JP2002258103A - Optical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the number of parts, to simplify the structure, to reduce the manufacturing cost, to prevent the damage of optical fibers, and to improve working environment. SOLUTION: This optical connector for interconnecting optical fibers 33 by a physical method by engaging an optical connector plug 31 with an adaptor 32 or a receptacle is equipped with a holding member 34 in which an aligning part 42 for aligning the optical fibers 33 is formed integrally with an aligning/ fixing part 42 for aligning and fixing the optical fibers 33 on the base end side from the aligning part 42. In the connector, the optical fibers 33 are accommodated in the holding member 34 in the manner that their tip ends are extended like a cantilever from the aligning part 42 toward the tip end side.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical connector for connecting optical fiber wires to each other by physical contact.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art One of the methods for connecting an optical fiber cable is a so-called Physical Contact (P) in which end faces of optical fiber wires are butt-connected.
C) There is a so-called connection, and as a conventional optical connector using this connection method, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-2000
There is one disclosed in US Pat. As shown in FIGS. 15 to 17, the optical connector includes a pair of optical connector plugs 1 and 1 'and an adapter 2 or a receptacle (not shown). Alternatively, it can be fitted to and removed from the receptacle.

[0003] The optical connector plug 1 comprises a flat rectangular cylindrical housing 3, an alignment member 4 slidably provided in the housing 3, and a fixed member provided on the base end side of the alignment member 4. The alignment member 4 is biased in the distal direction by a torsion coil spring 6. A wall 7 is formed at the tip of the alignment member 4, and a large number of fine holes 8 formed in the wall 7 along the fitting direction are arranged in a row. The inner diameter of the pore 8 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the optical fiber 10 constituting the tape-shaped optical fiber 9,
The tip of the optical fiber 10 can be loosely inserted into the small hole 8. An elongated groove 11 is formed on the alignment member 4 on the base end side of the wall 7 on an extension of each of the pores 8, and each of the optical fiber wires 10 is formed in each of the grooves 11.
(For convenience, only a part of the optical fiber 10 and the groove 11 is shown).

The fixing member 5 comprises two sets of a first clamp member 12 and a second clamp member 13, wherein the first and second clamp members 12, 13 are formed at a base end of the housing 3. 14. Each second
A groove 15 is formed in the clamp member 13 on an extension of the groove 11 of the alignment member 4, and the optical fiber 10 can be accommodated in the groove 15. The optical fiber 10 is bonded and fixed to the first clamp member 12, and the second clamp member 13 is bonded and fixed to each of the first clamp members 12 to protect the bonded portion of the optical fiber 10. Have been.

The optical connector plug 1 'has substantially the same configuration as the optical connector plug 1;
The length of the optical fiber 10 ′ is
Is slightly shorter than the length.

The adapter 2 includes a pair of rectangular cylindrical housings 17 connected via a flange 16, a V-groove substrate holding member 18 provided at a connection portion between the two housings 17, A V-groove substrate 19 provided on the substrate holding member 18, a number of micro-sleeves 20 arranged in parallel on the V-groove substrate 19, and a pair of lock springs 21 provided outside each of the housings 17. Is composed of
Each housing 17 has an engagement recess 22 formed on both side surfaces. Each of the lock springs 21 has an engaging portion 23 that is bent to both sides at one end and engages with the engaging concave portion 22, and a spring portion 24 that is curved in a waveform at the other end. Each of the lock springs 21 is rotatable around the engaging portion 23 as a fulcrum.

Hereinafter, the operation when the pair of optical connector plugs 1 and 1 'are fitted to and removed from the adapter 2 will be described.

First, the optical connector plug 1 'is inserted into the adapter 2 from one side (left side in the figure). The alignment member 4 ′ abuts on the V-groove substrate holding member 18, and resists the repulsive force of the torsion coil spring 6 ′ while holding the housing 3.
The distal end of each optical fiber 10 ′ protrudes from the distal end surface of the wall 7, and is inserted into each micro sleeve 20. In this state, the lock spring 21 is rotated downward with the engagement portion 23 as a fulcrum, and the base end of the housing 3 is pressed by the spring portion 24 to fit the optical connector plug 1 ′ and the adapter 2. Lock status.

