JP2000081544A - Ferrule for optical connector, optical connector connecting structure and coated optical fiber - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a ferrule for an optical connector which makes it possible to easily and simply carry out the work for changing coated optical fibers and enables the embodiment of a higher density and higher scale integration. SOLUTION: This ferrule 1 is constituted to form the optical connector by housing the coated optical fibers therein. In such a case, the connector has plural fiber housing holes 10 arrayed to (m) rows × (n) columns ((n), (m) are respectively a natural number of >=2) on one end side and allows the selective insertion of (m) pieces of (n)-core ribbon-like coated optical fibers or (n) pieces of (m)-core ribbon-like coated optical fibers from the other end side.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a ferrule for an optical connector for forming an optical connector, an optical connector connecting structure using the optical connector formed by the ferrule, and an optical fiber core containing an optical fiber.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art It is common practice to connect various optical devices via a multi-core tape-shaped optical fiber core, but when connecting the optical devices, a different number of cores are required from a certain number of multi-core optical fiber cores. It is often necessary to convert to a number of multi-core optical fibers. As an optical component for performing such a conversion, one described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-118282 is known.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 6-1182.
The optical component described in No. 82 discloses a method of branching an optical fiber core using a dedicated core conversion part, or breaking a single multi-core optical fiber into several pieces in the middle. Things
The labor and cost for branching the optical fiber are increased. On the other hand, in recent years, as the communication environment has developed, the number of lines and the amount of communication information have been remarkably increased, and it is urgently necessary to efficiently arrange more optical fiber cores. With the increase in the number of optical fiber cores to be arranged, such branching and conversion of optical fiber cores has become more troublesome and costly, and improvement is strongly desired. ing. In addition, as described above, when arranging a larger number of optical fiber cores, it is strongly desired to increase the density and integration of optical components.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a ferrule for an optical connector and an optical connector connection structure capable of easily and easily performing a conversion operation of an optical fiber core, and realizing high density and high integration. It is intended to provide. In accordance with this, it is another object of the present invention to provide an optical fiber core wire that can be easily and easily arranged.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical connector ferrule in which an optical fiber is accommodated therein to form an optical connector, wherein one end has m rows × n columns (m, n). (n is a natural number of 2 or more, respectively) having a plurality of fiber storage holes, and from the other end side, select from m n-core tape-shaped optical fiber cores or n m-core tape-shaped optical fiber cores. It is characterized by being able to be inserted in a way.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the ferrule for an optical connector according to the first aspect, wherein the other end has one core wire storage portion communicating with all the fiber storage holes. Features.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical connector structure comprising a pair of ferrules for an optical connector according to the second aspect, wherein one ferrule has m n-core tape-shaped optical fibers. Into the other ferrule and insert n
The m-fiber tape-shaped optical fibers are inserted and fixed, and one ends of a pair of ferrules are brought into contact with each other to optically connect the optical fibers housed in the fiber housing holes.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the optical connector structure according to the third aspect, the optical fiber core has at least one continuous convex portion extending in the entire length direction on one surface side. It is characterized in that it has a continuous concave portion extending in the full length direction on the other surface side opposite to the portion.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tape-shaped optical fiber core wire in which a plurality of optical fibers are incorporated in an array state, and at least one continuous convex portion extending in the full length direction on one surface side. In addition, a continuous concave portion extending in the entire length direction is provided on the other surface side opposite to the continuous convex portion.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the optical fiber ribbon according to the fifth aspect, the continuous convex portions are formed in all of the intermediate portions between the adjacent optical fibers, and all the continuous convex portions are formed. Are formed on one surface side.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of an optical connector ferrule, an optical connector connection structure, and an optical fiber core of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, an embodiment of the ferrule for an optical connector according to the first and second aspects will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ferrule 1 of the present embodiment is
A plurality of fiber storage holes 10 are provided from the end face on one end side to the inside. Fiber storage hole 10 is 2 rows x
They are arranged in 12 rows, all of which are formed in parallel. Each fiber housing hole 10 has an inner diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the optical fiber housed therein, so that the inserted optical fiber can be accurately positioned and housed.

