JP2002350282A - Optical fiber inspection device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a simple optical fiber inspection device capable of checking existence/absence of erroneous wiring or breakage in an optical fiber. SOLUTION: This multicore optical fiber inspection device is provided with a connector having a connector sleeve 6, in which an optical fiber 2 is inserted, and an adaptor connection part 5 fitted to an adaptor, an adaptor 9 having a sleeve fitting hole 11 for inserting the connector sleeve 6, a fitting projection 10 fitted into an adaptor fitting groove 7 formed in the outer circumference of the connector sleeve 6 and into a fitting hole 17 in a light source connection apparatus 14, and an inside wall 13 engaged with the connector and a connection part of the light source connection apparatus for fitting the connector at one end and fitting the light source connection apparatus at the other end, and the light source connection apparatus 14 having the connection part 16 fitted to the adaptor 9 and the fitting hole 17 having light sources 19(a) and 19(b) arranged in the inside ends.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multi-fiber optical fiber inspection apparatus, and more particularly to a multi-fiber optical fiber inspection apparatus for inspecting the connection of each core of a multi-core optical fiber.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a multi-core optical fiber, it is required that the order of alignment on the input side and the order on the output side of each core wire match. If the order does not match, the optical signal cannot be transmitted to the target transmission line. However, when connecting optical fibers using a connector, the connection of the optical fiber may not be performed properly due to a connection error, or in rare cases, the disconnection may occur after the installation, and the multi-core optical fiber may be used. It is necessary to inspect the quality of the connection of each of the core wires and the presence or absence of a rarely occurring disconnection.

For example, an optical fiber with a multi-core connector using a connection connector is one in which a multi-core connector is attached to at least one end of a multi-core fiber composed of a plurality of optical fiber cores. In order to enable identification and identification of the arrangement order, each core wire is coated with a different color to form an identification mark, and the multi-core connector has a predetermined tracer corresponding to the color arrangement of the optical fiber core wires. Marked.

In such an optical fiber with a multi-core connector, after attaching the multi-core connector to the multi-core fiber, it is checked whether or not the identification mark of the multi-core fiber corresponds to the tracer mark of the multi-core connector. There is a problem in that the width of the optical fiber core wire, that is, the width of the identification mark is narrow, and an oversight in the inspection is inevitable.

When an optical fiber is laid between control devices for controlling transport equipment in a factory, the laying distance is short and the optical signal is hardly attenuated. In this case, an inspection is required to confirm that the optical fiber is connected to the connector in the correct order.

[0006]

Therefore, as a conventional multi-core optical fiber inspection apparatus, for example, an apparatus using an expensive image pickup apparatus, or a connection state is monitored using a plurality of sensors, and a monitor signal is sent to the control means. Very sophisticated and expensive inspection devices have been developed, such as those that output and analyze the signals in the control means to inspect the attenuation of optical signals, the quality of connection, and the presence or absence of disconnection. Was difficult to operate.

