JP2002341187A - Optical connector plug - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical connector plug with which optical fiber cables are easily and accurately connected. SOLUTION: The optical connector plug is fitted to an adaptor 22 and optical fibers 28 and 28' are connected by physical contact. The optical connector plug is furnished with a first elastic member 25 which gives force to of the optical fibers 28 and 28' which are provided in a form of a cantilever projecting in the direction of front end, in the direction crossing with the axis of the optical fibers 28 and 28', the optical fibers 28 and 28' are pushed against the inner face 65 of the optical fiber connecting part 54 on the adapter 22 side by the elastic force of the first elastic member 25 when the optical connector plug is engaged with the adapter 22, and connected by physical contact after sliding along the inner face 65.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical connector plug to which an optical fiber is connected to a 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 a conventional optical connector plug using this connection method is disclosed in, for example, JP-A-10-227947.

[0005] As shown in FIG. 19, two optical connector plugs 1, 1 ′ are paired with each other, and can be fitted to and removed from the adapter 2.

The optical connector plug 1 includes a rectangular cylindrical plug frame 3, an optical fiber alignment guide member 4 held in the plug frame 3 and movable in the insertion / removal direction.
A stopper member fixed to a base end side of the plug frame, a pressing leaf spring interposed between the optical fiber alignment guide member and the stopper member; A projection 7 is formed on the side wall on the tip end side of the alignment guide member 4. A substrate 8 is bonded and fixed to the optical fiber alignment guide member 4, and a required number of optical fiber alignment V-grooves 9 are formed in the substrate 8 in parallel.
A required number of the optical fiber wires 10 are aligned and held in the optical fiber alignment V-grooves 9, and the optical fiber wires 10 are respectively bonded and fixed at the base end side of the optical fiber alignment V-groove 9. The distal end portions thereof protrude from the distal end surface of the optical connector plug 1. The optical connector plug 1 'has substantially the same configuration as that of the optical connector plug 1, as shown in the right part of FIG.

[0005] The adapter 2 comprises a holder 11 and
Alignment guide member 1 fixed to the center of holder 11
2, a centering leaf spring 13 and a ferrule holding leaf spring 14 extending from the centering guide member 12 in the direction in which the optical connector plugs 1 and 1 'are pulled out, respectively. And a substrate 15 bonded and fixed to the substrate. A required number of alignment V-grooves 16 are formed in parallel on the substrate 15, and a thin tubular glass capillary 17 is adhesively fixed to the alignment V-groove 16.

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

First, when the optical connector plug 1 is inserted into the adapter 2 from one side (left side in the figure), the guide member 4 for aligning the optical fibers comes into contact with the guide member 12 for centering and stops. I do. At this time, the guide member 4 for aligning the optical fiber is aligned by the spring 13 for centering, the tip of the optical fiber 10 is inserted into the glass capillary 17, and the spring 14 for holding the ferrule 14. Of the optical connector plug 1 is locked to the adapter 2, and the optical connector plug 1 is locked by the adapter 2.

Next, when the optical connector plug 1 ′ is inserted into the adapter 2 from the other side (the right side in the figure), the optical connector plug 1 ′ is operated by the same operation as that of the optical connector plug 1 described above. It is locked by the adapter 2. As a result, each of the optical fibers 10, 1
As shown in FIG. 20, a part of the optical fiber 10 'is curved upward, and the optical fibers 10 and 10' are connected to each other.
The contact pressure between them is kept within a predetermined range.

[0009]

In the above-mentioned conventional optical connector plug, the optical fiber alignment guide member 4 is aligned by the centering spring 13 and the ferrule holding spring 14. Fiber strand 10, 1
Since both 0 'are held in a cantilever shape, it is difficult to match the axes of the two, and it is difficult to improve the alignment accuracy of the optical fibers 10, 10'. was there. In addition, in order to match the axes of the two components, it is necessary to increase the dimensional accuracy of each component, which requires time and effort in manufacturing and causes an increase in cost.

Further, the optical fibers 10, 10 '
Since the contact pressure between them is adjusted by bending the optical fiber 10 ', it is difficult to improve the adjustment accuracy, and it takes time to maintain the contact pressure between the two within a predetermined range. Was.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an optical connector plug capable of easily and accurately connecting an optical fiber cable.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is an optical connector plug which is fitted to an adapter or a receptacle, and is configured such that an optical fiber is connected to a physical contact. A first elastic member capable of applying a force to the wire in a direction intersecting the axis of the optical fiber, and when fitted to the adapter or the receptacle, the elastic force of the first elastic member causes the optical fiber to Is pressed against the inner surface of the optical fiber connecting portion on the adapter or the receptacle side, and after sliding along the inner surface,
It is characterized in that it is configured to make physical contact connection.