The ferrule 1 has a cord storage section 11 from the other end face to the inside. The cord storage section 11 communicates with all the fiber storage holes 10 via the tapered section 13. As shown in FIG. 2, the tapered portions 13 are formed for each of the fiber storage holes 10, and all the tapered portions 13 communicate with one of the core wire storage portions 11 when the inner diameter becomes the largest. I have. A guide groove is formed on the inner surface of the cord storage section 11 so as to follow each taper section 13 (fiber storage hole 10).

The ferrule 1 also has a pair of pin insertion holes 12 from one end to the other end. The pair of pin insertion holes 12 are formed in the side of the fiber storage hole 10 and the core wire storage portion 11 so as to penetrate in parallel with the fiber storage hole 10. The optical connector formed by the ferrule 1 optically connects the internal optical fibers to each other by abutting the surfaces on which the fiber housing holes 10 are formed with each other. At this time, the guide pins 14 are inserted into the pin insertion holes 12. (Refer to FIG. 3) to insert the ferrules 1 accurately.

In the ferrule 1 of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, two 12-core optical fiber cores 2 can be attached, and 12 two-core optical fiber cores 4 can be attached. Can also be attached. That is, if the two ferrules 1 are used as a pair, the two 12-core optical fiber cores 2 can be easily converted into the twelve two-core optical fiber cores 4. Here, the fiber storage holes 10 of the ferrule 1 are arranged in 2 rows × 12 columns, but if they are arranged in m rows × n columns, n m
A core tape-shaped optical fiber can be easily converted into m n-core tape-shaped optical fibers. Here, m and n are each a natural number of 2 or more.

At this time, by forming a core wire storage portion 11 communicating with all the fiber storage holes 10 and setting the lamination direction of the optical fiber core wires 2 and 4 to be stored in the row direction or the column direction, two fibers are stored. It becomes easy to selectively insert the 12-core tape-shaped optical fiber core 2 or the twelve 2-core tape-shaped optical fiber cores 4. That is, the optical fibers 2,
By setting the laminating direction of 4 to the row direction or the column direction, the optical fibers 2 and 4 can be converted in a matrix. Further, by forming the core wire storage portion 11 in this way, the optical fiber core wires 2 and 4 can be stored at a high density in a stacked state.

The matrix conversion referred to here will be described in detail. For the two optical fibers in the 12-core tape-shaped optical fiber core wire 2 on the left side in FIG. 3, "a-1, 2, 3, 4"
.. 12 ”and“ b-1,2,3,4... 12 ”, the twelve two-core optical fibers 4 branched to the right in FIG. , b-1 "," a-2, b-2 "," a-3, b-3 "," a
-4, b-4 "..." a-12, b-12 ". That is, in the case of a ferrule of m rows × n columns, the m optical fibers of the branch source are each divided into n sets, one by one. Such a matrix-like conversion can be easily performed by forming the core wire storage portion 11 communicating with all the fiber storage holes 10.

Next, one embodiment of the optical connector structure according to the third and fourth aspects and the optical fiber core wire according to the fifth and sixth aspects will be described. The ferrule 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is used in the connector structure of the present embodiment, and two 12-core tape-shaped optical fiber cores 2 are replaced with twelve two-core tape-shaped optical fiber cores. FIG. 3 shows an optical connector structure for converting to the line 4. Here, the 12-core ferrules 3 are respectively attached to the other ends of two 12-core tape-shaped optical fiber core wires 2 whose one ends are inserted and fixed in the ferrule 1 to constitute an optical connector Ca. Also,
One end is inserted and fixed to the other ferrule 1
At the other end of each of the two two-core tape-shaped optical fiber core wires 4, two ferrules 5 are attached, respectively, to form an optical connector Cb.
Is configured.

Then, one ends of the ferrules 1 of the optical connectors Ca and Cb are brought into contact with each other to optically connect the optical fibers housed in the fiber housing hole 10. According to such an optical connector structure, as described above, the two 12-core tape-shaped optical fibers 2 to 12 are used.
The conversion into a two-core tape-shaped optical fiber core 4 can be easily performed. Since the conversion is performed only by the ferrule 1, no special conversion optical component is required, and it is not necessary to disperse the tape-shaped optical fiber cores 2 and 4 in the middle thereof, and the efficiency is improved. Can be converted well.

