JP2001042164A - Different diameter ferrule connecting member and different diameter ferrule adapter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To connect ferrules having different diameters with high connecting performance and moreover to relatively easily achieve the connection. SOLUTION: In this connecting member 10, the end surface of a first ferrule 20 holding an optical fiber 11 is abutted on the surface of a second ferrule 30 having the outside diameter larger than the outside diameter of the first ferrule 20 to optically connect respective optical fiber 11. In this case, an optical fiber inserting hole 14 into which the optical fiber 11 is inserted is formed, and also the connecting member 10 is provided with a connecting ferrule 12 which has the outside diameter nearly equal to the outside diameter of the first ferrule 20 and an adjusting sleeve 13 which is fitted into one end part of the connecting ferrule 12 and has the outside diameter nearly equal to the outside diameter of the second ferrule 30.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a member for connecting ferrules having different diameters, which is fixed to an end of an optical fiber and which ferrules having different outer diameters are aligned, and which optically couples these optical fibers. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, ferrules having an outer diameter of about 2.5 mm are generally used for optical fibers, and optical fibers fixed to each ferrule are connected by bringing them into physical contact. Was. Further, with the recent high-density mounting, for example, ferrules having an outer diameter of about 1.25 mm, such as MU type, have come to be used.

As a technique for optically connecting ferrules having different outer diameters, for example, a conversion cable called a jumper cable in which ferrules having different outer diameters are provided at both ends of a short optical fiber between them, for example, is known. Or a device connected through
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 0150, there is one that connects via a connecting ferrule having a different outer diameter in the axial direction.

[0004]

However, in the former method using a conversion cable, two adapters and a conversion cable are required between ferrules to be connected, so that the number of parts increases. In addition, there is a problem that the cost is high because the conversion cable is expensive.

On the other hand, the latter connection ferrule is considered to have its outer diameter finished only by machining, and in this case, if the butting of the cores is shifted by several microns, a single ferrule having a great effect on the connection performance is obtained. It is presumed that it cannot be used for the connection of the optical fiber in the mode. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a different diameter ferrule connection member and a different diameter ferrule adapter that can connect ferrules having different diameters with high connection performance and that can be formed relatively easily. As an issue.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a first ferrule holding an optical fiber and a first ferrule having an outer diameter larger than the outer diameter of the first ferrule. An optical fiber insertion hole into which the optical fiber is inserted is formed in the different diameter ferrule connecting member for abutting the end faces of the second ferrule with each other to optically couple the respective optical fibers and the first ferrule. A connecting ferrule having an outer diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the connecting ferrule, and an adjusting sleeve fitted to one end of the connecting ferrule and having an outer diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the second ferrule. A member for connecting ferrules having different diameters.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, after the adjusting sleeve is fitted to the connecting ferrule, the outer diameter of the adjusting sleeve is determined based on the optical fiber insertion hole of the connecting ferrule. The ferrule connection member is characterized in that the finishing process is performed. A third aspect of the present invention is the member for connecting a ferrule of different diameter according to the first or second aspect, wherein the adjusting sleeve is made of a metal material.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, both end faces of the connection ferrule are polished after the optical fiber is bonded and fixed to the optical fiber insertion hole. A member for connecting ferrules having different diameters. A fifth aspect of the present invention has a member for connecting different diameter ferrules according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, and an inner diameter substantially equal to an outer diameter of the first ferrule of the member for connecting different diameter ferrules. A first alignment sleeve fitted to the other end of the connection ferrule, and a second alignment sleeve fitted to the adjustment sleeve having substantially the same inner diameter as the outer diameter of the second ferrule And a ferrule adapter having a different diameter.

According to the present invention, the end faces of ferrules having different outer diameters, large and small, are respectively brought into contact with the end faces of the connecting member for connecting ferrules of different diameters, so that optical fibers of ferrules having different diameters can be easily and reliably connected to each other. A different-diameter ferrule adapter that can be connected can be realized.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view and a sectional view of a member for connecting different diameter ferrules according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view and a section of a different diameter ferrule adapter using the member for connecting different diameter ferrules. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a usage state of the different-diameter ferrule adapter.

A member 10 for connecting ferrules of different diameters according to the present invention.
Have different outer diameters, for example, 1.25 mm diameter and 2.
This is for easily optically coupling the optical fibers 21 and 31 held by the small-diameter ferrule 20 and the large-diameter ferrule 30 of 5 mm, and the optical fiber 11 is inserted and held in the axial direction as shown in the figure. Ferrule 12 for connection
And an adjustment sleeve 13 provided on the outer peripheral surface of the connection ferrule 12 at one end in the axial direction.

The connection ferrule 12 is made of, for example, zirconia (ZrO ₂ ), has substantially the same outer diameter as the small-diameter ferrule 20, and has an optical fiber 11 inserted through the center of its axis in the axial direction. An optical fiber insertion hole 14 is formed. The optical fiber 11 is inserted into the optical fiber insertion hole 14 and is joined and held by an adhesive or the like.

