Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
  • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
  • G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
  • G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
  • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
  • G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
  • G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
  • G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
  • G02B6/3833—Details of mounting fibres in ferrules; Assembly methods; Manufacture
  • G02B6/3855—Details of mounting fibres in ferrules; Assembly methods; Manufacture characterised by the method of anchoring or fixing the fibre within the ferrule
  • G02B6/3857—Crimping, i.e. involving plastic deformation
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
  • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
  • G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
  • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
  • G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
  • G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
  • G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
  • G02B6/3833—Details of mounting fibres in ferrules; Assembly methods; Manufacture
  • G02B6/3855—Details of mounting fibres in ferrules; Assembly methods; Manufacture characterised by the method of anchoring or fixing the fibre within the ferrule
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
  • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
  • G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
  • G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
  • G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
  • G02B6/3869—Mounting ferrules to connector body, i.e. plugs
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
  • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
  • G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
  • G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
  • G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
  • G02B6/3873—Connectors using guide surfaces for aligning ferrule ends, e.g. tubes, sleeves, V-grooves, rods, pins, balls
  • G02B6/3874—Connectors using guide surfaces for aligning ferrule ends, e.g. tubes, sleeves, V-grooves, rods, pins, balls using tubes, sleeves to align ferrules
  • G02B6/3878—Connectors using guide surfaces for aligning ferrule ends, e.g. tubes, sleeves, V-grooves, rods, pins, balls using tubes, sleeves to align ferrules comprising a plurality of ferrules, branching and break-out means
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
  • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
  • G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
  • G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
  • G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
  • G02B6/3887—Anchoring optical cables to connector housings, e.g. strain relief features
  • G02B6/3888—Protection from over-extension or over-compression
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
  • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
  • G02B6/42—Coupling light guides with opto-electronic elements
  • G02B6/4292—Coupling light guides with opto-electronic elements the light guide being disconnectable from the opto-electronic element, e.g. mutually self aligning arrangements

