WO2004113981A1 - Optical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

An optical connector that realizes reduction in the number of parts, subsequent reduction in part cost, and downsizing and simplicity in assembling work that are achieved by simplifying a connector structure. An optical connector (1) has a housing (10), a base member (20), and an elastic member (50). The base member (20) is received in the housing (10) and has an optical fiber-positioning portion (21) having one or more through-holes (22) and an optical fiber-holding member (31) having optical fiber-holding grooves (32) communicated with the through-holes (22). The elastic member (50) holds an optical fiber (5), which is led in along an optical fiber-holding groove (32), and the optical fiber-holding member (31) in a pressing manner so that the optical fiber (5) is held and fixed at the optical fiber-holding portion (31). Further, the elastic member (50) is received in the housing (10) so as to be integral with the base member (20) and urges the base member (20) in the longitudinal-axis direction of the optical fiber (5).

Description

 Specification

Optical Connector Technical Field

 The present invention relates to an optical connector, and more particularly, to an optical connector that has a small number of parts and is small and easy to assemble. Background art

 In the field of optical communication, optical fibers are used in optical transmission systems, and optical connectors are used to connect terminals of various optical communication devices and optical fibers extending from the optical communication devices.

 This optical connector has a function of holding the optical fiber in the connector and a function of pressing the optical fiber (along with the member holding the optical fiber) in the long axis direction (contact direction) of the optical fiber. ) Is required. The function of holding the optical fiber is necessary for accurately positioning the end face of the optical fiber. In addition, the function of pressing the optical fiber in a predetermined direction is to remove air present at the connection boundary when positioning the optical fiber end faces or to connect the optical fibers, thereby bringing the cores of the optical fibers into physical contact with each other. This is necessary to reduce the reflection loss due to the air present at the connection interface, that is, to realize a so-called physical contact.

Conventionally, there has been known a technique of fixing an optical fiber by simultaneously tightening a chuck-like elastic member using a coil spring and simultaneously generating a pressing force in an axial direction of the optical fiber. For example, a housing; a hollow body holding member disposed inside the housing; and a tape having an optical fiber holding groove or an optical fiber holding hole, the outer circumference of which decreases along the optical axis direction of the optical fiber from the tip. An optical fiber holding member comprising: a front portion provided with an outer surface on one outer surface; and a tubular rear portion provided with an optical fiber through-hole, which is disposed inside the hollow body holding member; and is fitted into the optical fiber holding member. The front portion is disposed in sliding contact with the tapered surface. An annular member for tightening the front portion; an annular member disposed inside the hollow body holding member, adjacent to the annular member, and biasing the hollow member from the hollow body holding member toward the annular member; And an elastic member which presses and tightens the front part through the optical connector (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-249251).

 The optical connector has a high positioning accuracy for the end face of the optical fiber, and is very useful as an optical connector that requires a high positioning accuracy, such as a quartz optical fiber. However, in order to realize high positioning accuracy of the end face of the optical fiber, the optical connector includes a member having a function of holding the optical fiber and a member having a function of pressing the optical fiber as separate bodies. However, there are disadvantages in that the number of parts is large, the cost of parts is high, and the workability of assembling the optical connector is poor. In addition, the optical connector may not be able to sufficiently satisfy the simplification of the structure required for recent optical connectors.

 As the optical connector, in addition to the optical connector, for example, a base and an optical fiber placed on the surface of the base are disposed above the optical fiber, and are bent along the length direction of the optical fiber; A plate-like elastic member including an extension portion capable of contacting the surface, and a separation portion connected to the extension portion and separated from the base; and contacting the separation portion of the plate-like elastic member above the optical fiber. And a pressing member that can be fixed to the base, wherein the pressing member comes into contact with the separated portion of the plate-shaped elastic member, so that the extending portion of the plate-shaped elastic member is connected to the optical fiber. There is an optical fiber holding device capable of applying an elastic force to the optical fiber when it comes into contact with the optical fiber (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-321466).

The optical connector holds the optical fiber by pressing a plate-like elastic member from above the optical fiber, but does not have the function of pressing the optical fiber in the major axis direction. Therefore, stable connection (low connection loss) cannot be realized, and in order to achieve this, in addition to the optical connector, a member that exerts the above-mentioned pressing function, for example, a coil panel or the like is required. More points There is a disadvantage that the cost of parts is high.