Next, the optical connector plug 1 is inserted into the adapter 2 from the other direction (right side in the figure), and the same operation as in the case of the optical connector plug 1 'described above is performed.
The fitting state between the optical connector plug 1 and the adapter 2 is locked. As a result, the distal end face of each optical fiber 10 comes into contact with the distal end face of each optical fiber 10 ′,
Each of the optical fiber strands 10 on one side is curved upward as shown in FIG.
The contact pressure of 0, 10 'is kept within a predetermined range.

In order to remove the optical connector plugs 1 and 1 'from the adapter 2, the lock spring 21 is rotated upward about the engagement portion 23 as a fulcrum, and
After detaching the optical connector plug 4 from the base end of the housing 3, the optical connector plugs 1 and 1 'are pulled out. The contact state between the alignment members 4 and 4 ′ and the V-groove substrate holding member 18 is released, and the alignment members 4 and 4 ′ are on the tip side with respect to the housing 3 by the repulsive force of the torsion coil spring 6. , And each of the optical fiber strands 10 and 10 ′
Is in a state of being accommodated in the pores 8, 8 '.

[0011]

In the above-described conventional optical connector, the alignment member 4 and the fixing member 5 are separately provided, and the number of components is large and the optical connector has a complicated structure. Therefore, there is a problem that it takes time to assemble and manufacture, and it is difficult to reduce the product cost.

Further, when the optical connector plug 1 is fitted into and removed from the adapter 2 or the receptacle, the distal end of the optical fiber 10 moves within the small hole 8. The tip of the wire 10 may be damaged by contact with the inner surface of the pore 8 or the like, and the desired optical performance may not be secured.

Further, since the optical fiber 10 is held open in the light transmission direction,
When the optical connector plug 1 is inserted into or removed from the adapter 2 or the receptacle, a high-output laser beam or the like transmitted through the optical fiber 10 may enter a worker's eyes, which is not preferable in a working environment. Was.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and reduces the number of components, simplifies the structure, reduces the manufacturing cost, and prevents damage to the optical fiber. An optical connector capable of improving a working environment is provided.

[0015]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is an optical connector for fitting an optical connector plug to an adapter or a receptacle and connecting the optical fiber wires to each other in a physical contact, wherein the optical fiber wires are aligned. A holding member in which a unit and an alignment fixing unit for aligning and fixing the optical fiber at a base end side from the alignment unit are integrally formed. It is accommodated in the holding member so as to extend to the side in a cantilever shape.

Preferably, the alignment section and the alignment fixing section each have a V for aligning and holding the optical fiber.
A groove is formed, and the alignment fixing portion is provided with a fixing member for fixing the optical fiber strand aligned with the V groove.

Further, the V-groove is formed so that the optical fiber barely projects, and the fixing member is a lid plate capable of closing the V-groove. It is configured to fix the optical fiber to the alignment fixing portion by sandwiching the optical fiber,
Further, the optical fiber is fixed to the alignment fixing portion by an adhesive, and a clearance groove is formed between the alignment portion and the alignment fixing portion.

Further, the optical connector plug includes a sliding member slidable in a fitting / removing direction of the optical connector plug,
A protective member is provided at the distal end of the sliding member to close the distal end surface of the holding member and protect the distal end of the optical fiber, and the protective member connects the optical connector plug to the adapter or When fitted to a receptacle, the distal end surface of the holding member is opened, and the optical fiber is configured to be exposed.

Further, the optical connector plug is provided with a claw portion projecting outward, and is provided with a locking portion capable of being elastically deformed inward and outward, and the adapter or the receptacle is provided with a cover capable of locking the claw portion. When the optical connector plug is pushed into the adapter or the receptacle when the optical connector plug is pressed into the adapter or the receptacle, the claw portion is locked to the locked portion to be locked, and the optical connector plug is pulled from the adapter or the receptacle. The claw part is disengaged from the locked part, and the locked state is released.

More preferably, the holding member is detachably provided.

In such a configuration, the number of components is reduced, the structure is simplified, and the manufacturing cost is reduced.
Further, it is possible to prevent damage to the optical fiber and improve the working environment.

[0022]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 to 12 show an optical connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
It comprises an optical connector plug 31 and an adapter 32 to which the optical connector plug 31 can be inserted and removed from both ends.

