CN116560008A - Optical communication device and method for fixing optical fiber cable - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an optical communication device and a method of fixing an optical fiber cable. In the optical fiber cable, when the cover unit is attached to the housing, the other end of the optical fiber cable is pulled out from the outlet of the housing to the outside, the housing includes a plurality of concave portions formed in mutually different concave shapes, and the optical fiber cable is attached to the plurality of concave portions; and a first rib erected on an inner surface of the housing so as to be positioned between the connector and the outlet, the cover unit including a second rib erected on the inner surface, and the second rib sandwiching the optical fiber cable attached to the recess between the second rib and the first rib when the cover unit is attached to the housing.

Description

Optical communication device and method for fixing optical fiber cable

The present application is based on and claims from japanese patent application No. 2022-016109 filed on 4/2/2022, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an optical communication device, a method of fixing an optical fiber cable, and the like, and particularly relates to an optical communication device having a structure in which a cover unit covers a connection portion of a connector and an optical fiber cable, a method of fixing an optical fiber cable, and the like.

Background

An optical communication apparatus is known in which an optical fiber cable is pulled out and optical communication is performed with an opposing device via the optical fiber cable.

In general, an optical fiber cable pulled out from an optical communication apparatus is fixed to the optical communication apparatus by using a dedicated member for fixation. Since this dedicated component is prepared for each fiber optic cable, it is primarily compatible with only one type of fiber optic cable. In this case, the number of types of optical fiber cables used in the optical communication apparatus is limited to one, or it is necessary to prepare a plurality of dedicated members to fix each optical fiber cable having a different shape or a different wire diameter and wire width. Although there are dedicated members for fixing optical fiber cables having different diameters, line widths and shapes, in this case, there is a problem in that a plurality of dedicated members are provided, resulting in an increase in cost. Since the fixing unit for fixing the optical fiber cable is a separate member, it is necessary to provide a member for losing or pressing the fixing unit when fixing the optical fiber cable.

JP 2017-009828, A relates to a method of fixing a fiber optic cable of an optical communication device and proposes sandwiching the fiber optic cable between a housing of the optical communication device and a cover fitted to the housing to fix the fiber optic cable. More specifically, as shown in fig. 9, JP 2017-009828A proposes providing a pair of plate-shaped protrusions 400 in a housing 300 to which a cover is fitted, and allowing an optical fiber cable 1 to pass between the pair of plate-shaped protrusions 400. JP 2017-009828A proposes that, when the cover is fitted to the housing 300, the pair of plate-shaped protrusions 400 are elastically deformed due to the protruding shape of the cover, and the optical fiber cable 1 is fixed between the pair of plate-shaped protrusions 400.

According to the method of fixing the optical fiber cable proposed in JP 2017-009828A, when the cover is fitted to the housing 300, the optical fiber cable 1 and the connection portion of the connector of the optical fiber cable are covered with the cover, and the optical fiber cable 1 can be fixed to the housing 300.

Disclosure of Invention

In view of the above-described problems, an exemplary object of the present invention is to provide an optical communication device, a method of fixing an optical fiber cable, and the like, which are capable of fixing an optical fiber cable without preparing a plurality of dedicated members for fixing each optical fiber cable having different shapes and different wire diameters and wire widths.

According to an exemplary aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical communication apparatus including: a housing having a rail on a surface thereof; a connector provided in the housing and to which one end of the optical fiber cable is connected; and a cover unit that slides along the rail and is attached to the housing, the cover unit covering the connector and the connection portion of the optical fiber cable in a state of being fitted to the housing, wherein in the optical fiber cable, when the cover unit is attached to the housing, the other end of the optical fiber cable is pulled out from the outlet of the housing to the outside, the housing includes a plurality of concave portions that are formed in mutually different concave shapes, and the optical fiber cable is attached to the plurality of concave portions; and a first rib standing on an inner surface of the housing in such a manner as to be positioned between the connector and the outlet, the cover unit including a second rib standing on the inner surface of the housing, and sandwiching the optical fiber cable attached to the recess between the second rib and the first rib when the cover unit is attached to the housing.

According to another exemplary aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of fixing an optical fiber cable having one end connected to a connector of an optical communication device and the other end pulled out from the optical communication device, the optical communication device including: a housing having a rail on a surface thereof; a connector provided in the housing and to which one end of the optical fiber cable is connected; and a cover unit that slides along the rail and is attached to the housing and covers the connection portion of the connector and the optical fiber cable in a state of being fitted to the housing, the method including: attaching an optical fiber cable to any one of a plurality of concave portions of a first rib formed in mutually different concave shapes, the first rib standing on an inner surface of the housing in such a manner as to be positioned between the connector and the outlet; and sandwiching the optical fiber cable between one recess to which the optical fiber cable of the first rib is attached and a second rib standing on an inner surface of the cover unit when the cover unit is slid along the rail of the housing to attach the cover unit to the housing.