 Further, since the optical connector holds the fiber by utilizing the fact that the extending portion of the elastic member is bent by contacting the pressing member, there are many gaps in the connector and the connector itself is relatively difficult. They cannot be sufficiently satisfied with the recent demand for miniaturization of optical connectors. Disclosure of the invention

 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical connector which solves the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art and realizes a reduction in the number of parts of the optical connector, a reduction in the cost of the parts involved, a reduction in size by simplifying the structure, and an easy assembling operation. It is to be.

 In order to achieve the above object, the present inventors have made intensive studies and found that a member for fixing the optical fiber and a member for urging the optical fiber in its longitudinal direction (the direction of the connection end face, the direction of arrow a in FIG. 1). Have been found to be a single member.

 That is, the present invention includes: a housing; an optical fiber positioning portion having one or a plurality of through holes; and an optical fiber holding groove communicating with the through hole (formed thinner than the optical fiber positioning portion). A base material accommodated in the housing, comprising: an optical fiber holding portion; an optical fiber introduced along the optical fiber holding groove; and the optical fiber holding and holding the optical fiber holding portion. An elastic member that holds and fixes the fiber to the optical fiber holding portion, is housed in the housing integrally with the base material, and biases the base material in the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber. I do. The optical connector of the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it has the above configuration.

Here, the shape and the like of the elastic member are not particularly limited as long as it has the function of holding and fixing the optical fiber and the function of pressing the base material in a predetermined direction. For example, as a structure that exhibits the function of holding and fixing, there is a clip structure or the like that holds the optical fiber and the optical fiber holding portion from their longitudinal direction or a direction perpendicular to the direction. In addition, a material and a structure that exhibit the pressing function described above. Examples of the structure include an elastic body such as rubber, a structure including these elastic bodies, and a structure in which a plate-like body or the like is formed into a bellows shape or the like.

 By the holding and fixing function, the optical fiber can be fixed at a desired position, the connection loss due to the displacement can be suppressed, and the contact between the optical fibers can be reliably maintained by the pressing function. The connection loss due to air entering the interface can be suppressed. By simultaneously exerting both functions, the number of parts of the optical connector can be reduced, the structure can be simplified, the size of the optical connector can be reduced, and the work of assembling the optical connector can be simplified.

 In the optical connector of the present invention, the elastic member having the two functions described above is formed by bending a plate-like body so as to be elastically deformable. A holding portion having a connecting portion for connecting the holding portions; and a biasing portion provided on the connecting portion and elastically deformed when housed in the housing. This is preferable because the manufacturing cost of the member can be further reduced and the optical connector can be further reduced in size.

 In the clamping portion, the connecting portion functions as a hinge of the pair of clamping portions at both ends (ends of the clamping portion), and the pair of clamping portions are elastically deformed to have a desired clamping pressure holding force. The other configuration is not particularly limited as long as it has a desired curvature. The urging portion may be any material or structure that generates an urging force by being elastically deformed. For example, a substantially central portion in a longitudinal direction of each of a pair of plate-like members provided opposite to both side portions of the connecting portion is provided. A structure in which the portion is bent inward so as to narrow toward the distal end direction of these plate-like members, a structure in which each of the pair of plate-like members is formed in a bellows shape, and the like.

 The base material is pressed in a predetermined direction because the biasing portion of the elastic member is housed in the housing such that the biasing portion contacts the rear side surface of the housing and is elastically deformed. A repulsive force (pressing force) is generated in the direction, and the repulsive force is generated by pressing the base material united by the elastic member in a predetermined direction.

In the optical connector according to the present invention, the housing has one end open and one end connected to the other end. Or a housing having a plurality of optical fiber through-holes and an engaging portion at a predetermined position inside the hollow; the optical fiber positioning portion engaging with the engaging portion of the housing. It is preferred to have With this configuration, each member can be easily stored in the housing, and the assembling efficiency is excellent. The engaging portion is provided at a position where it can be pressed against the base material, and is preferably, for example, a combination of an engaging pin and an engaging concave portion, or a combination of a convex protrusion and a step portion.

