixing member 14, and the gripping portion J22 grips the protruding portion 145 of the fixing member 14. In this state where the protruding portion 145 of the fixing member 14 is gripped, the jig J2 is pushed into the holder 11 as shown in FIG. 4C. At this time, the jig J2 is pushed in until the tip end portion (front end portion, left end portion shown in FIG. 4) of the gripping portion J22 comes into contact with the end surface of the holder 11 on the insertion hole 11a side.

  When the distal end portion of the grip portion J22 is pushed to a position where it contacts the end face on the insertion hole 11 side, the fixing member 14 is not pushed further. At this time, the fixing member 14 is inserted into the holder 11 to a position where only the protruding portion 145 protrudes from the insertion hole 11 a of the holder 11. Then, the end surface 131 of the GOF 13 held by the fixing member 14 is in a state positioned at a desired position in relation to the collimator lens 12.

  As described above, in the optical collimator 20 according to the second embodiment, the fixing member 14 has the protruding portion 145 provided at the end portion on the rear end surface 142 side held by the holding portion J22 of the jig J2, and the jig J2. Since a part of (gripping part J22) is inserted into the holder 11 up to a position where it comes into contact with the end face of the holder 11 on the insertion hole 11a side, the fixing member 14 is not required to have a special configuration and is fixed to a desired position. Can be inserted into the holder 11, so that the GOF 13 and the collimator lens 12 held by the fixing member 14 can be positioned easily and reliably.

(Third embodiment)
The optical collimator according to the third embodiment is different from the optical collimator 10 according to the first embodiment in that a flange portion is provided on a part of the fixing member 14 inserted into the holder 11. Hereinafter, the optical collimator according to the third embodiment will be described focusing on differences from the optical collimator 10 according to the first embodiment.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an optical collimator 30 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 5, the same code | symbol is provided about the same structure as the optical collimator 10 (FIG. 1) which concerns on 1st Embodiment, and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in the optical collimator 30, the first is that a flange portion 146 is provided at an end portion (right side end portion shown in FIG. 5) opposite to the front end surface 141 of the fixing member 14. It is different from the optical collimator 10 according to the embodiment.

  The flange portion 146 has a generally flat plate shape, and extends in a direction orthogonal to the insertion direction of the fixing member 14 with respect to the holder 11. Moreover, the flange part 146 has a disk shape in front view (side view shown in FIG. 5). The outer peripheral edge portion of the flange portion 146 has a size larger than the outer diameter size of the holder 11. In a state where the fixing member 14 is inserted into the holder 11, the outer peripheral edge portion of the flange portion 146 protrudes outward from the end surface of the holder 11 on the insertion hole 11 a side.

  Hereinafter, a method for assembling the optical collimator 30 having such a configuration will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an assembly process of the optical collimator 30 according to the third embodiment. In the preparatory stage of the assembly work of the optical collimator 30, the collimator lens 12 is accommodated in the accommodating portion 11c of the holder 11 and the GOF 13 is bonded and fixed to the fixing member 14 as in the first embodiment. .

  First, as shown in FIG. 6A, one end portion (the end portion on the front end surface 141 side) of the fixing member 14 is inserted into the insertion hole 11a of the holder 11 in which the collimator lens 12 is held. The inserting operation of the fixing member 14 with respect to the holder 11 can be performed by an assembly robot, but is not limited thereto. For example, the operator may insert the fixing member 14 into the holder 11 by hand.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 6B, when the front surface portion 146a of the flange portion 146 is pushed to a position where it comes into contact with the end surface on the insertion hole 11a side, the fixing member 14 is not pushed any further. In other words, the flange portion 146 functions as a stopper for the fixing member 14. At this time, the fixing member 14 is inserted into the holder 11 until a portion other than the flange portion 146 is accommodated in the holder 11. Then, the end surface 131 of the GOF 13 held by the fixing member 14 is in a state positioned at a desired position in relation to the collimator lens 12.

