JP2002311307A - Optical connector and shield case - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical connector having the excellent shielding property of electromagnetic noise and having excellent heat radiation. SOLUTION: A shield case 20 is housed and arranged in a connector housing 4 made of resin. The shield case 20 is constituted so that a guiding sleeve part 23 and a heat radiation part 25 are formed integrally in a case main body 21 capable of housing an optical, element D and the whole of it consists of metallic material such as aluminum, aluminum alloy.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an optical connector and a shield case used in the field of optical communication such as OA, FA, and vehicle equipment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an optical connector in which an optical element for performing photoelectric conversion or the like is accommodated in a connector housing, it is necessary to take measures to reduce the influence of electromagnetic noise from the outside to the inside optical element or from the inside optical element to the outside. Become. In particular, in the case of an optical connector used in a vehicle or the like, which is in a poor electromagnetic environment, there is a great demand for measures against such electromagnetic noise.

Conventionally, as one of optical connectors taking measures against electromagnetic noise, there is a connector in which an optical element is housed in a shield case made of a conductive resin and is housed in a connector housing.

[0004]

However, if the optical element is simply housed in a shield case made of a conductive resin as in the above-described conventional optical connector, when strong electromagnetic noise is received, etc. It is not sufficient as a countermeasure against electromagnetic noise, and there is a problem that a malfunction of the optical element is caused. In addition, usually, in the shield case, since the light emitting surface or the light receiving surface of the optical element is disposed so as to face the end of the optical fiber held by the mating optical connector, the light emitting surface or the light receiving surface faces the outside. To this end, a window is formed, and external electromagnetic noise may enter the optical element through the window.

Further, in the above-mentioned optical connector, since the optical element has a structure surrounded by resin, it is difficult for the heat generated by the optical element itself to escape to the outside, and especially in an environment having a high ambient temperature, the life of the optical element is reduced. Or destruction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical connector and a shield case which are excellent in electromagnetic noise shielding and heat radiation.

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems,
The optical connector according to claim 1, wherein the connector housing having the case receiving recess formed therein and the case main body formed to receive the element body of the optical element therein and held and held in the case receiving recess are provided with an optical connector. A guide sleeve portion for guiding the fiber toward the optical coupling portion of the element body portion accommodated in the case body portion is integrally formed, and a heat radiating portion exposed and arranged outside the connector housing is integrally formed, and And a shield case formed of a metal material.

[0008] According to a second aspect of the present invention, the shield case may be integrally formed with a screw fixing piece screwed to the mounting board. The screw-fixing piece may be formed with a screw hole that has been previously threaded.

Further, the heat radiating section may have a plurality of heat radiating projections projecting outward.

Further, the element main body is accommodated in the case main body, and a heat conductive inclusion is interposed between the outer surface of the element main body and the inner surface of the case main body. It may be.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a shield case incorporated in a connector housing, wherein a case main body formed so as to be capable of accommodating an element main body of an optical element has an optical element. A guide sleeve portion for guiding the fiber toward the optical coupling portion of the element body portion accommodated in the case body portion is integrally formed, and a heat radiating portion exposed and arranged outside the connector housing is integrally formed, and Is formed of a metal material.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An optical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the optical connector 1 has a mating optical connector 5 holding an optical fiber 61.
0 (see FIG. 3).

Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the optical connector 50 is formed of an insulating resin or the like, and the ferrule portion 55 is formed integrally with the housing body 51.

The housing body 51 has a cord receiving hole 51h through which the optical fiber cord 60 can be inserted and held. A ferrule portion 55 is formed at a front portion of the housing main body portion 51 so as to protrude therefrom. The optical fiber exposed in the ferrule portion 55 at an end of the optical fiber cord 60 is located on the extension of the cord accommodation hole 51h. A fiber housing hole 55h capable of inserting and holding 61 is formed. Then, the optical fiber cord 60 with the optical fiber 61 exposed at the end.
From the rear of the housing body 51
When the optical fiber 61 is inserted into the hole h, the optical fiber 61 exposed at the end is housed and held in the fiber housing hole 55h, and the portion of the covering portion 62 on the near side is housed and held in the cord housing hole 51h. With the optical fiber 61 inserted and held in the ferrule part 55 in this manner, the ferrule part 5
5 is mirror-finished at the end face of the optical fiber 61.

A protective cylinder 52 is formed at the tip of the housing body 51 so as to surround the ferrule 55. In addition, a locking piece 53 that can be engaged with the engaged portion 3a on the optical connector 1 side is formed on an upper portion of the housing body 51.

The optical connector 1 includes a connector housing 2 and a shield case 20, as shown in FIGS.