Preferably, the first elastic member is a leaf spring provided in a cantilever shape along the optical fiber.

[0014] The optical fiber further comprises a second elastic member provided so as to be able to urge the optical fiber toward the distal end in the axial direction thereof. The optical fibers can come into contact with each other at a predetermined pressure by the repulsive force of the member.

Further, the second elastic member is a spring provided integrally with the optical fiber cable so as to be movable in the axial direction thereof, and the spring is interposed in a hollow portion formed in the optical connector plug. Have been.

Further, the second elastic member is provided with the first elastic member.
It is formed integrally with the elastic member.

In such a configuration, when the optical connector plug is fitted to the adapter or the receptacle,
Since the first elastic member exerts a force on the optical fiber in a direction intersecting the axis of the optical fiber, the optical fiber is slid along the inner surface of the optical fiber connecting portion, and then the optical fiber is slid. The end surface contact is made with the optical fiber on the side, and the contact pressure between the optical fibers is maintained in an appropriate range by the repulsive force of the second elastic member.

[0018]

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

FIGS. 1 to 17 show an optical connector plug according to an embodiment of the present invention. A pair of optical connector plugs 21 and 21 ′ can be fitted to and removed from an adapter 22.

The optical connector plug 21 extends through the housing 23 and the housing 2.
A required number (six in the figure) of optical fiber cables 24 arranged in three, a leaf spring 25 provided in a cantilever shape along the distal end portion of the optical fiber cable 24, and the optical fiber cable 24 A support tube 26 provided around the
The spring 2 provided on the base end side of the support tube 26
7, the optical fiber cable 24 has a distal end portion from which an optical fiber wire 28 projects.

The housing 23 is provided on the front end frame 2.
9, a proximal frame 30 provided on the proximal side of the distal frame portion 29, and a stopper 31 fitted inside the proximal portion of the proximal frame 30. A cavity 32 is formed between the stopper 29 and the stopper 31 inside the distal end side of the base end frame 30. A lock lever portion 33 extending in the proximal direction is provided in a cantilever shape on each side of the distal end side frame 29, and a protrusion 34 is formed on an outer surface of each lock lever portion 33. A required number (six in the figure) of pores 35 are formed in the distal end side frame 29 in parallel in the axial direction, and the distal end side of each of the fine holes 35 has a smaller diameter than the base end side. Recesses 38 and 39 are formed on the distal end side and the proximal end side of the respective fine holes 35, and the respective fine holes 35 communicate with each other via the respective concave portions 38 and 39. A slit groove 40 wider than the distal side concave portion 38 is formed in the upper portion of the distal side concave portion 38, and the distal side of the slit groove 40 is widened by a tapered portion 41. Further, both side portions 42 of the slit groove 40 are The width of the groove is wider than other parts. A guide pin insertion hole 43 is formed on each of the left and right outer sides of each of the small holes 35, and the distal end portion of the guide pin insertion hole 43 is enlarged in a countersink shape.

As shown best in FIGS. 6 and 7, the leaf spring 25 is connected to a required number (six in the drawing) of spring portions 44 and a base end of each of the spring portions 44. Part 45
It is composed of The connecting portion 45 is formed with a required number (three in the drawing) of convex portions 46, and the connecting portion 45 is pressed into the slit groove 40 by the convex portions 46. Further, both end portions of the connecting portion 45 are bent upward to form projections 47, and the projections 47 are fitted into both side portions 42 of the slit groove 40, so that the leaf spring 25 is Positioning in the width direction is performed. The spring portion 44 is provided at several places, for example, 3
Bent at a point, and the optical fiber 2
8 and extends to the tip side. Further, the spring portion 4
The distal end 48 of the optical fiber 4 is curved upward so that a downward force can be applied to the optical fiber by the distal end 48.

The support tube 26 extends through the small hole 35 and has a small diameter portion 49 at the distal end and a large diameter portion 50 at the proximal end, as best shown in FIGS. The optical fiber 28 is inserted into the small-diameter portion 49, and the optical fiber cable 24 is inserted into the large-diameter portion 50, and each is bonded with an adhesive.