 The optical connector according to the present invention has the above-described configuration, and further includes a pressing member between the optical fiber and the holding portion of the elastic member, so that the contact area between the optical fiber and the pressing member is large. This is preferable in that the optical fiber can be more firmly held and fixed. In addition, by adopting the above configuration, the variation in the holding force can be adjusted, and the local bending radius of the optical fiber in the holding section increases due to the increase in the contact area, so that the light in the holding section can be reduced. Attenuation can also be reduced.

 The cross-sectional shape of the optical fiber holding groove of the base material may be rectangular, semi-circular, elliptical, U-shaped, or V-shaped, but the V-shaped has a large number of contact with the optical fiber. It is preferable because the stability is increased and the fiber can be securely held by the pressure.

 The optical fiber may be made of quartz, plastic, or the like, but is preferably made of plastic having high elasticity in that the damage due to the holding of the pressure can be prevented. Further, the optical cable to which the optical connector of the present invention is mounted preferably has a plurality of optical fibers, and more preferably has two optical fibers.

 The difference between the coefficient of thermal expansion of the resin constituting the base material and the coefficient of thermal expansion of the resin constituting the optical fiber is 10% or less. In addition, it is preferable in that the displacement of the optical fiber positioning portion can be prevented and the connection loss can be suppressed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective perspective view schematically showing an assembled optical connector showing an embodiment of the first aspect of the optical connector of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line AA ′ of FIG.

 FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically showing an elastic member used in the first embodiment of the optical connector of the present invention.

 FIG. 4 is a perspective view schematically showing a base material used in the embodiment of the first aspect of the optical connector of the present invention.

 FIG. 5 is a sectional view schematically showing a housing used in an embodiment of the second aspect of the optical connector of the present invention.

 FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the assembled optical connector, taken along the line AA ′ in FIG. 1, showing an embodiment of the third aspect of the optical connector of the present invention.

 FIG. 7 is a perspective view schematically showing a base material used in an embodiment of the fourth aspect of the optical connector of the present invention.

(Explanation of code)

 1: Optical connector, 5: Optical fiber, 10: Housing,

 20: base material, 21: optical fiber positioning part, 22: through hole,

 31: Optical fiber holding part, 32: Optical fiber holding groove,

 50: Elastic member, 51: Nipping holding part, 52: Nipping part, 56 connecting part,

57: optical fiber insertion hole, 60: biasing part. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

 Hereinafter, the optical connector of the present invention will be described in detail based on preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited to these preferred embodiments. The optical connector 1 according to the embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention includes a housing 10, a base material 20, and a flexible member 50. Hereinafter, description will be made with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a perspective perspective view schematically showing an assembled optical connector showing an embodiment of the first aspect of the optical connector of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line Α_Α ′ of FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an elastic member used in an embodiment of the first aspect of the optical connector of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view schematically showing a base material used in the embodiment of the first aspect of the optical connector of the present invention. 1 to 4, 1 is an optical connector, 5 is an optical fiber, 10 is a housing, 11 is a rear side surface, 12 is an optical fiber insertion hole, 13 is an engagement ridge, 20 is a base material, 2 1 is an optical fiber positioning section, 2 2 is a through hole, 2 3 is an engagement step section, 2 4 is an end face, 2 5 is a rear end face of an optical fiber positioning section, 3 1 is an optical fiber holding section, 3 2 is an optical fiber Holding groove, 33 is a guide surface, 35 is a rear end face of an optical fiber holding section, 50 is an elastic member, 51 is a clamping holding section, 52 is a holding section, 53 is a ridge, and 54 is a tip. Reference numeral 55 denotes an end portion, 56 denotes a connecting portion, 57 denotes an optical fiber insertion hole, 58 denotes a side portion, 60 denotes a biasing portion, and 61 denotes a tip.

 The elastic member 50 clamps and holds the optical fiber 5 and the optical fiber holding portion 31 introduced along the optical fiber holding groove 32 to hold and fix the optical fiber 5 to the optical fiber holding portion 31. It has a function and a function of pressing the substrate 20 in the major axis direction of the optical fiber 5 when housed in the housing 10.

 In the embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention, a pair of holding portions 52 and an optical fiber through hole formed by bending a plate-like body so as to be elastically deformable are used as the elastic members exhibiting both functions. A holding portion 51 having a connecting portion 56 for connecting the pair of holding portions 52 and 57 is provided on both side portions 58 of the connecting portion 56 and housed in the housing 10. An elastic member 50 having a clip structure including an urging portion 60 that is elastically deformed when pressed.