  Thus, in the optical collimator 30 according to the third embodiment, the fixing member 14 is provided with the flange portion 146 at the end opposite to the front end surface 141, and the flange portion 146 is on the insertion hole 11 a side of the holder 11. Since it is inserted into the holder 11 to a position where it abuts against the end face, it is possible to prevent the fixing member 14 from entering too much into the holder 11 and to position the GOF 13 and the collimator lens 12 held on the fixing member 14 simply and reliably. It becomes possible to do.

  Further, in a state where the fixing member 14 is inserted into the holder 11, the outer peripheral edge portion of the flange portion 146 is configured to protrude outward from the end surface of the holder 11 on the insertion hole 11 a side. For this reason, the part which protrudes from the end surface of the holder 11 among the front surface parts 146a of the flange part 146 can be utilized for positioning with respect to the optical connector to which the optical collimator 30 is assembled. Thereby, the positioning operation | work with respect to an optical connector can also be simplified.

  As described above, in the optical collimators 10, 20, and 30 according to the above-described embodiments, the end surface 131 of the GOF 13 on the collimator lens 12 side is on the same plane as the front end surface 141 of the fixing member 14 on the collimator lens 12 side. Since the fixing member 14 is inserted up to a certain position with respect to the holder 11 in the arranged state, the GOF 13 and the collimator lens 12 can be positioned without having a special configuration simply by inserting the fixing member 14 to a predetermined position. Can do. For this reason, it becomes possible to easily position the end face 131 of the small-diameter GOF 13 and the collimator lens 12 while suppressing an increase in cost as compared with the case where a configuration for positioning is provided by cutting or the like.

  Moreover, the effect obtained by the said embodiment can be enjoyed with an optical connector by providing either of the optical collimators 10, 20, and 30 concerning the said embodiment in an optical connector. This makes it possible to provide an optical connector that can easily position the end face 131 of the small-diameter GOF 13 and the collimator lens 12 while suppressing an increase in cost.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, It can change and implement variously. In the above-described embodiment, the size, shape, and the like illustrated in the accompanying drawings are not limited to this, and can be appropriately changed within a range in which the effect of the present invention is exhibited. In addition, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the object of the present invention.

  For example, in the said embodiment, GOF is illustrated and demonstrated as an optical fiber hold | maintained with the holder 11 via the fixing member 14. FIG. However, the optical fiber held by the holder 11 via the fixing member 14 is not limited to the GOF and can be appropriately changed.

  For example, a POF having a larger outer diameter than the above-described GOF may be the holding target. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of an optical collimator 40 according to a modification of the present embodiment. FIG. 7 shows a case where the holder 11 holds a POF having a larger outer diameter than the GOF 13 described above. In FIG. 7, the same reference numerals are given to the same components as those of the optical collimator 10 (FIG. 1) according to the first embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the optical collimator 40 includes an optical collimator 10 according to the first embodiment in that it includes a fiber fixing member (fixing member) 16 that holds one end of a POF 15 having a larger outer diameter than the GOF 13. Is different. The fixing member 16 has the same outer diameter as that of the fixing member 14 according to the first embodiment, and is inserted from the insertion hole 11a of the holder 11 into the through hole 11d.

  Similarly to the fixing member 14, the fixing member 16 has a front end surface 161 and a rear end surface 162 parallel to a plane orthogonal to the insertion direction on the front side and the rear side in the insertion direction with respect to the holder 11. The dimension from the front end surface 161 to the rear end surface 162 is configured to be shorter than the through hole 11 d of the holder 11. For this reason, the fixing member 16 is inserted into a position where the rear end surface 162 is disposed on the same plane as the end surface of the holder 11 on the insertion hole 11a side, as will be described later. Is housed in.

  A through hole 163 that penetrates from the front end surface 161 to the rear end surface 162 is formed at the center of the fixing member 16. The through hole 163 has a larger inner diameter than the through hole 143 of the fixing member 14. The through-hole 163 is provided with a diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the covering member 15c of the POF 15 described later. The fixing member 16 is not formed with the concave portion 144 unlike the fixing member 14.

