KR101135187B1 - Optical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention has a simple structure to improve workability in the field, the ferrule is inserted into the optical fiber and polished in cross section, a housing surrounding the ferrule and having a connection space therein, the connection space is provided in the optical fiber And a refractive index adjusting gel for connecting the optical fiber inserted into the housing, and a curing unit for curing the refractive index adjusting gel to connect the optical fiber and the optical fiber.

Optical fiber, housing, refractive index custom gel, ultraviolet

Description

Optical connector {OPTICAL CONNECTOR}

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an optical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a schematic view for explaining an operating state of the optical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The present invention relates to an optical connector. More particularly, the present invention relates to a field-assembled optical connector that can be easily connected to the optical fiber at the workplace.

In general, cables using optical fibers are used for long-distance transmission and high-speed information transmission, and optical fibers of different cables are connected using optical connectors.

The optical connector includes a ferrule for mounting and centering an optical fiber in the connector and a plurality of housing components surrounding the ferrule.

Recently, there is a demand for an optical connector that can be assembled at a work site in preparation for the FTTH (Fiber To The Home) network, which is a next generation optical subscriber network structure.

In the case of the field-assembled optical connector, the most important consideration is a poor working environment. Since it is necessary to work on a pole or a wall, it is difficult to connect by a simple method without tools alone, but maintain the connection quality.

However, conventional field-assembled optical connectors, which consist of a ferrule polishing structure, a fusion splicing structure within a ferrule, or a mechanical connection structure within a ferrule, have a problem in that the structure is complicated and work efficiency is degraded in connecting optical fibers. It was hard to do.

That is, in the case of the ferrule polished structure, the cross-sectioned optical fiber is inserted into the ferrule, the optical connector components are assembled, the epoxy in the ferrule is injected, the UV cured, the optical fiber derived from the ferrule cross-section is cut, and the ferrule cross-section is polished. Or polishing with a polishing machine. In this process, when polishing the ferrule cross-section, there are many differences in quality depending on the skill and working conditions of the worker, and the working conditions such as commercial power supply are difficult and time-consuming when grinding the machine, which reduces work efficiency.

In addition, in the case of fusion splicing the optical fiber in the ferrule, a ferrule in which the optical fiber is inserted is prepared, and the optical fiber to be connectorized is inserted into the ferrule fusion portion in the optical connector to fusion splic the optical fiber in the ferrule and assemble the components. However, the above structure has a critical weakness that an expensive fusion splicer is required in the working process and a fusion splicer should be applied differently according to the field assembly model.

In addition, in the mechanical connection structure, the ferrule into which the optical fiber is inserted is prepared, and the optical fiber processed by the end face is inserted to the connection part of the ferrule to make the mechanical connection between the optical fiber in the ferrule and the optical fiber to be optically connected and assemble the components.

However, the above structure still requires a connection tool, and the optical connector, which requires some connection tools, has a weak tensile force.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above problems, the object of the present invention is to provide an optical connector that has a simple structure and improved workability in the field.

In addition, another object of the present invention is to provide an optical connector capable of improving the connection quality of an optical fiber.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a ferrule in which an optical fiber is inserted and polished in cross section, a housing surrounding the ferrule and having a connection space therein, and provided in the connection space to be inserted into the optical fiber and the housing. Refractive index tailoring gel for connecting the refractive index tailoring gel, comprising a curing unit for connecting the optical fiber and the optical fiber.

The curing unit may be a structure for curing the refractive index custom gel by irradiation with light.

The hardened part is not particularly limited to visible light, ultraviolet light or infrared light with respect to light emitted, and may preferably have a structure for irradiating ultraviolet light.

Accordingly, by irradiating UV light on the refractive index custom gel, it is possible to simply connect the optical connector in the field.

The index matching gel prevents the formation of an air layer between two optical fibers connected to a material that is sensitive to a light source, thereby minimizing the change in refractive index.