 The pair of holding portions 52 forming the holding portion 51 of the elastic member 50 hold the optical fiber holding portion 31 and the optical fiber 5, so that the holding portions 52 are connected to each other. The plate-like body is bent so as to be elastically deformable so as to gradually approach each other from the end portion 55 on the side 56 to the tip end 54, and is formed in a state inclined with respect to the connecting portion 56. When the pair of holding portions 52 gradually approaching each other (elastically deformed) and expand, a predetermined holding force is generated in the holding portion 51, and the optical fiber is moved by the holding portion 51. 5 and the optical fiber holding section 31 are held by the clamping pressure.

The pair of holding portions 52 can be connected to the optical fiber 5 even when a plurality of optical fibers 5 exist. In order to uniformly contact and maintain the pressure holding force on the optical fiber 5 and avoid concentration of the pressure holding force on the specific optical fiber 5, the holding portion 52 is bent at a predetermined position in a direction away from each other, and the light is bent. A protruding ridge (bent portion) 53 is formed which extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the long axis direction of the fiber and has a substantially arc-shaped distal end surface.

 Note that, in the optical connector of the present invention, instead of the bent ridge 53, the ridge may be formed by bending the holding portions in a direction approaching each other at a predetermined position. The above-mentioned ridge may be formed only on one of the holding portions that come into contact with the fiber and hold the optical fiber under pressure. Further, the holding portion 52 may be elastically deformed without forming the ridge, and a part or the whole of the inner surface thereof may be in contact with the optical fiber 5 or the optical fiber holding portion 31.

 In consideration of the workability when press-fitting the elastic member 50 into the optical fiber holding part 31, the holding parts 52 are respectively directed from the vicinity of the tip end of the ridge 53 to the tip 54 of the holding part 52. It is also preferable that they are formed so as to be gradually separated.

 The connecting portion 56 forming the holding portion 51 of the elastic member 50 is formed with a desired curvature so that a desired holding force can be obtained by the elastic deformation of the holding portion 52. The length of the connecting portion 56 in the height direction is set longer than the thickness of the optical fiber holding portion 31.

 In the connecting portion 56, the same number of optical fiber holding holes 32 as the number of the holding grooves 32 are formed at positions corresponding to the optical fiber holding grooves 32, through which the optical fibers 5 pass. As a result, the elastic member 50 can be pressed into the optical fiber 5 from behind the optical fiber holding portion 31 in the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber 5 to sandwich the optical fiber 5 and the optical fiber holding portion 31. The structure can be simplified, and the assembling work of the optical connector 1 becomes easy.

 The number of the optical fiber through holes 57 may be equal to or different from the number of the optical fibers, and the diameter of the optical fiber through holes 57 is increased and provided as an opening. A structure that allows a plurality of optical fibers to pass through may be adopted.

In the embodiment of the first aspect, when the elastic member 50 is pressed into the substrate 20, The holding portion 51 has a front end 54 of the holding portion 52 in contact with the rear end surface 25 of the optical fiber positioning portion, and the base member 20 and the elastic member 50 are more firmly integrated. The pressing force in the long axis direction can be transmitted to the base material 20 more effectively.

 In the optical connector of the present invention, if the holding force of the elastic member 50 is sufficiently strong, the contact need not be provided. However, it is preferable that the contact is performed to obtain the above effect. Instead of the structure in which the front end 54 and the rear end surface 25 of the optical fiber positioning portion are in contact with each other, a structure in which the inner surface of the connection portion 56 and the rear end surface 35 of the optical fiber holding portion may be provided may be used. May be provided together.

 The urging portions 60 of the elastic member 50 are provided as a pair of plate-like members on both side portions 58 of the connecting portion 56, and a substantially central portion in the longitudinal direction of each of the urging portions 60 is formed at the tip of these plate-like members. It is formed to be bent inward so as to narrow toward the direction. As a result, a uniform biasing force is obtained, the biasing portion can be easily formed, and the cost of parts can be reduced. The urging portion 60 may be provided at any position of the connecting portion 56. The number of the urging portion 60 is not particularly limited as long as the shape thereof can be elastically deformed and urged. Not done.

