JPH0521044Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to an optical connector that can maintain a connection with a counterpart even when an external force is applied to an optical fiber used for connecting optical fibers.

Cheap and lightweight plastic optical fibers are being used in optical communication systems to replace conventional expensive glass optical fibers. Optical fibers are usually connected via optical connectors, but plastic optical fibers (hereinafter referred to as optical fibers) have thicker cores than glass optical fibers, which have thinner cores.
If the distance between the end face of the optical fiber to be connected and the optical element or the distance between the end faces of the optical fiber is equal to or less than a specified dimension determined from the characteristics of the core, the connection relationship with the other party can be maintained. However, even if the body parts of an optical connector are mechanically connected, an external force is applied to the optical fiber and the distance between the end face of the optical fiber incorporated in the body part and the optical element, or the distance between the end faces of the optical fiber is When the size exceeds a specified value, the connection with the other party is severed.

Therefore, the structure of the optical connector is to mechanically connect the body parts to each other, so that the optical fiber and the optical element built in the body part or the optical fibers are pressed together with an appropriate force, and the optical fiber is connected to the optical fiber. The structure must be such that even if an external force is applied, the spacing will not exceed a specified dimension.

[Conventional technology]

Figure 2 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional optical connector.
FIG. 2a is a perspective view showing the external appearance, FIG. 2b is a side sectional view before connection, and FIG. 2c is a side sectional view after connection.

In FIGS. 2a, b, and c, the optical connector includes a body part 1, an optical element 2, a receptacle consisting of a fixing member 3 that connects the optical element 2 to the body part 1, and a body part 4.
The body part 1 of the receptacle has a hole 7 on the front surface into which the body part 4 of the plug is inserted, and a plug consisting of an optical fiber 5 and a ferrule 6 into which the end of the optical fiber 5 is attached. Claw 8 provided on
A space 10 is provided adjacent to the hole 7 to accommodate the optical element 2 and the fixing member 3. Further, a sleeve 11 into which the ferrule 6 is inserted is provided on the wall interposed between the hole 7 and the space 10.

On the other hand, a hole 12 into which the end of the optical fiber 5 is inserted passes through the center of the ferrule 6, and a collar 13 is provided on the outer periphery, and a helical spring 14 is provided around the ferrule. Further, holes 15 for mounting the ferrules 6 pass through the body portion 4 of the plug, and the through holes 15 are arranged in sequence and open at the front surface of the body portion 4 to hold the ferrules 6 slidably in the axial direction. It is formed of a hole 15a, a hole 15b for housing the collar 13 of the ferrule, and a hole 15c whose diameter is smaller than the outer diameter of the helical spring 14 and larger than the outer diameter of the ferrule 6.

The ferrule 6 installed in the through hole 15 is always urged to be pushed out in the front direction of the body part 4 by the helical spring 14 that engages with the body part 4, and when the plug is attached to the receptacle, the receptacle is closed. The end face of the ferrule 6, that is, the end face of the optical fiber 5, is pressed into contact with the optical element 2 built in by the force of the helical spring 14.

[Problem that the invention attempts to solve]

However, if a force greater than the force of the helical spring pressing the optical fiber is applied to the optical fiber, the ferrule is pulled back, creating a gap larger than the specified size between the optical element and the end face of the optical fiber, and the receptacle Even if the body of the plug and the body of the plug are mechanically connected, there is a problem in that the connection with the other party is severed.

[Means for solving problems]

The above problems are caused by the ferrule 6 having a hole 12 in the center for attaching the end of the optical fiber 5 and a flange 13 in the middle of the outer periphery, a helical spring 14 provided around the ferrule 6, 6 and coiled spring 1
The body part 4 is fitted into the body part 1 of the receptacle and presses the optical element 2 in the body part 1 of the receptacle and the end of the optical fiber 5. The through-holes 16 are sequentially arranged on the inner surface thereof, and are opened at the front surface of the body portion 4 and hold the ferrule 6 slidably in the axial direction.
3, and a hole 16a formed behind the hole 16a, the diameter of which is larger than the outer diameter of the collar 13,
A hole 16b for storing the collar 13, a hole 16c formed to provide a step 16e behind the hole 16b and having a diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the collar 13 for housing the helical spring 14, and a hole 16c having a diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the collar 13. and a hole 16d opening in the rear surface of the body section 4, which is smaller than the outer diameter of the ferrule 6 and larger than the outer diameter of the ferrule 6.
When the ferrule 6 is pulled back by an external force applied to the flange 13 and the collar 13 moves inside the hole 16b, the step 16
The present invention is characterized in that e stops the collar 13 so that the distance between the optical element 2 and the end face of the optical fiber 5 does not exceed the distance that interrupts signal transmission between the optical element 2 and the optical fiber 5. This problem is solved by optical connectors.