Drawings

Exemplary features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

fig. 1A is an exploded perspective view showing an optical communication device according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 1B is a perspective view showing an optical communication apparatus according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 1C is a perspective view showing a cover unit of an optical communication apparatus according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of fig. 1B.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line B-B in fig. 1B.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view for explaining the shape of the vicinity of the rib 10 of the optical communication apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5A is an exploded perspective view showing an optical communication device according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5B is a perspective view showing an optical communication apparatus according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5C is a perspective view showing a cover unit of an optical communication apparatus according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view for explaining a second aspect of a method of fixing an optical fiber cable according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view for explaining a third aspect of a method of fixing an optical fiber cable according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view for explaining a first aspect of a method of fixing an optical fiber cable according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view for explaining an optical communication device of JP 2017-009828A.

Detailed Description

Preferred exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First example embodiment

First, an optical communication apparatus and a method of fixing an optical fiber cable according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described.

Fig. 1A is an exploded perspective view showing an optical communication device according to a first exemplary embodiment. Fig. 1B is a perspective view showing an optical communication apparatus according to a first exemplary embodiment. Fig. 1C is a perspective view showing a cover unit of an optical communication apparatus according to a first exemplary embodiment. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of fig. 1B. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line B-B in fig. 1B. Fig. 4 is a sectional view for explaining the shape of the vicinity of the rib 10 of the optical communication apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The optical communication device 100 shown in fig. 1A and 1B is a communication device that inputs and outputs an optical signal to and from an opposing optical communication device via the optical fiber cable 1. The optical communication device 100 shown in fig. 1A and 1B includes a housing 101 and a cover unit 20 attached to the housing 101 and fitted to the housing 101.

The housing 101 includes a rib 10 as an example of a first rib. The rib 10 stands on the housing 101 so as to be integrated with the housing 101. The recess 11 is formed in a tip portion of the rib 10 as will be described in detail later. In particular, in the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of recesses 11 are formed in the tip portions of the ribs 10. The housing 101 incorporates a circuit board (not shown). One end of the optical fiber cable 1 is connected to a connector 31 mounted on a circuit board. As shown in fig. 1B, the other end of the optical fiber cable 1 is pulled out from the outlet 2 of the optical communication apparatus 100 to the outside.

The fixing structure of the optical fiber cable of the present exemplary embodiment is a structure for fixing the optical fiber cable 1 to the housing 101 so that the optical fiber cable 1 does not move even when an external force is applied to the optical fiber cable 1 connected to the optical communication apparatus 100. In other words, even when an external force is applied to the optical fiber cable 1 connected to the optical communication apparatus 100, the optical fiber cable 1 is fixed to the housing 101 in the following manner: i.e. the external force does not reach the connector 31 of the housing 101 or the connection portion of the connector 31 and the optical fiber cable 1 or the stress is reduced.

The cover unit 20 fitted to the housing 101 is for covering the connector 31 mounted on a circuit board (not shown) of the optical communication device 100 and the connection portion of the connector 31 and the optical fiber cable 1. The cover unit 20 includes a rib 12 as an example of a second rib. The rib 12 stands on the cover unit 20 so as to be integrated with the cover unit 20. As shown in fig. 1C, the cover unit 20 includes ribs 12 and hooks 21. When the cover unit 20 is attached to the housing 101, the hooks 21 are engaged with the opening portions or the recesses on the side of the housing 101. In the present exemplary embodiment, a case where the rib 12 and the hook 21 are integrally formed with the cover unit 20 is shown.

In the optical communication device 100 of the present exemplary embodiment, the optical fiber cable 1 having one end connected to the connector 31 is placed on any one of the concave portions 11 of the rib 10. In this state, the cover unit 20 slides in the direction of the arrow in fig. 1A (a direction substantially parallel to the optical fiber cable 1) to attach the cover unit 20 to the housing 101. When the cover unit 20 slides and is attached to the housing 101, a rail 32 for guiding the sliding is formed at a position in contact with the cover unit 20 of the housing 101. The rail 32 is formed in a stepped shape in the housing 101 at a position in contact with the cover unit 20, for example. When the cover unit 20 is attached to the housing 101, the rib 12 of the cover unit 20 presses the optical fiber cable 1. When the cover unit 20 is fitted into the housing 101, the optical fiber cable 1 is held in the housing 101 by sandwiching the optical fiber cable 1 between the rib 10 of the housing 101 and the rib 12 of the cover unit 20 (see fig. 2 and 3).

In the present exemplary embodiment, the cover unit 20 slides in a direction substantially parallel to the optical fiber cable 1 to be fitted to the housing 101. Accordingly, the optical fiber cable 1 is held by being sandwiched between the rib 10 and the rib 12, and the optical fiber cable 1 can be fixed while fixing the cover unit 20.

