JP2000275464A - Optical connector device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical connector device capable of surely interconnecting the connections of optical waveguide portions and preventing fitting errors although being structurally simple. SOLUTION: This optical connector device includes a first connector part 11 holding the connection of a first optical waveguide 13 and having a guide member and a second connector part 12 holding the connection of a second optical waveguide 16 and having a guide bole 36 for insertion of the guide member therein when the second connector part 12 is connected to the first connector part 11 to connect the connection of the first optical waveguide 13 with the connection of the second optical waveguide 15. In this case, magnetically attracting force generating means 40 for generating magnetically attracting forces when the first connector part 11 is connected to the second connector part 12 are provided on the connecting surfaces of the first and second connector parts 11, 12.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical connector device for connecting a connection portion of a first light guide portion and a connection portion of a second light guide portion for transmitting an optical signal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 10 shows a conventional optical connector device of this kind. The conventional optical connector device has a connector section 1
000 and a connector section 1001, and the connector section 1000 holds one optical waveguide 1002. Another connector section 1001 holds the other optical waveguide 1003. The optical waveguide 1002 is the connector 1
The optical waveguide 1003 is integrally fixed to the housing 1005 of the connector section 1001 using an adhesive while being fixed integrally to the housing 1004 of the connector portion 1001 with an adhesive or the like. The housing 1004 is provided with a guide pin 1006,
5 has a guide hole (not shown) for fitting the guide pins 1006, 1006. Connector part 1
001 is a lever lock 1007 and a spring 1008
have.

The connector section 1000 and the connector section 1001
To optically connect the connection end 1009 of the optical waveguide 1002 and the connection end 1003A of the optical waveguide 1003, the guide pins 1006 and 1006
005, and the claws 1011 and 1011 of the lever lock 1007 are
4 fit into the grooves 1012, 1012. At this time,
The urging force of the spring 1008 securely fits the claws 1011 and 1011 of the lever lock 1007 into the groove 1012 so as not to move. A marker 1014 is provided on the housing 1004, and the housing 1001 is provided with a marker 1014.
Is also provided with a marker 1015. While looking at the markers 1014 and 1015, the operator correctly connects the connector portion 1000 and the connector portion 1001 so as not to be connected in reverse, thereby connecting the optical fiber of the optical waveguide 1002 and the corresponding optical fiber of the optical waveguide 1003. Make sure that they are connected.

[0004]

However, such a conventional optical connector device requires the above-described components such as the lever lock 1007 and the spring 1008. It must be assembled to the connector section 1001. In addition, a groove 1012 corresponding to the claw 1011 of the lever lock 1007 must be provided in the housing 1004 of the connector portion 1000, and the markers 1014 and 1015 are also provided on the housing 1004, 1
005. For this reason, there is a problem that the number of parts is large, the number of steps for manufacturing is large, and cost reduction cannot be achieved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances and has solved the above-described problems. An optical connector capable of reliably connecting a light guide section such as an optical waveguide and preventing erroneous fitting with a simple structure. It is intended to provide a device.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical connector device for connecting a connection portion of a first light guide and a connection portion of a second light guide to transmit an optical signal. Holding a connection portion of the first light guide portion, holding a first connector portion having a guide member, and holding a connection portion of the second light guide portion, connecting to the first connector portion, A second connector portion having a guide hole for inserting the guide member when connecting a connection portion of the first light guide portion and a connection portion of the second light guide portion, wherein the first connector portion is provided. The connection between the first connector and the second connector is provided with the first connector.
An optical connector device comprising: magnetic attraction force generating means for generating a magnetic attraction force in a state where the connector portion and the second connector portion are connected.