 When the length of the urging portion 60 is stored in a housing 10 described later, the tip 61 of the urging portion 60 abuts on the inner surface of the rear side surface 11 of the housing, and The length is set to such a length that the bias portion 60 is elastically deformed.

 The holding force for holding the optical fiber 5 and the optical fiber holding portion 31 in the elastic member 50 is set to a pressure that can hold and fix the optical fiber 5 and does not damage the optical fiber 5.

 The substrate 20 has an optical fiber positioning portion 21 and a substantially flat optical fiber holding portion 31 formed thinner than the optical fiber positioning portion 21. The thickness of the optical fiber holding portion 31 is adjusted such that the position of the guide surface 33 is substantially at the center of the through hole 22 formed in the optical fiber positioning portion 21.

The optical fiber positioning portion 21 of the base material 20 has two or more through holes 22 provided at desired positions into which the optical fiber 5 is inserted, according to the optical fiber 5. . The through hole 22 is formed so that the inner diameter is gradually reduced toward the end face 24 of the optical fiber positioning portion 21 so that the inner face of the end face 24 has substantially the same inner diameter as the diameter of the optical fiber 5. The positional deviation of the optical fiber 5 on the end face 24 of the part 21 is prevented. The cross-sectional shape of the through-hole 22 is not particularly limited, but is preferably circular near the end face 24 in that the positional deviation of the optical fiber 5 can be prevented.

 At a desired position of the optical fiber positioning portion 21, an engagement step portion 2 3 which engages with an engagement ridge 13 of the housing 10 described later and regulates extreme movement of the base material 20 in the longitudinal direction is provided. Is formed thick. The engaging step 23 is chamfered for ease of assembly.

 The optical fiber holding portion 31 of the base material 20 has a flat upper surface (guide surface 33) and a flat lower surface to reliably receive the holding force of the holding member 52 of the elastic member 50. The cross-sectional shape is rectangular.

 The optical fiber holding portion 31 has an optical fiber holding groove 3 2 communicating with the through hole 22 on the guide surface 3 3 (sliding surface on which the holding portion 52 slides) of the holding portion 3 1. Is formed. The cross-sectional shape of the optical fiber holding groove 32 is formed in a V-shape, and the depth thereof matches the through hole 22. With this configuration, the optical fiber holding groove 32 guides the insertion of the optical fiber 5 into the through hole 22 at the time of assembling the optical connector, and prevents the guided optical fiber 5 from being displaced. . In particular, when the cross-sectional shape is V-shaped, the optical fin 5 can be clamped at three points between the groove and the clamping portion 52, so that the stability of holding the clamping pressure increases.

 The housing 10 is a housing having an open end at one end and one or more optical fiber through holes at the other end, and having a hollow space in which the base 20 and the elastic member 50 can be stored. Engages with the engaging step portion 23 of the optical fiber positioning portion 21 of the base body 20 at a predetermined position so as to be elastically deformed and can be housed. Three are provided. An optical fiber through hole 12 is formed in the rear side surface 11 of the housing 10 in accordance with the optical fiber 5.

In the embodiment of the first aspect, the housing 10 and the optical fiber positioning portion 21 are Although their cross-sectional shapes are rectangular, they are not particularly limited to this shape, and may be semicircular, circular, oval, or the like.

 The housing 10 and the substrate 20 are preferably formed of a resin material, for example, an acrylic resin, a methacrylic resin, a polycarbonate resin, a PBT resin, or the like. By using a resin material, for example, it has the same compression characteristics as a plastic fiber or the like, and can prevent the optical fiber 5 from being damaged or dented.

 The elastic member 50 may also be formed of resin or the like. If a strong clamping force is required, the elastic member 50 is formed by bending a single plate-like body (for example, a steel plate, a metal plate, or the like). May be.

 In the optical connector 1 of the present invention, the elastic member 50 clamps and holds the optical fiber 5 and the optical fiber holding part 31 with the holding part 52, and the rear part of the base material 20 (the optical fiber holding part 3). The elastic member 50 is disposed so as to surround the base member 1 and the elastic member 50 is integrated. Then, the urging portion 60 of the elastic member 50 is housed in the housing 10 so as to abut against (the inner surface of) the rear side surface 11 of the housing 10 and is elastically deformed. A repulsive force in a predetermined direction is generated at 0, and the integrated base material 20 is pressed by the elastic member 50 in a predetermined direction. As a result, a pressing force in the optical fiber long axis direction is generated in the optical connector 1, and when the optical connectors are connected to each other in opposition to the pressing force, the connection surfaces are elastically and firmly abutted, and connection loss can be suppressed.