Next, details of the fixing structure of the optical fiber cable in the optical communication apparatus 100 according to the present exemplary embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in fig. 4, a plurality of recesses 11 are formed in tip portions of the ribs 10 integrally formed with the housing 101. Fig. 4 shows a case in which a plurality of concave portions 11 are formed in different shapes. When the housing 101 and the cover unit 20 are assembled, the rib 12 integrally formed with the cover unit 20 shown in fig. 1C is provided at the same position as the recess 11.

Fiber optic cables include fiber optic cables having different shapes, different wire diameters, and different wire widths. By providing the recess 11 of the rib 10 for each optical fiber cable having different shapes, diameters and line widths, a plurality of optical fiber cables of various types can be fixed only with the cover unit 20 regardless of the shapes, diameters and line widths of the optical fiber cables connected to the optical communication apparatus 100.

In the present exemplary embodiment, as an example of the plurality of concave portions 11, a case where three concave portions 11 are formed is shown. For convenience of description, the three concave portions 11 will be referred to as concave portions 11a, 11b, and 11c. The three recesses 11 shown in fig. 4 differ from each other in shape. The width of the concave portion 11a formed in the rib 10 is referred to as Wa, the depth of the concave portion 11a is referred to as Da, the width of the concave portion 11b is referred to as Wb, the depth of the concave portion 11b is referred to as Db, the width of the concave portion 11c is referred to as Wc, and the depth of the concave portion 11c is referred to as Dc. At this time, in the shapes shown in fig. 3 and 4, for example, the depth Da of the concave portion 11a < the depth Db of the concave portion 11b < the depth Dc of the concave portion 11c, and the width Wa of the concave portion 11a and the width Wc of the concave portion 11c < the width Wb of the concave portion 11b are satisfied.

Fig. 3 shows a state in which the cover unit 20 is attached to the housing 101 in a state in which the optical fiber cable 1 is placed in the recess 11 corresponding to the recess 11b in fig. 4. That is, fig. 4 shows a state in which the rib 12 of the cover unit 20 presses the optical fiber cable 1 at a position corresponding to the recess 11b and the optical fiber cable 1 is sandwiched and fixed by the rib 10 of the housing 101 and the rib 12 of the cover unit 20.

The concave portion 11a formed in the rib 10 may be designed and manufactured in consideration of the type of the optical fiber cable 1 to be fixed used in the optical communication apparatus 100, for example, a wire diameter, a wire width, a cross-sectional shape, and the like. That is, for each shape/line diameter/line width of the optical fiber cable 1 used in the optical communication device 100, the concave portion 11 (a plurality of concave portions 11) is provided in the rib 10. By providing the same number of ribs 12 of the cover unit 20 as the number of the recesses 11 so as to correspond to this design, even in the optical fiber cable 1 having a different shape, a different wire diameter, and a different wire width, the optical fiber cable 1 can be pressed and held by the ribs 10 and 12.

(description of the operation)

As a description of the operation, a method of fixing the optical fiber cable according to the present exemplary embodiment will be described in order. First, one end of the optical fiber cable 1 is connected to a connector 31 mounted on a circuit board (not shown) of the optical communication apparatus 100. Then, after the optical fiber cable 1 is placed in the appropriate recess 11 of the rib 10 integrally formed with the housing 101, the other end of the optical fiber cable 1 is pulled out of the optical communication device 100 from the outlet 2.

Next, the cover unit 20 covering the connector 30 and the connection portion of the optical fiber cable 1 slides in the horizontal direction with respect to the optical fiber cable 1 (as indicated by an arrow in fig. 1A) and is attached to the housing 101. The hooks 21 of the cover unit 20 are engaged with the opening portion and the recess of the housing 101. By assembling the housing 101 and the cover unit 20, the optical fiber cable 1 is pressed by the recess 11 of the rib 10 of the housing 101 and the rib 12 provided in the cover unit 20. When the hooks 21 provided in the cover unit 20 are fitted to the housing 101, the optical fiber cable 1 is also fixed to the housing 101 by the recesses 11 provided in the ribs 10 and the ribs 12 provided in the cover unit 20 according to the fixation of the cover unit 20.

(effects of example embodiments)

According to the present exemplary embodiment, when the cover unit 20 covering the connector 31 and the connection portion of the optical fiber cable 1 is attached to the housing 101, the optical fiber cable 1 is fixed between the recess 11 of the rib 10 of the housing 101 and the rib 12 of the cover unit 20 at the position of the recess 11. As a result, by fitting the cover unit 20 to the housing 101, the optical fiber cable 1 pulled out from the housing 101 can be fixed between the housing 101 and the cover unit 20.

According to the present exemplary embodiment, the concave portion 11 provided in the rib 10 is designed to be matched in shape for each optical fiber cable having a different shape and a different wire diameter and wire width, so that the optical communication apparatus 100 can use a plurality of types of optical fiber cables. At this time, the optical fiber cables having different shapes and different wire diameters and wire widths can be fixed between the housing 101 and the cover unit 20 without preparing a plurality of dedicated fixing members for each optical fiber cable having different shapes and different wire diameters and wire widths, and without changing the shape of the fixing unit for each optical fiber cable.