The optical connector plug 31 includes a holding member 34 for holding a distal end portion of the optical fiber 33, a holding member 35 provided to hold both side surfaces of the holding member 34, and the holding member 34. A housing 36 for accommodating the holding member 35, and a sliding member 37 slidable in the fitting / removal direction of the optical connector plug 31 in the housing 36. The holding member 34 is attached to and detached from the housing 36. It is possible.

The holding member 34 includes a pedestal 38 and the pedestal 3 along the direction in which the optical connector plug 31 is fitted.
8, side walls 39 erected on both sides of the base 8, and the pedestal 38
A bottom plate 40 extending horizontally from the lower end to the tip end, and a top plate 41 extending parallel to the bottom plate 40 and extending like an eave. The pedestal portion 38 is formed one step higher than the bottom plate 40, and a required number (for example, 16) of V-shaped grooves 42 are formed on the upper surface thereof at regular intervals along the fitting / removing direction of the optical connector plug 31. I have. As shown in FIG. 5, each of the V-grooves 42 is formed such that a top portion t of the optical fiber 33 protrudes slightly upward from a crest m of the V-groove 42. The tip is the base 3
8 with the V-shaped groove 42 extending in a cantilever shape.
The books are aligned and held. Further, a relief groove 43 deeper than each of the V grooves 42 is formed in a central portion of the pedestal portion 38 in a direction orthogonal to the V groove 42, and a distal end side of the relief groove 43 inside the holding member 34, A cavity 85 is formed. Further, a metal cover plate 44 is provided on the pedestal portion 38 at a base end side of the escape groove 43 so as to close the V groove 42, and between the cover plate 44 and the V groove 42. A thermosetting adhesive is injected, and both members 4
The respective optical fiber strands 33 and the optical fiber coating are adhered and fixed to the holding member 34 in an aligned state by holding the respective optical fiber strands 33 between the two and 44 and heating the outer surface of the cover plate 44. Is done. At this time, even if extra adhesive flows out from the V-groove 42 to the front end side, the adhesive flows into the clearance groove 43 or is retained by the first sleeve wall portion 45 described later. Since the inflow of the member 34 into the distal end portion is prevented, the optical fiber
There is no possibility that the third member 3 is bonded and fixed by the V-groove 42 on the tip side of the escape groove 43. In addition, the optical fiber strand 33
The tip of the holding member 34 projects from the tip of the holding member 34 by a predetermined length, and is aligned and fixed to the pedestal portion 38.

The side wall portion 39 extends proximally from the pedestal portion 38, and the proximal end portion 45 is wider than the distal end portion 46. An engagement groove 47 is formed on the outer surface of the distal end portion 46 from the distal end side, and a first sleeve wall portion 48 protrudes at a position corresponding to the clearance groove 43 on the inner surface. Also,
A rectangular concave portion 49 is formed on the outer surface of the base end portion 45, and a second sleeve wall portion 50 is protruded at a position corresponding to the base end of the pedestal portion 38 on the inner surface.

The holding member 35 includes a trench-shaped cable supporting portion 51 provided on the base end side, and a pair of locking portions 52 extending from the side walls of the cable supporting portion 51 in the distal direction. Have. Further, a flange 53 is formed between the cable support 51 and the locking part 52,
The inside of the flange portion 53 is notched, and a contact portion 88 is formed. The locking portion 52 is formed in a thin plate shape, and a step portion 54 is formed on an inner surface thereof.
5 has a thickness smaller than that of the proximal end portion 56 and is easily elastically deformable inward and outward. A first claw portion 57 and a second claw portion 58 are protruded from a distal outer surface of the distal portion 55 and an inner surface of a distal portion of the proximal portion 56, respectively. Numerals 58 have a tapered wedge shape with their tip surfaces inclined. The second claw portion 58 is engaged with the concave portion 49 of the holding member 34, and the holding member 35 is movable with respect to the holding member 34 in the fitting / removing direction of the optical connector plug 31. Further, the holding member 34
A spring 59 is interposed between the second sleeve wall portion 50 and the contact portion 88 of the holding member 35, whereby the holding member 34 is urged in the distal direction with respect to the holding member 35. The tip of the holding member 34 protrudes from the tip of the housing 36 toward the tip.

