DE3404290C2 - Optical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

An optical connector for optical transmission lines has a connector sleeve (7) in which a coupling zone (13) for several optical waveguides (3, 4) is accommodated. The coupling zone (13) has a light inlet and light outlet surface (12) which can be optically connected to a light inlet and light outlet surface (12) of an optical connector of the same type (16) or a conventional optical single connector. In this way, either X-branches or Y-branches can be plugged in.

Description

The invention relates to an optical connector for detachably connecting at least two optical waveguides with one arranged at the optical waveguide end Plug sleeve which has a light entry and light exit surface at the front end.

Such an optical connector is known from DE-PS 19 259 and is used to connect a single first optical waveguide to a single one second optical fiber. The ends of the optical waveguides to be connected are fitted coaxially into cylindrical end pins, which are fitted into opposite ends of a resilient, self-centering guide device can be used, which holds the two end pins coaxially. the Guide device consists of a group of cylindrical rollers which are held in an annular cage arrangement parallel to one another and to the common axis. The cage arrangement is of a annular spring device surrounding the cylindrical rollers radially towards the common Axis pushes As a result of the large number of individual parts, the construction of the known optical connector is relatively complicated and only suitable for connecting two optical waveguides to one another.

Branches of optical fibers are also known which are required when, for example, several receivers are coupled to a transmitter, or if there is a separation of incoming and outgoing signals in hybrid circuits

ts branches made by twisting and welding Thinner fibers can be produced, require their own housing and have several, for example four, single optical connectors. One in the area of the fiber optic cables welded together The split junction is known from GB-A-20 23 874. The conical ends of the optical waveguides go on the Y-side of the optical waveguide junction into a spherical end over which to change the coupling coefficient compared to the end of a further optical fiber can be adjusted in three orthogonal directions with the help of a micrometer screw. A plug connection in the area of the end faces of the fiber optic ends to be connected is not provided.

The invention is based on the object of a device that can be used for branching off optical waveguides To create an optical connector that allows optical transmission devices to be designed simply and flexibly.

According to the invention, this object is achieved in that, in the case of an optical connector of the type mentioned at the outset, at least two optical waveguides are inserted into the rear Open out at the end of the connector sleeve and that the light entry and light exit surface at the coupling zone of a

Branch for the optical waveguide is formed

Because the optical connector contains a Y-branch, Y-branches and X-branches can be plugged in in a simple manner, with the number of optical connectors required is greatly reduced and optical sensors quickly and can be easily connected.

Appropriate refinements and developments of the invention are characterized in the subclaims.

In the drawing, exemplary embodiments of the subject matter of the invention are shown. It shows

F i g. 1 shows an embodiment of an optical connector according to the invention in longitudinal section, 2 one of two optical connectors according to

F i g. 1 formed X-branch,

F i g. 3 shows an optical measuring device with an optical connector according to FIG. 1, to which an optical sensor is connected with a single plug and F i g. 4 a branching module with an invent proper optical connector, in which a triple coupler is arranged.

The in F i g. 1 shown and provided with the reference numeral 16 optical connector are a light receiver 1, for example a photodiode, and a Light source 2, for example a light emitting diode, assigned. The light supplied by the light source 2 is shown in a first optical waveguide 3, which is used as a transmission fiber, is coupled. A second fiber optic

\ ϊ 3 4th

if: “he 4, which is used as a receiving fiber, delivers something like the one in FIG. 1 optical connector 16 shown

t from the light receiver 1 to be evaluated light. It can be seen that the in F i g. 2 shown arrangement

: The two optical waveguides 3 and 4 are in the vicinity with respect to one through the screw connection flange

* i region of the transition to the optical connector 16 of the 19 giving level is symmetrical and that two opti-

! a shrink tube 5 protected from the plug 16 with one Y-coupling zone 13 each

P rear end 6 of the optical connector 16 extends to create an arrangement that has an X-junction or a-

The optical connector 16 has a connector sleeve to create an X coupler. To the uberguig damping se 7, which performs a housing function and to reduce the pull between the two optical connectors 16

For the fiber optic cables 3, 4 with a crimp ring, the light entry and light exit areas can

■ V 8, as from FIG. 1 can be seen, provided is in the vicinity io chen 12 wetted with immersion oil.

P- of the front end of the tapered connector sleeve in FIG. 3 is an application example for the optimal

K 7 , a ring connector 16 is shown along the circumference of the connector sleeve 7, in which the optical connector

The bead is formed against which a screwing ring 9 ker 16 is coupled to a sensor 20 of the one

can be supported which is provided with an internal thread has optical waveguide 21 The front end 22 of the

:.: ■. around the optical connector in the optical waveguide 21, for example in FIG. 15, has a conically ground

