WO2025191973A1 - Pin clamp and optical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

A pin clamp (20) is used in a ferrule (10) in which a plurality of optical fibers (F) and two guide pins (30) are inserted, and holds the guide pins (30). The pin clamp (20) is provided with a body section (21) that extends in the longitudinal direction and has an insertion hole through which the optical fibers (F) are inserted. The body section (21) has a ferrule facing surface (21b) that faces the ferrule in the longitudinal direction, and a seating surface (21c) that is disposed on the opposite side from the ferrule facing surface in the longitudinal direction and that comes into contact with a biasing member that applies a biasing force to the ferrule. The body section (21) is elastically deformable, and can constitute an orthogonal opening (O) through which the optical fibers (F) can be inserted from an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction by elastic deformation.

Description

Pin clamps and optical connectors

The present invention relates to a pin clamp and an optical connector.
This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-039328, filed on March 13, 2024, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

When connecting an optical connector to another connector, optical connectors generally have a so-called floating structure to maintain a good connection between the ferrules of the optical connector and the other connector. The floating structure of an optical connector includes a ferrule, a biasing member, a housing, etc. The biasing force of the biasing member presses the ferrules against each other, maintaining the connection end faces of the ferrules in proper contact with each other.

In optical connectors, a pin clamp that holds a guide pin is provided between the ferrule and the biasing member. A seat that receives the biasing member is provided at the base end of the pin clamp. In Patent Document 1, the pin clamp has a U-shaped cross section. This allows the pin clamp to elastically deform, preventing damage to the pin clamp even when the biasing force of the biasing member is strong.

Japanese Patent No. 4782729

When the pin clamp has a U-shaped cross section, it is easier to assemble the optical connector than when the pin clamp is frame-shaped, for example. In other words, when the pin clamp is frame-shaped, it is not possible to position the optical fiber inside the pin clamp after it has been secured to the ferrule. On the other hand, when the pin clamp has a U-shaped cross section, it is possible to position the optical fiber inside the pin clamp even after it has been secured to the ferrule, making it easier to assemble the optical connector.

However, when the pin clamp has a U-shaped cross section, a gap forms between the pin clamp's seat and the biasing member, making the position of the biasing member unstable. As a result, it becomes difficult to generate a stable biasing force from the biasing member, which destabilizes the floating function of the optical connector and makes it difficult to maintain a good connection between the ferrules.

The present invention was made in consideration of these circumstances, and aims to provide a pin clamp and optical connector that allows the optical fiber to be placed inside the pin clamp after being fixed to the ferrule, and that can stably generate the biasing force of the biasing member.

The pin clamp according to aspect 1 of the present invention is used with a ferrule into which multiple optical fibers and two guide pins are inserted, and is a pin clamp that holds the guide pins. It comprises a main body that extends in the longitudinal direction and has an insertion hole through which the optical fiber is inserted. The main body has a ferrule-facing surface that faces the ferrule in the longitudinal direction, and a seating surface that is located on the opposite side of the ferrule-facing surface in the longitudinal direction and abuts against a biasing member that applies a biasing force to the ferrule. The main body is elastically deformable, and the elastic deformation can form an orthogonal opening through which the optical fiber can be inserted from an orthogonal direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

Furthermore, in aspect 2 of the present invention, in the pin clamp of aspect 1, the main body has a first long side portion, a first short side portion, a second long side portion, and a second short side portion that define the insertion hole, and the second long side portion can elastically deform to form the orthogonal opening.

Furthermore, in aspect 3 of the present invention, in the pin clamp of aspect 2, the first short side portion and the second short side portion each hold the two guide pins.

Furthermore, in aspect 4 of the present invention, in the pin clamp of aspect 2 or 3, the first long side portion has a first locking portion, and the first short side portion has a second locking portion that locks with the first locking portion.

Aspect 5 of the present invention is a pin clamp according to aspect 4, wherein the first locking portion has a locking protrusion, the second locking portion has a locking groove into which the locking protrusion fits, and the locking protrusion has an inclined surface that slides against the second locking portion when the first locking portion is locked to the second locking portion.