The housing 36 has a rectangular tubular shape, and the bottom plate 60 has a distal end portion which is notched along the side walls 61 in an elongated shape. The top plate 62 of the housing 36 has a distal end portion retreated toward the base end side from the distal end portion of the bottom plate 60. The top plate 62 has a cutout 63 formed from the distal end side and the side walls 61. Are respectively formed along the slits 64. A receiving portion 65 is provided on the inner surface of the top plate 62 on the base end side of the slit hole 64 in a direction orthogonal to a fitting / removing direction of the optical connector plug 31. A rectangular fitting hole 66 is formed in each of the side walls 61,
The first claw portion 57 is fitted in the fitting hole 66, and a tip of the first claw portion 57 projects outward from the housing 36. In each of the side walls 61, a concavely curved grip portion 67 is formed on the proximal end side of the fitting hole 66, and a groove portion 89 is formed inside the proximal end portion of the grip portion 67.
9, the flange portion 53 can be loosely fitted. The slit hole 64 is formed in the upper part of the inner surface of each side wall 61.
The eave portion 91 is formed so as to correspond to the above-mentioned shape, and the base end of the eave portion 91 is integrated with the receiving portion 65. Further, a boot portion 90 is formed on the base end side of the housing 36,
The cable support 51 is accommodated in the boot 90.

The sliding member 37 is connected to the housing 36.
Sliding part 6 inserted between the top plate 41 and the eave part 91
9 and a protection member 70 rotatably provided around the tip of the sliding portion 69 as a fulcrum. The sliding part 69
Has a rectangular flat plate shape, and a ridge portion 71 is provided on the outer surface of the distal end portion thereof in a direction orthogonal to the fitting / removing direction of the optical connector plug 31. 72 are formed. Further, the sliding portion 69
A small groove 74 is formed from the base end side, and a small spring 74 is interposed between the slit groove 73 and the receiving portion 65 of the housing 36. Has been energized. The protection member 70 is made of a metal plate, and the tip portion is slightly bent inward,
The holding member 3 is urged downward by the coil spring 75.
4 is closed.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the adapter 32 includes a rectangular tubular housing 76 and a block-shaped connecting member 7 provided at the center of the housing 76.
7 and the connecting member 77 has a required number (for example, 16
Holes 78 are formed in a row. On both side walls 79 of the housing 76, two rectangular locking holes 80 are respectively formed, and the locking holes 80 are formed in the fitting holes 6 respectively.
6 are arranged. Inside the housing 76, projections 81 are formed on the inner surface of the top plate on one end side and on the inner surface of the bottom plate on the other end side of the connection member 77, respectively, and the inner wall 82 stands upright on each side wall 79. Has been established. A guide piece 83 is formed on each of the inner walls 82 so as to extend from the center toward both ends of the adapter 32. A portion 84 is formed, and the engaging projection 84 can be engaged with the engaging groove 47 of the holding member 34.

As described above, the holding member 34 can be provided detachably with respect to the holding member 35, the housing 36 and the sliding member 37, and the number of the optical fiber wires 33 to be held is different. For example, when replacing the holding member with another type of holding member, the holding member 35, the housing 36, and the sliding member 37 can be shared by replacing the holding member with a different holding member. The holding member 34 includes the pedestal portion 38, the bottom plate 40, and the side wall portion 39.
And the top plate 41 may be divided into two parts, vertical grooves may be formed on both sides of the escape groove 43, and the first sleeve wall portion 48 may be configured to be able to be fitted into and removed from each of the vertical grooves. In this case, by fitting the first sleeve wall portion 48 into the vertical groove portion, the pedestal portion 38 with respect to the clearance groove 43 is used as a reference.
Can be accurately positioned with respect to the bottom plate 40, the side wall portions 39, and the top plate 41, so that even when the pedestal portion 38 is replaced with another type, the relative positional relationship between the two can always be kept constant. Can be.

Next, the operation when the optical connector plug 31 is inserted into and removed from the adapter 32 will be described with reference to FIGS.

When the optical connector plug 31 is fitted to the adapter 32, first, the grip portion 67 of the housing 36 is gripped, and the optical connector plug 31 is moved from one side (the right side in FIGS. 8 to 10). Insert into adapter 32. The engagement projection 84 of each guide piece 83 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the engaging members 47 engage with the engaging grooves 47 of the holding member 34, respectively.
As shown in FIG. 8B, 1 abuts on the convex portion 81 of the adapter 32, and thereafter, the movement of the sliding portion 69 in the fitting direction is restricted.