Second example embodiment

Next, an optical communication apparatus and an optical fiber cable fixing method according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described. Elements similar to those in the first exemplary embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Fig. 5A is an exploded perspective view showing an optical communication device according to a second exemplary embodiment. Fig. 5B is a perspective view showing an optical communication apparatus according to a second exemplary embodiment. Fig. 5C is a perspective view showing a cover unit of an optical communication apparatus according to a second exemplary embodiment. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of fig. 1B. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line B-B in fig. 1B. Fig. 4 is a sectional view for explaining the shape of the vicinity of the rib 10 of the optical communication apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view for explaining a second aspect of a method of fixing an optical fiber cable according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view for explaining a third aspect of a method of fixing an optical fiber cable according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 8 is a sectional view for explaining a first aspect of a method of fixing an optical fiber cable according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Similar to the first exemplary embodiment, the optical communication apparatus 200 of the present exemplary embodiment is a communication device that inputs and outputs optical signals to and from an opposing optical communication apparatus via the optical fiber cable 1. The optical communication apparatus 200 as shown in fig. 5A and 5B includes a housing 201 and a cover unit 50 as in the first exemplary embodiment. The cover unit 50 is attached to the housing 201 and is fitted to the housing 201.

The optical communication apparatus 200 of the present exemplary embodiment is different from the optical communication apparatus 100 of the first exemplary embodiment in the direction in which the cover unit 50 is attached to the housing 201. More specifically, when the direction in which the optical fiber cable 1 is pulled out is set as a reference, the optical communication device 200 of the present exemplary embodiment and the optical communication device 100 of the first exemplary embodiment are different from each other in the direction in which the cover unit 50 is attached to the housing 201.

The optical communication apparatus 200 according to the present exemplary embodiment and the optical communication apparatus 100 according to the first exemplary embodiment are different from each other in the shape, arrangement, and the like of the rib provided in the housing 201 and the rib provided in the cover unit 50, so that the attachment of the cover unit 50 in these directions can be handled. A more specific description will be given below.

The housing 201 includes a rib 40 as an example of a first rib. The ribs 40 stand on the housing 201 so as to be integrated with the housing 201. A recess 41 is formed in a tip portion of the rib 40 as will be described in detail later. In particular, in the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, as in the first exemplary embodiment, a plurality of concave portions 41 are formed in the tip portions of the ribs 40. The housing 201 incorporates a circuit board (not shown). One end of the optical fiber cable 1 is connected to a connector 31 mounted on a circuit board. As shown in fig. 5B, the other end of the optical fiber cable 1 is pulled out from the outlet 2 of the optical communication apparatus 200 to the outside.

The fixing structure of the optical fiber cable of the present exemplary embodiment is a structure for fixing the optical fiber cable 1 to the housing 201 such that the optical fiber cable 1 does not move even when an external force is applied to the optical fiber cable 1 connected to the optical communication apparatus 200. In other words, the fixing structure of the optical fiber cable of the present exemplary embodiment is a structure that fixes the optical fiber cable 1 to the housing 201 in the following manner: that is, even when an external force is applied to the optical fiber cable 1 connected to the optical communication device 200, the external force does not reach the connection portion of the housing 201 and the connector 31 or the stress is reduced.

The cover unit 50 fitted to the housing 201 serves to cover the connector 31 connected to the circuit board (not shown) of the optical communication device 200 and the connection portion of the optical fiber cable 1. The cover unit 50 includes the rib 42 as an example of a second rib that stands integrally with the cover unit 50. The rib 42 stands on the cover unit 50 so as to be integrated with the cover unit 50. As shown in fig. 5C, the cover unit 50 includes the rib 42 and the hook 51. In the present exemplary embodiment (in which the hooks 51 are engaged with the opening portions or the recesses on the side of the housing 201 when the cover unit 50 is attached to the housing 201), a case is shown in which the ribs 42 or the hooks 51 are integrally molded with the cover unit 50, as in the first exemplary embodiment.

In the optical communication device 200 of the present exemplary embodiment, the optical fiber cable 1, one end of which is connected to the housing 201 through the connector 31, is placed on any one of the concave portions 41 of the ribs 40. In this state, the cover unit 50 slides in the direction of the arrow in fig. 5A (a direction substantially perpendicular to the optical fiber cable 1) to attach the cover unit 50 to the housing 201. When the cover unit 50 slides and is attached to the housing 201, a rail 33 for guiding the sliding is formed at a position in contact with the cover unit 50 of the housing 201. The rail 33 is formed in a stepped shape in the housing 201 at a position in contact with the cover unit 50, for example. When the cover unit 50 is attached to the housing 201, the rib 42 of the cover unit 50 presses the optical fiber cable 1, and when the cover unit 50 is fitted into the housing 201, the optical fiber cable 1 is sandwiched between the rib 40 of the housing 201 and the rib 42 of the cover unit 50 to hold the optical fiber cable 1 in the housing 201 (see fig. 8).