The hardening part may be provided separately from the housing and may be integrally installed in the housing.

The curing unit may include a light emitting diode emitting light, a power supply unit for applying power to the light emitting diode, and a switch.

The hardening unit may further include a condenser lens for concentrating light of the light emitting diode.

In addition, the housing may be further provided with a structure to easily send the light irradiated from the curing portion to the refractive index custom gel.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily implement the present invention. As those skilled in the art would realize, the described embodiments may be modified in various different ways, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an optical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining the operating state of the optical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the following description, an SC (Subscriber Connector) type optical connector is described as an example, but the present invention is not limited thereto and may be applied to various types of optical connectors.

According to the above drawings, the optical connector 10 is provided for connecting to a coupling device or another connecting connector, and is provided in the housing 11 which is a protective outer jacket and inside the housing 11 so as to be connected to one side of the housing 11. Ferrule 12 protruding outward through the end, the tube 13 is inserted into the optical fiber connected to the connector is installed on the other end of the housing 11, the tube 13 is wrapped around the other end of the housing 11 And a boot 14 for supporting the optical fiber therethrough.

The optical connector 10 is connected to the refractive index adjusting gel 20 installed in the housing 11 and the refractive index adjusting gel 20 to be connected between the optical fiber in the ferrule 12 and the optical fiber passing through the tube 13. It includes a curing unit 40 for curing the refractive index custom gel 20 by irradiating light instantaneously.

For convenience of description, the optical fiber inserted into the ferrule 12 is called an optical fiber 30, and an optical fiber to be connected in the housing 11 with the optical fiber in the ferrule 12 is called an optical core 31.

Accordingly, when the refractive index custom gel 20 is irradiated with light, the refractive index custom gel 20 is instantaneously cured and the optical fiber 30 connected through the refractive index custom gel 20 with the same or similar connection quality as the fusion splicing. And the optical core 31 will be connected.

The housing 11 is suitably designed to support the ferrule 12, and therein, a connection for connecting the optical fiber 30 inserted into the ferrule 12 and the optical fiber 31 to be connectorized coupled to the connector. The space 15 is provided, and the refractive index adjusting gel 20 for connecting the optical fiber 30 and the optical core 31 is embedded in the connection space 15.

In addition, the housing 11 further includes a hole 16 communicating with the connection space 15 on one side thereof, and the light irradiated from the hardened portion of the housing 11 through the hole 16 is inside the housing 11. It can be easily received by the refractive index adjusting gel 20 of.

The ferrule 12 is a cylindrical structure for supporting the optical fiber 30 inserted into the inside, and is generally made of a material such as ceramic and protrudes outward from the front end of the housing 11 and is coupled to the inner end of the housing 11. The flange is formed is tightly coupled with the housing (11).

The outer end of the ferrule 12 is polished in advance in smooth cross section. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the labor of machining the cross section of the ferrule 12 in the workplace.

The optical fiber 30 inserted into the ferrule 12 is pre-coupled for connection with the optical core 31 to be connected, and an inner end thereof extends to the connection space 15 formed in the housing 11.

The inner end of the optical fiber line 31 supported by the tube 13 also extends into the connection space 15 of the housing 11 and is connected to the refractive index adjusting gel 20 inserted into the connection space 15.

On the other hand, the hardened portion is formed in the structure 41, the light emitting diode (LED: 42) which is provided in the structure 41 and emits light, and is provided at the tip of the structure 41, the light emission A condenser lens 43 for concentrating the light of the diode 42, a power supply 44 for applying power to the light emitting diode 42, and an outer surface of the structure 41 to be turned on to turn on the power supply 44. Switch 45 for turning on / off.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the structure of the hardened part separately from the housing 11 will be described as an example, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and each component constituting the hardened part is installed in the housing 11 to provide a housing 11 with the housing 11. A structure in which the hardened portion is integrated is also applicable.