Aspect 6 of the present invention is a pin clamp according to any one of aspects 2 to 5, in which a notch is formed at the connection between the second long side and the second short side.

Aspect 7 of the present invention is a pin clamp according to any one of aspects 1 to 6, wherein the seat has a spring retaining portion that retains the biasing member.

Furthermore, an optical connector according to aspect 8 of the present invention comprises a pin clamp according to any one of aspects 1 to 7, the guide pin held by the pin clamp, and the ferrule into which the guide pin is inserted.

The above aspects of the present invention make it possible to provide a pin clamp and optical connector that allows the optical fiber to be placed inside the pin clamp after being fixed to the ferrule, and that can stably generate the biasing force of the biasing member.

1 is a perspective view of an optical connector according to a first embodiment. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an optical connector according to a first embodiment. FIG. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pin clamp according to a first embodiment. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pin clamp according to a first embodiment. FIG. 1 is a front view of a pin clamp according to a first embodiment. FIG. 1 is a front view of a pin clamp according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view of the pin clamp according to the first embodiment. 3A to 3C are diagrams illustrating an assembly procedure for the optical connector according to the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a pin clamp according to a modified example of the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of an optical connector according to a second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of an optical connector according to a second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a guide pin and a pin support plate according to a second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a pin clamp according to a second embodiment.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, the optical connector of the first embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
1 and 2, the optical connector 1 includes a ferrule 10, a housing 50, a boot 60, and a plurality of optical fibers F. As shown in Fig. 2, the optical connector 1 further includes a pin clamp 20, two guide pins 30, and a biasing member 40. The pin clamp 20 includes a main body 21. The main body 21 has insertion holes 21a through which the plurality of optical fibers F are inserted.

(direction definition)
In this specification, the direction in which the insertion hole 21a extends is referred to as the longitudinal direction Z. The ferrule 10 and the pin clamp 20 are arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction Z. In the longitudinal direction Z, the side on which the ferrule 10 is arranged relative to the pin clamp 20 (the +Z side) is referred to as the front or tip side. The opposite side (the -Z side) is referred to as the rear or base side. A direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction Z is referred to as the first direction X. One side in the first direction X is referred to as the +X side, and the other side is referred to as the -X side. A direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction Z and the first direction X is referred to as the second direction Y. One side in the second direction Y is referred to as the +Y side, and the other side is referred to as the -Y side. A cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction Z is referred to as a transverse cross section. A transverse cross section is a cross section extending along the first direction X and the second direction Y.

As shown in FIG. 1, the ferrule 10 has a plurality of fiber holes 11 arranged in a row. The fiber holes 11 are aligned in the second direction Y. In this embodiment, the fiber holes 11 are aligned in a row, but they may be aligned in two or more rows. The ferrule 10 has a connection end face 10a. The fiber holes 11 and positioning holes 12 are open in the connection end face 10a. An optical fiber F is inserted into each fiber hole 11. However, some of the fiber holes 11 may not have an optical fiber F inserted therein. In other words, the number of optical fibers F may be fewer than the number of fiber holes 11. The optical fibers F are exposed at the connection end face 10a. The optical connector 1 can be optically connected to another connector by abutting the connection end face of the other connector to be connected against the connection end face 10a.

The ferrule 10 has two positioning holes 12. The positioning holes 12 penetrate the ferrule 10 in the longitudinal direction Z. The two positioning holes 12 are spaced apart in the second direction Y. The two positioning holes 12 are arranged so as to sandwich a plurality of fiber holes 11 between them in the second direction Y. The optical connector 1 of this embodiment is a female connector, and the relative positions of the optical connector 1 and the other connector are determined by inserting a positioning pin of the other connector into the positioning hole 12.

The optical fiber F is inserted through the fiber hole 11 and extends from the ferrule 10 toward the base end (-Z side). Multiple optical fibers F are inserted inside the pin clamp 20 and the biasing member 40. Multiple optical fibers F are also inserted inside the boot 60.