  The POF 15 includes a core 15a provided through the center thereof, a clad 15b covering the core 15a, and a covering member 15c covering the clad 15b. The covering member 15c is made of, for example, an acrylic resin and serves as a reinforcing layer that reinforces the core 15a and the clad 15b. The POF 15 is inserted into the through hole 163 of the fixing member 16 as it is without peeling off the covering member 15c.

  The POF 15 is bonded and fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 163 on the outer peripheral surface of the covering member 15c. An end face (end face on the collimator lens 12 side) 151 in the insertion direction of the fixing member 16 in the POF 15 (core 15 a, clad 15 b and covering member 15 c) is arranged on the same plane as the front end face 161 of the fixing member 16. . In other words, the fixing member 16 holds the POF 15 so that the end surfaces 151 of the core 15a, the clad 15b, and the covering member 15c are arranged on the same plane as the front end surface 161.

  The method of assembling the optical collimator 40 having such a configuration is the same as in the first embodiment. It is also possible to change the configuration of the fixing member 16 on the rear end face 162 side and apply the same assembling method as in the second embodiment or the third embodiment. Also in the optical collimator 40 according to the modified example, the end face 151 of the small-diameter POF 15 and the collimator lens 12 can be easily positioned while suppressing an increase in cost, as in the above embodiment.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, the case where the fixing member 14 is press-fit with respect to the through-hole 11d of the holder 11 is demonstrated. However, the fixing mode of the fixing member 14 with respect to the through hole 11d of the holder 11 is not limited to this and can be changed as appropriate. For example, the inner diameter dimension of the through hole 11d is configured to be larger than the outer diameter dimension of the fixing member 14, and the fixing member 14 is bonded and fixed to the inner wall surface of the through hole 11d, or a part of the holder 11 is pressed. It is good also as a structure which fixes the fixing member 14 by performing (caulking fixation).

10, 20, 30, 40 Optical collimator 11 Holder 11a Insertion hole 11b Opening part 11c Storage part 11d Through-hole 12 Collimator lens 13 Optical fiber (GOF)
13a Core 13b Clad 13c UV curable resin layer 131 End face 14, 16 Fiber fixing member (fixing member)
141, 161 Front end face 142, 162 Rear end face 143, 163 Through hole 144 Recess 145 Projection 146 Flange 15 Optical fiber (POF)
15a Core 15b Clad 15c Cover member 151 End face J1, J2 Jig

Claims (6)

A holding member having a cylindrical shape;
A lens housed in a housing portion formed at one end of the holding member;
A fiber fixing member inserted through an insertion hole formed at the other end of the holding member and holding one end of the optical fiber;
The fiber fixing member is in a fixed position with respect to the holding member in a state where the optical fiber is held so that an end surface on the lens side of the optical fiber is disposed on the same plane as a surface on the one end side facing the lens. An optical connecting member, wherein   The fiber fixing member is inserted into the holding member to a position where a surface on the other end opposite to the surface on the one end side is disposed on the same plane as the end surface on the insertion hole side of the holding member. The optical connection member according to claim 1.   The fiber fixing member has an end on the opposite side to the surface on the one end side held by a jig, and the holding member reaches a position where a part of the jig abuts on the end surface on the insertion hole side of the holding member. The optical connection member according to claim 1, wherein the optical connection member is inserted into the optical connection member.   The fiber fixing member is provided with a flange portion at an end opposite to the surface on the one end side, and is inserted into the holding member until the flange portion abuts on the end surface on the insertion hole side of the holding member. The optical connection member according to claim 1.   5. The optical fiber according to claim 1, wherein the optical fiber is a glass optical fiber, and the fiber fixing member holds at least a core and a clad of the glass optical fiber. Optical connection member.   An optical connector comprising the optical connection member according to claim 1.

Images