In the first aspect, the first connector portion holds a connection portion of the first light guide portion and has a guide member. The second connector portion holds the connection portion of the second light guide portion, and is connected to the first connector portion to connect the connection portion of the first light guide portion and the connection portion of the second light guide portion. It has a guide hole for inserting a guide member. Then, a magnetic attraction force is generated in a connection portion between the first connector portion and the second connector portion in a state where the first connector portion and the second connector portion are connected, thereby connecting the first connector portion and the second connector portion. And a magnetic attraction force generating means for reliably performing the operation. Thus, while the structure is simple, the connection between the first connector portion and the second connector portion is reliably performed, and the optical connection between the connection portion of the first light guide portion and the connection portion of the second light guide portion is ensured. The state can be constantly maintained by magnetic attraction.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the optical connector device of the first aspect, the magnetic attractive force generating means is magnetically attracted by the magnet disposed in the first connector portion and the magnet. And a magnetic material portion forming at least a portion of the second connector portion. According to claim 2, the magnetic attraction force generating means is constituted by a magnet arranged in the first connector portion and a magnetic material portion on the second connector portion side, and the magnet of the first connector portion is connected to the second connector portion. By magnetically attracting a magnetic material portion forming at least a part of the first connector portion, the first connector portion and the second connector portion are securely connected.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the optical connector device according to the first aspect, the magnetic attraction force generating means includes a first magnet disposed in the first connector section and a second magnet disposed in the second connector section. And a second magnet arranged, wherein the first magnet and the second magnet are different kinds of magnets. In claim 3,
The magnetic attraction force generating means includes a first magnet of the first connector section and a second magnet of the second connector section. The first magnet and the second magnet are a kind of magnet, and the first magnet and the second magnet
By magnetically attracting the magnet, the first connector portion and the second connector portion can always be reliably connected.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the optical connector device according to the first aspect, a projection is provided on one of a connecting portion of the first connector portion and a connecting portion of the second connector portion, The other of the connection portion of the first connector portion and the connection portion of the second connector portion is provided with a recess for fitting the projection. According to the fourth aspect, a protrusion is provided on one of the first connector portion and the second connector portion, and a concave portion for fitting the protrusion is provided on the other side. Thereby, erroneous fitting at the time of connection between the first connector portion and the second connector portion can be reliably prevented.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the optical connector device according to the second aspect, the magnetic material portion of the second connector portion forms a housing of the second connector portion. According to the fifth aspect, the magnet of the first connector portion magnetically attracts the housing of the second connector portion, so that the first connector portion and the second connector portion can be reliably connected.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the optical connector device according to the first aspect, the guide member is formed integrally with a housing of the first connector portion. According to the sixth aspect, since the guide member is formed integrally with the housing of the first connector portion, the first connector portion can be easily formed and the number of parts can be reduced.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the optical connector device according to the first aspect, the first light guide and the second light guide are optical waveguides. In the invention according to claim 8, in the optical connector device according to claim 1, the optical connector device according to claim 1, wherein the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide are optical fibers. According to the invention of claim 9, claim 1
In the optical connector device described in (1), the first and second light guides have one or a plurality of light paths.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the embodiments described below are preferred specific examples of the present invention,
Although various technically preferable limits are given, the scope of the present invention is not limited to these modes unless otherwise specified in the following description.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a preferred embodiment of the optical connector device according to the present invention. Optical connector device 10
Has a first connector portion 11 and a second connector portion 12, the first connector portion 11 holds a first optical waveguide 13, and the second connector portion 12 holds a second optical waveguide 15. . The first optical waveguide 13 is a kind of a first optical waveguide,
The second optical waveguide 15 is a kind of a second light guide. The first connector section 11 is made of, for example, plastic, and the first optical connector section 11 has a housing 16. The housing 16 has a base 17 and a projection 18. The housing 16 integrally fixes the first optical waveguide 13 by bonding with an adhesive or press fitting. The housing 16 can be formed of plastic or the like. Guide pins 20, 20 serving as two guide members are formed in parallel on the connection surface 19 of the protrusion 18 of the housing 16. Guide pins 20, 20
May be a separate member from the housing 16 or may be formed integrally when the housing 16 is molded. By integrally molding the housing 16 and the guide pin 20, the number of parts can be reduced.

The base portion 17 is a portion for fitting and holding the first connector portion 11 in the housing of the electronic device when the first connector portion 11 is mounted on the housing. The first optical waveguide 13 has a base 17.
And the connection portion 21 of the first optical waveguide 13 is located inside the housing 16. Connection part 21
The connection end 22 is exposed on the connection surface 19.

The second connector section 12 shown in FIGS.
It is made similarly to the first connector portion 11. The housing 30 of the second connector section 12 has a base 31 and a protrusion 32. The second optical waveguide 15 enters from one end face side of the base 31 and is exposed on the connection surface 33 as shown in FIG. The connection portion 34 of the second optical waveguide 15 is located inside the housing 30, and the connection end 35 of the connection portion 34 is exposed on the connection surface 33. The connection surface 33 of the protrusion 32 has
The two guide holes 36 are provided. These guide holes 36 are holes into which the guide pins 20 are fitted.

