JP2001221964A - Optical fiber connection changing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical fiber connection changing device capable of coping with various optical communication networks while performing space saving and cost reduction for office equipment. SOLUTION: A fiber holding member 11, consisting of plural aligning elements 10 holding coated optical fibers 3 inside the office from optical cables 2 inside the office in the aligning state, is arranged within a frame 7. Four-stage structural unit housing member 12 is arranged in the left side of the fiber holding member 11, and optical connection units 13 (optical coupler modules 17, optical splitter modules 18 and connection boards 19) are housed in the unit housing member 12. The coated optical fibers 3 inside the office which are aligned and held by the aligning elements 10 are connected to the front part of the optical connection units 13, and the coated optical fibers 5 outside the office from the optical cables 4 outside the office are connected to the back part of the optical connection units 13.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical fiber connection switching device for switchably connecting optical fibers.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional optical fiber connection changing device, for example, a communication no. 2. A high-density fiber termination module (FTM) of B-1046 is known. This FTM
Is to switchably connect an optical fiber core extending from an optical subscriber side optical cable and an optical fiber core extending from an intra-office optical cable via an optical branching module.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned prior art, an optical communication network for connecting an optical branching module and a module having another function (connection system) in series, for example, an optical branching module and an optical splitter module. In order to cope with a multiplex communication network in which the optical splitter modules are connected in series, it is necessary to separately install a frame that houses the optical splitter module. In this case, the space occupied by the device is increased, and the cost is increased. In addition, when two frames that accommodate modules having different functions are installed separately in a building, the number of optical cables and the like routed in the building increases, and wiring space for the spectral cables and the like is taken up. .

An object of the present invention is to provide an optical fiber connection switching device which can cope with various optical communication networks while saving space and cost of station equipment.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To achieve the above object, the present invention relates to an optical fiber connection changing device for switchably connecting a first optical fiber core and a second optical fiber core. A fiber holding member for holding the first optical fiber cores in an aligned state, a unit housing member disposed on one side of the fiber holding member, and a first housing housed in the unit housing member and held by the fiber holding member. A plurality of types of optical connection units for connecting the optical fiber core and the second optical fiber are provided.

By storing a plurality of types of optical connection units having different functions in one unit storage member, it is not necessary to separately install a unit storage frame for each type of optical connection unit. It is possible to cope with various optical communication networks according to the function of the optical connection unit while saving space and reducing cost. Further, by holding the plurality of first optical fiber cores in an aligned state by the fiber holding member, the entanglement of the first optical fiber core is reduced, and thus, when the connection of the optical fiber core is changed, Thus, a desired optical fiber core can be easily taken out from the plurality of first optical fiber cores.

Preferably, the unit accommodating member has a multi-stage structure, and the optical connection units are accommodated in the unit accommodating member in a state of being divided into the respective stages. Thus, even when the dimensions and the like of each type of optical connection unit are different, these optical connection units can be efficiently stored in the unit storage member, and high-density storage is possible.

Preferably, different types of optical connection units are connected to each other by a third optical fiber core, and the third optical fiber core is held by a fiber holding member. Thereby, different types of optical connection units can be connected to one another.
It can be neatly connected in series in one frame.

In this case, a first fiber wiring area for wiring the second optical fiber core between the fiber holding member and the unit housing member, and a third fiber wiring area located below the first fiber housing area, It is preferable to provide a second fiber wiring area for wiring the optical fiber. Thereby, the entanglement between the second optical fiber core and the third optical fiber core can be reduced.

At least one of the optical connection units has a first
It is preferable that the connection board has a plurality of optical connector adapters for connecting the optical fiber core and the second optical fiber core. In this case, for example, it is possible to cope with an optical communication network in which the transmission device and the subscriber are one-to-one.

At least one of the optical connection units may be an optical coupler module having an optical coupler element for multiplexing / demultiplexing an optical signal. In this case, an optical communication network that requires an optical fiber test function can be handled.