In the present exemplary embodiment, the cover unit 50 slides in a direction substantially perpendicular to the optical fiber cable 1 to be fitted to the housing 201. Accordingly, the optical fiber cable 1 is held by being sandwiched between the rib 40 and the rib 42, and the optical fiber cable 1 can be fixed while fixing the cover unit 50.

Next, details of the fixing structure of the optical fiber cable of the optical communication apparatus 200 according to the present exemplary embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in fig. 4, a plurality of recesses 41 are formed in tip portions of the ribs 40 integrally formed with the housing 101. Here, the plurality of concave portions 41 have different shapes. When the housing 201 and the cover unit 50 are assembled, the rib 42 integrally formed with the cover unit 50 shown in fig. 5C is provided at the same position as the recess 41.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the sliding direction of the cover unit 50 is set to be substantially perpendicular to the direction of the optical fiber cable 1, and for each optical fiber cable having a different shape, a different wire diameter, and a different wire width, the rib 40 provided in the housing 201 is arranged to be offset from the optical fiber cable 1 in the horizontal direction. According to this design, the ribs 40 are provided with recesses 41. A recess 41 is formed for each optical fiber cable having a different shape, a different wire diameter, and a different wire width. As shown in fig. 5C, the ribs 42 provided in the cover unit 50 are also arranged offset with respect to the horizontal direction of the optical fiber cable 1 so as to match the arrangement of the ribs 40 of the housing 201. In other words, in the present exemplary embodiment, the rib 40 of the housing 201 has a stepped shape in plan view with respect to the housing 201. The plurality of concave portions 11 of the first example embodiment are formed so as to be arranged in a straight line in a plan view with respect to the housing 101. Meanwhile, the plurality of concave portions 41 of the second example embodiment are formed at positions offset from each other from a straight line in a plan view with respect to the housing 201.

Fiber optic cables include fiber optic cables having different shapes, different wire diameters, and different wire widths. In the present exemplary embodiment, by providing the recess 41 of the rib 40 for each optical fiber cable having a different shape, a different wire diameter, and a different wire width, a plurality of optical fiber cables of various types can be fixed only by the cover unit 50 regardless of the shape, wire diameter, and wire width of the optical fiber cable connected to the optical communication apparatus 200.

In the present exemplary embodiment, as an example of the plurality of concave portions 41, a case where three concave portions 41 are formed is shown. Fig. 5A and 8 show a state in which the cover unit 50 is attached to the housing 201 in a state in which the optical fiber cable 1 is placed in the recess 41 positioned at the middle among the three recesses 41. That is, fig. 8 shows a state in which the rib 42 of the cover unit 50 presses the optical fiber cable 1 at a position corresponding to the recess 41 in fig. 8 and the optical fiber cable 1 is sandwiched and fixed by the rib 40 of the housing 201 and the rib 42 of the cover unit 50.

The concave portion 41 formed in the rib 40 may be designed and manufactured in consideration of the type of the optical fiber cable 1 fixed to the housing 201, such as a wire diameter, a wire width, a cross-sectional shape, and the like. The optical fiber cable 1 is used in the optical communication device 200. That is, for each shape/line diameter/line width of the optical fiber cable 1 used in the optical communication device 200, the concave portion 41 (a plurality of concave portions 41) is provided in the rib 40. By providing the same number of ribs 42 of the cover unit 50 as the number of the recesses 41 so as to match this design, even in the optical fiber cable 1 having a different shape, a different wire diameter, and a different wire width, the optical fiber cable 1 can be pressed and held by the ribs 40 and 42.

(description of the operation)

As a description of the operation, a method of fixing the optical fiber cable according to the present exemplary embodiment will be described in order. First, the connector 31 of one end of the optical fiber cable 1 is connected to a connector mounted on a circuit board (not shown) of the optical communication apparatus 200. Then, after the optical fiber cable 1 is placed in the appropriate recess 41 of the rib 40 integrally formed with the housing 201, the other end of the optical fiber cable 1 is pulled out of the optical communication device 200 from the outlet 2.

Next, the cover unit 50 covering the connector 31 and the connection portion of the optical fiber cable 1 slides in a direction perpendicular to the optical fiber cable 1 (as indicated by an arrow in fig. 5A) and is attached to the housing 201. The hooks 51 of the cover unit 50 are engaged with the opening portion and the recess of the housing 201. By assembling the housing 201 and the cover unit 50, the optical fiber cable 1 is pressed by the recess 41 of the rib 40 of the housing 201 and the rib 42 provided in the cover unit 50. When the hooks 51 provided in the cover unit 50 are fitted to the housing 201, the optical fiber cable 1 is also fixed to the housing 201 by the recesses 41 provided in the ribs 40 and the ribs 42 provided in the cover unit 50 according to the fixation of the cover unit 50.