A magnet 23 is provided on the connection surface 19 of the first connector section 11. On the other hand, the second connector 1
A magnet 37 is provided on the second connection surface 33. The magnet 23 is, for example, magnetized to the N pole, and the magnet 37 is magnetized to the S pole. Since the magnets 32 and 37 are different kinds of magnets and attract each other, the magnetic attraction force generating means 40 of the first connector portion 11 and the second connector portion 12 are used.
Is composed. The magnet 23 and the magnet 37 are arranged at positions corresponding to when the first connector 11 and the second connector 12 are connected.

Next, an example of the connection operation of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described. In FIGS. 1 and 2, when connecting the first connector section 11 and the second connector section 12, the operator checks in advance whether the magnets 23 and 37 are at the corresponding positions, and checks the first connector section. 11 guide pins 20, 20 and guide holes 36, 36 of the second connector portion 12.
Inset. Then, guide pins 2 are inserted into the guide holes 36, 36.
In a state where 0 and 20 are securely inserted, the magnets 23 and 3
The magnets 23 and 33 generate a magnetic attraction force because of the close contact of 7. Therefore, the first connector portion 11 and the second connector portion 12 can always maintain the connection state in a state where the connection surfaces 19 and 33 are surely brought into contact by the magnetic attraction force. In this connection state, the connection end 22 of the first optical waveguide 13 and the connection end 35 of the second optical waveguide 15 are securely connected optically.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The optical connector device 100 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 has a configuration generally similar to that of the optical connector device 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, but differs in the following points. That is, the connecting surface 19 of the first connector portion 11 is provided with not only one magnet 23 but also another magnet 24. On the other hand, the connection surface 33 of the second connector portion 12
Has not only one magnet 37 but another magnet 38
Is provided. The magnet 24 and the magnet 38 are arranged at corresponding positions. The magnet 23 is arranged beside one of the guide pins and the other magnet 24 is
Is located next to

A magnet 37 is arranged beside one guide hole 36, and another magnet 38 is arranged beside the other guide hole 36. Magnets 23, 24 and guide pin 2
0, 20 and the connection end 22 of the first optical waveguide 13 are shown in FIG.
Are arranged along the position of the straight line L1. Similarly, the magnets 37 and 38 and the guide holes 36 and 36 and the second
The connection ends 35 of the optical waveguide 15 are also arranged in series along the straight line L2.

The magnets 23 and 38 are, for example, magnetized to the N pole, and the magnets 37 and 24 are magnetized to the S pole. As a result, the magnets 23 and 37 at the corresponding positions generate magnetic attraction, and the magnets 24 and 38 at the corresponding positions also generate magnetic attraction. From this, magnet 2
Reference numerals 3, 24, 37, and 38 constitute magnetic attraction force generating means 140. Such magnetic attraction force generating means 140
Is provided, the first connector portion and the second connector portion are connected by stronger magnetic attraction in a state where the first connector portion and the second connector portion 12 are connected. In addition,
In FIG. 3, magnets 23 and 38 have N poles, and magnet 3
Since the first and second connector portions 11 and 12 are connected in the state of FIG.
Since the magnets 23 and 37 attract and the magnets 24 and 36 attract, the connection can be made reliably. However, if the second connector section 12 is mounted in the opposite direction to the first connector section 11, the magnets 23 and 38 face each other and the magnets 24 and 37 face each other. Since it becomes a pole, the magnets 23 and 38 repel, and the magnets 24 and 37 also repel, so that the first connector part and the second connector part cannot be connected. Therefore, by arranging such magnets 23, 24, 37, 38, erroneous joining or erroneous fitting can be reliably prevented. FIG.
Since the other parts of the embodiment are the same as the corresponding parts of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, they are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description is used.

FIG. 4 shows still another embodiment of the optical connector device of the present invention. Optical connector device 2 of FIG.
Reference numeral 00 denotes the optical connector devices 10 and 100 shown in FIGS.
It is similar in general, but differs in the following points. That is,
The connection surface 19 of the first connector portion 11 has two protrusions 7
0, 70 are provided and two recesses 71, 70 are provided.
71 are provided. The projections 70, 70 are provided so as to protrude at two corners of the connection surface 19, and
The projecting direction of 0 is parallel to the projecting direction of the guide pin 20. The recesses 71, 71 are provided in the remaining two corner portions of the connection surface 19.

