JP3074914B2 - Optical connector - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical connector, and more particularly, to a structure for preventing damage to the naked eye due to light when attaching or detaching an optical connector.

[0002] In recent years, the output of light has increased, and it has been demanded that, when attaching and detaching the optical connector, the naked eye is prevented from being hindered by light and the safety of workers is improved.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional optical connector does not have a structure for preventing damage to the naked eye caused by light emitted from the optical connector when the optical connector is attached or detached.

[0004]

For this reason, when an optical connector is inadvertently attached or detached by an operator, there is a problem in that the emitted light may harm the naked eye.

[0005] In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an optical connector which can stop outgoing light when the optical connector is attached and detached, and can prevent the light from obstructing the naked eye.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, an optical connector according to the present invention is provided between a polarizer and an analyzer, which transmits only light having a certain plane of polarization. Magnetic compression is applied to the Faraday rotator in one direction by a compression spring so that permanent magnets whose magnetic poles are opposite to each other in the axial direction can be moved to the inner circumference of the coupling nut to be connected to the connector so that a magnetic field that rotates the polarization plane in a predetermined direction is applied to the Faraday rotator. When the coupling nut is disengaged, the magnetic field is switched in the opposite direction to stop the light emitted from the analyzer.

[0007]

A pair of permanent magnets whose magnetic poles are opposite to each other in the axial direction can be moved to the inner periphery of the coupling nut by a compression spring so as to provide a magnetic field that rotates the polarization plane of light transmitted through the Faraday rotator in a predetermined direction. By biasing in one direction, when the coupling nut is coupled, the permanent magnet compresses the compression spring by screw tightening and moves the polarization plane of light transmitted through the Faraday rotator to a position that rotates in a predetermined direction Conversely, when the connection is released, the compression spring automatically returns the permanent magnet to its original position due to spring repulsion. As a result, the polarization plane of the light transmitted through the Faraday rotator rotates in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction, and the light transmitted through the Faraday rotator cannot pass through the analyzer. Can be prevented in a fail-safe manner.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The gist of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is an exploded side sectional view showing a configuration before coupling, and FIG. 2 is a side sectional view after coupling in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the optical connector comprises a pair of jack-type optical connectors 1 and a plug-type optical connector 2. On the other hand, a jack type optical connector 1 has an optical fiber 1b as an optical transmission line and a lens 1c at a tip end of an optical fiber 1b at an axis of a connector main body 1a made of a non-magnetic metal. An external thread portion 1a-1 for screwing the coupling nut 2b is provided. A guide hole 1a-2 for precisely fitting the plug-type optical connector 2 is provided at the axis (optical axis) of the distal end surface of the connector main body 1a.

The other plug-type optical connector 2 has a coupling nut made of non-magnetic metal which is axially stopped by a retaining ring 2a-1 on the outer periphery of a connector body 2a made of non-magnetic metal and is coupled to the jack-type optical connector 1. Insert 2b. The optical axis, which is an optical transmission line,
2c and a lens 2d at the tip thereof, and a polarizer 2e that transmits only a light having a constant polarization plane on the optical axis, that is, a light having a right 45 ° polarization plane, and a 45 ° Faraday rotator (yttrium / iron / (Garnet, YIG) 2f and an analyzer 2g that transmits light having a polarization plane of 45 ° clockwise is disposed. And furthermore
A pair of permanent magnets 2h inserted movably in the axial direction along the inner circumference (inner diameter) of the coupling nut 2b and a coil-shaped compression spring 2j for urging the permanent magnet 2h in the coupling direction are provided. This pair of permanent magnets 2h is directed to the 45 ° Faraday rotator 2f in a predetermined direction,
That is, the first permanent magnets having opposite magnetic poles so as to provide a magnetic field that rotates the polarization plane further 45 ° clockwise or 45 ° counterclockwise.
2h-1 and a second permanent magnet 2h-2. One of the first permanent magnets 2h-1 axially magnetizes the magnetic poles to S (left) -N (right), and the other second permanent magnet 2h. -2 indicates the magnetic pole is N (right side) -S
(Right) magnetized and fixed integrally via insulator 2h-3. (Alternatively, the pair of permanent magnets 2h may be an integral permanent magnet whose magnetic poles are magnetized to SNS in the axial direction.) Then, as shown in FIG. In a state where the optical connector 1 is screwed and connected to the external thread portion 1a-1, the first permanent magnet 2h-1 abuts on the distal end surface of the connector main body 1a and moves leftward due to compression of the compression spring 2j. The magnetic field of the first permanent magnet 2h-1 acts on the 45 ° Faraday rotator 2f to further rotate the polarization plane of the light transmitted through the polarizer 2e clockwise by 45 ° so that the light passes through the next analyzer 2g. Is set to

On the contrary, in the state before the coupling as shown in FIG. 1, the compression spring 2j automatically returns the pair of permanent magnets 2h to the original position by the repulsion of the spring, and the magnetic field of the second permanent magnet 2h-2 is reduced by 45%. °
The light acts on the Faraday rotator 2f, rotates the polarization plane of the light transmitted through the polarizer 2e counterclockwise by 45 °, and is set so as not to transmit the next analyzer 2g. That is, when the optical connector (plug-type optical connector 2) is disconnected, the light emitted from the analyzer 2g of the plug-type optical connector 2 can be stopped to prevent the light from obstructing the naked eye.

In the above-described Faraday rotator, 45 ° rotation is usually used frequently. However, 90 ° n + 45 ° (n is an integer) may be used. By using a fiber, the polarizer can be omitted. Further, it goes without saying that the plug-type optical connector and the jack-type optical connector described above may have a configuration in which their internal structures are interchanged. In short, when the coupling nut is removed, the permanent magnet is moved to switch its magnetic pole. It is sufficient that a reverse magnetic field acts on the Faraday rotator to automatically stop the light emitted from the analyzer.

[0013]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention,
When the optical connector is attached or detached, the emitted light can be automatically stopped when the connection is released, so that it is extremely industrially possible to prevent damage to the naked eye due to light and to ensure worker safety in a fail-safe manner. Demonstrate useful effects.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded side sectional view showing a configuration of an embodiment according to the present invention before coupling.

FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view after the coupling of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 2b is an engagement nut 2e is a polarizer 2f is a Faraday rotator (45 °) 2g is an analyzer 2h is a permanent magnet 2j is a compression spring

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A polarizing plane in a predetermined direction with respect to a Faraday rotator (2f) disposed between a polarizer (2e) and an analyzer (2g), which transmits only light having a fixed plane of polarization. Permanent magnets whose poles are axially opposite each other to give a rotating magnetic field
(2h) is provided so as to be movable in the inner periphery of a coupling nut (2b) to be connected to the connector by a compression spring (2j) in one direction, and a magnetic field is generated when the coupling of the coupling nut (2b) is released. An optical connector characterized by stopping light emitted from the analyzer (2g) by switching in the opposite direction.