JP2000258659A - Connector for optical fiber cable - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to insert a plug respectively into a jack in the state of rotating the same 90 deg., 180 deg. and 270 deg. of a connector of an optical fiber cable. SOLUTION: The connector 1 consists of the plug 2 mounted to the end of the optical fiber cable and the jack 3 mounted at an electronic apparatus. The plug 2 has a projecting part 4 of a square shape. The jack 3 has a recessed part 5 for fitting the plug of the square shape to be fitted with the projecting part 4. the connection of the plug 2 and the jack 3 is executed by fitting the projecting part 4 into the recessed part 5. The jack 3 has plug fit prohibiting parts 6 and 6 at the adjacent angle parts of the four angle parts of the recessed part 5. The plug 2 has notched parts 7 to avert the abutment with the plug fit prohibiting parts 6 and 6 at all of the four corner parts of the projecting part 4 of the square shape.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connector for an optical cable used for connecting AV devices to each other via an optical cable.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 9, an optical cable connector 1 has plugs 2 attached to both ends of an optical cable 101 and electronic devices 201 and 201 to be connected to each other.
Consists of a jack 3 attached to 202
The plug 2 attached to one end of the optical cable 101 is inserted into the jack 3 of one electronic device 201, and the plug 2 attached to the other end of the optical cable 101 is inserted into the jack 3 of the other electronic device 202. Thus, the two electronic devices 201 and 202 are connected via the optical cable 101.

As shown in FIG. 10, the plug 2 is
It has a quadrangular projection 4.

[0004] The jack 3 has a rectangular plug fitting recess 5 into which the projection 4 of the plug 2 is fitted.

The protrusion 4 of the plug 2 is fitted into the recess 5 of the jack 3 at two consecutive corners of the four recesses 5 of the rectangular plug fitting recess 5. And plug engagement preventing portions 6 and 6 for preventing the connection.

The plug 2 has a notch for avoiding contact with the plug fitting prevention portions 6 and 6 of the jack 3 at two consecutive corners of the four corners of the quadrangular projection 4. 7,
7.

The projections 4 of the plug 2 are arranged in such a direction that the notches 7, 7 and the plug-inhibiting portions 6, 6 match.
Is inserted into the concave portion 5 of the jack 3, as shown in FIG.
The protrusion 4 is fitted into the recess 5 without contacting the plug 6, and the plug 2 and the jack 3 are connected. Also, as shown in FIG. 12, if the projection 4 of the plug 2 is inserted into the recess 5 of the jack 3 in a direction in which the notches 7, 7 do not match the plug fitting portions 6, 6, the plug can be inserted. The corners 8, 8 of the second convex portion 4 where the notches 7, 7 are not formed abut against the plug fitting preventing portions 6, 6,
The protrusion 4 is prevented from fitting into the recess 5.

As shown in FIG. 10, insertion guide projections 11 are provided at the center of a pair of outer surfaces of the projections 4 of the plug 2 opposite to each other. Are provided with retaining projections 12, 12 on the outer surface. In addition, insertion guide grooves 13, 13 into which the insertion guide protrusions 11, 11 are introduced are provided at the center of a pair of inner surfaces of the concave portion 5 of the jack 3 facing each other. On the inner surface, retaining projection guide grooves 14, 14 and retaining projection engaging grooves 15, 1 continuous therewith.
5 are provided.

When the projection 4 is inserted into the recess 5, the insertion guide projections 11 are engaged with the insertion guide groove 13,
13 and guides the fitting of the convex portion 4 into the concave portion 5. When the projection 4 is completely fitted into the recess 5, the retaining projections 12, 12 are fitted into the retaining projection engaging grooves 15, 15, and the plug 2 and the jack 3 are engaged. Is maintained in a connected state. The stopper projections 12, 12 are formed at such a height that they do not hinder the insertion of the plug 2 into the jack 3.