When the switch 45 is operated, the light emitting diode 42 is operated to emit light, and the light is concentrated on the refractive index adjusting gel 20 through the condenser lens 43 to cure the refractive index adjusting gel 20. do.

Herein, the wavelength of the light emitted through the light emitting diodes 42 is not particularly limited, and in this embodiment, a structure for emitting ultraviolet rays is applied.

Hereinafter, the operation of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 2.

The optical connector 10 according to the present embodiment is an optical jumper cord connected between an optical star cluster and an optical fiber network and an optical transmission device and a subscriber optical transmission device in the construction of a subscriber optical communication network. ONT, ONU, etc.) is installed, where the clusters for receiving subscriber optical cables are installed where the optical fiber 30 can be directly connected in the field.

First, the ferrule 12 into which the optical fiber 30 is inserted is prepared by polishing the cross section smoothly.

In addition, the ferrule 12 is mounted in the housing 11 and the inner end of the optical fiber 30 inserted into the ferrule 12 extends to the connection space 15 of the housing 11 so that the ferrule 12 is inserted into the connection space 15. It is connected to the refractive index matching gel 20.

The optical fiber wire 31 connected to the optical fiber 30 is inserted into the other end of the housing 11. The tube 13 is inserted into the optical core 31 to support the optical core 31, and the tube 13 is mounted in the housing 11 and the boot 14 is covered by the outside of the housing 11.

Here, like the optical fiber 30, the optical core wire 31 also extends to the connection space 15 in the housing 11 and is connected to the refractive index adjusting gel 20 located in the connection space 15.

As such, when the optical core 31 and the optical fiber 30 are aligned in the connection space 15 of the housing 11 with the refractive index adjusting gel 20 interposed therebetween, the optical fiber is irradiated with ultraviolet rays to the refractive index adjusting gel 20. The 31 and the optical fiber 30 can be easily connected.

Ultraviolet irradiation is carried out through the structure 41 provided separately from the housing 11, the light emitting diode 42 installed in the structure 41 when the power is applied by operating the switch 45 provided in the structure 41 Is emitted and the light is collected and irradiated to one place through the condenser lens 43.

Accordingly, the operator can locate the structure 41 at an appropriate distance from the housing 11 to concentrate the ultraviolet ray on the refractive index adjusting gel 20 located inside the hole formed in the housing 11.

When the ultraviolet ray is irradiated onto the refractive index adjusting gel 20, the refractive index adjusting gel 20 is instantaneously cured to connect the optical fiber 30 and the optical core 31 with the same or similar quality as that of fusion.

While exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described as described above, various modifications and other embodiments may be made by those skilled in the art. Such variations and other embodiments will be considered and included in the appended claims, all without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to simply and conveniently connect and use the optical core wire only by light irradiation at the work site, thereby reducing the time, manpower and cost required for the work.

In addition, the unskilled workers can also easily work to reduce the work deviation according to the skill.

In addition, the connection quality can be increased to a level corresponding to the fusion splicing.

Claims (8)

A ferrule in which an optical fiber is inserted and polished in cross section, A housing surrounding the ferrule and having a connection space therein; A refractive index adjusting gel provided in the connection space for connecting the optical fiber and the optical fiber inserted into the housing; Curing unit for connecting the optical fiber and the optical fiber by curing the refractive index custom gel Including, The hardened part is a structure for irradiating light to the refractive index custom gel Optical connector. delete The method according to claim 1, The hardening unit is an optical connector that is integrally installed in the housing. The method according to claim 1, The hardening unit is provided separately from the housing. The method according to any one of claims 1, 3 and 4, The hardening unit includes a light emitting diode emitting light, a power supply unit and a switch for applying power to the light emitting diode. 6. The method of claim 5, The hardening unit includes a condenser lens for concentrating light of the light emitting diode. 6. The method of claim 5, The light emitting diode is an optical connector for emitting ultraviolet light. 6. The method of claim 5, The housing has an optical connector formed in the side communication with the connection space.

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