The optical fiber core 4 used here
Is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the optical fiber core wire 4 of the present embodiment has a continuous convex portion 40 formed on one surface side along the entire length direction. In addition, the optical fiber core 4
A continuous concave portion 41 is formed on the other surface side opposite to the continuous convex portion 40 along the entire length direction. The continuous convex portion 40 and the continuous concave portion 41 are formed at an intermediate portion between two built-in optical fibers F so as to be parallel to the optical fibers F.

When laminating such optical fiber core wires 4, as shown in FIG.
The continuous concave portions 41 are engaged with each other, and the optical fiber core wires 4 are positioned with each other, and are laminated without causing a positional shift. In order to form the continuous convex portion 40 and the continuous concave portion 41, as shown in FIG.
When extruding the resin coating around the
0 is formed in the entire length direction. By doing so, when the resin coating is solidified by cooling,
As shown in (b), a continuous convex portion 40 and a continuous concave portion 41 are formed as the resin coating shrinks after molding. By manufacturing in this manner, the continuous convex portion 40 and the continuous concave portion 41 can be efficiently formed without providing a special device or process.

When the optical fiber 4 is inserted into and fixed to the ferrule 1, as shown in FIG.
While laminating the optical fiber cores 4 one by one in order, the optical fiber F exposed at the tip is housed in the fiber housing hole 10 via the tapered portion 13. At this time, by forming the continuous convex portion 40, the optical fiber F can be housed in the fiber housing hole 10 without intersecting while being guided by the continuous convex portion 40 with the inner surface of the core wire housing portion 11. . Furthermore, the insertion itself of the optical fiber core 4 to be inserted is guided by the continuous projection 40 of the optical fiber core 4 below the continuous concave portion 41 on the lower surface thereof.

The optical fiber 4 guided by the continuous convex portion 40 reaches the tapered portion 13, and is guided by the tapered portion 13 into the fiber receiving hole 10. The optical fiber 4 initially inserted into the ferrule 1 is guided by the tapered portion 13 along a guide groove formed on the inner surface of the core wire storing portion 11, and is guided into the fiber storing hole 10 by the tapered portion 13. Is done. The optical fiber 4 can be fixed to the ferrule 1 by inserting an adhesive into the ferrule 1 from the optical fiber storage section 11 before inserting the optical fiber 4 into the ferrule 1. .

As described above, by forming the continuous convex portions 40 and the continuous concave portions 41, the working efficiency in forming the optical connector can be improved. Further, when the optical fiber core wire 4 having the optical fiber F exposed at the tip is inserted into the ferrule 1, the optical fiber F is smoothly housed in the fiber housing hole 10 while being guided by the continuous convex part 40. Damage to the optical fiber F, in particular, damage to the tip thereof can be suppressed.

Further, by forming the continuous convex portion 40 and the continuous concave portion 41, the bending rigidity of the optical fiber core wire 4 itself can be improved, so that the optical fiber F in the optical fiber core wire 4 is broken by bending. Also, it is possible to suppress the deterioration of the transmission characteristics due to bending or bending. Although FIGS. 6 and 7 describe the two-core optical fiber core 4, the same applies to three or more core optical fibers. In FIG.
A case where a continuous convex portion 40 and a continuous concave portion 41 are formed with respect to four optical fiber core wires 400 and 401 is shown.

The optical fiber core 400 shown in FIG.
In (2), all of the continuous convex portions 40 are formed on one surface side. With this configuration, the optical fiber core 4
When laminating 00, the positional deviation can be suppressed, and the lower optical fiber 400 can guide the upper optical fiber 400 during lamination and can be smoothly inserted into the ferrule. Further, at the time of lamination, the lower optical fiber core 400 guides the optical fiber F exposed at the tip of the upper optical fiber core 400 without intersecting, and can suppress the breakage thereof.

The optical fiber ribbon 400 shown in FIG.
In the above, not all of the continuous convex portions 40 are formed on one surface side. However, even when the continuous convex portions 40 are formed in this way, the positional deviation can be suppressed when the optical fiber cores 400 are laminated, and the The upper optical fiber core 400 can be guided by the optical fiber core 400 and smoothly inserted into the ferrule. Further, at the time of lamination, the lower optical fiber core 400 causes the upper optical fiber core 4
If only the 00 is guided, at least one set of the continuous convex portion 40 and the continuous concave portion 41 may be formed, and the continuous convex portion 40 and the continuous concave portion 41 are formed in all the intermediate portions of the adjacent optical fibers F. No need.

