JP2001215357A - Ferrule tubular body and ferrule - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a ferrule tubular body capable of easily visually confirming its information and simplifying the assembling process of a ferrule and to provide a ferrule so assembled. SOLUTION: The ferrule tubular body 20 is such that it is formed with a hole 21 for inserting an optical fiber and that it indicates, on the outer surface, the information 24 concerning the tubular body 20 for the ferrule.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a ferrule cylindrical body and a ferrule which are part of a plug side constituting an optical connector for optical connection.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At present, optical connectors used for communication are:
After inserting and fixing the optical fiber into the ferrule whose inside diameter and outside diameter are processed with high precision, the end face of the connection part is polished into a convex spherical shape, and the optical fibers are brought into physical contact with each other to form an optical fiber. Optical connection is made by aligning the axes.

A ferrule for inserting and holding the optical fiber is usually provided with a ferrule cylindrical body having an optical fiber insertion hole formed of hard ceramic such as zirconia or glass, and a rear end of the ferrule cylindrical body. And a flange member formed of a metal such as stainless steel having a hollow hole communicating with a rear end of the optical fiber insertion hole, and an optical fiber provided inside the ferrule cylindrical body. The optical fiber from which the coating at the end of the optical fiber core is removed is inserted into the insertion hole, and the optical fiber and the ferrule are bonded with an adhesive or the like.

[0004] Such a ferrule is characterized in that the information such as the outer diameter of the ferrule cylindrical body, the inner diameter of the optical fiber insertion hole, the eccentricity, the standard, the date of manufacture and the manufacturer name is the end face of the collar member on the ferrule cylindrical body side. It is indicated by being marked on.

[0005]

However, since the end face of the brim member is minute, it is necessary to use a microscope or the like to confirm information on the marked ferrule cylindrical body, which is complicated. There is a problem.

Further, with the ferrule tubular body alone, various information of the ferrule tubular body is not known, and after the collar member is fixed to the ferrule tubular body, information of the ferrule tubular body is marked on the collar member. Since it is indispensable, there is a problem that it is necessary to stock information on the ferrule cylindrical body until the collar member is fixed.

In view of such circumstances, the present invention provides a ferrule cylindrical body and a ferrule capable of easily confirming information on the ferrule cylindrical body visually and simplifying a ferrule assembly process. The task is to provide.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a ferrule cylindrical body having an optical fiber insertion hole into which an optical fiber is inserted. The ferrule cylindrical body is characterized in that information on the ferrule cylindrical body is displayed on an outer surface of the ferrule cylindrical body.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the information is an outer diameter of the ferrule cylindrical body, an inner diameter of the optical fiber insertion hole, an eccentricity, a standard, a manufacturing date and a manufacturer name. The ferrule cylindrical body is characterized in that:

[0010] A third aspect of the present invention is the ferrule for a ferrule according to the first or second aspect, wherein the information is displayed on a tip end side or a tip end side of the ferrule tubular body. It is in a tubular body.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a ferrule cylindrical body according to any one of the first to third aspects, and a ferrule cylindrical body provided at a rear end of the ferrule cylindrical body and covering the outer periphery of the optical fiber. A ferrule having an optical fiber insertion hole into which an optical fiber having the above structure can be inserted, and a collar member having a key groove for positioning with an optical connector housing on the outer periphery.

According to the present invention, since the information of the ferrule cylindrical body can be easily confirmed by visually observing the ferrule cylindrical body, the ferrule assembling process can be simplified.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail based on embodiments.

(Embodiment) FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a ferrule cylindrical body according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
(B) is sectional drawing of the cylindrical body for ferrules.

As shown, the ferrule cylindrical body 20
Has a cylindrical shape made of a ceramic such as zirconia, and has an optical fiber insertion hole 21 formed therein for penetrating in the axial direction to insert and hold an optical fiber.
In the present embodiment, for example, the ferrule cylindrical body 2
0 is 2.499 mm, and the optical fiber insertion hole 21 is
Was 0.125 mm in inner diameter.

At the distal end of the ferrule tubular body 20, a first tapered portion 2 whose outer diameter gradually decreases toward the distal end is provided.
2 is formed, and a second tapered portion 23 whose outer diameter gradually decreases toward the rear end side is formed at the rear end of the ferrule cylindrical body 20. The optical fiber insertion hole 21
Has a third tapered portion 21a whose rear end gradually increases toward the opening side.