The housing 50 has a tip-side member 51 and a base-side member 52. These two members 51, 52 are combined to form the housing 50. However, the housing 50 may also be a single member. A portion of the ferrule 10, the pin clamp 20, and the biasing member 40 are housed inside the housing 50. The tip end (the end on the +Z side) of the ferrule 10 protrudes from the housing 50. In other words, the connection end surface 10a protrudes from the housing 50.

As shown in FIG. 3, the base-side member 52 has a support surface 52a facing the tip side. The base end of the biasing member 40 contacts the support surface 52a. The tip end of the biasing member 40 contacts the pin clamp 20. The biasing member 40 is compressed between the pin clamp 20 and the support surface 52a of the base-side member 52. The biasing member 40 applies a biasing force to the ferrule 10, biasing the ferrule 10 toward the tip side. The biasing member 40 is, for example, a coil spring.

The pin clamp 20 is disposed between the biasing member 40 and the ferrule 10 in the longitudinal direction Z. The pin clamp 20 serves to transmit the biasing force of the biasing member 40 to the ferrule 10. As shown in Figures 3, 4A, and 4B, the main body 21 of the pin clamp 20 has a ferrule-facing surface 21b that faces the ferrule 10 in the longitudinal direction Z, and a seating surface 21c that is disposed on the opposite side of the ferrule-facing surface 21b in the longitudinal direction Z. The ferrule-facing surface 21b faces the tip side, and the seating surface 21c faces the base end side. In this embodiment, the ferrule-facing surface 21b abuts the ferrule 10.

The seating surface 21c abuts against the biasing member 40. As shown in FIG. 4B, the seating surface 21c is provided with a spring holding portion 21c1 that holds the biasing member 40. In the illustrated example, the spring holding portion 21c1 is a groove that accommodates the tip end of the biasing member 40. Note that the spring holding portion 21c1 may also be a protrusion that protrudes from the seating surface 21c toward the base end and is inserted into the biasing member 40.

The guide pins 30 are approximately cylindrical. The two guide pins 30 protrude from the ferrule-facing surface 21b of the pin clamp 20 toward the tip (+Z side). In this embodiment, the two guide pins 30 are formed integrally with the pin clamp 20. The two guide pins 30 are held by the pin clamp 20. The relative positions of the ferrule 10 and the pin clamp 20 are determined by inserting the two guide pins 30 into the two positioning holes 12 of the ferrule 10, respectively. Because the optical connector 1 of this embodiment is female, when the guide pins 30 are inserted into the positioning holes 12, the guide pins 30 do not protrude toward the tip from the connecting end surface 10a of the ferrule 10.

As shown in Figures 4A, 4B, 5A, and 5B, the main body 21 of the pin clamp 20 is in the shape of a substantially rectangular frame. The main body 21 has a first long side 22, a first short side 23, a second long side 24, and a second short side 25. The first long side 22 and the second long side 24 extend in the second direction Y and face each other in the first direction X. The first short side 23 and the second short side 25 extend in the first direction X and face each other in the second direction Y. The -X side end of the first short side 23 is connected to the +Y side end of the second long side 24. The -Y side end of the second long side 24 is connected to the -X side end of the second short side 25. The +X side end of the second short side 25 is connected to the -Y side end of the first long side 22. The first long side 22, first short side 23, second long side 24, and second short side 25 define a substantially rectangular insertion hole 21a. Two guide pins 30 are held by the first short side 23 and second short side 25, respectively.

The main body 21 is formed from an elastic material (e.g., resin). The first long side 22 and the first short side 23 are separated in the main body 21. The second long side 24 is elastically deformable in the first direction X, with the connection 26 between the second long side 24 and the second short side 25 as the base point. As shown in FIG. 5B , when the second long side 24 elastically deforms in the -X direction with the connection 26 as the base point, the first short side 23 also moves in the -X direction relative to the first long side 22. This forms an orthogonal opening O between the first long side 22 and the first short side 23. In other words, the main body 21 can form the orthogonal opening O by elastically deforming the second long side 24 in the -X direction. An optical fiber F can be inserted through the orthogonal opening O in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction Z.