FIG. 9 shows an example of a system configuration using the optical connectors Ca and Cb described above. The system shown in FIG. 9 shows a local optical distribution system such as a LAN, and collectively transmits and receives optical signals from outside the premises in a centralized optical cabinet on the left side in the figure. Here, optical signals for 12 channels are transmitted and received collectively. 12ch-Photo Diode (PD)
To receive optical signals from off-premise and 12ch-Laser Diode
(LD) is transmitting an optical signal outside the premises. By transmitting and receiving a certain number of signals collectively (in this case, for 12 channels), the installation of the optical cable and the configuration of the transmission / reception unit can be simplified, and the entire system can be densified and highly integrated.

Optical signals transmitted and received collectively in the centralized optical cabinet are distributed via optical signal lines arranged from the centralized optical cabinet to terminals installed on each floor. At this time, each terminal is provided with a pair of a receiving signal line and a transmitting signal line. More specifically, as shown in FIG.
The optical connector Ca shown in FIG. 3 is connected via a two-core connector. In the optical connector Ca, a total of 24 optical fiber cores of 12 cores on the receiving side and 12 cores on the transmitting side are put together.

For this optical connector Ca, 24 cores-2
The optical connector Cb shown in FIG.
Is connected. In the optical connector Cb, 1 on the receiving side is used.
A total of 24 optical fiber cores, 2 cores and 12 cores on the transmission side, are branched into 12 optical fiber cores such that the reception side signal line and the transmission side signal line form a pair. . A signal line, which is a pair of a reception side signal line and a transmission side signal line, is connected to each terminal.

Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 10, a pair of PDs and LDs is provided for each terminal for transmission and reception without using 12ch-PDs and LDs. It had branched. An optical component as shown in FIG. 10 is used for conversion of the number of cores. However, such an optical component requires a dedicated core conversion unit, or a multi-core optical fiber core. On the way, it has to be broken into several pieces, which is troublesome and costly. Further, as described above, if PDs and LDs are provided for each terminal, it is difficult to increase the density and integration of optical components.

Here, the 12ch-PD, LD and the optical connector Ca are connected via the 12-core to 12-core connector, but the optical connector Ca can be directly connected to the 12ch-PD, LD. Needless to say good things. Further, depending on the installation route, the optical connectors Ca and Cb may be directly connected to each other without providing the 24-core to 24-core connector between the optical connectors Ca and Cb.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, with respect to the inventions described in claims 1 to 4, the ferrule 1 and the optical connectors Ca and Cb of the above-described embodiment have the fiber housing holes 10 of 2 rows × 12 columns. What is necessary is just to have the fiber accommodation hole of the row xn column (m and n are natural numbers of 2 or more). According to the inventions of claims 5 and 6, the continuous convex portion 40 and the continuous concave portion 41 are formed by utilizing the resin shrinkage after molding, but the continuous convex portion and the continuous concave portion are formed by other means. May be.