 FIG. 5 is a sectional view schematically showing a housing used in an embodiment of the second aspect of the optical connector of the present invention. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 14 denotes a front portion of the housing, 15 denotes a rear portion of the housing, and the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 1 to 4 denote the same members.

The embodiment of the second aspect is the same as the embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention in including a housing 10, a base material 20, and an elastic member 50, but the housing 10 has an opening at one end. At the other end (rear side surface), there are a housing rear part 15 having one or more optical fiber through holes and a hollow inside, and a housing front part 14 which is open at both ends and engages with the housing rear part. It differs in that it has a split structure. With such a configuration, the assembling work of the optical connector 1 may be facilitated. The housing 10 has a divided structure of the front part 14 and the rear part 15 of the housing. The housing 10 has an opening at one end and a hollow interior, and one or more optical fibers at one end and at the other end. It is also possible to have a divided structure of an upper part and a lower part, which comprises a housing lower part having a through hole and a hollow inside.

 The housing 10 has engagement portions with which the housing front portion 14 and the housing rear portion 15 are engaged. The housings according to the second aspect are integrally engaged with each other by an elastic engagement latch (not shown) and an engagement shoulder engaged with the latch. The engagement portion is not limited to the elastic engagement latch and the engagement shoulder, and may be, for example, a press-fit post and an engagement hole.

 FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the assembled optical connector, taken along the line AA ′ in FIG. 1, showing an embodiment of the third aspect of the optical connector of the present invention. In FIG. 6, reference numeral 70 denotes a pressing member, and the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 1 to 4 denote the same members.

 The embodiment of the third aspect of the optical connector of the present invention includes a housing 10, a base material 20, an elastic member 50, and a holding member 70.

 The holding member 70 used in the embodiment of the third aspect is mounted on the optical fiber 5 introduced into the optical fiber holding groove 32, and is held by the holding portion 52 of the elastic member 50. 3 1, holding together with optical fiber 5 As a result, the optical fiber 5 can be more effectively held and fixed, the variation in the holding force can be suppressed, and the attenuation of light due to the holding force can be reduced.

 The size and the like of the holding member 70 are not particularly limited, and the holding member 70 is formed of a resin material, for example, an acrylic resin, a methacrylic resin, a silicone resin, or the like, like the base material 20 or the like. However, it may be formed of a soft resin such as a urethane resin.

 FIG. 7 is a perspective view schematically showing a base material used in an embodiment of the fourth aspect of the optical connector of the present invention. In FIG. 7, reference numeral 34 denotes a ridge, and the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 1 to 4 denote the same members.

In the embodiment of the fourth aspect, both the guide surfaces 33 of the optical fiber holding portions 31 of the base material 20 are provided. A ridge 34 extending along the optical fiber holding groove 32 is formed on the side. The protrusions 34 guide the press-fitting of the holding portion 52 and can restrict the movement of the elastic member 50 after the press-fitting. In addition, one or more protrusions may be provided in addition to the ridges 34, and a pin or the like may be provided at both ends of the holding portion 52 to engage with a hole or the like provided on the guide surface 33. Is also good.

 The representative embodiment of the optical connector 1 according to the present invention has been described above. However, the optical connector according to the present invention is not limited thereto, and may be an optical connector obtained by combining a plurality of the above embodiments.

 The optical connector of the present invention is configured as described above, and has a structure in which the optical fiber is clamped and held in a direction perpendicular to the long axis direction thereof, so that the optical fiber connected by the connector has elasticity. It is preferable to have one which has excellent holding power and can prevent the optical fiber from being damaged.

 That is, the optical fiber connected by the optical connector of the present invention is an optical fiber made entirely of a plastic material, for example, a perfluorinated plastic optical fiber, and an optical fiber made of a plastic material for the outer layer, for example, a quartz optical fiber. PCF (polymer clad fiber) whose outer periphery is coated with a polymer material is preferably used. By adjusting the holding force, the conventional quartz optical fiber can be used.