[0012] At least one of the optical connection units may be an optical splitter module having an optical splitter element for splitting an optical signal. In this case, it is possible to cope with an optical communication network that requires an optical distribution function.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment of an optical fiber connection switching device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a front side of an optical fiber connection changing apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a rear side of the optical fiber connection changing apparatus. In these figures, the optical fiber connection switching device 1 includes a plurality of in-house optical fiber core wires 3 extending from an in-house optical cable 2 connected to a transmission device (not shown), and an out-of-site optical cable 4 connected to a subscriber side. And a plurality of external optical fiber cores 5 extending from the switchable connection. The office optical cable 2 is, for example, a bundle of a plurality of single-core optical cords as the office optical fiber core wire 3.
Is a bundle of a plurality of single-core optical cords or optical tape cores as the external optical fiber cores 5, for example.

The optical fiber connection changing device 1 has a frame 7, and cable introduction portions 8, 9 are formed on the right side (right side when viewed from the front) of the upper surface of the frame 7. The in-site optical cable 2 is stopped by the cable introduction section 8, and the out-of-office optical cable 4 is stopped by the cable introduction section 9.

On the right side of the frame 7, a fiber holding member 11 composed of a plurality of alignment elements 10 arranged in a stacked state is arranged. The alignment element 10
A predetermined number (for example, the same number as the number accommodated by the in-house optical cable 2) of the in-house optical fiber core wires 3 extending from the in-house optical cable 2 are held in an aligned state. As described above, since the plural in-house optical fiber cores 3 are bundled by the alignment element 10, the in-house optical fiber cores to be connected are connected when the in-house optical fiber cores 3 are replaced in trouble transfer work or failure recovery work. The line 3 can be easily selected.

A unit housing member 12 having a multi-stage (here, four-stage) structure is disposed on the left side of the frame 7, and the unit housing member 12 has a plurality of optical connection units 1.
3 are stored. In the lower part of the front surface of each stage of the unit housing member 12, the in-house optical fiber core 3 and the auxiliary optical fiber core F aligned and held by the alignment element 10 (described later).
A wiring tray 14 for placing the
A wiring tray 15 on which the out-of-site optical fiber core 5 and the auxiliary optical fiber core F are placed is provided at the lower rear part of each stage.

There are three types of optical connection units 13: an optical coupler module 17, an optical splitter module 18, and a connection board 19. The optical coupler module 17 is housed in the uppermost and lowermost stages of the unit housing member 12, the optical splitter module 18 is housed in the second stage from the top of the unit housing member 12, and the connection panel 19 is in the unit housing member 1
2 is stored in the third row from the top. As described above, the optical coupler module 17, the optical splitter module 18, and the connection board 19 are separately stored for each stage of the unit storage member 12, and thus, even if the various optical connection units 13 have different dimensions, structures, and the like. These are unit storage members 1
2 can be efficiently stored in space, and high-density storage is possible.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the optical coupler module 17. In the figure, an optical connector adapter 20 to which a local optical fiber core wire 3 or an auxiliary optical fiber core wire F (described later) from the alignment element 10 is provided on a front portion (right side in the figure) of the optical coupler module 17. An optical connector adapter 21 to which the external optical fiber core 5 is connected is provided on the rear surface (the left side in the figure) of the optical coupler module 17. Each of the optical connector adapters 20 and 21 is an eight-unit single-core optical connector. In the optical coupler module 17, an optical coupler element 22 for multiplexing and demultiplexing an optical signal is provided.
The optical fiber cores 3 and F connected to the optical connector adapter 20 and the optical fiber core 5 connected to the optical connector adapter 21 are connected to the communication optical fiber 2.
3. The connection is made via the single-core / multi-core converter 24 and the optical coupler element 22.

Further, two test optical fibers 25 are branched from the optical coupler 22. These test optical fibers 25 are taken out from the rear side of the optical coupler module 17 and connected to an optical test device 26 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) installed below the unit housing member 12. Also,
Although not shown, an optical filter that blocks test light from the optical test device 26 and transmits only communication light is provided in the optical coupler module 17.

The optical coupler modules 17 having such a structure are housed side by side in the left and right directions at the uppermost stage and the lowermost stage of the unit housing member 12. Although the optical coupler module 17 accommodates eight optical fibers, if the single-core optical connector adapter is a small MU-type connector,
The optical coupler module may be a high-density type module having the same dimensions as above and containing 16 cores.

The above-mentioned optical coupler module 17 is a case where the out-of-site optical fiber core 5 is a single-core optical cord, but when the out-of-site optical fiber core 5 is an optical tape core,
As shown in FIG. 4, for example, an MT type multi-core optical connector adapter 27 is provided in the optical coupler module 17A instead of the single-core optical connector adapter.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the optical splitter module 18.
Shown in In the figure, an optical connector adapter 2 to which a local optical fiber core 3 from an alignment element 10 is connected is provided on a front portion (right side in the figure) of an optical splitter module 18.
An optical connector adapter 29 to which the external optical fiber core 5 or the auxiliary optical fiber core F (described later) is connected is provided on the rear surface (the left side in the figure) of the optical splitter module 18. The optical connector adapter 28 is a single-core optical connector, and the optical connector adapter 29 is an eight-unit single-core optical connector. An optical splitter element 30 with an optical filter for dividing one optical signal into eight is provided in the optical splitter module 18. The optical fiber core 3 connected to the optical connector adapter 28 and the optical connector adapter 29 are provided. Are connected via the optical fiber 31 and the optical splitter element 30.

The optical splitter module 18 having such a structure is housed side by side in the left-right direction at the second stage from the top of the unit housing member 12. When the outside optical fiber core 5 is an optical tape core, the optical connector adapter 2
A multicore optical connector adapter 27 shown in FIG. Further, the above-described optical splitter element 30 outputs one input by branching it into eight, but an optical splitter element for 16 branching or 32 branching may be used.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the connection board 19. In the figure, a connection board 19 includes a plurality of optical connector adapters 32.
Are arranged side by side in the left-right direction. The optical connector adapter 32 has an in-house connecting portion 32a to which the in-site optical fiber core 3 is connected on one side, and an out-of-office connecting portion 32b to which the out-of-site optical fiber core 5 is connected on the other side. 8
It is a continuous single-core optical connector. Optical connector adapter 32
Are fixed with screws or the like in a state where the external connection portion 32b is inserted into the through hole 19a formed in the connection board 19.

One connection board 19 having such a structure
Is stored in the third row from the top of the unit storage member 12 so as to extend in the left-right direction. The number of connection boards is not limited to one, and a plurality of connection boards may be arranged and stored in a predetermined stage of the unit storage member 12.

In the optical fiber connection changing apparatus 1 as described above, the connection system between the optical fiber core 3 in the office and the optical fiber core 5 in the office is: Optical fiber core 5 In-place optical fiber core 3 to optical splitter module 18
-External optical fiber core 5 In-site optical fiber core 3 -Connection board 19 -External optical fiber core 5 In-site optical fiber core 3 -Optical splitter module 18
There are four forms:-auxiliary optical fiber core F-optical coupler module 17-external optical fiber core 5.

In the connection system, the optical fiber core 3 in the office is guided to the front side of the optical coupler module 17 via the wiring tray 14 while being aligned and held by the alignment element 10, and is connected to the optical connector adapter 20. Is done. The external optical fiber core 5 is guided to the rear side of the optical coupler module 17 via the wiring tray 15 and is connected to the optical connector adapter 21. In this case, not only optical communication, but also test light from the optical test device 26 can be used to inspect the optical fiber core itself.

In the connection system, the optical fiber core 3 in the office is guided to the front side of the optical splitter module 18 via the alignment element 10 and the wiring tray 14, and is connected to the optical connector adapter 28. The out-of-site optical fiber core 5 is guided to the rear side of the optical splitter module 18 via the wiring tray 15, and is connected to the optical connector adapter 29.
Connected to. In this case, the optical signal from the in-site optical fiber core 3 can be sent to a plurality of out-of-site optical fiber cores 5 at the same time, so that it is possible to cope with a multiplex communication network.

In the connection system, the office optical fiber core wire 3 is guided to the front side of the optical connector adapter 32 of the connection board 19 via the alignment element 10 and the wiring tray 14, and is connected to the office connection part 32a. . The outside optical fiber core 5 is guided to the rear side of the optical connector adapter 32 of the connection board 19 via the wiring tray 15 and connected to the outside connection portion 32b. In this case, it is possible to cope with an optical communication network in which the transmission device and the subscriber are one-to-one with a relatively simple structure.

In the connection system, the optical fiber core 3 inside the office is connected to the optical connector adapter 28 on the front side of the optical splitter module 18 while being aligned and held by the alignment element 10, and the optical fiber core outside the office is also connected. 5 is an optical connector adapter 21 on the rear side of the optical coupler module 17
Connected to. The optical connector adapter 29 on the rear side of the optical splitter module 18 and the optical coupler module 1
7 is connected to an optical connector adapter 20 on the front side by an auxiliary optical fiber core F having the same configuration (in this case, a single-core optical cord) as the in-house optical fiber core 3. At this time, the auxiliary optical fiber core F connected to the optical connector adapter 29 of the optical splitter module 18 is
0, and is connected to the optical connector adapter 21 of the optical coupler module 17 in a state where it is mixed with the local optical fiber core 3 and is aligned and held by the alignment element 10. Thereby, the optical splitter module 18 and the optical coupler module 17 are orderly connected in series.

In the connection system, since the out-of-site optical fiber core 5 and the auxiliary optical fiber core F are wired on the rear side of the frame 7, these optical fiber cores may interfere with each other and become entangled. There is. Therefore, the space between the fiber alignment member 11 and the unit housing member 12 includes
Is formed, and a second fiber wiring region Sb, which is located below the first fiber wiring region Sa and wires the auxiliary optical fiber core F, is formed. 2). As described above, the two fiber wiring regions Sa and Sb are provided on the rear surface side of the frame 7 so that the auxiliary optical fiber core F passes below the external optical fiber core 5, so that the external optical fiber core is provided. The entanglement of the auxiliary optical fiber core 5 and the auxiliary optical fiber core F is avoided, so that the work of laying the external optical fiber core 5 and the auxiliary optical fiber core F added sequentially can be easily performed.

As described above, since the connection system for connecting the optical coupler module 17 and the optical splitter module 18 in series is provided, it is possible to cope with an optical communication network that requires both an optical fiber test function and an optical distribution function.

The form of the series connection is as follows.
In addition to the above connection system, a connection system of an in-site optical fiber core 3, an optical coupler module 17, an auxiliary optical fiber core F, an optical splitter module 18, and an out-of-site optical fiber core 5 is also conceivable. Also in this case, it is preferable to connect via the alignment element 10 as described above.

In the optical fiber connection switching device 1 configured as described above, the optical coupler module 17, the optical splitter module 18, and the connection board 19 are collectively stored in one unit storage member 12, so that the optical coupler module It is not necessary to separately provide a housing for each of the optical splitter module 17, the optical splitter module 18, and the connection board 19, and accordingly, an optical cable between the frames is not required. As a result, the optical fiber connection changing device can be installed with good space efficiency, the limited space in a building or the like can be effectively used, and the cost of the optical fiber connection changing device can be reduced. Further, since a plurality of connection systems for the in-site optical fiber core wire 3 and the out-of-site optical fiber core wire 5 are configured by three types of optical connection units 13 having different functions, a variety of light can be provided even though the frame 7 is one. Can handle communication networks.

At this time, the difference in the number of the optical connection units 13 due to the difference in the functions of the optical connection units 13 can be reduced by adjusting the size of the unit storage area in the unit storage member 12 to achieve a large density storage. Become. Specifically, in the above connection system, since the optical splitter of the optical splitter module 18 divides one input into N outputs, the required number of optical splitter modules 18 is one of the required number of optical coupler modules 17. / N,
Accordingly, the number of the optical splitter modules 18 is smaller than that of the optical coupler module 17. Therefore, as described above, by storing the optical splitter module 18 for one stage and storing the optical coupler module 17 for two stages,
The unit storage member 12 can be used effectively.

Further, since the optical fiber cores 3 in the office are bundled in a predetermined unit by the alignment element 10, the workability of the optical fiber connection replacement work in trouble transfer work, failure recovery work and the like is improved. Specifically, when the optical fiber connection is changed, the optical connector provided at the tip of the optical fiber core 3 in the office is removed from the optical connector adapter of the optical connection unit 13 and the optical fiber core 3 in the office is separated. Connect to the optical connection unit 13. At this time, in order to take out the in-house optical fiber core 3 to be replaced, from the plurality of in-house optical fiber cores 3, the root part of the in-house optical fiber core 3, that is, the part emitted from each alignment element 10 Is pulled slightly to find the in-house optical fiber core 3 disconnected, and the optical connector at the tip of the in-house optical fiber core 3 is pulled out of the entanglement of the in-house optical fiber core 3. By doing so, the optical fiber core 3 to be reconnected can be easily taken out from the plurality of optical fiber cores 3 in the office, and the connection time of the optical fiber core 3 is reduced. In addition, erroneous connection of the optical fiber 3 can be prevented.

Although the embodiment of the optical fiber connection changing device according to the present invention has been described above, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the above embodiment, the configuration is such that the auxiliary optical fiber cores F connecting the optical coupler module 17 and the optical splitter module 18 pass through the alignment element 10, but the number of auxiliary optical fiber cores F is small. For example, when the auxiliary optical fiber core F and the other optical fiber core are not entangled with each other, the optical coupler module 17 and the optical splitter module 18 may be directly connected without passing through the alignment element 10. Good. In this case, the auxiliary optical fiber core F does not have to have the same configuration as the office optical fiber core core 3.

In the above embodiment, the connection system for connecting the optical coupler module 17 and the optical splitter module 18 in series is provided. However, in the present invention, there is no connection between different types of optical connection units. It can also be applied to an optical fiber connection changing device.

[0040]

According to the present invention, a plurality of types of optical connection units having different connection forms are housed in one unit housing member, so that various optical communications can be performed while saving space and cost of the station equipment. Can cope with the net.

Further, since the plurality of first optical fibers are held in an aligned state by the fiber holding member, the first optical fibers to be connected can be easily taken out when replacing the optical fibers. This is effective in preventing erroneous connection of the optical fiber core and shortening the connection time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a front side of an optical fiber connection changing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the rear side of the optical fiber connection switching device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an optical coupler module.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another configuration of the optical coupler module.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an optical splitter module.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a connection board.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Optical fiber connection changer, 3 ... In-site optical fiber core (1st optical fiber), 5 ... Out-site optical fiber (2nd optical fiber), 10 ... Alignment element, 11 ... Fiber holding Member, 12: Unit storage member, 13: Optical connection unit, 17: Optical coupler module (optical connection unit), 18: Optical splitter module (optical connection unit), 19: Connection board (optical connection unit), 22: Optical coupler Element, 30: optical splitter element, 32: optical connector adapter, F: auxiliary optical fiber core (third optical fiber), Sa: first fiber wiring area, Sb: second fiber wiring area.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Tsuneji Mine 2-3-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Inside Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Fumi Izumida 2-3-3, Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo No. 1 Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Nobuo Tomita 2-3-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo F-term within Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (reference) 5K002 AA07 BA03 BA04 BA05 BA33 CA12 EA06 FA01

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An optical fiber connection switching device for switchably connecting a first optical fiber core and a second optical fiber core, wherein the fiber holding device holds a plurality of the first optical fiber cores in an aligned state. A member, a unit storage member arranged on one side of the fiber holding member, a first optical fiber core and a second optical fiber core stored in the unit storage member and held by the fiber holding member. An optical fiber connection changing device, comprising: a plurality of types of optical connection units for connecting a line. 2. The unit housing member has a multi-stage structure, and the optical connection unit is housed in a state of being sorted into each stage of the unit housing member for each type. 2. The optical fiber connection changing device according to 1. 3. The optical connection unit according to claim 1, wherein the optical connection units of different types are connected to each other by a third optical fiber, and the third optical fiber is held by the fiber holding member. The optical fiber connection changing device according to the above. 4. A first fiber wiring area for wiring the second optical fiber core between the fiber holding member and the unit housing member, and a first fiber wiring area located below the first fiber housing area. 4. The optical fiber connection changing device according to claim 3, further comprising a second fiber wiring area for wiring the third optical fiber. 5. At least one of the optical connection units is a connection board having a plurality of optical connector adapters for connecting the first optical fiber core and the second optical fiber core. The optical fiber connection changing device according to claim 1. 6. The light according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said optical connection units is an optical coupler module having an optical coupler element for multiplexing and demultiplexing an optical signal. Fiber connection changer. 7. The optical splitter module according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said optical connection units is an optical splitter module having an optical splitter element for splitting an optical signal.
The optical fiber connection changing device according to any one of the above.