Definitions

• the invention relates to an optical cable connector element, comprising - a housing body, which is provided with at least one cell for receiving an end section of optical cable, said cell extending along an axis. and having along this axis a rear end for introducing the optical cable, and a front connection end, and - means for blocking the end section of the optical cable in said cell.
• a tip generally called a "ferrule”.
• such a tip has a substantially tubular shape, and has * - internally crimping notches on the outer sheath of the optical cable, and externally - hooking means in the connector housing.
• a crimping operation consisting in tightening the end piece on the outer sheath of the cable, the end piece being subjected to plastic deformation on a section provided for this purpose.
• Such a tip is commonly made in 'a plastic material.
• Such a tip is known from DE 101 31 273.
• the main object of the invention is to suppress the crimping operation prior to the insertion of one end of the optical cable into a connector housing, and thus to propose means for locking such an optical cable end in a connector housing, 30 operating without prior crimping.
• the locking means comprise at least one essentially axial elastic blade, integral with a wall inside of the cell by a rear section of the blade, cantilevered and inclined towards the front, said blade having at the front a hooking section which has a sharp edge turned radially inwards, so that the hooking section is capable of radial deflection outward under the effect of the introduction of the optical cable end section into the cell, on the side of its insertion end, and qu 'A reverse movement of extraction of the cable section leads to penetration of said sharp edge into a peripheral sheath of the cable section, and thus retention of the latter in the body.
• the connector element according to the invention has one or more of the following characteristics: the locking means consist of a ring fixed inside the body, in which said elastic blade is formed axially, said ring having a rear end for introducing the cable section, and at the front a hooking section; the ring is flared on the side of the rear end; the ring is of generally substantially frustoconical shape; -
• the ring comprises fixing means in the connection box, which are provided on a peripheral edge, on the side of the rear end; -
• the ring is elastically deformable radially, and the fixing means are fixing means by elastic engagement;
• the ring has a general shape of revolution, and it is essentially formed of axial bands forming elastic blades, connected together in pairs alternately at the insertion end and at the opposite end; and the ring is formed in one piece from a metallic sheet material, essentially by cutting and folding.
• the connector element consists of an optical cable connection end piece, comprising a tubular body forming a housing, and designed to be fitted on an end section of optical cable.
• the connector element may include one or the other of the following characteristics: the body comprises at least two tubular sections, one of which has a larger internal dimension receives said ring and is provided with means additional fixing of the ring, and the second is provided to receive one end to connect the optical cable; and - the first section is internally of generally frustoconical shape, the smaller diameter end of the first section - opening internally into the second section.
• the connector element consists of a connector part intended to be coupled with a connector counterpart.
• the connector element may include one or other of the following characteristics: the cell has at least two tubular parts, one of which has a larger internal dimension receives said ring and is provided with means for fixing the ring, and the second is provided to receive the end to be connected of the optical cable; -
• the first tubular part is internally of generally frustoconical shape, the smaller diameter end of the first tubular part opening towards the second tubular part; and - the cell has a cable guide section at the input, a cable retention section, and a positioning and stop section in which a stop shoulder is provided, operating in the direction of introduction of the cable.
• a connector element according to the second embodiment may comprise a connector as described above, fixed in the cell, preferably by elastic engagement.
• FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of an optical connector, the two parts of which are shown uncoupled, comprising locking rings according to the invention
• - Figure 2 is a sectional view of the connector of Figure 1 in an axial plane of a cell, in the direction 2-2, the connector being shown in the assembled position
• - Figure 3 is a perspective view, on a larger scale, of a locking ring according to the invention, as shown in the connector of Figures 1 and 2
• - Figure 4 is a sectional view in an axial plane, of the ring of Figure 3, in the direction 4- 4
• - Figure 5 is a developed view, in a plane, of the ring of Figures 3 and 4
• - Figure 6 is a rear perspective view of the male part, alone, of the connector
• FIGs 1 and 2 there is shown an optical connector 1, consisting of a male part 3, which may also be called hereinafter "male connector”, and a female part 5, which may also be called by the "female connector” suite.
• the two connector parts 3, 5 are shown in the uncoupled state, while they are shown in the coupled state in Figure 2.
• the female connector 5 is formed, ' in the example shown , a base for mounting on an optoelectronic circuit support, such as a card.
• the connector 1 shown is a two-way connector, intended to connect two optical cables, the end sections of which to be connected have been shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 under the reference 7, to the optoelectronic circuit.
• the female connector 5 essentially comprises a plastic housing 11, and, fixed inside the housing, optical elements 13 to be connected to the respective cables 7. These optical elements 13 can be transmitters, for example diodes, or light receivers, for example opto-electric transducers.
• the housing 11 is formed essentially from a bottom
• the housing 15 in which are fixed the optical elements 13, and a peripheral skirt 17, of generally external parallelepiped shape, internally defining a cavity 19 for receiving the male connector 3.
• guide chimneys 20 axial, opening on one side into the cavity 19, and, on the opposite side, opposite an active part (emitting or receiving) of a respective optical element 13.
• the housing 11 is formed with lugs 21 for fixing on a support, projecting laterally from the skirt 17, and with at least one pin 23 for centering on such a support.