 Further, the optical connector of the present invention may be used not only for the SC type optical connector and the FC type optical connector but also for the LC type optical connector, the MU type optical connector, the MT-RJ type optical connector and the like.

As described above, the housing 10, the base member 20, and the holding member 70 of the optical connector 1 of the present invention are preferably formed of a resin material. In this case, since the resin material thermally expands in response to a temperature change, at least the end face of the optical fiber positioning portion 21 of the base material 20 is required to realize accurate positioning of the optical fiber and stabilize the connection. It is required that the through hole 22 formed in 24 and the end face of the optical fiber 5 do not shift. Therefore, in the optical connector of the present invention, the Preferably, the coefficient of thermal expansion of the resin and the coefficient of thermal expansion of the resin constituting the optical fiber are substantially the same. Specifically, the coefficient of thermal expansion of the resin constituting the base material and the resin constituting the optical fiber are preferred. The difference from the coefficient of thermal expansion of the fat is preferably 10% or less, more preferably 5% or less. In the present invention, the coefficient of thermal expansion is evaluated based on a coefficient of linear expansion of 0 with respect to a change in length.

 Next, assembling of the optical connector 1 of the present invention using two optical fibers will be described based on the above-described first embodiment.

 First, the optical fiber 5 of the optical cable used for the optical connector 1 of the present invention is passed from the rear side surface 11 side of the housing 10 to the optical fiber through hole 12 formed in the side surface 11, and the elastic member Similarly, for 50, the optical fiber 5 is inserted into the optical fiber through hole 57 from the urging portion 60 side.

 Next, each end of the optical fiber 5 is guided to the optical fiber holding groove 32 provided in the optical fiber holding portion 31 of the base material 20, and is guided to the optical fiber positioning portion 21 according to the groove 32. The optical fiber 5 is made to penetrate the penetrated through hole 22. At this time, the end face of the optical fiber 5 is made to protrude from the end face 24 of the optical fiber positioning section 21.

 While maintaining the state in which the optical fiber 5 is guided by the optical fiber holding groove 32, the elastic member 50 inserted through the optical fiber 5 is moved in the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber 5, and the optical fiber holding section is moved. 3. Position the distal end 54 of the holding portion 52 apart from the rear end surface 35 of 31. As the elastic member 50 is further moved (pressed) in the major axis direction of the optical fiber 5, the front ends 54 are separated from each other by the rear end face 35 against the holding force. Further, when the elastic member 50 is pressed in the same direction, the ridges 53 of the holding portion 52 slide on the guide surface 33 (optical fiber 5) and the lower surface of the optical fiber holding portion 31, and finally, In this case, the front end 54 of the holding section 52 and the rear end face 25 of the optical fiber positioning section are brought into contact with each other, and the holding of the optical fiber 5 and the optical fiber holding section 31 is completed. As a result, the optical fiber 5 is held and fixed, and the base member 20 and the elastic member 50 become a body.

Thereafter, the housing 10 passed through the optical fiber 5 is moved in the long axis direction of the optical fiber 5, and the integrated base material 20 and elastic member 50 are inserted into the hollow inside of the housing 10. Insert At this time, the urging portion 60 of the elastic member 50 is not in contact with the rear side surface 11 of the housing 10. When the integrated base material 20 and elastic member 50 are continuously inserted into the housing 10, the tip 61 of the urging portion 60 abuts on the inner surface of the rear side surface 11, and the urging portion 6 0 is compressed by the inner surface to generate a repulsive force in the major axis direction of the optical fiber 5. The base member 20 and the elastic member 50 integrated with each other against the repulsive force are further press-fitted, and the engaging protrusion 13 of the housing 10 and the engaging step portion 23 of the base member 20 are engaged. . Finally, the end face of the optical fiber 5 protruding from the end face 24 of the optical fiber positioning portion 21 is subjected to an end face treatment (cutting and polishing) so as to be flush with the end face 24 and the optical connector of the present invention is provided. Assembly is completed.

 Also in the second to fourth embodiments, the assembly can be basically performed by the same method as in the first embodiment.

 The assembled optical connector of the present invention is connected to the end face of another optical fiber while maintaining a contact state.