On the other hand, the adjusting sleeve 13 is a cylindrical body having an outer diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the large-diameter ferrule 30 and an inner diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the connecting ferrule 12.
It is fitted to the other end of the connection ferrule 12. The adjustment sleeve 13 and the connection ferrule 12 are fixed by, for example, press fitting so that their end faces are substantially flat. The material of the adjusting sleeve 13 is not particularly limited, but it is preferable to use a material capable of forming the outer diameter dimension with relatively high accuracy, for example, a metal such as stainless steel.

Here, the outer shape of the adjusting sleeve 13 is as follows.
After press-fitting into the connection ferrule 12, the connection ferrule 12
It is preferable to form the outer diameter with high precision by processing the optical fiber insertion hole 14 formed in the above as a reference. For example, in the present embodiment, after the adjustment sleeve 13 which is about 0.2 mm thicker than a predetermined dimension is press-fitted, the outer diameter is polished around the optical fiber insertion hole 14 of the connecting ferrule 12 as an axis so that the outer diameter is about 2. The adjustment sleeve 13 was 5 mm. Thereby, the axis center of the adjustment sleeve 13 and the axis center of the connection ferrule 12 can be surely matched.

In addition, it is preferable to polish the respective end faces of the member 10 for connecting ferrules having different diameters, that is, the end face of the ferrule 12 for connection after the outer diameter of the adjusting sleeve 13 is polished. Then, after the optical fiber 11 was bonded and fixed to the optical fiber insertion hole 14, each end face was subjected to PC polishing. Needless to say, another polishing method may be used.

In the present embodiment, a regulating member 15 for regulating the movement in the rotational direction is further fitted on the outer peripheral surface of the adjusting sleeve 13 of such a member 10 for connecting different diameter ferrules. . This regulating member 15 is, for example,
It has a substantially ring shape, and engaging grooves 15a are formed in the circumferential direction at predetermined intervals, for example, at intervals of 90 °, in the axial direction. Then, as will be described in detail later, the rotation is regulated by the engagement between the engagement groove 15a and the projection. The regulating member 15 is not essential, and is not necessary when the member 10 for connecting ferrules of different diameters is used as it is.

Such a member 10 for connecting ferrules having different diameters.
Constitutes a part of the different-diameter ferrule adapter 50 shown in FIG. 2, for example. The different-diameter ferrule adapter 50 according to the present embodiment includes a different-diameter ferrule connection member 10 and a first alignment sleeve 16 in which the small-diameter ferrule 20 is fitted and held.
And a second alignment sleeve 17 in which the large-diameter ferrule 30 is fitted and held.

The first alignment sleeve 16 is, for example,
In the present embodiment, the split sleeve has a substantially cylindrical shape and a slit 16a is provided in a part thereof in the axial direction. The first alignment sleeve 16 has substantially the same inner diameter as the outer diameter of the connection ferrule 12 and is fixed to the end of the connection ferrule 12 opposite to the adjustment sleeve 13 of the different diameter ferrule connection member 10. ing. For example, in the present embodiment, the first alignment sleeve 16 is fitted to the connection ferrule 12 and fixed by an adhesive or the like.

The second aligning sleeve 17 is a split sleeve having a slit 17 a, like the first aligning sleeve 16, and has substantially the same inner diameter as the outer diameter of the adjusting sleeve 13. And it is fitted and fixed to the adjusting sleeve 13 of the member 10 for connecting different diameter ferrules. That is, the first
Like the alignment sleeve 16 of the second, the second alignment sleeve 17
Are fitted to the adjustment sleeve 13 and fixed by an adhesive or the like.

In such a different diameter ferrule adapter 50 of the present invention, as shown in FIG.
By inserting the small-diameter ferrule 20 into the end 6 of the connecting ferrule 12 until the small-diameter ferrule 20 abuts on the end face, the optical fibers 11 and 21 held by these are optically coupled to each other. On the other hand, when the large-diameter ferrule 30 is inserted into the second alignment sleeve 17 until it comes into contact with the connection ferrule 12 and the adjustment sleeve 13, the optical fibers 31 and 11 held by these are optically coupled to each other. . That is, the optical fiber 21 of the small-diameter ferrule 20 and the optical fiber 31 of the large-diameter ferrule 30 are optically coupled via the optical fiber 11 of the connecting ferrule 12.

In the present embodiment, the slits 16a, 17a are used as the first and second alignment sleeves 16, 17, respectively.
Is used, but the present invention is not limited to this. Needless to say, the slit may not be provided. Thus, the member 50 for connecting different diameter ferrules of the present invention can be formed with high precision and relatively easily. Also, by using the different-diameter ferrule connecting member 10, a different-diameter ferrule adapter 50 having the same performance as an adapter for optically coupling ferrules of the same diameter can be formed relatively easily, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. Can be reduced.

The thus formed ferrule adapter 50 of different diameter is used, for example, incorporated in an optical connector adapter. Hereinafter, this optical connector adapter will be described. FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing an example of an optical connector adapter using the ferrule adapter 50 having a different diameter according to the present invention. As shown in FIG.
Is, for example, an optical connector adapter for connecting an MU type optical connector plug and an SC type optical connector plug,
The housing includes first and second sleeve holders 61 and 62 and a housing 63 that holds the first and second sleeve holders 61 and 62.