F i g. 2 with a counterpart to the tip, which is immersed in a liquid 23

■ bind. can, for example, to determine their level or their '<* Approximately in the area of the annular bulge, a second refractive index is. The rear end of the shrink tube 10 is arranged in the assembly of the optical waveguide 21 in an optical connector 24 t ^; j the optical waveguides 3 and 4 in the connector sleeve 7 to 20 fastened in the usual way. In this way, the fc fixing of the coupling zone 13 serves the optical waveguide 21 of the sensor 20 mechanically from £ Both optical waveguides 3 and 4 open into a longitudinal section Y-shaped coupling zone 13 with a light-separated so in the relatively expensive Y-coupler in the optical connector 16 that the sensor 20 is easily exchangeable l \ entry and light exit surface 12, which with the front surface and in this way an inexpensive and different

before 14 of the connector sleeve 7, as shown in FIG. 1 can be seen 25 measuring conditions easily adaptable measuring device aligned. It can also be seen in FIG. 1 that the coupling can be plugged together,
zone 13 by the at the front end of the connector sleeve 7 In the case of the FIG. The light from the light source 2 reaches the coupling zone 13 in such a way that the optical waveguide 3 and 4 via a coupling zone 13 and from there over the light entry and length of about 18 to 20 mm from the jacket 18 freed the light exit surface 12 in the optical waveguide 21 of the and the thus prepared optical waveguide from the sensor 20. Depending on the level of the liquid 23, more β sections are twisted together in a known manner and or less light at the front end 22 of the light wave-

be welded. If the fiber cores, for example, reflects back to the optical connector 24 and

They are interconnected over a length of about 12 mm, from there over the light entry and light exit surfaces

melt, the fused zone in FIG. 12 is inserted into the coupling zone 13 of the optical connector 16.

Middle cut at right angles to the longitudinal axis so that feeds From there the light then passes through the second

from the originally X-shaped branch two Y optical waveguides 4 to the light receiver 1. The in F i g. 3

shaped branches or couplers are obtained. optical measuring devices illustrated by a frame

Before a Y-shaped 40 direction 25 produced in this way, as a result of the optical connector 16 and 24

Branch in the connector sleeve 7 can be used with the help of a very versatile and allows in particular

! Epoxy adhesive 15 with as little play as possible in the other the quick and easy connection different-

! Plug tip 17 is glued in, the coupling zone becomes like sensors 20.

13 to avoid attenuation losses with an In F i g. 4 is an embodiment of the invention

Coating polymer coated, which shows a low 45 with an optical connector 16 whose head

Refractive index η = 1394 having the coating pelzone 13 into three light waveguides 3,4 and 26 turns.

Polymer forms on the outer surface of the coupling zone 13. The optical waveguides 3, 4 and 26 are

a thin primary jacket 11, which is connected to the jacket ker 27,28,29 with plugs 30,31 and 32 over

18 of the optical waveguides 3 and 4, the ring extends the light fed into the optical connector 16 Space between the coupling zone 13 and the light waves 50 onto three outputs of a branching module 33 3 and 4 on the one hand and the inner wall of the plug-in is divided. The example for the bidirectional The sleeve 7, on the other hand, is a branching module 33 suitable for data transmission through the epoxy adhesive 15 The one that projects beyond the end face 14 is connected to an optical single plug 34 on the input side Part of the coupling zone 13 is connected during manufacture, which is formed in the usual way and of the optical connector 16 shortened and ground and 55 only a single optical waveguide in one polished so that the light entry and light exit surface has connector sleeve.

before 12 has favorable optical properties The optical connector 16 discussed above can be used instead of in

Instead of the one shown in FIG. 1 shown exemplary embodiment in F i g. 3 also directly as a transmission

Optical connectors can also be used with any sensor. For example, the distance

Y-shaped / i-fold branches or couplers 60 of the light entry and light exit surface 12 of a

getting produced. Measuring surface or the angle between the light entry

In Fig. 2 are two optical connectors 16 according to FIG. 1 and light exit surface 12 and a measuring surface optical

shown which are determined with the help of a screw flange, since the distance and the angle the

19 are mechanically interconnected. The intensity of the incoming into the optical waveguide 4 Screw flange 19 is used as can be seen from FIG. 2 gives 65 light determination.

also as a counterpart for centering the connector tips

17. With the in F i g. 1 correspond to the parts shown - 4 sheets of drawings

Ending parts in FIG. 2 have the same reference numerals

Claims (10)

Patent claims: 1. Optical connector for releasably connecting at least two optical waveguides with a connector sleeve arranged at the optical waveguide end, which is attached to the front end has a light entry and light exit surface, characterized in that at least two optical waveguides (3, 4) in the rear end (6) of the connector neck (7) open and the light entry and light exit surface (12) a junction for the optical waveguides (3, 4) is formed on the coupling zone (13) 2. Optical connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the branch is a Y-branch of two optical waveguides (3,4) which over the light entry and light exit surfaces (12) can be coupled to a third optical waveguide (21). 3. Optical connector according to claim 2, characterized in that the light entry and light exit surface (12) at right angles to the longitudinal axis the Y-branch runs 4. Optical connector according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the light entry and light exit surface (12) with the end face (14) the connector sleeve (7) is aligned 5. Optical connector according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the coupling zone (13) is arranged in the vicinity of the front end (17) of the plug sleeve (7) and has a length of about 1 up to 12 mm. 6. Optical connector according to claim 5, characterized in that the length of the coupling zone 2 mm. 7. Optical connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coupling zone (13) in the front end (17) of the connector sleeve (7) is centered. 8. Optical connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plug sleeve (7) with the aid of a connecting piece, in particular a screwing flange (19) an associated plug sleeve (16,24,34) with the same dimensions can be connected. 9. Optical connector according to claim 8, characterized in that a single optical fiber is arranged in the associated connector sleeve (24, 34). 10. Optical connector according to claim 8, characterized in that in the associated connector sleeve (16) one in several optical waveguides (3, 4, 26) transitional coupling zone (13) is provided.