• the cables 7 which have been shown in the Figures, in particular in Figures 1 and 2, are so-called “single-fiber” cables: they each comprise, extending coaxially, a single fiber 27 forming a light waveguide and core of the cable, as well as an intermediate peripheral sheath 28 covering the fiber 27, and an external peripheral sheath 29 covering the intermediate sheath 28.
• other types of optical cables are suitable for implementing the invention, in particular multi-fiber cables, or cables having a different number of peripheral sheaths around the fiber or fibers.
• the end section of the cable 7 to be connected by means of the connector is “stripped” over a certain length, from the front end.
• This male connector 3 comprises a plastic housing 31, of substantially parallelepiped external shape and complementary to the cavity 19 of the housing 11 of the connector female 5.
• the housing 31 is formed with two cells 33 for receiving a respective cable end section 7, each cell 33 defining a through passage between a rear face and a front face of the housing 31.
• Each cell 33 s' extends axially inside the housing 31, and comprises, in section in an axial plane such as the plane of FIG.
• the housing comprises two tubular parts 35 projecting forward, which internally define the front section 33D of the respective cell .
• This tubular part 35 is adapted to engage in the chimney 20 vis-à-vis during the coupling of the male 3 and female 5 connectors.
• the housing 31 is further formed, on one of its faces, with a releasable locking member 37 in the coupled position of the two connector parts 3, 5.
• this locking member 37 has the form of an elastic tab capable of being deflected, provided with a hook 38 projecting towards the outside, intended to engage with a complementary notch formed inside the skirt 17.
• the locking member 37 thus constitutes a locking member by elastic engagement. As can be seen in FIG.
• the male connector 3 also comprises, housed inside each of the cells 33 essentially in the first frustoconical section 33B, and fixed in the housing, a ring 40 for blocking the end section of the respective optical cable 7.
• This ring 40 makes it possible to maintain the corresponding cable end section in a position of complete engagement in the housing 31, as shown in FIG. 2. In this position of full engagement, the end to be connected of the fiber 27 comes flush with the end of the tubular part 35. In reality, the end of the fiber 27 slightly protrudes, at the end of its insertion into the housing, from the front face of the tubular part 35, but it is then flattened and made flush by polishing or by a process known as "hot-plate".
• the locking ring 40 has a shape general frustoconical, the base of larger diameter is facing backwards.
• the rear peripheral edge 41 defining the base of larger diameter, is formed with four legs 43 projecting rearward, curved so as to also project radially outwards. These tabs 43 are distributed regularly over the periphery of the edge 41, and thus offset by 90 ° from one another. Between two consecutive legs 43, is formed, from the rear edge 41, an axial notch 45 over most of the length of the ring 40.
• the four notches 45 thus defined are formed regularly on the periphery of the ring 40 , and alternately with the legs 43.
• the ring 40 On the side of the base of smaller diameter, defined by a front peripheral edge 47, the ring 40 is tightened towards the axis.
• the peripheral wall defining the ring On a front section of the ring 40, the peripheral wall defining the ring has a greater inclination with respect to the axis X.
• four notches are further formed.
• axial 48 which open on the front edge 47. These notches 48 are provided in a regularly spaced manner on the periphery of the ring, around the axis X, alternating with the notches 45, so that the notches 48 are aligned axially with the corresponding projecting legs 43.
• the alternation of the axial notches 45, 48 provides the ring 40 with elastic deformation properties in bending, either on the front side by spreading the edge 47, or on the rear side, by tightening, on the axis, of the edge 41.
• the ring 40 is elastically deformable radially, the bands 50 behaving like flexible beams under the effect of a support. This support occurs either on the side of the cable insertion end, that is to say on the side of the rear edge 41, during the engagement of the ring in a corresponding cell 33, or during the introduction of a cable into the ring, the support then being directed radially outward at the front edge 47.
• the front edge 47 defines a cutting edge intended to penetrate into the outer sheath 29 of the cable 7, under the effect of an elastic return force tending to stress the front edge 47 radially towards the axis X, when the front edge 47 is deformed radially outwards under the effect of the introduction of the cable 7.
• FIG. 5 which represents a developed view of the ring 40 in a plane, the ring is essentially formed by axial bands 50, eight in number, interconnected two by two alternately on the side of the rear edge 41 and on the front edge side 47, it that is to say respectively on the side of the insertion end of the optical cable 7 and on the side of the opposite end.
• the ring 40 is preferably formed in one piece from a sheet or strip of metal, such as spring steel, essentially and successively by cutting and bending.
• the metal strip or sheet cut for the purpose of forming the ring 40 as described above, before the folding operation, is in the form shown in FIG. 5.
• the inlet section 33A of each cell 33 has four axial grooves 52A regularly distributed in a peripheral manner to receive the legs 43. These axial grooves 52A open out towards the front on a peripheral shoulder 53.
• the shoulder 53 internally defines the entry, or base of larger diameter, of the first frustoconical section 33B, and forms a stop for inserting the ring 40 into the socket 33 for the tabs 43.
• ramps 52B are formed which are essentially axial and inclined towards the X axis from back to front.
• the ramps 52B open out towards the front on an enlarged section (not visible in the Figures) forming an elastic interlocking notch for the rear edge 41 of the ring.
• the tabs 43 form means for fixing the ring 40 in the cell 33 of the housing 31, operating by snap-elastic in the notch of the cell inlet 33A, formed by the enlarged section between the shoulder 53 and the inlet ramp 52.
• FIG. 6 there is shown the locking rings 40 extracted from their respective cell 33, awaiting placement in the housing 31.
• the rings 40 are inserted in the housing 31 prior to wiring the connector. They are inserted into their respective socket 33 by engaging the legs 43 in the grooves 52A of the cell inlet 33A, the cable introduction end, which is the flared end of the ring, being naturally turned towards the rear.