[0034]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to attach n pieces of m-core optical fibers, or m pieces of n pieces of optical fibers. Therefore, if the ferrule of the present invention is used as a pair, n m-core tape-shaped optical fiber cores can be replaced with m n-core optical fibers.
It can be easily converted to an optical fiber ribbon. Note that m and n are each a natural number of 2 or more.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the lamination direction of the optical fiber cores to be stored is set to the row direction or the column direction by forming the core wire storage portion communicating with all the fiber storage holes. Thus, it becomes easy to selectively insert and fix n m-core optical fiber cores or m n-core optical fiber cores. That is, by changing the lamination direction of the optical fiber cores, the optical fiber cores can be converted in a matrix. Further, this ferrule can store optical fiber core wires at high density.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the lamination direction of the accommodated optical fiber cores is set to the row direction or the column direction, whereby n m-core tape-shaped optical fiber cores or m n-core optical fiber cores are stored. It becomes easy to selectively insert and fix the core optical fiber core, and it is possible to easily convert the n m-core tape-type optical fiber cores into the m n-core tape-type optical fiber cores in a matrix. it can. In addition, since the conversion is performed only by the ferrule, the conversion can be performed efficiently without the need for a dedicated conversion optical component and without the need to separate the tape-shaped optical fiber cores one by one along the way. Further, this optical connector structure can connect optical fiber core wires with high density.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when an optical connector is formed by inserting and fixing an optical fiber core in a ferrule, a continuous convex portion and a continuous concave portion are formed in each optical fiber core. Therefore, the optical fibers can be laminated without causing positional deviation while positioning the optical fibers in the row direction or the column direction. In addition, when the optical fiber is inserted into the ferrule, the continuous concave portion on the lower surface is guided by the continuous convex portion of the lower optical fiber, so that the operation efficiency in forming the optical connector is improved. be able to. Further, since the optical fiber core having the continuous convex portion and the continuous concave portion has improved bending rigidity, it is possible to suppress the breakage of the internal optical fiber due to the bending and the deterioration of the transmission characteristics due to the bending.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the bending rigidity of the optical fiber itself can be improved.
Breakage due to bending of the internal optical fiber and deterioration of transmission characteristics due to bending can also be suppressed. In addition, when such optical fiber cores are bundled, the optical fiber cores can be laminated without causing a positional shift while positioning the optical fiber cores by the continuous convex portion and the continuous concave portion. Become. Further, when such optical fiber cores are inserted into the ferrule while being laminated one by one, the continuous concave portion on the lower surface is guided by the continuous convex portion of the lower optical fiber core, so that the optical connector is Manufacturing efficiency can be improved.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, when the optical fiber cores are laminated, the optical fiber exposed at the tip of the optical fiber core is formed on one surface side of the lower optical fiber core. Since the guides are guided one by one so as not to intersect with each other, the damage of the optical fiber, in particular, the damage of the distal end thereof can be suppressed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of a ferrule for an optical connector of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the optical connector connection structure of the present invention using the ferrule shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an end of one embodiment of the optical fiber core of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a laminated state of the optical fibers shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a forming process of the optical fiber core wire shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a step of forming an optical connector using the ferrule shown in FIG. 1 and the optical fiber core shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an end of another embodiment of the optical fiber core of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a system using the optical connector shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an optical component used in a conventional system.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Ferrule, 2, 4, 400, 401 ... Optical fiber core wire, 10 ... Fiber accommodation hole, 11 ... Core wire accommodation part, 40
... Continuous convex part, 41 ... Continuous concave part, Ca, Cb ... Optical connector, F ... Optical fiber.

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Toshiaki Kakii 1-chome, Taya-cho, Sakae-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa F-term (reference) in Yokohama Works, Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. 2H001 BB15 FF07 2H036 AA02 AA04 CA01 CA07 GA04 GA12 GA23

Claims (6)

[Claims] A ferrule for an optical connector in which an optical fiber is accommodated inside to form an optical connector, wherein a plurality of ferrules are arranged at one end side in m rows × n columns (m and n are each a natural number of 2 or more). Characterized by being capable of selectively inserting m n-core optical fiber ribbons or n m-core optical fiber ribbons from the other end side. Ferrule for optical connector. 2. The ferrule for an optical connector according to claim 1, wherein the other end has one core wire storage portion communicating with all the fiber storage holes. 3. A pair of ferrules for an optical connector according to claim 2, wherein m n-core tape-shaped optical fiber cores are inserted and fixed in one of said ferrules, and n n-core tape-shaped optical fibers are inserted in the other ferrule. An m-core tape-shaped optical fiber core wire is inserted and fixed, the one end sides of the pair of ferrules are brought into contact with each other, and the optical fibers housed in the fiber housing holes are optically connected to each other. Optical connector connection structure. 4. The optical fiber core wire has at least one continuous convex portion extending on one surface side in the full length direction, and has a continuous length extending on the other surface side opposite to the continuous convex portion in the full length direction. The optical connector connection structure according to claim 3, further comprising a concave portion. 5. A tape-shaped optical fiber core wire in which a plurality of optical fibers are incorporated in an array state, wherein one side has at least one continuous convex portion extending in the full length direction, and the opposite side of the continuous convex portion. An optical fiber core having a continuous concave portion extending in the entire length direction on the other surface side. 6. The continuous projection according to claim 6, wherein the continuous projection is formed on all of the intermediate portions between the adjacent optical fibers, and all the continuous projections are formed on the one surface side. Fiber optic cable.