As shown in FIG. 9, when the optical connector plug 31 is further pushed into the adapter 32, as shown in FIG. And the distal end portion 55 of the locking portion 52 is elastically deformed inward. Since the distal end surface of the first claw portion 57 is inclined and the distal end portion 55 is thinner than the base end portion 56, the locking portion 52
Inward elastic deformation is easily and smoothly performed. Also,
As described above, the movement of the sliding portion 69 in the fitting direction is restricted by the protrusion 81, so that the holding member 3 is pressed against the repulsive force of the small spring 74.
4. relative to the holding member 35 and the housing 36 in the anti-fitting direction. With the sliding operation of the sliding portion 69, as shown in FIG. 9 (b), the protection member 70 comes to the distal end of the holding member 34 while resisting the repulsive force of the coil spring 75. As a result, the top surface of the holding member 34 is opened, and the optical fiber 33 is exposed.

As shown in FIG.
When the optical connector plug 31 is pushed into the adapter 32, as shown in FIG. 10A, the locking portion 52 returns to the original state, and the first claw portions 57 are locked in the locking holes of the adapter 32. 80, and the optical connector plug 31 is locked by the adapter 32. Further, the sliding portion 69 further slides while resisting the repulsive force of the small spring 74, and the ridge portion 71 is
3 The distal end of each of the optical fiber wires 33 is inserted into each of the small holes 78 of the connection member 77, and the holding member 34 sandwiches the connection member 77 between the bottom plate 40 and the top plate 41. The connection member 77
Fixed to

Although not shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, another optical connector plug is inserted into the other side (left side in FIGS. 8 to 10) 86 of the adapter 32 by the same operation as described above. Is done. As a result, the respective optical fiber wires 33 come into end contact with each other and bend upward in the hollow portion 85 as shown in FIG. 10B. At this time,
Since the tip of the holding member 34 protrudes from the housing 36 to the tip, the end faces contact each other at their end faces,
The contact pressure is maintained at a predetermined value by the repulsive force of the spring 59. Further, since the distal end of the optical fiber strand 33 projects from the distal end of the holding member 34 by a predetermined length and is aligned and fixed to the holding member 34, the contact pressure between the optical fiber strands 33 is within a predetermined range. Is securely kept within. Therefore, the tip surface of the holding member 34 functions as an “optical reference plane” for positioning the optical fiber 33.

When each of the optical connector plugs 31 is to be removed from the adapter 32, the grip portion 67 is gripped in the fitted state shown in FIG. To pull. As shown in FIG. 12B, an end portion 68 facing the distal end side of the fitting hole 66 is provided.
Abuts against the tip inclined surface 87 of the first claw portion 57, and an inward force acts on the locking portion 52.
2 elastically deforms inward. Further, the housing 36
12C, the first claw 57 is disengaged from the locking hole 80, and the locked state of the optical connector plug 31 and the adapter 32 is released. Thereafter, the sliding member 37 relatively slides in the fitting direction by an operation opposite to the above-described operation at the time of the engagement, and in a state where the protection member 70 closes the distal end surface of the holding member 34, The optical connector plug 31 is removed from the adapter 32.

As described above, the optical connector plug 31 is locked with respect to the adapter 32 only by performing a pushing operation, and is unlocked by merely performing a pulling operation. The work of inserting and removing the connector plug 31 is significantly simplified.

Next, an optical connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. For the sake of simplicity, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The optical connector according to the present embodiment comprises an optical connector plug 101 consisting of only the holding member 34 of the optical connector plug 31 and an adapter 102 into which the optical connector plug 101 can be inserted and removed from both ends. In the optical connector plug 101, optical fiber wires 104 constituting a tape-shaped optical fiber 103 are aligned and fixed. The holding member 34 has a function of aligning the optical fiber 104 and the function of aligning the optical fiber 1.
Since the optical connector plug 101 is provided with a function of fixing the optical connector 04, the optical connector plug 101 can be constituted by itself.

The adapter 102 includes a trench-shaped housing 105, a pair of lock members 106 rotatably provided in the housing 105, and the housing 10.
5 and a block-shaped connecting member 107 provided at the center of the connecting member 107. The connecting member 107 has a required number (for example,
16) are formed in a row. Engaging protrusions 110 are provided on the inner surfaces of both side walls 109 of the housing 105 so that the engaging protrusions 110 can be engaged with the engaging grooves 47 (see FIG. 4) of the optical connector plug 101. Has become. A convex portion 111 is formed at the center of the outer surface of each of the side walls 109, and boss portions 112 are provided on both sides of the convex portion 111, respectively. The lock member 106 is made of a metal plate, and includes a support portion 113 that is bent at both ends at one end and a spring portion 114 that is curved in a waveform at the other end. The tip of the support portion 113 is fitted to the boss portion 112, and the lock member 106 is rotatable about the boss portion 112 as a fulcrum.