A marker 24 for displaying information on the ferrule cylindrical body 20 is provided on the distal end surface of the ferrule cylindrical body 20. The marking method of the sign 24 is not particularly limited as long as it can be visually confirmed.
Inkjet printing, laser marking, or machining with a punch or the like may be used. The sign 24 is not particularly limited as long as it is information on the ferrule cylindrical body 20. For example, the sign 24 displays the outer diameter, the inner diameter of the optical fiber insertion hole 21, the eccentricity, the standard, the manufacturing date, the manufacturer name, and the like. I do. Here, eccentricity means, for example,
The one that is classified according to the degree of eccentricity and encrypted, and the standard is, for example, a symbol that distinguishes between single mode and multimode. In this embodiment, the sign 24
Although the inner diameter of the optical fiber insertion hole 21 is indicated by this, the respective information may be simultaneously displayed on the distal end surface of the ferrule cylindrical body 20.

As described above, by displaying the information on the ferrule cylinder 20 on the outer surface of the ferrule cylinder with the marker 24, the information on the ferrule cylinder can be easily confirmed visually.

It should be noted that the sign 24 is formed of the ferrule cylindrical body 2.
There is no particular limitation as long as it can be visually confirmed on the outer surface of 0.
For example, as shown in FIG. 2, it may be provided on the rear end face of the ferrule tubular body 20, or as shown in FIG. 3, it may be provided on the side surface of the ferrule tubular body 20. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the ferrule cylindrical body 20 may be provided on the first tapered portion 22. Further, information on the ferrule cylindrical body 20 may be displayed together with these positions.

The ferrule cylindrical body 20 forms the ferrule 10 by fitting and fixing the collar member 30 to the rear end thereof.

FIG. 5 shows this example. FIG. 5 is a perspective view and a sectional view of the ferrule.

As shown in FIG. 5, the ferrule cylindrical body 2
The collar member 30 is fitted to the rear end of the zero. The collar member 30 has an optical fiber insertion hole 31 that communicates with the optical fiber insertion hole 21 to insert and hold the optical fiber core. The optical fiber insertion hole 31 has a large-diameter portion 32 whose front end portion is fitted to the rear end portion of the ferrule cylindrical body 20, and whose inner diameter gradually increases toward the rear end portion side at the rear end portion. Great 4th
It has a tapered portion 33. In addition, four key grooves 34 are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the collar member 30 so as to be engaged with an engagement protrusion 44 of a plug frame 42 described later.

The large-diameter portion 32 of the collar member 30 is fitted to the rear end of the ferrule tubular body 20 and fixed by press-fitting or bonding to form the ferrule 10.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are a plan view and a sectional view of an optical connector plug having the above-described ferrule 10, and a schematic perspective view of an adapter.

The optical connector shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is an SC type optical connector. The SC type optical connector includes an SC type optical connector plug 40 having the above-described ferrule and an S type optical connector.
It is composed of an SC-type optical connector adapter 50 in which the C-type optical connector plug 40 is fitted from both sides facing each other.

As shown in FIG. 6, the SC-type optical connector plug 40 includes an SC-type plug housing 41 fitted to the SC-type optical connector adapter 40, and an SC-type plug fitted into the plug housing 41. The plug frame 42 includes a ferrule 10 including the ferrule cylindrical body 20 and the collar member 30 described above, and a compression spring 46 mounted on an outer peripheral portion of a rear end of the collar member 30. , The collar member 30 via the compression spring 46.
And a stopper 47 fitted to the rear end.

The ferrule 10 holding the optical fiber, the compression spring 46 and the stopper 47 previously inserted into the optical fiber core 100 are sequentially inserted into the plug frame 42, and the locking claw 47 a of the stopper 47 is inserted into the plug frame 42.
The stopper 47 is fixed to the plug frame 42 by being locked in the locking hole 43, and the ferrule 10 is biased and held in the plug frame 42 via the compression spring 46 in the axial direction. Further, the rotation of the ferrule 10 held in the plug frame 42 is regulated by the key groove 34 provided on the brim member 30 engaging with the two engaging projections 44 provided on the plug frame 42. .

On the outer periphery of the plug frame 42, there is provided an engaging projection 45 which engages with the plug housing 41. Plug frame 4
2 are held.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, an optical connector adapter 50 has a ferrule 10 with a built-in optical fiber.
An optical connection sleeve 51 is provided for aligning the optical fibers so as to face each other and optically coupling the optical fibers. Also,
The optical connection sleeve 51 is held by a sleeve holder 52 divided into two parts in the axial direction.
Is held by a housing 53 divided into two parts in the axial direction.