In the present exemplary embodiment, a case will be described in which the optical fiber cable 1b is used in the optical communication apparatus 200. Here, the optical fiber cable 1b is different in type from the optical fiber cable 1 shown in fig. 5A and the first exemplary embodiment. The cross-sectional shape of the optical fiber cable 1 is, for example, circular, while the cross-sectional shape of the optical fiber cable 1b is different, such as rectangular or H-shaped, or the width or thickness of the optical fiber cable 1b is larger or smaller than the diameter of the optical fiber cable 1. Fig. 6 is a view for describing an aspect of a fixing method of the optical fiber cable 1b different from the optical fiber cable 1. Referring to fig. 6, the connector 31 of one end of the optical fiber cable 1b is connected to a connector mounted on a circuit board (not shown) of the optical communication device 200. Then, after the optical fiber cable 1b is placed in the most appropriate front side recess 41 among the three recesses 41 of the rib 40, the other end of the optical fiber cable 1b is pulled out of the outlet 2 to the outside of the optical communication device 200.

Next, the cover unit 50 covering the connection portion of the connector 31 and the optical fiber cable 1b slides in a direction perpendicular to the optical fiber cable 1 (as indicated by an arrow in fig. 6) and is attached to the housing 201. The hooks 51 of the cover unit 50 are engaged with the opening portion and the recess of the housing 201. When the housing 201 and the cover unit 50 are assembled, the optical fiber cable 1b is pressed by the recess 41 of the rib 40 of the housing 201 and the rib 42 provided in the cover unit 50. When the hooks 51 provided in the cover unit 50 are fitted to the housing 201, the optical fiber cable 1b is also fixed to the housing 201 by the recesses 41 provided in the ribs 40 and the ribs 42 provided in the cover unit 50 according to the fixation of the cover unit 50. Therefore, even when the optical fiber cable 1b different from the optical fiber cable 1 is used, the optical fiber cable 1b can be fixed.

In the present exemplary embodiment, a case where the optical fiber cable 1c different from the optical fiber cables 1 and 1b is used in the optical communication apparatus 200 will be further described. Here, the optical fiber cable 1c is different in type from the optical fiber cable 1 and the optical fiber cable 1b. This type of difference is a difference in the cross-sectional shape of the fiber optic cable, or a difference in the diameter, width or thickness of the fiber optic cable, which is larger or smaller. Fig. 7 is a view for describing an aspect of a method of fixing the optical fiber cable 1c. The method of fixing the optical fiber cable 1c is different from the method of fixing the optical fiber cables 1 and 1b. In fig. 7, a connector 31 at one end of the optical fiber cable 1c is connected to a connector mounted on a circuit board (not shown) of the optical communication apparatus 200. Then, after the optical fiber cable 1c is placed in the most appropriate recess 41 on the rear side among the three recesses 41 of the rib 40, the other end of the optical fiber cable 1c is pulled out from the outlet 2 to the outside of the optical communication device 200.

Next, the cover unit 50 covering the connection portion of the connector 31 and the optical fiber cable 1c slides in a direction perpendicular to the optical fiber cable 1c (as indicated by an arrow in fig. 7) and is attached to the housing 201. The hooks 51 of the cover unit 50 are engaged with the opening portion and the recess of the housing 201. When the housing 201 and the cover unit 50 are assembled, the optical fiber cable 1c is pressed by the recess 41 of the rib 40 of the housing 201 and the rib 42 provided in the cover unit 50. When the hooks 51 provided in the cover unit 50 are fitted to the housing 201, the optical fiber cable 1c is also fixed to the housing 201 by the recesses 41 provided in the ribs 40 and the ribs 42 provided in the cover unit 50 according to the fixation of the cover unit 50. Therefore, even when the optical fiber cable 1c different from the optical fiber cable 1 and the optical fiber cable 1b is used, the optical fiber cable 1c can be fixed.

(effects of example embodiments)

According to the present exemplary embodiment, when the cover unit 50 covering the connector 31 and the connection portion of the optical fiber cable 1 is attached to the housing 201, the optical fiber cable 1 is fixed between the recess 41 of the rib 40 of the housing 201 and the rib 42 of the cover unit 50 at the position of the recess 41. As a result, by fitting the cover unit 50 to the housing 201, the optical fiber cable 1 pulled out from the housing 201 can be fixed between the housing 201 and the cover unit 50.

According to the present exemplary embodiment, the concave portion 41 provided in the rib 40 is designed to be matched in shape for each optical fiber cable having a different shape and a different wire diameter and wire width, so that the optical communication apparatus 200 can use a plurality of types of optical fiber cables. At this time, the optical fiber cables having different shapes and different wire diameters and wire widths can be fixed between the housing 201 and the cover unit 50 without preparing a plurality of dedicated fixing members for each optical fiber cable having different shapes and different wire diameters and wire widths, and without changing the shape of the fixing unit for each optical fiber cable.