The first sleeve holder 61 has a structure which is engaged and held at one end of the housing 63 and can be engaged with the MU type optical connector plug, and has a different-diameter ferrule adapter at its inner end. Penetration section 64 containing 50
Has a first cylindrical body 65 that forms a part in the longitudinal direction. The first cylindrical body 65 has, for example, an inner diameter slightly larger than the first alignment sleeve 16 in the present embodiment.

On the other hand, the second sleeve holder 62 has a structure in which the second sleeve holder 62 is engaged and held at the other end of the housing 63 and can engage with the SC type optical connector plug. The first cylindrical body 65 of the first sleeve holder 61
Penetrating part 6 with built-in ferrule adapter 50 of different diameter
4 having a second cylindrical body 66. The second cylindrical body 66 has, for example, an inner diameter slightly larger than the second alignment sleeve 17 in the present embodiment.

When the first and second sleeve holders 61 and 62 are engaged from both ends of the housing 63, respectively, the first and second sleeve holders 61 and 62 are engaged.
When the end faces of 62 abut against each other, a through portion 64 is formed by the first and second cylindrical bodies 65 and 66, and the different diameter ferrule adapter 50 is held in the through portion 64. That is, while the first alignment sleeve 16 is held in the first tubular body 65, the second alignment sleeve 16 is held in the second tubular body 66.
Are held. At this time, the different-diameter ferrule adapter 50 holds the spring member 67 between the one surface of the regulating member 15 and the end surface of the first sleeve holder 61.
Are held in the penetrating portion 64 via the spring member 67 and are urged in the axial direction by the spring member 67.

On the inner surface of the second cylindrical body 66, there is provided an engagement projection 66a which engages with an engagement groove 15a provided in the regulating member 15 of the different diameter ferrule adapter 50. The rotational movement is restricted by the engagement of the engagement protrusion 66a and the engagement groove 15a. Note that a flange 63a is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the housing 63, and the housing 63 can be easily fixed to a substrate or the like by the flange 63a.

In such an optical connector adapter, for example, an MU having a small diameter ferrule having a diameter of 1.25 mm is used.
Optical connector plug and an SC type optical connector plug having a large ferrule having a diameter of 2.5 mm, for example, can be optically coupled easily and with high precision. Further, since the structure is easy, it can be manufactured at a relatively low cost.

The above-described optical connector adapter is an example, and the structure is not particularly limited. The optical connector adapter has a structure capable of holding the ferrule adapter 50 of a different diameter, and has a desired type of optical connector. Any structure may be used as long as it has a shape connectable to the connector plug.

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention, a member for connecting different diameter ferrules can be formed relatively easily and with high precision. In addition, by using this different diameter ferrule connection member, optical fibers of ferrules having different outer diameters of different sizes are equivalent in performance to optically couple by bringing the end faces of ferrules of the same diameter into contact with each other, and A different-diameter ferrule adapter that can be easily connected can be realized. Further, since the structure is easy and the number of parts can be reduced, there is an effect that the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view and a cross-sectional view of a member for connecting different diameter ferrules according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view and a cross-sectional view of a different-diameter ferrule adapter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a use state of a different-diameter ferrule adapter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of an optical connector adapter using the different-diameter ferrule adapter of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Different diameter ferrule connection member 11 Optical fiber 12 Connection ferrule 13 Adjusting sleeve 14 Optical fiber insertion hole 15 Restriction member 16 First alignment sleeve 17 Second alignment sleeve 50 Different diameter ferrule adapter

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] May 15, 2000 (2000.5.1)
5)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Claims]

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An end face of a first ferrule holding an optical fiber and a second ferrule having an outer diameter larger than the outer diameter of the first ferrule are brought into contact with each other, and the respective optical fibers are separated. An optical fiber insertion hole into which the optical fiber is inserted, and a connection ferrule having substantially the same outer diameter as the outer diameter of the first ferrule; An adjusting sleeve fitted to one end of the ferrule and having an outer diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the second ferrule. 2. The fitting sleeve according to claim 1, wherein after the adjustment sleeve is fitted to the connection ferrule, a finishing process of an outer diameter is performed based on the optical fiber insertion hole of the connection ferrule. A member for connecting ferrules of different diameters, characterized in that: 3. The connecting member according to claim 1, wherein the adjusting sleeve is made of a metal material. 4. The different diameter ferrule according to claim 1, wherein both end faces of the connection ferrule are polished after the optical fiber is bonded and fixed to the optical fiber insertion hole. Connection member. 5. The connecting ferrule according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the connecting ferrule has substantially the same inner diameter as the outer diameter of the first ferrule of the different diameter ferrule connecting member. A first aligning sleeve fitted to the other end of the second ferrule, and a second aligning sleeve having an inner diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the second ferrule and fitted to the adjusting sleeve. A different diameter ferrule adapter.