• the rear end of the bands 50 flexes radially inward, in a progressive fashion, following the ramps 52B, until the edge 41 falls in the notch formed by the enlarged section, the legs 43 then coming into abutment against the shoulder 53.
• the bands 50 are then suddenly returned to their rest position by radial elastic return, directed towards the outside of the rear edge 41.
• the ring 40 is then in its operating position, fixed in the housing 31 inside the cell 33, more precisely in the first frustoconical section 33B.
• the insertion of the end section of the cable 7 into the housing 31 is limited by the abutment of the end of the sheath 29 on a corresponding front shoulder 63 at the base of smaller diameter of the second frustoconical section 33C of the socket 33.
• the stripped section 30 of the fiber 27 extends in section 33D of the cell, the free end of the fiber flush with the end of the tubular part 35, while the sheathed part of the cable s' extends over the remaining section 33A, 33B, 33C of the cell, and, of course, outside the housing.
• the four portions of the cutting edge 49, separated by the notches 48 act like jaws clamped on
• the ring 40 has at one axial end, which is the flared end for introducing the cable 7, a section having means 43 for locking in the housing 31, and at the opposite end, a section 47 of cable hooking.
• each cell 33 has a section 33A for guiding the input cable, a section 33B for retaining the cable, a positioning and stop section 33C in which a stop shoulder 63, and a section 33D for guiding the fiber 27.
• the tip 8 therefore shows, in perspective, a tip 80 consisting of a ring 40 of the type described above, and a tip body 81 (or ferrule), designed to receive such a locking ring 40.
• the tip body 81 has a generally tubular shape having a stepped outer shape, that is to say in this case, three sections 81A, 81B, 81D of cylindrical outer shape, having diameters decreasing from back to front .
• the body 81 is made of plastic.
• the first section 81A is formed internally with a cell inlet 83A identical or almost identical to the cell inlet 33A of the housing 31 described above.
• the second section 81B of the end piece is formed internally with a frustoconical section of cell 83B identical or almost identical to the section 33B formed in the housing 31.
• the third section 81D of the end piece is internally formed with a cylindrical cell section 83D of identical profile to section 33D formed in the housing 31.
• the body 81 can be described as having a first tubular part, composed of the first two sections 81A, 81B, for receiving the ring 40, and a second tubular part consisting of the third section 81D, for receiving the stripped section 30 of the optical cable 7.
• each ramp 92B successively has d 'back in front: - at the inlet, a section 93 flared towards the rear, - an intermediate section 94 substantially cylindrical and axial; and - an enlarged section 95 forming a transition section with the frustoconical section 83B.
• the passage from section 94 to section 95 defines a notch or shoulder 97 with which the rear edge cooperates.
• the ring 80 is elastically deformed by bending its rear edge 41 when the ramp section 94 passes, and resumes its nominal shape by elastic return when the rear edge 41 engages in sections 95 with the notch 97.
• the end piece 80 provided with its ring 40, can be fitted and fixed on an optical cable end section as described above, in the same way as what has been described for the male connector 3, and as illustrated in Figure 11.
• the tip 80 can be designed as a unitary optical connector part or "single-channel", which can be directly coupled with a connector counterpart.
• FIGS. 12 and 13 it has finally been illustrated that the end piece 80 can be used in a connector of the type similar to the connector 1 shown in FIG. 1, in particular therefore a multi-way optical connector.
• the end piece 80 is shown as a part of the male connector 103, which is of external shape similar to that of the connector 3 described above.
• the connector 103 essentially differs from the connector 3 in that the ring 40 is fixed in a cell 133 of the housing 131, by means of the end-piece body 81.
• the housing 131 is provided with a member 141 for fixing the nozzle 80, operating by elastic engagement, such as an elastic tab 141 provided with a hook 143 cooperating with the rear face of the first section 81A of the body.
• the section 81D of the end piece body 81 has a front part identical to the tubular part 35 of the connector 3, so as to be able to cooperate in the same way with a chimney 20 of a male connector 5, identical to that shown. in Figures 1 and 2.
• Figure 13 shows the male connector 103 of Figure 12 coupled with the female connector (or socket) 5, of the type shown in Figures 1 and 2.
• the optical cable end section 7 has not been shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, it is understood that the end piece 80 can be fitted onto a partially stripped optical cable end section, as indicated above, either before or after fixing the end piece 80 inside the housing 131.
• the locking ring 40 allows rapid wiring of the optical connectors, without crimping operation beforehand, by simple introduction of the cable end into a housing cell provided with the ring. It has also been illustrated that such a ring can be used with great flexibility in numerous applications, whether or not providing for a plastic ferrule. In addition, the high level of mechanical retention of the cable in the cell, provided by such a locking ring 40, provides an excellent level of reliability to the connection device thus equipped. Finally, it should be noted that a locking ring according to the invention has an extremely low manufacturing cost, due to the relatively low cost of the base material used, and to the simplicity of the tools used.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Optics & Photonics (AREA)
• Mechanical Coupling Of Light Guides (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=34586347

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Families Citing this family (8)

Family Cites Families (3)

• 2003
  • 2003-12-05 FR FR0314322A patent/FR2863367A1/fr active Pending
• 2004
  • 2004-11-24 EP EP04819622A patent/EP1692554A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2004-11-24 WO PCT/EP2004/013399 patent/WO2005054919A1/fr not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2004-11-24 KR KR1020067013381A patent/KR20070001089A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2004-11-24 JP JP2006541849A patent/JP2007513371A/ja active Pending

Non-Patent Citations (2)

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