A first locking portion 27 is formed on the first long side portion 22 , and a second locking portion 28 that locks with the first locking portion 27 is formed on the first short side portion 23 .
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6 , the first locking portion 27 has a locking protrusion 27a protruding from the end surface 22a of the first long side 22 facing the +Y side. The locking protrusion 27a has an inclined surface 27a1 that gradually slopes toward the −Y side as it approaches the −X side. The second locking portion 28 has a locking groove 28a into which the locking protrusion 27a fits. The locking groove 28a is formed on the end surface 23a of the first short side 23 facing the −Y side. The locking groove 28a has a shape corresponding to the locking protrusion 27a. When the locking protrusion 27a is inserted into the locking groove 28a, the second locking portion 28 is locked with the first locking portion 27. At this time, the second locking portion 28 can be slid on the inclined surface 27a1 to easily insert the locking protrusion 27a into the locking groove 28a. When the second locking portion 28 is locked to the first locking portion 27, the elastic deformation of the second long side portion 24 is restricted.

When connecting an optical connector to another connector, optical connectors generally have a so-called floating structure to maintain a good connection between the ferrules of the optical connector and the other connector. The floating structure of an optical connector includes a ferrule, a biasing member, a housing, etc. The biasing force of the biasing member presses the ferrules against each other, maintaining the connection end faces of the ferrules in proper contact. Furthermore, in optical connectors, a pin clamp is provided between the ferrule and the biasing member. A seat that receives the biasing member is provided at the base end of the pin clamp. For example, if the pin clamp has a U-shaped cross section, a gap is formed between the pin clamp's seat and the biasing member, making the position of the biasing member unstable. As a result, it becomes difficult to generate a stable biasing force from the biasing member, the floating function of the optical connector becomes unstable, and it becomes difficult to maintain a good connection between the ferrules.

In the pin clamp 20 of this embodiment, the main body 21 is a roughly rectangular frame with an insertion hole 21a. This prevents a gap from forming between the seating surface 21c of the pin clamp 20 and the biasing member 40, and the entire circumference of the tip of the biasing member 40 is supported by the seating surface 21c of the pin clamp 20. This stabilizes the position of the biasing member 40. As a result, the biasing force of the biasing member 40 can be generated stably, the floating function of the optical connector 1 is stabilized, and the connection state between the ferrule 10 of the optical connector 1 and the ferrule of the other connector can be maintained in good condition.

Furthermore, in the past, when the pin clamp was frame-shaped, the order in which it was attached to the optical fiber when assembling the optical connector was fixed. For example, if the optical fiber was secured to the ferrule and then the biasing member or housing was inserted into the optical fiber, the pin clamp could not be positioned later. In this embodiment, the main body 21 of the pin clamp 20 is able to form an orthogonal opening O by elastically deforming the second long side 24. As shown in FIG. 7 , the optical fiber F can be inserted through the orthogonal opening O from a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction Z. This allows the optical fiber F to be inserted through the biasing member 40 and secured to the ferrule 10, after which the optical fiber F can be positioned inside the pin clamp 20. This facilitates assembly of the optical connector 1.

As described above, the pin clamp 20 according to this embodiment is used with a ferrule 10 into which multiple optical fibers F and two guide pins 30 are inserted, and holds the guide pins 30. The pin clamp 20 includes a main body 21 that extends in the longitudinal direction Z and has an insertion hole 21a through which the optical fiber F is inserted. The main body 21 has a ferrule-facing surface 21b that faces the ferrule 10 in the longitudinal direction Z, and a seating surface 21c that is positioned on the opposite side of the ferrule-facing surface 21b in the longitudinal direction Z and abuts against a biasing member 40 that applies a biasing force to the ferrule 10. The main body 21 is elastically deformable, and this elastic deformation can form an orthogonal opening O through which the optical fiber F can be inserted from an orthogonal direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction Z.

With the above configuration, it is possible to position the optical fiber F inside the pin clamp 20 after fixing the optical fiber F to the ferrule 10, and it is also possible to stably generate the biasing force of the biasing member 40.