In the present exemplary embodiment, for each optical fiber cable having a different shape, wire diameter, and wire width, the rib 40 provided in the housing 201 is arranged to be offset from the optical fiber cable 1 in the horizontal direction. The ribs 42 provided in the cover unit 50 are also arranged offset with respect to the horizontal direction of the optical fiber cable 1 so as to match the arrangement of the ribs 40 of the housing 201. With this design, even in a configuration in which the cover unit 50 as shown in fig. 5A slides in a direction substantially perpendicular to the optical fiber cable 1 and is attached to the housing 201, the optical fiber cable can be fixed.

Although the preferred exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited thereto. Unlike the above-described example embodiments, the number of concave portions provided at the tip portions of the ribs 10 and 40 may not be limited to 3, and may be any number equal to or greater than 2. The optical communication apparatuses 100 and 200 may be designed while assuming the type, shape, and size of the optical fiber cable for the optical communication apparatuses 100 and 200. Various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention described in the claims, and it goes without saying that they are also included in the scope of the invention.

In the method of fixing an optical fiber cable proposed by JP 2017-009828A described in the background art, it is necessary to change the plate shape and the protrusion shape of the cover unit in order to fix an optical fiber cable having a different wire diameter, wire width and shape.

An example of the effect of the present invention (an example advantage according to the present invention is that, according to the present invention, it is not necessary to prepare a plurality of dedicated members for fixing for each optical fiber cable having a different shape or a different wire diameter and wire width, and the optical fiber cable can be fixed to an optical communication apparatus.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, the invention is not limited to these embodiments. It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.

All or part of the above disclosed example embodiments may be described as, but are not limited to, the following supplementary notes.

(supplementary note 1) an optical communication apparatus comprising:

a housing having a rail on a surface thereof;

a connector provided in the housing and to which one end of the optical fiber cable is connected; and

a cover unit that slides along the rail and is attached to the housing, the cover unit covering the connector and the connection portion of the optical fiber cable in a state of being fitted to the housing,

wherein, in the optical fiber cable, when the cover unit is attached to the housing, the other end of the optical fiber cable is pulled out from the outlet of the housing to the outside,

the housing includes: a plurality of recesses formed in mutually different concave shapes, and to which the optical fiber cable is attached; and a first rib erected on an inner surface of the housing in such a manner as to be positioned between the connector and the outlet,

the cover unit includes a second rib erected on the inner surface of the housing, and

when the cover unit is attached to the housing, the second rib sandwiches the optical fiber cable attached to the recess between the second rib and the first rib.

(supplementary note 2) the optical communication apparatus according to supplementary note 1, wherein,

the plurality of recesses of the first rib have different widths and depths.

(supplementary note 3) an optical communication device according to supplementary note 1 or supplementary note 2, wherein,

the first rib is a rib having a linear shape in a plan view with respect to an inner surface of the housing, and a plurality of recesses of the first rib are provided in the rib having the linear shape.

(supplementary note 4) the optical communication apparatus according to any one of supplementary notes 1 and 3, wherein,

the cover unit is attached to the housing along a track of the housing such that one end of the cover unit slides in a horizontal direction with respect to the optical fiber cable connected to the connector.

(supplementary note 5) an optical communication apparatus according to supplementary note 1 or supplementary note 2, wherein

The plurality of recesses of the first rib are provided in the first rib such that one end is arranged offset in a horizontal direction with respect to the optical fiber cable connected to the connector.

(supplementary note 6) an optical communication apparatus according to supplementary note 1 or supplementary note 2, wherein

The first rib is a rib having a stepped shape in a plan view with respect to an inner surface of the housing, and a plurality of recesses of the first rib are provided in the rib having the stepped shape.

(supplementary note 7) the optical communication apparatus according to any one of supplementary notes 1, 2, 5 and 6, wherein

The cover unit is attached to the housing along a track of the housing such that one end of the cover unit slides in a direction perpendicular to the fiber optic cable connected to the connector.

(supplementary note 8) a method of fixing an optical fiber cable having one end connected to a connector of an optical communication device and the other end pulled out from the optical communication device, the optical communication device comprising: a housing having a rail on a surface thereof; a connector provided in the housing and to which one end of the optical fiber cable is connected; and a cover unit that slides along the rail and is attached to the housing and covers the connection portion of the connector and the optical fiber cable in a state of being fitted to the housing,

the method comprises the following steps:

attaching an optical fiber cable to any one of a plurality of concave portions formed in mutually different concave shapes of a first rib standing on an inner surface of a housing in such a manner as to be positioned between a connector and an outlet; and

when the cover unit is slid along the rail of the housing to attach the cover unit to the housing, the optical fiber cable is sandwiched between one recess to which the optical fiber cable of the first rib is attached and the second rib standing on the inner surface of the cover unit.