The shield case 20 includes a case body 21
The guide sleeve portion 23 and the heat radiating portion 25 are integrally formed, and the whole is formed of a metal material such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy.

The case body 21 is formed so as to be able to house the element body Da of the optical element D, and is housed and held in a case housing recess 4 formed in the connector housing 2. In the present embodiment, the case main body 21 is formed in a substantially housing having a bottom side opening, and when the element main body Da of the optical element D is inserted through the bottom side opening, the element main body D
The entirety of “a” is housed and arranged in the case body 21. At this time, the lead portion Db extending downward from the lower portion of the element main body Da extends downward through the bottom opening of the case main body 21. In addition, in order to easily transfer the heat generated in the element body Da to the case body 21, the inner surface shape of the case body 21 may be a shape that can be in close contact with the outer surface of the element body Da, Or, the element body D
It is preferable to fill a gap between the outer surface of a and the inner surface of the case body 21 with an adhesive or gap filling agent having good heat conductivity, and to interpose a heat conductive inclusion therebetween.

The guide sleeve 23 is provided with an optical fiber 61 and an element main body Da accommodated in the case main body 21.
(Light emitting unit or light receiving unit) Dc. In the present embodiment, it is formed as a substantially short cylindrical member protruding from the front part of the case body 21. In the guide sleeve portion 23, a guide hole portion 23h extending forward of the optical coupling portion Dc of the element body portion Da housed in the case body portion 21 is formed. The guide hole 23h is connected to the optical connector 5 on the mating side.
The ferrule part 55 of 0 is formed so that it can be inserted. When the ferrule part 55 is inserted into the guide sleeve part 23 from the tip side, the optical fiber 61 in the ferrule part 55 is guided toward the optical coupling part Dc of the element body part Da in the case body part 21. . In a state where the ferrule part 55 is inserted into the innermost part in the guide sleeve part 23, the end face of the optical fiber 61 exposed at the distal end of the ferrule part 55 is disposed so as to face the optical coupling part Dc.
And the optical element D are optically coupled.

The heat radiating portion 25 is configured to be exposed to the outside of the connector housing 2 in a state where the case main body 21 is housed in the case housing recess 4.

In the present embodiment, the heat radiating portion 25 is formed over the entire back side of the case body 21.

The heat radiating portion 25 has a shape having a plurality of heat radiating projections 25a projecting outward. The heat-dissipating projection 25a has a function of increasing the surface area of a portion exposed to the outside of the heat-dissipating portion 25 to enhance its heat-dissipating effect. In the present embodiment, the heat-dissipating projection 25a is formed in a fin shape and a plurality of protrusions are formed so as to project in parallel. Alternatively, the heat radiating projection 25a may be formed in a column shape, and may be formed in a plurality of forests.

The connector housing 2 is formed of an insulating resin or the like, and has a case housing recess 4 therein.
Is formed.

In this embodiment, the connector housing 2
Is formed in a substantially rectangular tube-shaped member that is flat in the width direction, and a case housing recess 4 whose rear side is open is formed inside the rear side.

Then, the case body 21 of the shield case 20 is housed in the case housing recess 4 through the rear opening. At this time, the heat radiating portion 25 is disposed in the rear opening of the case housing recess 4 and is exposed to the outside.

The connector housing 2 is formed with a support plate 2p projecting below the case accommodating recess 4 to support the shield case 20 from below. A cutout 2pa for passing the lead Db of the element D is formed.

With the shield case 20 housed in the case housing recess 4, the lead portion Db of the optical element D extending below the shield case 20 extends below the connector housing 2 through the cutout 2pa. I do.

The lower edge of the shield case 20 is placed on the support plate 2p, and the engaging projections 20a on the shield case 20 side are respectively engaged with the engaged portions 2a on the connector housing 2 side. It is housed and held in the case housing recess 4 so as to be engaged.

The front part of the connector housing 2 is formed in a substantially rectangular cylindrical connection part 3 into which the optical connector 50 on the other side can be fitted. On the upper plate of the connection portion 3, an engaged portion 3a capable of engaging with the locking piece 53 on the optical connector 50 side of the mating side is formed. The connection state between the optical connector 1 and the optical connector 50 is maintained by fitting the optical connector 50 inside the connection portion 3 of the connector housing 2 and engaging the locking piece 53 with the engaged portion 3a. Will be done.

The internal space of the connection part 3 communicates with the case housing recess 4 in the connector housing 2. Shield case 20 positioned and held in case housing recess 4
The guide sleeve portion 23 protrudes forward from a deep portion in the connection portion 3. Then, when the optical connector 1 and the optical connector 50 are connected, the ferrule portion 55 is inserted into the guide sleeve portion 23 in the connection portion 3 and guided toward the optical coupling portion Dc of the optical element D in the case main body 21. Is done.