Next, an operation when the optical connector plug 101 is fitted to and removed from the adapter 102 will be described.

When the optical connector plug 101 is fitted to the adapter 102, the locking member 106 of the adapter 102 is rotated upward with the boss 112 as a fulcrum, and the optical connector plug 101 is moved in one direction (for example, 13 and 14) (right side of FIGS. 13 and 14). At this time, the lock member 106 is
Since excessive rotation is restricted by 11, even if both lock members 106 are simultaneously rotated upward, there is no possibility of damage due to collision between the lock members 106. Also, with the insertion of the optical plug connector 101 into the adapter 102,
The engagement projection 110 of the adapter 102 engages with the engagement groove 47 (see FIG. 4) of the optical connector plug 101, and the distal end of the optical fiber 104 is connected to the connection member 107.
The optical connector plug 101 is further inserted into each of the small holes 108, and the connection member 107 is sandwiched between the bottom plate 40 and the top plate 41.
Fixed to Thereafter, the lock member 106 is rotated downward, and the base end of the optical connector plug 101 is pressed by the spring portion 114, so that the optical connector plug 101
And the fitting state of the adapter 102 is locked.

Further, by the same operation as the above-mentioned operation,
The other side of the adapter 102 (left side in FIGS. 13 and 14)
Another optical connector plug 101 ′ is inserted into the portion 115. As a result, each of the optical fiber strands 33, 33 '
Are in end contact with each other and, as shown in FIG.
The optical fiber 33 is curved upward at the cavity 85. At this time, since the tip of the optical fiber strand 33 is aligned and fixed by protruding a predetermined length from the tip of the optical connector plug 101, the optical fiber strands 33, 3 are fixed.
The contact pressure between the 3's is reliably maintained within a predetermined range.

When removing the optical connector plug 101 from the adapter 102, first, the lock member 106 is rotated upward with the boss 112 as a fulcrum, and the spring portion 114 is connected to the optical connector plug 101. The optical connector plug 101 and the adapter 102 are released from the proximal end to release the locked state. Then, when the optical connector plug 101 is pulled out in the anti-fitting direction, the optical connector plug 31 is pulled out of the adapter 32.

In the above embodiment, the optical connector plugs 31, 101 are connected to the adapters 32, 101, respectively.
Although the description has been given of the case where the adapter is fitted to and removed from the adapter 102, a receptacle may be used instead of the adapter 32 or 102. In this case, the connecting member 107 having the small hole 108 can be provided at the fitting portion of the receptacle, and the housing can be provided with a means for engaging with the plug. Further, the holding member 34 may be provided on the receptacle side, and the connecting member 107 may be provided on the plug side.

Further, it goes without saying that the present invention can be implemented in a multipolar connector in which a large number of optical connectors are connected in parallel.

[0048]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the alignment portion of the optical fiber and the alignment fixing portion of the optical fiber are integrated, the number of components is reduced and the structure is reduced. Simplified. Therefore, assembling and manufacturing of the optical connector become easy, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

Further, since the optical fiber can be aligned and fixed to the holding member by sandwiching the optical fiber between the V-groove and the cover plate, the work of attaching the optical fiber to the holding member is simplified. it can.

Further, when the optical fiber is adhered and fixed to the alignment fixing portion, even if the adhesive protrudes, the groove is formed on the distal end side from the alignment fixing portion. There is no danger that the adhesive will flow into the optical fiber, and there is no danger that the optical fiber is adhered and fixed at the alignment portion. Therefore, when the optical fiber strands come into contact with each other, the optical connector is appropriately curved in the vicinity of the alignment portion, and the end face contact pressure of the optical fiber strand can be reliably maintained within a predetermined range.