The main body 21 has a first long side 22, a first short side 23, a second long side 24, and a second short side 25 that define the insertion hole 21a. The second long side 24 can be elastically deformed to form the orthogonal opening O.
According to the above configuration, the second long side portion 24 is elastically deformed, so that the orthogonal opening O can be easily formed.

Additionally, the first short side portion 23 and the second short side portion 25 each hold two guide pins 30 .
According to the above configuration, even if the second long side portion 24 is elastically deformed, the pin clamp 20 can reliably hold the guide pin 30 .

The first long side portion 22 has a first locking portion 27 , and the first short side portion 23 has a second locking portion 28 that locks with the first locking portion 27 .
According to the above configuration, when the second locking portion 28 is locked with the first locking portion 27, it is possible to restrict elastic deformation of the second long side portion 24. Therefore, for example, after the optical fiber F is placed inside the pin clamp 20, by locking the second locking portion 28 with the first locking portion 27, it is possible to prevent the optical fiber F from slipping out of the pin clamp 20 through the orthogonal opening O.

The first locking portion 27 has a locking projection 27a, and the second locking portion 28 has a locking groove 28a into which the locking projection 27a fits. The locking projection 27a has an inclined surface 27a1 that slides against the second locking portion 28 when the first locking portion 27 is locked to the second locking portion 28.
According to the above configuration, it is possible to provide the first locking portion 27 and the second locking portion 28 with a simple configuration. In addition, by sliding the second locking portion 28 on the inclined surface 27a1, the locking protrusion 27a can be easily inserted into the locking groove 28a.

The seat surface 21 c also has a spring holding portion 21 c 1 that holds the biasing member 40 .
According to the above configuration, the position of the biasing member 40 can be more reliably stabilized, and the biasing force of the biasing member 40 can be generated more stably.

(Modification)
8, in the main body 21 of the pin clamp 20, a notch 26a may be formed in a connection portion 26 between the second long side portion 24 and the second short side portion 25. The notch 26a is formed so as to be recessed from the outer surface of the main body 21 facing the −X side toward the +X side. The provision of the notch 26a makes it easier for the second long side portion 24 to elastically deform in the first direction X with the connection portion 26 as a base point.

Second Embodiment
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described, which has the same basic configuration as the first embodiment. Therefore, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and their description will be omitted, and only the differences will be described.

The optical connector 1A of this embodiment is a male connector. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, the optical connector 1A includes a pin clamp 20A and a guide pin 30A instead of the pin clamp 20 and guide pin 30. The optical connector 1A also includes a pin support plate 70 that is positioned between the ferrule 10 and the pin clamp 20A in the longitudinal direction Z.

As shown in Figure 10, the guide pin 30A is inserted into the positioning hole 12 of the ferrule 10. At this time, the tip 31 of the guide pin 30A protrudes from the connection end face 10a of the ferrule 10 toward the tip side (+Z side). When the tip 31 of the guide pin 30A is inserted into the positioning hole of the other connector, the relative positions of the optical connector 1A and the other connector are determined.

The pin support plate 70 can be made of an elastic material such as sheet metal. The pin support plate 70 supports the guide pin 30A. As shown in FIG. 10, the front surface 70a of the pin support plate 70 abuts against the ferrule 10. The rear surface 70b of the pin support plate 70 abuts against the ferrule-facing surface 21b of the pin clamp 20A.

As shown in FIG. 11, the guide pin 30A is generally cylindrical. In this embodiment, the guide pin 30A is made of, for example, metal. The guide pin 30A has a tip portion 31, a groove portion 32, and a rear end portion 33 located rearward of the groove portion 32. The guide pin 30A is supported by the pin support plate 70 at the groove portion 32. The rear end portion 33 is held by the pin clamp 20A.

The pin support plate 70 has two support body portions 71 spaced apart in the second direction Y, and a connecting portion 72 that connects the support body portions 71. A slit 71a is formed in the support body portion 71 to accommodate the groove portion 32 of the guide pin 30A. The guide pin 30A is supported by the pin support plate 70 with the groove portion 32 accommodated in the slit 71a.