[Effect]

By providing a hole for storing the helical spring whose diameter is smaller than the outer diameter of the tsuba adjacent to the hole for storing the flange, a force greater than the force of the helical spring is applied to the optical fiber and the ferrule is pulled back. Also, it is possible to prevent the flange from coming into contact with the wall around the hole that accommodates the helical spring, and from creating a gap larger than a specified size between the optical element and the end face of the optical fiber.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing an embodiment of the optical connector according to the present invention, in which FIG. 1a shows the state before connection, and FIG. 1b shows the state after connection. Note that the same objects as in FIG. 2 are represented by the same symbols.

The difference between the optical connector of the present invention and conventional optical connectors lies in the shape of the hole provided in the body of the plug into which the ferrule is attached. That is, as shown in the figure, the body part 4 has a through hole 16 for mounting a ferrule 6 and a helical spring 14, and the through holes 16 of the body part 4 have ferrules 6 which are opened at the front surface of the body part 4 and are sequentially arranged on the inner surface thereof. is slidably held in the axial direction,
Hole 16a, hole 16 whose diameter is smaller than the outer diameter of collar 13
A hole 16b is formed at the rear of the hole 16b, the diameter of which is larger than the outer diameter of the collar 13, and accommodates the collar 13. A helical spring 1 is formed to provide a step at the rear of the hole 16b.
4 is housed in a hole 1 whose diameter is smaller than the outer diameter of the collar 13.
6c, and a hole 16d opening at the rear surface of the body portion 4, the diameter of which is smaller than the outer diameter of the helical spring 14 and larger than the outer diameter of the ferrule 6;
A step 16e is formed between b and the hole 16c to prevent movement of the collar 13.

When such a plug is attached to a receptacle, the ferrule 6 is connected to the optical element 2 built into the receptacle.
The end face of the optical fiber 5 is pressed by the force of the helical spring 14. When a force greater than the force of the helical spring 14 pressing the optical fiber 5 is applied to the optical fiber 5, the ferrule 6 is pulled back and a gap is created between the optical element 2 and the end face of the optical fiber 5. However, the hole 16b that accommodates the tsuba 13 in between
The distance between the wall surface around the hole 16a and the wall surface around the hole 16c, which face each other with the ferrule 6 interposed therebetween, is
When the collar 13 is pulled back and the collar 13 comes into contact with the wall surface around the hole 16c, the gap between the optical element 2 and the end face of the optical fiber 5 does not exceed a specified dimension, and the optical fiber is Even if a force greater than the force of the helical spring that is in pressure contact with the optical fiber is applied to the optical fiber, it is possible to prevent a gap larger than a specified size from being created between the optical element and the end face of the optical fiber.

[Effect of idea]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an optical connector that can maintain the connection relationship with the other party even if an external force is applied to the optical fiber.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 1a shows the state before connection, Fig. 1b shows the state after connection, Fig. 2 shows an example of a conventional optical connector, Fig. 2a shows a perspective view showing the external appearance, and Fig. 2b shows the state after connection. Figure b is a side sectional view before connection, and Figure 2c is a side sectional view after connection. In the figure, 2 is an optical element, 4 is a body part, 5 is an optical fiber, and 6
is the ferrule, 13 is the tsuba, 14 is the coiled spring, 16
16a, 16b, 16c, and 16d represent through holes, and 16e represents a step, respectively.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] Hole 12 for attaching the end of optical fiber 5 to the center
a ferrule 6 having a collar 13 in the middle of its outer circumference; a helical spring 14 disposed around the ferrule 6; and a through hole 16 for mounting the ferrule 6 and the helical spring 14. Fitted into the body part 1 of the receptacle, the optical element 2 and the optical fiber 5 in the body part 1
The ferrule 6 is provided with a body part 4 that presses against the end of the body part 4, and through holes 16 are sequentially arranged on the inner surface of the body part 4 and open at the front surface of the body part 4 to hold the ferrule 6 slidably in the axial direction. a hole 16a having a diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the flange 13, and a hole 16a having a diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the flange 13,
A hole 16 that is larger than the outer diameter of 3 and accommodates the collar 13.
b, a hole 16c that is formed to provide a step 16e at the rear of the hole 16b and has a smaller diameter than the outer diameter of the collar 13 for housing the helical spring 14; It has a hole 16d that opens at the rear surface of the body portion 4 and is smaller than the outer diameter of the ferrule 6 and larger than the outer diameter of the ferrule 6. The step 16e restrains the flange 13 so that the distance between the optical element 2 and the end face of the optical fiber 5 does not exceed the distance that interrupts signal transmission between the optical element 2 and the optical fiber 5. Features of optical connectors.