The openings 54 and 55 of such an adapter
The optical connection is performed by inserting the optical connector plug 40 having the above-described ferrule 10 from both sides and bringing the end faces of the ferrule 10 into contact in the optical connection sleeve 51.

(Other Embodiments) The embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but the basic structures of the ferrule cylindrical body and the ferrule are not limited to those described above.

For example, in the embodiment described above, the ferrule 10 is attached to the rear end of the ferrule cylindrical body 20 by the collar member 3.
Although it was formed by fitting and fixing 0, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a collar member may be integrally provided at the rear end of the ferrule cylindrical body.

In the above-described embodiment, the optical fiber insertion hole 21 for inserting and holding the optical fiber is provided along the axial direction of the ferrule cylindrical body 20. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The length of the fiber insertion hole in the axial direction may be shortened so that the optical fiber and the optical fiber core are inserted and held in the ferrule cylindrical body. FIG. 8 shows such an example. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating another example of the ferrule according to the embodiment.

As shown, the ferrule cylindrical body 20
A has a through-hole 25 penetrating in the axial direction, and the distal end side is an optical fiber insertion hole 21A. Also, the through hole 2
5 has a second optical fiber insertion hole 26 having substantially the same diameter as the inner diameter of the optical fiber insertion hole 31 of the brim member 30.
A fifth tapered portion 27 is formed between the optical fiber insertion hole 21A and the second optical fiber core insertion hole 26.

When the ferrule 10 composed of the ferrule cylindrical body 20A is attached to an optical fiber, the length of the optical fiber from which the coating of the optical fiber core has been removed can be shortened. The operation of inserting the optical fiber into the optical fiber insertion hole 26 and the optical fiber insertion hole 21A is also very easy.

Further, for example, in the above-described embodiment,
Although the optical connector on which the ferrule 10 of the present invention is mounted is an SC type optical connector, the present invention is not limited to this.
An optical connector such as a T-type connector may be used. In the above-described embodiment, the outer diameter of the ferrule cylindrical body 20 is set to 2.499.
However, the ferrule cylindrical body having an outer diameter of 1.25 mm to be mounted on the MU-type optical connector may be used. In this case, since the end surface of the ferrule cylindrical body is minute, the marking may be applied to the side surface.

[0037]

As described above, according to the ferrule cylindrical body and the ferrule of the present invention, information on the ferrule cylindrical body is displayed on the outer surface of the ferrule cylindrical body, so that the ferrule cylindrical body can be easily obtained. You can check information about the shape. In addition, even before the collar member is fixed to the ferrule tubular body, since information on the ferrule tubular body can be confirmed only with the ferrule tubular body, the assembly process of the ferrule can be simplified. Can be.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view and a sectional view of a ferrule cylindrical body according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view and a plan view of a ferrule cylindrical body showing another example of the marker according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view and a plan view of a ferrule cylindrical body showing another example of the marker according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a ferrule cylindrical body showing another example of the marker according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view and a sectional view of a ferrule according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a plan view and a sectional view of an optical connector plug according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a partially cutaway perspective view of the adapter according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a ferrule according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 ferrule 20, 20A ferrule cylindrical body 24 marker 30 brim member 40 optical connector plug 50 optical connector adapter 100 optical fiber core

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Junji Taira 1-8-8 Nakase, Mihama-ku, Chiba-shi, Chiba Seiko Instruments Inc. F-term (reference) 2H036 QA12 QA16

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A ferrule cylindrical body having an optical fiber insertion hole into which an optical fiber is inserted, wherein information on the ferrule cylindrical body is displayed on an outer surface of the ferrule cylindrical body. A cylindrical body for a ferrule, characterized in that: 2. The information according to claim 1, wherein the information is an outer diameter of the ferrule cylindrical body, an inner diameter of the optical fiber insertion hole,
A ferrule cylindrical body characterized by eccentricity, standard, date of manufacture, and manufacturer name. 3. The ferrule cylindrical body according to claim 1, wherein the information is displayed on a distal end side or a distal end side of the ferrule cylindrical body. 4. The ferrule tubular body according to claim 1, and an optical fiber core wire provided at a rear end of the ferrule tubular body and having a coating on an outer periphery of the optical fiber is inserted. A ferrule having a possible optical fiber insertion hole and a collar member on the outer periphery having a key groove for positioning with an optical connector housing.