(supplementary note 9) the method of fixing the optical fiber cable according to supplementary note 8, further comprising forming a plurality of recesses of the first rib such that the recesses have different widths and depths.

(supplementary note 10) the method of fixing an optical fiber cable according to supplementary note 8, further comprising forming the first rib as a rib having a linear shape in a plan view with respect to an inner surface of the housing, and providing a plurality of recesses of the first rib in the rib having the linear shape.

(supplementary note 11) the method of fixing the optical fiber cable according to the supplementary note 8 or the supplementary note 10, further comprising attaching the cover unit to the housing along a track of the housing such that one end of the cover unit slides in a horizontal direction with respect to the optical fiber cable connected to the connector.

(supplementary note 12) the method of fixing the optical fiber cable according to the supplementary note 8 or the supplementary note 9, further comprising providing a plurality of recesses of the first rib in the first rib such that one end is arranged to be offset in a horizontal direction with respect to the optical fiber cable connected to the connector.

(supplementary note 13) the method of fixing an optical fiber cable according to supplementary note 8 or supplementary note 9, further comprising forming the first rib as a rib having a stepped shape in a plan view with respect to an inner surface of the housing, and providing a plurality of recesses of the first rib in the rib having the stepped shape.

(supplementary note 14) the method of fixing a fiber optic cable according to any one of supplementary notes 8, 9, 12 and 13, further comprising attaching the cover unit to the housing along a track of the housing such that one end of the cover unit slides in a direction perpendicular to the fiber optic cable connected to the connector.

Claims (10)

1. An optical communication apparatus, comprising:

a housing having a track on a surface thereof;

a connector provided in the housing and to which one end of an optical fiber cable is connected; and

a cover unit that slides along the rail and is attached to the housing, the cover unit covering the connector and the connection portion of the optical fiber cable in a state of being fitted to the housing,

wherein, in the optical fiber cable, when the cover unit is attached to the housing, the other end of the optical fiber cable is pulled out from the outlet of the housing to the outside,

the housing includes: a plurality of recesses formed in mutually different concave shapes, and to which the optical fiber cable is attached; and a first rib erected on an inner surface of the housing in such a manner as to be positioned between the connector and the outlet,

the cover unit includes a second rib erected on an inner surface of the housing, and

when the cover unit is attached to the housing, the second rib sandwiches the optical fiber cable attached to the recess between the second rib and the first rib.

2. The optical communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein,

the plurality of recesses of the first rib have different widths and depths.

3. The optical communication apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein,

the first rib is a rib having a linear shape in a plan view with respect to the inner surface of the housing, and the plurality of recesses of the first rib are provided in the rib having the linear shape.

4. The optical communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein,

the cover unit is attached to the housing along the rail of the housing such that one end of the cover unit slides in a horizontal direction with respect to the optical fiber cable connected to the connector.

5. The optical communication apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein,

the plurality of recesses of the first rib are provided in the first rib such that the one end is arranged to be offset in a horizontal direction with respect to the optical fiber cable connected to the connector.

6. The optical communication apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein,

the first rib is a rib having a stepped shape in a plan view with respect to the inner surface of the housing, and the plurality of recesses of the first rib are provided in the rib having the stepped shape.

7. The optical communication apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein,

the cover unit is attached to the housing along the rail of the housing such that one end of the cover unit slides in a direction perpendicular to the optical fiber cable connected to the connector.

8. A method of securing an optical fiber cable having one end connected to a connector of an optical communication device and the other end pulled out from the optical communication device,

the optical communication device includes:

a housing having a track on a surface thereof; a connector provided in the housing and to which the one end of the optical fiber cable is connected; and a cover unit that slides along the rail and is attached to the housing and covers the connector and the connection portion of the optical fiber cable in a state of being fitted to the housing,

the method comprises the following steps:

attaching the optical fiber cable to any one of a plurality of recesses of the first rib formed in mutually different concave shapes, the first rib standing on an inner surface of the housing in such a manner as to be positioned between the connector and the outlet; and

when the cover unit slides along the rail of the housing to attach the cover unit to the housing, the optical fiber cable is sandwiched between one recess to which the optical fiber cable of the first rib is attached and a second rib standing on an inner surface of the cover unit.

9. The method of securing a fiber optic cable according to claim 8, further comprising:

the first rib is formed as a rib having a linear shape in a plan view with respect to the inner surface of the housing, and the plurality of recesses of the first rib are provided in the rib having the linear shape.

10. The method of securing a fiber optic cable according to claim 8, further comprising:

the plurality of recesses of the first rib are provided in the first rib such that the one end is arranged to be offset in a horizontal direction with respect to the optical fiber cable connected to the connector.