 As the connecting means, for example, an elastic engagement latch is provided near the end face of one housing 10 to be connected, and an engaging shoulder is provided near the end face of the other housing 10 to engage with the latch. Alternatively, instead of the elastic engagement latch and the engagement shoulder, an engagement means such as a press-fit post and an engagement hole may be provided and connected. Alternatively, one of the hosings 10 may be molded into a female shape having engaging means, and the other housing 10 may be similarly molded into a female shape, and the female and female type may be engaged and connected. Both housings may be molded into a female or female type, and the female or female type may be similarly engaged and connected via an adapter or the like molded with two or more. Further, the above means can be combined as much as possible.

 Although the connection means between the housings 10 of the optical connector of the present invention has been described, if the conventional optical connector is provided with the above-mentioned connecting means, it can be connected to the optical connector of the present invention. Is not limited to the connection between the optical connectors of the present invention.

The optical connector of the present invention connected as described above has a pressing force by the elastic member 50. This elastically presses the other substrate 20 with each other. At this time, since the base material 20 is pressed in the direction opposite to the pressing force of the elastic member 50, respectively, the base material 20 is inserted into the housing 10 in that direction, and The engagement between the engagement ridge 13 of 0 and the engagement step 23 of the substrate 20 is released. When the engagement is released, the movement of both base materials 20 is not restricted, and the elastic connection between the end faces 24 is sufficiently maintained even with the movement of the optical connector, the optical fiber, and the like.

 As described above, the optical fiber holding section 31 is squeezed and held from above and below by the clip-shaped squeezing and holding section 51 of the elastic member 50, and is attached to the inner surface of the rear side surface 11 of the housing 10. By arranging the elastic member 50 at a position where the urging portion 60 is elastically deformed, the optical fiber 5 can be securely held and fixed, and a pressing force in the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber 5 can be generated. Optical fibers with optical connectors can be elastically connected, and connection loss can be reduced.

 In addition, the use of the elastic member 50 having both functions with a simple structure reduces the number of parts of the optical connector, resulting in a reduction in the cost of parts, and simplifies the structure to reduce the size and simplify the assembly work. Nature can be realized. Therefore, the optical connector of the present invention is particularly suitable for simple connection. Industrial potential

 As described above, an elastic member is used that can hold and fix the optical fiber by holding the optical fiber together with the base material and press the base material in a predetermined direction by compressing the elastic member together with the housing. The optical connector of the present invention can reduce the number of components of the optical connector, and can greatly reduce the cost of the components. In addition, since the number of parts is small, the structure is simple, the optical connector can be downsized, and the assembling time can be shortened and the assembling work can be simplified. Furthermore, connection loss can be suppressed, and it is very useful as an optical connector, especially as an optical connector for simple connection. ,

Claims

 The scope of the claims A base material housed in the housing, comprising: an optical fiber positioning portion having one or a plurality of through holes; and an optical fiber holding portion having an optical fiber holding groove communicating with the through hole.  The optical fiber introduced along the optical fiber holding groove and the optical fiber holding portion are squeezed and held to hold and fix the optical fiber to the optical fiber holding portion. An elastic member that is accommodated and urges the base material in the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber;  An optical connector comprising:  2. The elastic member is  A pressure holding portion formed by bending a plate-like body so as to be elastically deformable, and having a pair of holding portions and a connecting portion having an optical fiber through-hole and connecting the pair of holding portions;  An urging portion provided on the connecting portion and elastically deformed when housed in the housing;  2. The optical connector according to claim 1, which is an elastic member having:  3. The housing is a housing having one end opened and one or more optical fiber through-holes at the other end, and having an engagement portion at a predetermined position inside the hollow;  3. The optical connector according to claim 1, wherein the optical fiber positioning portion has an engaging portion that engages with an engaging portion of the housing.  4. The optical connector according to claim 1, further comprising a holding member between the optical fiber and a holding portion of the elastic member.  5. The optical connector according to claim 1, wherein the optical fiber holding groove has a V-shaped cross section. 6. The light according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the optical fiber is made of plastic. connector.  7. The optical connector according to claim 6, wherein a difference between a coefficient of thermal expansion of a resin forming the base material and a coefficient of thermal expansion of a resin forming the optical fiber is 10% or less.