The shield case 20 is formed integrally with a screw fixing piece 30 which is screwed and fixed to the mounting board P. The screw fixing piece 30 is also formed of the same material as the shield case 20, that is, a metal material.

In this embodiment, a pair of screw fixing pieces 30 are formed on both sides of the shield case 20 so as to protrude. Each screw fixing piece 30 has a plate-shaped portion 31 that protrudes outward from lower edges of both sides of the shield case 20, and a short columnar screw-shaped portion 32 formed on the plate-shaped portion 31. The screw portion 32 is formed with a screw hole 32h that has been threaded in advance. When the shield case 20 is accommodated in the case accommodating recess 4, each screw fixing piece 30 is attached to the case accommodating recess 4.
Projecting outward on both sides of the connector housing 2 through slits 4g formed on both side plates of the connector housing 2.

A pair of screwing portions 10 are formed on both side surfaces of the connector housing 2 at positions overlapping the screw fixing pieces 30 from below. Each screw stop 10
The receiving part 12 having an inner surface corresponding to the outer peripheral shape of the screwing part 32 is formed on the plate-like part 11. A screw insertion hole 11h (see FIG. 4) is formed in the plate portion 11 at a position corresponding to the screw hole 32h.

When the shield case 20 is accommodated in the case accommodating recess 4, the plate-like portions 31 of the screw fixing pieces 30 are arranged on the plate-like portions 11 of the screw fixing portions 10, respectively. At the same time, the screwing portion 32 is accommodated in the receiving portion 12.

The optical connector 1 configured as described above is
It is assembled and fixed on the mounting board P as follows.

First, the optical element D is housed in the shield case 20, and the shield case 20 is housed in the case housing recess 4 through the rear opening of the connector housing 2. At this time, the plate portions 31 of the screw fixing pieces 30 are arranged on the plate portions 11 of the screw portions 10 so as to overlap each other, and the screw portions 32 are accommodated in the receiving portions 12.

Then, the optical connector 1 is placed on the mounting board P, and the screw insertion holes 11h of the screwing portions 10 and the screw holes 32h of the screw fixing pieces 30 are placed on the respective insertion holes Ph formed in the mounting board P. In the state in which is disposed, a pair of metal screws S is inserted from below the mounting board P into each of the insertion holes Ph and the screw insertion holes 1.
When the connector housing 2 and the shield case 20 are screwed and fastened to the screw holes 32h through 1h, the connector housing 2 and the shield case 20 are fixed on the mounting board P with screws.

At this time, each screw S is in contact with a ground wiring circuit Pe formed on the back side of the mounting board P.
The shield case 20 is connected to the ground wiring circuit Pe via the screw S from each of the screw fixing pieces 30.

The lead portion Db of the optical element D is inserted into a through hole formed in the mounting board P, and is appropriately soldered to a predetermined wiring circuit formed on the back side of the mounting board P.

According to the optical connector 1 configured as described above, since the entire shield case 20 is formed of a metal material having a higher conductivity than a conventionally used conductive resin, a shield for electromagnetic noise is provided. Excellent in nature. Further, since the guide sleeve portion 23 is formed integrally with the case main body portion 21 that accommodates the optical element D, the outer portion of the hole for making the optical coupling portion Dc of the optical element D face the outside is formed by the guide sleeve portion 23. The guide sleeve 23 prevents electromagnetic noise from passing through the hole, and in this respect, the electromagnetic noise is also excellently shielded.

Further, since the heat radiating portion 25 exposed to the outside of the connector housing 2 is integrally formed with the case body 21, the heat generated in the optical element D is radiated from the heat radiating portion 25 to the outside. And excellent heat dissipation.

Moreover, since the heat radiating portion 25 and the guide sleeve portion 23 are formed integrally with the case body 21, the volume of the entire shield case 20 is increased. Therefore, the heat generated by the optical element D can be efficiently absorbed by suppressing the temperature rise of the optical element D by increasing the heat capacity of the shield case 20, and the effect of the shield case 20 from the outside can be reduced by increasing the surface area. Can be expected.

The mounting case P is mounted on the shield case 20.
Since the screw fixing piece 30 to be screwed and fixed is formed on the mounting board P, the screw S used for screwing is grounded by a configuration such that the screw S is in contact with the ground wiring circuit Pe on the mounting board P side or the like. Thus, the shield case 20 can be reliably grounded, and its ground resistance can be reduced.

Since the screw fixing piece 30 is formed with a screw hole 32h which has been screwed in advance, the screw fixing is easy.