On the other hand, in addition to the guide holes 36, 36, two projections 90, 90
And two concave portions 91, 91 are provided. The two protrusions 90, 90 are portions to be fitted into the recesses 71, 71 of the first connector portion, and the two recesses 91, 91 are portions to be fitted with the protrusions 70, 70 of the first connector portion. By providing such protrusions 70 and 90 and recesses 71 and 91 in the first connector portion and the second connector portion, when the first connector portion 11 and the second connector portion 12 are connected, erroneous connection may occur. Absent. Thereby, the first optical waveguide 1
The arrangement of the optical fibers at the connection end 35 of the second optical waveguide 15 can be surely connected without fail, corresponding to, for example, the arrangement of the optical fibers at the connection end 22 at No. 3.

Further, although the magnet 23 is provided on the connection surface 19 of the first connector portion 11, the magnet may not be provided on the second connector portion 12. Instead, the housing 30 of the second connector section 12 is made of a magnetic material. For example, the housing 30 is made of iron, cobalt, nickel, or an alloy thereof, and the housing 30 can be made of a magnetic material such as a ferromagnetic material (positive magnetic material) or a soft magnetic material. Thus, when the first connector portion 11 and the second connector portion 12 are connected, the magnet 23 magnetically attracts the housing 30 as the guide pins 20, 20 enter the guide holes 36, 36, and the connection is performed. When the surface 19 and the connection surface 33 are in close contact with each other, the magnet 23 reliably attracts the housing 30 magnetically. Therefore, the connection end 22 of the first optical waveguide 13 and the second end
The connection end 35 of the optical waveguide 15 can always be connected optically reliably and without fail in the direction.

FIG. 5 shows a configuration example of the first optical waveguide 13 and the second optical waveguide 15 described above. The optical waveguides 13 and 15 of the configuration example of FIG. 5 are obtained by integrating a plurality of optical fibers 90 in a state of being arranged in parallel with a material 91. As a material of the optical fiber, for example, a silica-based optical fiber or a plastic optical fiber can be adopted. As the material 91, for example, plastic can be adopted.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the first optical waveguide 13 and the second optical waveguide 15. In the examples of the optical waveguides 13 and 15 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a cladding part 101 is formed on a substrate 100. This cladding part 101
Is formed at the center thereof. Core part 10
2 and the cladding part 101 have different refractive indexes, and the refractive index of the core part 102 is larger than that of the cladding part 101.

The pattern examples of the optical waveguides 13 and 15 in FIG. 7 show an example in which, for example, one input section 103 is branched and four output sections 104 are formed. That is, the core section 102 branches, and one input section 103 is divided into four output sections 104. As the material of the optical waveguide, a glass-based or polymer-based material can be adopted.
As the glass-based material, for example, quartz or multi-component glass can be used. For the polymer-based material, for example, fluorinated polyimide, polycarbonate, or acrylic can be used.

FIG. 8 shows an application example to which the optical connector device 10 of the present invention is applied.
Reference numeral 0 denotes an example in which one electronic device 120 and the other electronic device 130 are connected to be capable of optical communication. The optical connector devices 10 and 10 are connected by, for example, a first optical waveguide 13. The components in the electronic device 120 are connected from the optical connector device 10 using the second optical waveguide, and the components inside the other optical connector device 10 and the electronic device 130 are connected to the second optical waveguide. They are connected by an optical waveguide.

FIG. 9 shows another embodiment to which the optical connector device 10 of the present invention is applied. For example, a portable computer 140 has an operation unit 150 and a display unit 160. The operation unit 150 and the display unit 160 can be connected to, for example, a liquid crystal display device using the optical connector device 10. The first connector unit 11 on the operation unit 150 side
It is connected to the second connector section 12 on the display section 160 side.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. In the embodiment of the present invention, for example, in the optical connector device 10 shown in FIGS.
Although one set of 3, 37 is provided, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is of course possible to provide two or more sets. 1 to 3, the position where the magnet is arranged on the connection surface is not limited to the side of the guide pin 20, but may be any other position.

In the optical connector device 200 shown in FIG. 4, the shapes of the projections 70 and 90 are cubic or rectangular parallelepiped. However, the shape is not limited to this and may be cylindrical or the like. Correspondingly, the recesses 71, 91 are
Of course, it is also possible to change it according to the shape of. The number of protrusions and the number of recesses may be one or three or more.

Although two guide pins are provided, the number of guide pins is not limited to this, and may be one or three or more.
Of course, the guide pin can be attached separately to the housing or can be integrally formed by injection molding or the like. In addition, the shapes of the housings 16 and 30 of the first connector portion 11 and the second connector portion 12 have a base portion and a protruding portion. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is of course possible to omit the base portion. The base is, for example, a part attached to the housing of the electronic device. By changing the position of the guide pin, when the guide pin enters the guide hole, the first connector portion and the second connector portion may be connected with a large displacement, so that an erroneous connection may be detected.

Also, an example has been described in which a magnet is disposed on one connecting surface and the other housing is formed of a magnetic material in order to constitute a magnetic attraction force generating means. In addition to a metal having magnetism, a resin having magnetism can also be used. In the embodiment of the present invention, the optical waveguide is one type of a light guide.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Despite the simple structure, the connection of the light guide portion can be surely performed, and the erroneous fitting can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of an optical connector device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the optical connector device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the optical connector device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing still another embodiment of the optical connector device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an example of an optical waveguide.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the optical waveguide.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing an example of the optical waveguide pattern of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an example to which the optical connector device of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing another example to which the optical connector device of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a conventional optical connector device.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Optical connector apparatus, 11 ... 1st connector part, 12 ... 2nd connector part, 13 ... 1st optical waveguide (1st light guide part), 14 ... Magnetic attractive force Generating means, 15,..., Second optical waveguide (second optical waveguide), 19,
33 ... connection surface, 20 ... guide pin (guide member), 23, 37 ... magnet, 36, 36 ... guide hole, 70, 90 ... projection, 71, 91 ... recess

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Shun Kayama 6-7-35 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Sony Corporation (72) Inventor Makoto Yamashita 3-1-1 Musashino, Akishima-shi, Tokyo Japan Airlines Inside the Akishima Plant of Electronic Industries Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yuichi Koeda 3-1-1 Musashino, Akishima City, Tokyo Japan Airlines Inside the Akishima Plant of Electronic Industries Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 2H036 QA02 QA31 QA49 QA56 2H037 AA01 BA35 DA31

Claims (9)

[Claims] An optical connector device for connecting a connection portion of a first light guide portion and a connection portion of a second light guide portion for transmitting an optical signal, wherein the connection portion of the first light guide portion is provided. And a first connector portion having a guide member; and a connection portion of the second light guide portion, and a connection portion of the first light guide portion connected to the first connector portion and the first light guide portion. A second connector portion having a guide hole for inserting the guide member when connecting a connection portion of the two light guide portions; and a connection portion between the first connector portion and the second connector portion. An optical connector device comprising: magnetic attraction force generating means for generating a magnetic attraction force in a state where the first connector portion and the second connector portion are connected. 2. The magnetic attractive force generating means includes: a magnet disposed on the first connector portion; a magnetic material portion forming at least a part of the second connector portion magnetically attracted by the magnet; 2. The optical connector device according to claim 1, comprising: 3. The magnetic attracting force generating means includes: a first magnet disposed on the first connector portion; and a second magnet disposed on the second connector portion, wherein the first magnet is provided. The optical connector device according to claim 1, wherein the second magnet and the second magnet are different types of magnets. 4. A connection part of said first connector part and said second part.
A protrusion is provided on one of the connection portions of the connector portion, and a concave portion for fitting the protrusion is provided on the other of the connection portion of the first connector portion and the connection portion of the second connector portion. The optical connector device according to claim 1. 5. The optical connector device according to claim 2, wherein the magnetic material portion of the second connector portion forms a housing of the second connector portion. 6. The optical connector device according to claim 1, wherein the guide member is formed integrally with a housing of the first connector portion. 7. The optical connector device according to claim 1, wherein the first light guide and the second light guide are optical waveguides. 8. The optical connector device according to claim 1, wherein the first light guide and the second light guide are optical fibers. 9. The optical connector device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second light guides have one or more light paths.