JP2001021777A - Connecting device for optical cable and printed wiring board - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a multicore optical fiber connection device capable of handling many signals suitable for public application and being directly connected with a printed wiring board handling electric signals by mounting a light emitting element or a light receiving element and an optical fiber cable connection terminal on a printed wiring board connection equipment so as to convert electric signals into light signals immediately from the printed wiring board. SOLUTION: A light receiving element or a light emitting element and amplification and drive circuits thereof are mounted on one wiring board 2 electrically connected with a printed wiring board connection connector 1, the same number of condensing lenses as the number of individual elements are provided on extension on which optical axes of individual elements are matched, and furthermore, optical cable connection terminals are provided on the extension so that the optical axes match. In this case, if the condensing lenses, the optical connection terminals, and an optical cable guide are mounted on one wiring board 2, the precision for matching optical axes is improved. That is, a plurality of light signals can be handled because an optical fiber connection device 3 exchanging signals with the light receiving element and the light emitting element on the wiring board 2 is mounted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to optical fiber transmission, and more particularly to an optical fiber cable connection device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, signal transmission methods using optical fibers have become widespread due to measures against electromagnetic wave noise accompanying high speed transmission signals and the spread of high-speed multiplexing systems. However, its spread is still at the level of large-scale trunk lines and their branch lines, and has not been fully introduced into homes and consumer appliances. However, on the other hand, rapid introduction is expected in the future, such as introduction to internal wiring of automobiles and setting of specifications in IEEE 1394 which is a personal computer peripheral standard. However, there is no connecting device for a multi-core optical fiber suitable for such a use. Conventionally, a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element are mounted separately from a printed circuit board for electrically processing them, and a lens and an optical fiber connection terminal are also mounted on an extension thereof so that the optical axes are aligned. Therefore, it is inconvenient to handle a large number of optical cables.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to improve the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art, to handle a large number of signals suitable for consumer use, and to connect a multi-core optical fiber connecting device directly to a substrate handling electrical signals. Is provided.

[0004]

A light emitting element or a light receiving element and an optical fiber cable connection terminal are mounted on a printed circuit board connecting device so that a printed circuit board for performing electric signal processing can be immediately converted into an optical signal. With this configuration, the light receiving / emitting element and the receiving circuit on the printed circuit board or the light emitting element driving circuit can be connected over a short distance, so that noise, driving capability, and frequency characteristics are improved.

[0005]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 shows a printed circuit board and an optical cable connecting device incorporating a light receiving / emitting element of the present invention. in this case,
It goes without saying that the connection direction between the printed circuit board and the optical cable can be either parallel or vertical.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the internal configuration of the connection device. Light-receiving element, or light-emitting element, and further, amplification,
The drive circuit is mounted on one board that is electrically connected from the printed circuit board connector, and the same number of condenser lenses are provided on the extension that meets the optical axis of each element, and the optical cable is connected on that extension The terminals are set so that the optical axis is aligned. In this case, as shown in FIG. 2, if the condenser lens, the optical connection terminal, or the optical cable guide is also mounted on one substrate, the accuracy of aligning the optical axis is improved. Further, if a hollow cylinder serving as an optical cable guide is provided on the optical axis of the condenser lens as shown in FIG. 3, the accuracy of axis alignment is improved. This can be achieved if the lens is made of plastic.

When a light receiving element for detecting light and a light emitting element are both mounted on a substrate, if the light receiving element and the light emitting element are separated in the upper and lower stages, a shield for preventing the drive circuit noise of the light emitting element from affecting the light receiving element. Countermeasures can be taken by inserting metal or the like.

When it is necessary to connect the metal wiring and the optical cable to the printed circuit board at the same time, if both connection terminals are provided, it is possible to simultaneously receive and start both the optical signal and the electric signal with one connecting device. In this case, the optical cable is vulnerable to bending, but the metal wiring can be bent at a right angle. Therefore, if the metal wiring is arranged outside the optical cable as shown in FIG. 4, the wiring can be routed from the connection device to another printed circuit board or the like. The degree of freedom increases.

As described above, when it is necessary to transmit both the optical signal and the electric signal, and when it is necessary to supply the power, an optical or metal coaxial cable in which a metal piece is wound around the outside of the optical cable can be used. Can be transmitted in the same area. In this case, it goes without saying that the outer metal layer may be any number of layers sandwiching the insulating layer.

In the above, an example in which light receiving and light emitting elements are incorporated in an optical cable and a printed circuit board connecting device has been described. As shown in FIG. 5, light receiving and light emitting elements are arranged on a printed circuit board, and these elements are aligned with the optical axis. If the optical cable connection device is arranged on the connection device, optical signals can be transmitted to the elements on the board.

[0011]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, a printed circuit board for processing an electric signal and a light emitting element and a light receiving element for transmitting an optical signal can be connected in a short distance, so that the noise resistance and the speed of the signal can be increased. On the other hand, it is more advantageous than the conventional configuration individually. In addition, when using a multi-core optical cable, since the light-receiving element and the light-emitting element are individually configured on a printed circuit board because there is no appropriate jig in the past, the outer shape becomes large. A plurality of optical signals can be easily handled by incorporating an optical fiber connection device for exchanging light with a light receiving / emitting element on a substrate. Further, by mounting not only an optical cable connection device but also an electric wiring connection device so that not only optical signal transmission but also electric signal transmission can be performed, both optical and electric signals can be simultaneously extracted from the printed circuit board. In this case, if a coaxial light or metal cable is used in which metal wiring is wound around the outside of the optical cable, even if the number of wirings increases, the device occupying the same area as the optical cable alone can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an embodiment of a printed circuit board / optical cable connection device.

FIG. 2 is an example of an internal configuration of a printed circuit board / optical cable connection device.

FIG. 3 is an example in which an optical cable guide is attached to a condenser lens.

FIG. 4 is an example of a printed circuit board / optical cable / metal wiring connection device.

FIG. 5 is an example of a light receiving element, a light emitting element mounting printed board, and an optical cable connection device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1. Printed circuit board connector 2. Printed circuit board 3. 3. Printed circuit board / optical cable connection device Optical cable connector 5. Optical fiber cable 6. 6. Light receiving and light emitting elements 7. Condensing lens Optical cable guide hole 9. Optical cable guide 10. Optical cable 11. Metal wiring connection terminal 12. Metal wiring 13. 13. Printed circuit board with light receiving and light emitting elements Light receiving or light emitting element

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An optical cable / printed circuit board connecting apparatus, which includes a light emitting element and / or a light receiving element and has connection terminals for both an optical fiber and a printed circuit board. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein not only the light emitting and light receiving elements but also a light emitting element driving circuit and / or a light receiving element signal amplifying circuit are incorporated. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a metal wiring connection terminal as well as the optical fiber connection terminal. 4. An optical fiber / printed circuit board connecting device having both a printed circuit board connecting terminal and an optical fiber connecting terminal having an optical axis aligned with a light emitting element and a light receiving element on the board. 5. An optical fiber connection device, wherein a plurality of light receiving elements and light emitting elements are respectively arranged in parallel and arranged in different stages. 6. A metal / optical fiber connection device wherein a plurality of metal wirings, light receiving elements and light emitting element connection terminals are arranged in parallel and metal wiring terminals are arranged outside. 7. A metal optical fiber coaxial cable in which a conductive metal is wound around the outside of an optical fiber cable. 8. A substrate on which a plurality of light emitting elements or light receiving elements are arranged, a substrate on which the same number of lenses are mounted so that the optical axis matches each element on the substrate, and a guide for inserting an optical fiber. An optical cable connection device consisting of a perforated board and matching each optical axis.