As shown in FIG. 12, the main body 21 of the pin clamp 20A has a substantially rectangular frame shape. The main body 21 has a first long side 22, a first short side 23, a second long side 24, and a second short side 25. The first long side 22, the first short side 23, the second long side 24, and the second short side 25 define a substantially rectangular insertion hole 21a. The main body 21 can form an orthogonal opening O by the second long side 24 elastically deforming toward the -X side. An optical fiber F can be inserted through the orthogonal opening O from an orthogonal direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction Z.

Furthermore, two guide pin holding holes 29 are formed in the ferrule-facing surface 21b of the pin clamp 20A. The two guide pin holding holes 29 are formed in the first short side portion 23 and the second short side portion 25, respectively. The rear end portion 33 of the guide pin 30A is inserted into the guide pin holding hole 29, thereby holding the guide pin 30A in the pin clamp 20A. At this time, when viewed from the longitudinal direction Z, the two support body portions 71 of the pin support plate 70 are positioned to overlap the first short side portion 23 and the second short side portion 25, and the connecting portion 72 is positioned to overlap the second long side portion 24. The pin support plate 70 is formed to avoid the first long side portion 22. As a result, even when the pin support plate 70 is provided, the optical fiber F can be easily inserted through the orthogonal opening O from an orthogonal direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction Z.

In this embodiment, too, it is possible to position the optical fiber F inside the pin clamp 20 after fixing the optical fiber F to the ferrule 10, and it is possible to stably generate the biasing force of the biasing member 40.

The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

For example, in the pin clamp 20A according to the second embodiment, a notch 26a may be formed in the connection portion 26 between the second long side portion 24 and the second short side portion 25.
In the above embodiment, the seat surface 21c does not necessarily have to have the spring holding portion 21c1.

Furthermore, within the scope of the spirit of the present invention, the components in the above-described embodiments may be replaced with well-known components, and the above-described embodiments and variations may be combined as appropriate.

1, 1A... Optical connector; 10... Ferrule; 20, 20A... Pin clamp; 21... Main body; 21a... Insertion hole; 21b... Ferrule-facing surface; 21c... Seat; 21c1... Spring retaining portion; 22... First long side; 23... First short side; 24... Second long side; 25... Second short side; 26... Connection portion; 27... First locking portion; 27a... Locking protrusion; 27a1... Inclined surface; 28... Second locking portion; 28a... Locking groove; 30, 30A... Guide pin; 40... Pressing member; 70... Pin support plate; F... Optical fiber; O... Orthogonal opening; Z... Longitudinal direction

Claims (8)

A pin clamp used in a ferrule into which a plurality of optical fibers and two guide pins are inserted, the pin clamp holding the guide pins,
a main body portion extending in a longitudinal direction and having an insertion hole through which the optical fiber is inserted;
The main body portion is
a ferrule-facing surface that faces the ferrule in the longitudinal direction;
a seating surface that is disposed on the opposite side of the ferrule-facing surface in the longitudinal direction and that abuts against a biasing member that applies a biasing force to the ferrule,
the main body is elastically deformable, and the elastic deformation forms an orthogonal opening through which the optical fiber can be inserted from an orthogonal direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.
Pink lamp. the main body portion has a first long side portion, a first short side portion, a second long side portion, and a second short side portion that define the insertion hole,
The second long side portion is elastically deformed to form the orthogonal opening.
The pin clamp of claim 1. the first short side portion and the second short side portion hold the two guide pins, respectively;
The pin clamp of claim 2. The first long side portion has a first locking portion, and the first short side portion has a second locking portion that locks with the first locking portion.
4. The pin clamp according to claim 2 or 3. the first locking portion has a locking protrusion,
the second locking portion has a locking groove into which the locking projection fits,
the locking projection has an inclined surface that slides against the second locking portion when the first locking portion is locked to the second locking portion;
The pin clamp of claim 4. A notch is formed at a connection portion between the second long side portion and the second short side portion.
The pin clamp according to any one of claims 2 to 5. The seating surface has a spring holding portion that holds the biasing member.
The pin clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 6. A pin clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 7;
The guide pin held by the pin clamp;
the ferrule into which the guide pin is inserted;
An optical connector comprising: