JP2002048941A - Dust-proof cover for optical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a dust-proof cover for an optical connector such that the cover protects the tip end of an optical connector plug against deposit of foreign matters and that the cover is easily attached to and detached from a connector hole without interfering with other inserted optical connector plugs. SOLUTION: In an optical connector adaptor 7 formed with connector holes 50a, 60a in which optical connector plugs 4a, 4b are inserted from both sides and connected to each other, the dust-proof cover is inserted from either one end of the connector holes 50a, 60a of the adaptor 7, thereby covering the tip end of the optical connector plug inserted from the other end and protecting it against dust. The cover is equipped with the body 10 of the dust-proof cover to be inserted from the connector holes 50a, 60a of the adaptor 7 and with an operating piece 20 projecting from the rear end of the body 10 in the inserting direction to the adaptor 7. The cover is characterized by a recess 111 provided at the tip end of the body 10 for the purpose of storing the tip end of the optical connector plug.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical connector dustproof cover suitable for use in dustproofing an optical connector plug inserted into an optical connector adapter.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a plug-in type optical connector, a so-called backplane connector has been conventionally provided. FIG. 5 shows an example of the backplane connector. 5, reference numeral 1 denotes a plug-in unit, 2 denotes a printed board, 3 denotes a backplane, 4a and 4b denote optical connector plugs, 5 denotes a printed board housing, 6 denotes a backplane housing, and C denotes a backplane connector (hereinafter referred to as "optical Connector "). The optical connector C is
By inserting the print board 2 to which the print board housing 5 is fixed into the plug-in unit 1, the print board housing 5 is fitted to the backplane housing 6 attached to the backplane 3. The fitted print board housing 5 and the backplane housing 6 constitute an optical connector adapter 7, and connect the optical connector plugs 4a and 4b inserted so as to abut the connector holes 5a and 6a, respectively. The backplane housing 6 is attached to the backplane 3 so as to allow a slight floating, and the floating generally absorbs a positional deviation from the print board housing 5 and a dimensional tolerance. Here, the optical connector plugs 4a and 4b are JIS C 59
The optical connector has a configuration in which an optical connector ferrule 4c defined as 81 is supported on a plastic housing so as to be urged by a spring. Note that a plurality of printed boards 2 can be stored in parallel in the plug-in unit 1, and high-density mounting of optical connector plugs and optical connector adapters can be realized.

[0003]

According to the optical connector adapter 7 of the optical connector C having the above-described structure, the backplane housing 6 and the printed board housing 5 are provided without one of the optical connector plugs 4a and 4b. When foreign materials such as dirt and dust enter the optical connector adapter from the connector hole that is not occupied by the optical connector adapter 7, the tip of the optical connector plug inserted into the optical connector adapter 7 may be stained. There is. In particular,
If dirt or dust adheres to the joint end face of the optical connector ferrule 4c tip, a desired connection loss cannot be obtained.
It may affect the optical characteristics.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and when the optical connector plug is not inserted into the optical connector adapter, foreign matter such as dust that impedes optical communication in the connector hole of the optical connector adapter. It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical connector dustproof cover which can prevent the intrusion of the optical connector, and can be easily attached to and detached from the connector hole of the optical connector adapter without interfering with another inserted optical connector plug.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical connector adapter having a connector hole for connecting optical connector plugs inserted from both sides, the optical connector plug being inserted from one side into the connector hole. An optical connector dust cover for covering the tip of the optical connector plug inserted from the other side into the connector hole to prevent dust, wherein the dust cover lid inserted into the connector hole of the optical connector adapter; An operation piece protruding from a rear end of the lid main body in the insertion direction with respect to the optical connector adapter, wherein a recess for accommodating a front end of the optical connector plug is provided at a front end of the dustproof lid main body. .

[0006] The optical connector dustproof cover according to the present invention engages with the optical connector adapter when, for example, the operation piece is gripped and the dustproof cover body is inserted into the connector hole. Then, the tip of the optical connector plug on the mating side is stored and protected in the recess at the tip of the dustproof cover main body, and dustproofness is ensured.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the optical connector dustproof cover according to the first aspect, wherein the operation piece extends rearward in the insertion direction from the dustproof cover main body inserted and fitted into a connector hole of the optical connector adapter. The projecting dimension of the optical connector plug from the optical connector adapter is larger than the projecting dimension of the optical connector plug from the optical connector adapter.

With this configuration, when a plurality of connector holes are provided in the optical connector adapter, and when optical connector plugs are inserted into some of them, the optical connector dustproof cover may be inserted into the remaining connector holes. When unplugging, operate the operation piece by gripping the end of the operation piece, but the operation piece is larger than the other inserted optical connector plugs and protrudes from the optical connector adapter. Does not interfere with other optical connector plugs.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the optical connector dustproof cover according to the second aspect, wherein the operation piece is formed in a rod shape thinner than the dustproof cover main body.

[0010] With this configuration, when a plurality of connector holes are provided in the optical connector adapter, and optical connector plugs are inserted into some of them, an optical connector dustproof cover is inserted into the remaining connector holes. When pulling out, operate by gripping the end of the operation piece, etc.
Since the operation piece is formed in a thin rod shape, the operation is efficiently performed so as not to interfere with other optical connector plugs.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An optical connector dust cover according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the optical connector B is a backplane connector, and is connected to a backplane housing 60 (hereinafter, also referred to as a BH housing) attached to the backplane 3 and a backplane 3. A print board housing 50 (hereinafter, referred to as P) that is attached to the print board 2 that is
H housing). Then, the print board housing 50 is detachably fitted to the backplane housing 60, so that the four connector holes 60 provided in the backplane housing 60 through the mounting holes 8 opened in the backplane 3.
a, optical connector plug 4b inserted in 60a,.
And another optical connector plug 4a inserted into four connector holes 50a provided in the print board housing 50. Thus, the fitted print board housing 50 and backplane housing 60 constitute the optical connector adapter 7.

Here, the backplane housing 60
Is composed of a housing main body 61 and a fixed component 62, and the engaging claws 621 and 621 of the fixed component 62 are inserted into the mounting holes 8 and engaged with the housing main body 61, and the backplane 3 is connected to the housing main body 61. It is attached to the backplane 3 by being sandwiched between the backplane 3 and the fixed component 62. The housing main body 61 is further configured by inserting and fitting the inner housing 612 into the outer housing 611, and the guide pieces 51 of the printed board housing 50 are inserted into grooves provided at a plurality of locations between the two. It has become so. Thus, the inserted print board housing 50 is engaged and fixed to the backplane housing 60 by the engagement claws 52.

In this embodiment, the optical connector plugs 4a and 4b are optical connectors having a structure in which an optical connector ferrule defined in JIS C5981 is supported on a plastic housing so as to be urged toward the distal end by a spring. is there. In the optical connector plug, the ends of the optical fiber cords branched from the optical fiber cord are arranged in a line at the center of the optical connector ferrule, and holes for inserting guide pins are provided at both ends. I have. The guide pin is inserted into and fixed to one of the optical connector ferrules of the two optical connector plugs that are connected to each other. The guide pins provided to protrude from one of the optical connector plugs are joined so that they are inserted into the holes of the other optical connector plug. They are positioned and abutted in such a manner.

The optical connector dustproof cover A has connector holes 50a, 5a into which the optical connector plugs 4a, 4b are not inserted.
0a... Or connector holes 60a, 60a. FIG. 2 shows an optical connector dustproof cover A. This optical connector dust cover A has connector holes 60a, 60a... Or connector holes 50a, 50a.
, And an operation piece 20 protruding from a rear end of the dustproof cover main body 10 in the insertion direction with respect to the backplane housing 60 or the print board housing 50.

An insertion portion 11 is provided at a tip end of the dustproof lid body 10 in the insertion direction. The insertion portion 11 is formed in substantially the same shape as the optical connector plugs 4a, 4b, and has connector holes 50a, 50a... Or connector holes 60a, 60a.
・ ・ It is configured to be plugged in and close it almost without any gap. Further, at the rear end of the insertion portion 11 in the insertion direction, it projects from the dustproof cover main body 10 and when the dustproof cover main body 10 is inserted, the connector holes 50a, 50a.
Are provided so as to be in contact with the edges of 0a, 60a,.

A recess 111 is formed at the tip of the insertion portion 11, and the optical connector dustproof cover A is inserted into one of the print board housing 50 and the backplane housing 60, and the optical connector plug is inserted into the other. In this case, the optical connector ferrule supported by the plastic housing of the other optical connector plug is provided so as to receive the tip protruded from the plastic housing by being biased by a spring.

The recess 111 has an optical connector dustproof cover A
An optical ferrule stop wall 112 is provided along the insertion direction of the optical connector, and the optical connector ferrule 4c entering the recess 111 is completely fitted into the recess 111, and the guide pin 4
The optical connector ferrule 4c is formed so as to stop the distal ends of the optical connectors d and 4d from contacting the optical connector dust cover A.

The central portion of the dust-proof lid body 10 in the insertion direction is a pair of plate-like portions 13a, 13b, and these plate-like portions 13a, 13b.
The two side portions which are constituted by the ribs 13c provided between b and are not covered with the plate-like portions 13a and 13b are openings only partially having the ribs 13c. The dustproof cover main body 10 is connected to the connector hole 50a or the connector hole 6.
0a, the claws for engagement with the optical connector plugs 4a and 4b enter the opening and the ribs 13c
Engages releasably.

The operation piece 20 has a substantially rod-shaped operation piece main body 21 extending in the insertion direction having a smaller sectional shape than the dust-proof lid main body 20, and a grip 22 provided at a rear end of the operation piece main body 21 in the insertion direction. It is composed of Here, as shown in FIG. 3 or FIG. 4, connector holes 50a, 50a.
Or the size of the operation piece 20 extending rearward in the insertion direction from the dustproof cover main body 10 inserted and fitted into the connector holes 60a, 60a, is protruded from the backplane housing 60 or the printed board housing 50. The length of the optical connector plugs 4a and 4b protruding from the housing 50 is larger than that of the optical connector plugs 4a and 4b.

In the optical connector dustproof cover A having the above configuration, the operation piece 20 is gripped and the optical connector plug 4
connector holes 50a, 50 in which a and 4b are not inserted.
.. or the connector holes 60a, 60a,. When the backplane housing 60 and the printed board housing 50 are fitted together, the optical connector ferrule 4 at the tip of the optical connector plug 4a, 4b on the other side is inserted into the recess 111 at the tip of the dustproof cover main body 10.
c is stored and protected, and dustproofness is ensured. Further, the connector holes 50a, 50a,.
Are blocked by the dustproof cover main body 10 so that foreign matter does not enter these connector holes 50a, 50a... Or the connector holes 60a, 60a. Thus, the connector holes 50a, 50a,.
When it becomes necessary to newly insert the optical connector plugs 4a, 4b into the connector holes 60a, 60a,... , 50a ...
-Or it is pulled out from connector hole 60a, 60a ....

When the optical connector dustproof cover A is inserted or removed, the operation is performed by gripping the end of the operation piece 20 or the like.
Since the operation piece 20 has a larger projecting dimension from the backplane housing 60 and the print board housing 50 and a thin rod shape than the operation pieces a and 4b, it does not interfere with the other optical connector plugs 4a and 4b at the time of work.

As described above, according to the optical connector dustproof cover A shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the optical connector plugs 4a, 4b
Can be prevented from entering the connector holes 60a, 60a... Of the backplane housing 60 and the connector holes 50a, 50a. Then, when the optical connector plug is later inserted, it is possible to prevent the foreign matter from adhering to the joint end face and hindering the optical communication.

When one of the optical connector dustproof covers A and the other is the optical connector plug 4a or the optical connector plug 4b, the optical connector ferrule 4c is connected to the dustproof cover main body 10a.
The optical connector ferrule 4c can be protected from the adhesion of foreign matter. At this time, the optical connector ferrule 4c is supported by the optical ferrule retaining wall 112, and the inserted and fixed guide pins 4d, 4d are stored in a state of floating in the recess 111 so as not to abut on the dust cover body 10. Therefore, even if any external force due to work is applied to the optical connector plugs 4a, 4b or the optical connector dustproof cover A,
The deformation of the guide pins 4d, 4d can be prevented.

Further, the operation piece 20 is formed in an elongated rod shape, so that other inserted optical connector plugs 4a, 4a,
The work of inserting and pulling out the optical connector dustproof cover A can be performed without interference with the optical connector 4b.

[0026]

The present invention has the following effects. As described above, according to the optical connector dustproof cover according to the first aspect, the tip end of the mating optical connector plug inserted into the optical connector adapter is stored and protected in the recess at the tip end of the dustproof cover main body to improve dustproofness. Can be secured.

According to the optical connector dust cover according to the present invention, when the optical connector adapter is provided with a plurality of connector holes, and some of the optical connector plugs are inserted, the optical connector dust cover is inserted or removed. Work can be performed without interference with other optical connector plugs.

According to the optical connector dustproof cover according to the third aspect, it is easier to work without interfering with other optical connector plugs.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an optical connector into which an optical connector dustproof cover according to the present invention is inserted.

FIG. 2 is a view showing one embodiment of an optical connector dustproof cover according to the present invention, wherein (a) is a plan view, (b) is a left side view, (c) is a front view, and (d) is a right side view. FIG. 3E is a sectional view, and FIG.

FIG. 3 is a view showing an embodiment of an optical connector dustproof cover according to the present invention, showing a state in which the optical connector dustproof cover is inserted into a printed board housing together with an optical connector plug.

FIG. 4 is a view showing one embodiment of the optical connector dustproof cover according to the present invention, and shows a state in which the optical connector dustproof cover is inserted into the backboard housing together with the optical connector plug.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing a conventional optical connector.

[Explanation of symbols]

A: Optical connector dustproof cover, B: Optical connector, 1.
..Plug-in units, 2 ... print boards, 3
... backplane, 4a, 4b ... optical connector plug, 4c ... optical connector ferrule, 50 ... print board housing, 50a ... connector hole, 6
0: Backplane housing, 60a: Connector hole, 7: Optical connector adapter, 10: Dust-proof lid body, 20: Operation piece

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Yasuhiro Tamaki 1440, Mukurosaki, Sakura City, Chiba Prefecture Inside Fujikura Sakura Office (72) Inventor Yoshikazu Nomura 1440, Misaki, Sakura City, Chiba Prefecture Inside Fujikura Sakura Office F Terms (reference) 2H036 QA57 QA59

Claims (3)

[Claims] An optical connector plug (50a, 4a) for connecting optical connector plugs (4a, 4b) inserted from both sides.
An optical connector dustproof cover that is inserted into the connector hole of the optical connector adapter (7) formed with 60a) from one side to cover and protect the tip of the optical connector plug inserted into the connector hole from the other side. A dustproof cover body (10) inserted into a connector hole of the optical connector adapter, and an operation piece (2) protruding from a rear end of the dustproof cover body in the insertion direction with respect to the optical connector adapter.
0), wherein a recess (111) for accommodating the tip of the optical connector plug is provided at the tip of the dust cover main body. 2. The optical connector dustproof cover according to claim 1, wherein the operation piece extends rearward in the insertion direction from the dustproof cover main body inserted and fitted into a connector hole of the optical connector adapter. An optical connector dustproof cover, wherein a projecting dimension is larger than a projecting dimension of the optical connector plug from the optical connector adapter. 3. An optical connector dustproof cover according to claim 2, wherein the operation piece is formed in a rod shape thinner than the dustproof cover main body.