As shown best in FIGS. 8 to 11, the spring 27 includes a pair of spring portions 51, a spring receiving portion 52 provided along the spring portion 51, and a spring receiving portion 52. And a supporting tube fixing portion 53 protruding from the front end side. The spring receiving portion 52 and the supporting tube fixing portion 53 have a stepped portion 55 whose center is raised along the outer edge for reinforcement. It is bent.
Each of the spring portions 51 is bent and formed in a U-shape, and the bent portions 56 are arranged so as to face each other so as to approach each other, and each base end portion 57 has a tapered shape. It is provided so as to be curved outward and abut on the distal end surface 71 of the stopper 31. The spring receiving portion 52 is provided with a contact portion 59 that can contact the base end surface 72 of the distal end side frame 29 and a flat plate portion 60 that extends from the contact portion 59 to at least the bent portion 56. Further, rising walls 58 are formed on both sides of the contact portion 59, and the spring portions 51 extend in a cantilever manner in the proximal direction from the rising wall 58. Further, the support tube fixing portion 53 has a trench shape, and
Are fitted in the base side concave portion 39 in a state where the base end portion is fitted.

As shown in FIGS. 12 to 14, the adapter 22 comprises a rectangular cylindrical housing 61 and a pair of upper and lower blocks 6 provided at the center of the housing 61.
2 and 63, and the upper and lower blocks 62 and 63 are superposed. A locking recess 6 is provided on the inner surface of the housing 61.
4 is formed, and the locking lever portion 3 is
The third protrusion 34 can be locked. The upper surface of the lower block 63 has a required number (for example, 6) along the axial direction.
V-grooves 65 are formed, and V-grooves 66 having a larger cross-sectional dimension than the V-grooves 65 are formed on both left and right sides of the V-groove 65, and both ends of each of the V-grooves 65 are tapered guiding portions. 6
7 is widened. Also, the upper block 62
A groove 68 is formed at a position corresponding to the V-shaped groove 65 on the lower surface of the optical fiber connection section via an inclined surface 74, and the optical fiber connecting portion 54 is formed by the groove 68 and each of the V-shaped grooves 65. A V-shaped groove 69 having the same cross-sectional shape as the V-shaped groove 66 is formed at a position corresponding to the V-shaped groove 66 on both sides of the groove 68, and a space surrounded by the V-shaped grooves 66 and 69 has a cylindrical rod shape. Guide pin 70 is provided, and both ends of the guide pin 70 are chamfered.

Next, the operation when the optical connector plugs 21 and 21 'are fitted to the adapter 22 will be described with reference to FIGS.

The optical connector plug 21 is connected to one side (FIG. 1).
5-17) to the adapter 22 from
First, the guide pin 70 is inserted into the guide pin insertion hole 43.
(See FIGS. 4 and 14) to position the optical connector plug 21 with respect to the adapter 22.
The distal end of the optical fiber 28 abuts on the guiding portion 67 of the predetermined V groove 65. When the optical connector plug 21 is further inserted, the inclined portion 75 formed in the spring portion 44 of the leaf spring 25 comes into contact with the inclined surface 74 of the upper block 62, and the elastic force of the leaf spring 25 causes Since a downward force acts on the optical fiber 28 and the optical fiber 28 is pressed against the V-groove 65, as shown in FIG. The plate spring 25 slides along the portion 67 and the V groove 65, and enters the groove 68. Then, the optical connector plug 21 is locked by the adapter 22 when the protrusion 34 is locked in the locking recess 64.

Next, in this state, when the optical connector plug 21 'is inserted into the adapter 2 from the other side (the right side in FIGS. 15 to 17), the optical fiber strand 28' becomes similar to the above-described operation. After sliding along the V-groove 65, the tip thereof comes into end contact with the tip of the optical fiber 28. As described above, both the optical fiber strands 28 and 28 ′ are restricted from moving laterally and downward by the V-groove 65 and upward by the leaf springs 25 and 25 ′. , The axes of the two coincide exactly.

When the optical connector plug 21 'is further inserted, as shown in FIG. 17, a force is applied to each of the optical fiber wires 28, 28' toward the axially proximal end side. The force is applied to each of the optical fiber wires 28, 2
8 'is transmitted to the respective springs 27, 27' via the support tubes 26, 26 ', and the respective springs 27, 2'
7 'moves proximally. As a result, gaps 73, 73 'are generated between the base end surfaces 72, 72' of the distal end frames 29, 29 'and the contact portions 59, 59'.
The spring portions 51, 51 'are compressed, and the spring portions 51, 5' are compressed.
Due to the repulsion of 1 ′, each of the optical fibers 28, 2
The contact pressure between 8 'is kept within an appropriate range. At this time,
The spring portions 51, 51 'have their own flat plate portions 60, 6
Since the deformation in the horizontal direction is restricted by 0 ′ or by the flat plate portions 60, 60 ′ of the adjacent spring portions 51, 51 ′, the compression operation direction is always constant, and an appropriate repulsion force is reliably generated. Can be done. Therefore, it is easy to maintain the contact pressure between the optical fibers 28, 28 'within a predetermined range, and it is possible to improve the accuracy of adjusting the contact pressure between the two.