[0010]

As described above, the conventional connector 1 has the plug fitting preventing portions 6, 6 as described above.
There is a problem that the protrusion 4 of the plug 2 can be fitted into the recess 5 of the jack 3 only in the direction in which the notch 7 and the notch 7 match.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and allows the projection 4 of the plug 2 to be connected to the jack 3 from any direction.
The recess 5 can be fitted into the recess 5.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises a plug attached to an end of an optical cable and a jack attached to an electronic device. The plug has a quadrangular projection, and the jack is An optical cable connector having a rectangular plug fitting concave portion for fitting a plug convex portion, and connecting the plug and the jack by fitting the convex portion to the concave portion. In the above, a plug fitting prevention part is provided at two continuous corners of the four corners of the square recess of the jack, and the plug is provided at four corners of the square protrusion of the plug. By providing a notch for avoiding contact with the engagement preventing portion, any two of the four notches provided in the four corners always match the two plug engagement preventing portions of the recess. I will do it There was a protrusion regardless of the orientation of the plug to be able to fit into the recess.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a use state of an optical cable connector 1 according to a first embodiment. The connector 1 includes plugs 2 and 2 attached to the end of an optical cable 101 and jacks 3 and 3 attached to electronic devices 201 and 202.

The plug 2 has a regular quadrangular convex part 4, and the jack 3 has a substantially rectangular plug fitting concave part 5 for fitting the convex part 4 of the plug 2. The plug 2 and the jack 3 are connected by fitting the convex portion 4 into the concave portion 5.

The jack 3 is formed similarly to the conventional jack. (The same components as those in the related art are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.)

As shown in FIG. 2, the plug 2 is provided with four jacks 3 at four corners of a quadrangular projection 4 respectively.
Notch 7 for avoiding contact with plug fitting prevention parts 6, 6
7 except that the plug 2 is formed in the same manner as the conventional plug 2 described above. (The same components as those in the related art are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.)

As shown in FIG. 3, the optical cable 10
Numeral 1 is formed as a multi-core core 103 having a diameter of about 1 mm by bundling tens or hundreds of optical fibers 102... It is covered with 105. The optical cable 101 has an allowable bending radius of about 3 mm.

As shown in FIG. 4, the plug 2 includes the rectangular projection 4, the insertion guide projection 11, and the retaining projection 1.
2 provided with a plug main body 21 and a cable retaining member 22
And a cable bending maintaining member 23 and a cover member 24.

The plug main body 21 has a cable holding portion 25 provided at the center of the rectangular convex portion 4 and the end of the multi-core core 102 of the optical cable 101 inserted into the cable holding portion 25. Cable insertion portion 26 for
A cable retaining member attaching portion 27 for attaching the cable retaining member 22, and a cable bending maintaining member 23;
And a cable bending maintaining member attaching portion 28 for attaching the cable bending maintaining member.

The assembling of the plug 2 to the optical cable 101 is performed in the following steps.

First, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the cable retaining member 22 is attached to the cable retaining member attaching portion 27 of the plug body 21. Next, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the optical cable 101 is inserted from the cable insertion portion 26 on the back side of the plug main body 21, and the optical cable 101 is inserted through a cable insertion hole 22a provided in the cable retaining member 22, and then the optical cable 101 is inserted. The input and output ends 102a of the multi-core core 102 are inserted into the cable holding portion 25, and the distal end surface 2 of the holding portion 25
5a is slightly protruded.

Next, as shown in FIG. 5D, the cable insertion hole 22a is compressed and deformed by pressing the cable removal member 22 with a punch 31 and a die 32, so that the plug body of the optical cable 101 is formed. Prevention of detachment from the part 21.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6A, the optical cable 101 is bent about 3 mm along the cable bending surface 21a provided in the plug body 21 in the plug body 21. Bend at radius R.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6 (B), the cable bending maintaining member 23 is attached to the cable bending maintaining member mounting portion 28 of the plug main body 21, and the optical cable 101 is turned to approximately 90 °. Maintain the folded state.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6C, a cover 24 is attached to the plug main body 21.

Through the above steps, the optical cable 101
The plug 2 is attached to the optical cable 101, and the input and output ends of the optical cable 101 are bent at substantially 90 degrees.