[0046]

As described above, according to the optical connector of the first to fifth aspects of the present invention, the entire shield case is formed of a metal material having higher conductivity than the conductive resin used conventionally. It is excellent in electromagnetic noise shielding properties. In addition, since the guide sleeve is formed integrally with the case body that houses the optical element, the outer portion of the window that exposes the optical coupling portion of the optical element to the outside is surrounded by the guide sleeve, The guide sleeve prevents electromagnetic noise from entering through the window, and in this respect, the electromagnetic noise is also excellently shielded.

Further, since the heat radiating portion exposed to the outside of the connector housing is formed integrally with the case body, the heat generated in the optical element is radiated to the outside from the heat radiating portion, so that the heat radiating property is improved. Excellent.

According to the optical connector of the present invention, since the screw-fixing pieces fixed to the mounting board with screws are formed in the shield case, the screws used for screwing are grounded on the mounting board or the like. By doing so, the shield case can be reliably grounded, and the ground resistance can be reduced.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, if a screw hole which has been previously threaded is formed in the screw fixing piece,
The optical connector can be easily fixed with screws.

Further, as described in the fourth aspect, the heat radiating portion has a plurality of heat radiating protrusions projecting outward, so that heat can be efficiently radiated from the heat radiating portion.

Further, when a heat conductive inclusion is interposed between the outer surface of the element main body and the inner surface of the case main body, the heat generated in the element main body passes through the heat conductive inclusion. As a result, the heat is easily transmitted to the case main body, and the heat is radiated from the heat radiating portion to the outside.

Further, according to the shield case of the sixth aspect, since the entire case is formed of a metal material having higher conductivity than the conventionally used conductive resin,
Excellent electromagnetic noise shielding. In addition, since the guide sleeve is formed integrally with the case body that houses the optical element, the outer portion of the window that exposes the optical coupling portion of the optical element to the outside is surrounded by the guide sleeve, The guide sleeve prevents electromagnetic noise from entering through the window, and in this respect, the electromagnetic noise is also excellently shielded.

Further, since the heat radiating portion exposed to the outside of the connector housing is integrally formed in the case main body, the heat generated in the optical element is radiated to the outside from the heat radiating portion, so that the heat radiating property is improved. Excellent.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an optical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the optical connector.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the optical connector is connected to a mating optical connector.

FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway rear view showing a state where the optical connector is mounted and fixed on a mounting board.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Optical connector 2 Connector housing 4 Case accommodating recess 10 Screw fixing part 11h Screw insertion hole 20 Shield case 21 Case main body part 23 Guide sleeve part 25 Heat radiating part 30 Screw fixing piece 32h Screw hole 50 Optical connector 55 Ferrule part 60 Optical fiber cord 61 Optical fiber D Optical element Da Element main body part Dc Optical coupling part P Mounting board S Screw

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI theme coat ゛ (Reference) H05K 9/00 H05K 9/00 U (72) Inventor Kazuhiro Asada 1-7 Kikuzumi, Minami-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi Prefecture No. 10 Inside the Auto Network Technology Laboratory Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Jun Imazu 1-7-10 Kikuzumi, Minami-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture Inside the Auto Network Technology Laboratory Co., Ltd. 1-7-10 Kikuzumi Auto Network Engineering Laboratory Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 2H036 QA03 QA12 QA45 QA59 2H037 AA01 BA02 BA11 DA03 DA04 DA06 DA33 DA35 5E321 CC22 GG05 GG09 GH03 5E322 AA03 EA11 FA04

Claims (6)

[Claims] An optical fiber is inserted into a connector housing having a case housing recess formed therein, and an optical fiber in a case main body formed so as to be capable of housing an element body of an optical element and housed in the case housing recess. A guide sleeve portion for guiding toward the optical coupling portion of the element body portion accommodated in the body portion is integrally formed, and a heat radiating portion exposed and arranged outside the connector housing is integrally formed, and the whole is made of a metal material. An optical connector comprising: a formed shield case; 2. The optical connector according to claim 1, wherein a screw-fixing piece that is screw-fixed to a mounting board is formed integrally with the shield case. 3. The optical connector according to claim 2, wherein the screw fixing piece has a threaded screw hole formed in advance. 4. The optical connector according to claim 1, wherein the heat radiating portion has a plurality of heat radiating protrusions protruding outward. 5. The optical connector according to claim 1, wherein the element main body is accommodated in the case main body, and an outer surface of the element main body and the case main body. An optical connector in which a heat conductive inclusion is interposed between the inner surface and the inner surface. 6. A shield case incorporated in a connector housing, wherein an optical fiber is accommodated in the case main body, wherein the optical fiber is accommodated in the case main body formed so as to accommodate the element main body of the optical element. A shield case formed integrally with a guide sleeve portion for guiding toward the optical coupling portion of the portion, and integrally formed with a heat radiating portion exposed to the outside of the connector housing.