In the above embodiment, the leaf spring 25, the support tube 26, and the spring 27 are separate components, but they may be integrally formed as shown in FIG. . In this case, during the operation of inserting the optical connector plug 21 into the adapter 22, the leaf spring 25 moves integrally with the optical fiber cable 24, so that the optical fiber is always irrespective of the compression state of the spring 27. The foremost portion of the wire 28 can be pressed into the V groove 65. Therefore, during insertion of the optical connector plug 21, the tip of the optical fiber strand 28 does not rise from the V-shaped groove 65, and the alignment between the optical fiber strands 28 and 28 'is more reliably performed. Can be performed.

The acting direction of the force of the leaf spring 25 on the optical fiber 28 is not limited to the above-mentioned downward direction, but is a direction intersecting the optical fiber 28 with its axis. Any other direction may be used as long as it presses against the inner surface of the optical fiber connection portion 54. Further, in the above embodiment, the leaf spring 25 is used, but the present invention is not intended to be limited to this, and another type of elastic member may be used. Further, the spring 27 may be another elastic member as long as it is provided so that the optical fiber strands 28 and 28 'can be biased toward the axial end.

Further, the shape of the surface of the optical fiber connecting portion for supporting the optical fiber is not limited to the V-shaped groove 65 but may be another shape such as a curved shape.

Further, the present invention relates to the adapter 22
Alternatively, the present invention is also applicable to a case where the optical connector plugs 21 and 21 ′ are fitted to a receptacle,
Needless to say, the present invention can also be implemented in a multipolar connector in which a large number of optical connectors are provided in parallel.

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the connection between the optical fibers is performed along the inner surface of the optical fiber connecting portion, the alignment of the optical fibers is performed easily and reliably. be able to.

In addition, various excellent effects can be obtained, such as eliminating the possibility of damaging the tip of the optical fiber at the time of connecting the optical fiber.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a side view showing the optical connector plug according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing the optical connector plug according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan sectional view showing the optical connector plug according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the optical connector plug according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a first elastic member according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing a first elastic member according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a support tube and a second elastic member according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a side view showing a support tube and a second elastic member according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a front view showing a support tube and a second elastic member according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing a support tube and a second elastic member according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a plan view showing the adapter according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a front view showing the adapter according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view showing the adapter according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an operation of the optical connector plug according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an operation of the optical connector plug according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the operation of the optical connector plug according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a plan view showing another example of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing a conventional optical connector plug.

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view showing a fitted state of a conventional optical connector plug.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 21 Optical connector plug 22 Adapter 24 Optical fiber cable 25 Leaf spring 27 Spring 28 Optical fiber strand 32 Cavity part 62 Upper block 63 Lower block 65 V groove

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Osamu Ibaraki 2-1-1 Nishi Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo NTT Advanced Technology Corporation (72) Inventor Akira Ichimura Shinjuku, Tokyo 2-1-1, Nishishinjuku-ku, NTT F-Term within NTT Advanced Technology Corporation (reference) 2H036 JA04 QA12 QA23 QA43 QA45 QA49 QA57

Claims (5)

[Claims] An optical connector plug fitted to an adapter or a receptacle so that an optical fiber is connected to a physical contact. A first elastic member capable of applying a force in a direction intersecting with the core, wherein the first elastic member is fitted to the adapter or the receptacle,
Due to the elastic force of the elastic member, the optical fiber is pressed against the inner surface of the optical fiber connecting portion on the adapter or the receptacle side, and is configured to be physically contacted after sliding along the inner surface. An optical connector plug characterized by the following: 2. The optical connector plug according to claim 1, wherein the first elastic member is a leaf spring provided in a cantilever shape along the optical fiber. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second elastic member provided to be capable of urging the optical fiber toward the distal end in the axial direction.
3. The optical connector plug according to claim 1, wherein when the optical fiber is brought into physical contact connection, the optical fiber can be brought into contact with a predetermined pressure by a repulsive force of the second elastic member. 4. 4. The optical fiber cable according to claim 1, wherein the second elastic member is a spring provided integrally with the optical fiber cable so as to be movable in an axial direction thereof, and the spring is interposed in a hollow portion formed in the optical connector plug. The optical connector plug according to claim 3, wherein the optical connector plug is provided. 5. The optical connector plug according to claim 3, wherein the second elastic member is formed integrally with the first elastic member.