The connector 1 according to the first embodiment has the above-described configuration. Accordingly, the pair of insertion guide protrusions 11 provided on the outer surface of the projection 4 of the plug 2 are aligned with the positions of the pair of insertion guide grooves 13 provided on the inner surface of the recess 5 of the jack 3. When the convex portion 4 is inserted to a predetermined position of the concave portion 5, as shown in FIG. 7, the number of the optical cables 101 held by the cable holding portion 25 provided at the center of the convex portion 4 of the plug 2 is increased. The input / output end 102a of the core 102 is connected (contacted) with the input / output end 203 of the jack 3 attached to the device 201, 202, and the retaining projection 1 provided on the outer surface of the projection 4 is provided.
The plugs 2 and 12 are engaged with the retaining projection engaging grooves 15 provided on the inner surface of the concave portion 5, so that the plug 2 and the jack 3 are maintained in a connected state.

Even when the direction of the plug 2 is changed by 180 ° and the convex portion 4 is inserted into the concave portion 5, the positions of the insertion guide projections 11, 11 and the insertion guide grooves 13, 13 coincide with each other. The part 3 is inserted into the recess 4 and the plug 2
And the jack 3 are connected. However, in other cases, the insertion guide projections 11 prevent the protrusion 4 from being inserted into the recess 5.

FIG. 8 shows a second embodiment. In this embodiment, retaining projections 12 are provided on the outer surface of the projection 4 of the plug 3 instead of providing the insertion guide projections 11. That is, the plug 3
Each of the four outer surfaces of the convex portion 4 has a retaining projection 12. On the other hand, a retaining projection guide groove 14 and a retaining projection engaging groove 15 are provided on the four inner surfaces of the concave portion 5 of the jack 3 respectively. Therefore, the projection 4 of the plug 2 can be inserted into the recess 5 from any direction, and the engagement between the retaining projections 12 and the retaining projection engaging grooves 15 can be made even when inserted from any direction. In some cases, the inserted state can be maintained. The other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, and a duplicate description will be omitted.

[0030]

The optical cable connector of the present invention has the following effects. (1) According to the connector of the first aspect, the plug can be inserted into the jack from any direction, and the connector is easy to use. (2) In the connector of the second aspect, the engagement between the retaining projection and the retaining projection engaging groove makes it possible to reliably maintain the fitted state of the plug and the jack. (3) In the connector according to the third aspect, the insertion direction of the plug into the jack is restricted in two directions by the insertion guide protrusion provided on the outer surface facing the plug and the insertion guide groove provided on the inner surface facing the jack. However, the fitting of the plug and the jack can be made easy and reliable by the insertion guide projection and the guide groove.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall view of a use state of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of an optical cable.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a plug.

FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C, and 5D are assembly process diagrams of a plug.

FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C are plug assembly process diagrams.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a state where a plug and a jack are connected.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a main part of the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an overall view of a use state of a conventional example.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a main part.

FIG. 11 is a front view at the time of normal insertion.

FIG. 12 is a front view at the time of irregular insertion.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 connector, 2 plug, 3 jack, 4 convex part,
5 concave portion, 6 plug insertion preventing portion, 7 notch portion, 11
Insertion guide projections, 12: retaining projections, 13: insertion guide grooves, 14: retaining projection guide grooves, 15: retaining projection engaging grooves.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor 6-35 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Sony Corporation F-term (reference) 2H036 JA02 QA46 QA51 QA57

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A plug attached to an end of an optical cable and a jack attached to an electronic device, wherein the plug has a quadrangular projection, and the jack fits the projection of the plug. An optical cable connector having a rectangular plug fitting concave portion for connecting the plug and the jack by fitting the convex portion into the concave portion. At least one of the four corners has a plug fitting prevention part, and the plug has four corners of a quadrangular projection, each of which is in contact with the plug fitting prevention part of the jack. An optical cable connector having a notch for avoiding contact. 2. The retaining projection according to claim 1, wherein the plug has a retaining projection on each outer surface of the projection, and the jack engages the retaining projection with an inner surface of each of the recesses. An optical cable connector having an engagement groove. 3. The plug according to claim 1, wherein the plug has an insertion guide protrusion at the center of the opposing outer surface of the convex portion, and has a retaining protrusion on another opposing outer surface. An insertion guide groove into which the insertion guide protrusion is introduced at a central portion of the inner surface facing the concave portion,
An optical cable connector having a retaining projection engaging groove with which the retaining projection engages on another opposed inner surface.