Further, since the protection member is provided so that the tip of the optical fiber is exposed only while the optical connector plug is being inserted into the adapter or the receptacle, the work for inserting and removing the optical connector plug can be performed. The desired optical performance can be ensured without inadvertently damaging the optical fiber, and the high-power laser light transmitted through the optical fiber enters the eyes of workers. Various excellent effects such as improvement of the working environment can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an optical connector plug according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the optical connector plug according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a holding member according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a holding member according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a V-shaped groove of the holding member according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the adapter according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the adapter according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8A is a partial cross-sectional view showing an operation at the time of fitting the optical connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention,
(B) is a longitudinal sectional view showing an operation at the time of fitting the optical connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9A is a partial cross-sectional view showing an operation at the time of fitting the optical connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention,
(B) is a longitudinal sectional view showing an operation at the time of fitting the optical connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10A is a partial cross-sectional view showing an operation at the time of fitting the optical connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention,
(B) is a longitudinal sectional view showing an operation at the time of fitting the optical connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11A is a perspective view showing a state before fitting of an optical connector plug according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 11B is a perspective view showing a state before the optical connector plug according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view showing the state after fitting of an optical connector plug.

FIG. 12A is a partial cross-sectional view showing an operation of a locking portion when the optical connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention is pulled out, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view showing an operation of a locking portion when the optical connector according to the embodiment is pulled out, and FIG. It is a fragmentary sectional view showing an operation of a stop.

FIG. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an optical connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing an adapter according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15A is a perspective view showing a state before fitting of the conventional optical connector plug, and FIG. 15B is a perspective view showing a state after fitting of the conventional optical connector plug. is there.

FIG. 16A is an exploded perspective view showing a state before fitting of a conventional optical connector, and FIG. 16B is a perspective view showing a state after fitting of a conventional optical connector. .

FIG. 17 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a fitted state of an optical connector of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 31 Optical connector plug 32 Adapter 33 Optical fiber wire 34 Holding member 36 Housing 37 Sliding member 42 V groove 43 Escape groove 52 Locking portion 57 First claw portion 66 Fitting hole 70 Protective member 80 Locking hole 101 Optical connector plug 102 Adapter 104 Optical fiber

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Masaru Kobayashi 2-3-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Within Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Yoshiteru Abe 2-3-3, Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo No. 1 Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation F term (reference) 2H036 LA03 LA07 LA08 QA03 QA31 QA47 QA48 QA57

Claims (7)

[The claims] 1. An optical connector for fitting an optical connector plug to an adapter or a receptacle and connecting the optical fiber wires to each other in physical contact, comprising: an alignment portion for aligning the optical fiber wires; A holding member integrally formed with an alignment fixing portion for aligning and fixing the optical fiber at an end side, wherein the optical fiber has a tip portion extending in a cantilever shape to the tip side from the alignment portion. An optical connector, wherein the optical connector is housed in the holding member so as to come out. 2. The alignment unit and the alignment fixing unit each have a V-groove for aligning and holding the optical fiber, and the alignment fixing unit includes an optical fiber aligned with the V-groove. The optical connector according to claim 1, further comprising a fixing member for fixing the strand. 3. The V-groove is formed so that the optical fiber barely protrudes, and the fixing member is a cover plate capable of closing the V-groove. The optical connector according to claim 2, wherein the optical connector is configured to fix the optical fiber to the alignment fixing portion by sandwiching the optical fiber. 4. The optical fiber according to claim 1, wherein the optical fiber is fixed to the alignment fixing portion by an adhesive, and a clearance groove is formed between the alignment portion and the alignment fixing portion. The optical connector according to claim. 5. The optical connector plug includes a sliding member slidable in a direction in which the optical connector plug is inserted and removed, and a distal end portion of the sliding member closes a distal end surface of the holding member, A protection member is provided to protect the distal end of the optical fiber, and when the optical connector plug is fitted to the adapter or the receptacle, the distal end surface of the holding member is opened, and the optical fiber The optical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the optical wires are configured to be exposed. 6. The optical connector plug has an outwardly projecting claw portion, and includes a locking portion that can be elastically deformed inward and outward. The adapter or receptacle is engaged with the locking member such that the claw portion can be locked. When the optical connector plug is pushed into the adapter or the receptacle, the claw portion is locked to the locked portion to be in a locked state, and when the optical connector plug is pulled from the adapter or the receptacle, 6. The optical connector according to claim 5, wherein the claw portion is disengaged from the locked portion and the locked state is released. 7. The optical connector according to claim 1, wherein the holding member is detachably provided.