On the other hand, as described above, when an optical fiber is laid between the control devices of the transfer equipment in a factory, the laying distance is short and the optical signal is hardly attenuated. Even if an optical fiber is laid by connecting with a connector, it is only necessary to confirm the presence of erroneous wiring or cutting of the optical fiber in the inspection, and there is no need for an expensive and difficult-to-operate conventional inspection device. There has been a demand for the development of a simple optical fiber inspection apparatus capable of inspecting a fiber cut.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and has an adapter connecting portion fitted to one end of an optical fiber cable and fitted with an adapter and an adapter sleeve into which an optical fiber is inserted. An inspection device for an optical fiber cable having a connector, comprising a sleeve fitting hole into which a connector sleeve is fitted, a fitting projection fitted into a fitting hole of the light source connector, and a connector and a light source connector. The connector has an inner wall in which the connection portion is fitted, the connector is fitted in one end, the adapter in which the light source connector is fitted in the other end, the connection portion fitted in the adapter, the fitting protrusion of the adapter is fitted, and the inner end is fitted. A multi-core optical fiber inspection device having a light source connector having a fitting hole in which a light source is mounted, and further comprising a multi-core optical fiber inspection device in which an adapter and a light source connector are integrated and a light source is provided in the adapter. so That.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an optical fiber inspection apparatus which is inexpensive and easy to operate. It is possible to provide a suitable inspection device as an inspection device after the installation of the control optical fiber of the transport equipment in the factory, because the inspection can be performed reliably by a simple and inexpensive inspection tool.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is directed to a connector which is attached to one end of an optical fiber cable and has a connector sleeve into which an optical fiber is inserted, and an adapter connection portion which fits into the adapter. An inspection apparatus for an optical fiber cable, comprising: a sleeve fitting hole into which a connector sleeve is inserted, and fitted into an adapter fitting groove formed on an outer periphery of the connector sleeve and a fitting hole of a light source connector. A fitting projection, an inner wall in which a connector and a connection portion of the light source connector are fitted, an connector in which the connector is fitted in one end, and an adapter in which the light source connector is fitted on the other end, and a connection portion fitted with the adapter;
A multi-core optical fiber inspection device equipped with a light source connector with a fitting hole in which the fitting protrusion of the adapter is fitted and the light source is mounted on the inner end. In particular, it is possible to determine whether or not there is a break after laying a multi-core optical fiber cable and determine whether or not the optical fiber is incorporated into the connector in a simple manner and with an inexpensive inspection device. This has the effect of providing a particularly suitable inspection device in the inspection after the installation of the control optical fiber of the internal transport equipment.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical disk fiber cable having a connector sleeve mounted on one end of an optical fiber cable and having an optical fiber inserted therein, and a connector having an adapter connection portion fitted to the adapter. An inspection device, wherein a connector sleeve is inserted into one end,
A multi-core optical fiber inspection apparatus comprising: a fitting projection having a sleeve fitting hole in which a light source is mounted at the other end; and an inner wall into which the adapter connection part fits. In addition, it has the effect of providing a simpler inspection device with a small number of parts.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a light source for projecting light beams of different colors, and has an operation capable of accurately judging the quality of the connection state visually. [Embodiment] An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 (a) to 2 (c).

FIG. 1 is an overall schematic view showing an optical fiber inspection apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 (a) is a view taken on line AA of FIG. 1, and FIG.
FIG. 2B is a view as seen from the arrow BB, and FIG. 2C is a view as seen from the arrow CC. In the figure, 1 is a multi-core optical fiber cable to be inspected, 2 is an optical fiber, 3 is a connector attached to one end of the optical fiber 2, 4 is a casing of the connector, 5 is a connection portion fitted to an adapter, and 6 is an optical fiber Reference numeral 2 denotes a connector sleeve to be inserted, the tip of which slightly protrudes from the connection portion 5. Reference numeral 7 denotes an adapter fitting hole provided on an outer periphery of the connector sleeve 6 to which a fitting projection 10 of an adapter described later fits.
Reference numeral 8 denotes an engagement recess provided on the outside of the connection portion 5 to engage with an engagement protrusion provided on the inner wall 13 of the adapter.
Reference numeral 0 denotes a fitting protrusion provided inside the adapter 9, reference numeral 11 denotes a sleeve fitting hole in which the sleeve 6 of the connector 3 is fitted, and reference numeral 12 denotes a fitting hole provided in the inner wall 13 of the adapter 9. An engaging projection, 13 is an inner wall into which the connecting portion 5 of the connector 3 is fitted, 14 is a light source connector provided with a light source facing the sleeve fitting hole 11, 15 is a casing, and 16 is a connection fitted into the adapter 9. Reference numeral 17 denotes a fitting hole into which the fitting protrusion 10 of the adapter 9 fits, 18 denotes an engaging concave portion to be fitted into the engaging convex portion of the adapter 9, 19 (a) and (b) denote light sources made of light emitting diodes , 20 are resistance elements, and 21 is a lead wire.

As shown in FIG. 1, an optical fiber cable 1
Has a plurality of optical fibers 2, the ends of which are connected to a connector 3 for connection. The connector 3 has a casing 4 and
At the time of connection with the adapter 9, the connecting portion 5 fitted to the adapter 9, the connector sleeve 6 into which the optical fiber 2 is inserted and fitted into the sleeve fitting hole 11 of the adapter 9, and the fitting projection 10 of the adapter 9 When the adapter 9 is connected to the adapter fitting hole 7 and the adapter 9, the engagement projection 1 provided on the adapter 9 is provided.
2 has an engagement groove 8 for positioning the connector at the time of connection. On the other hand, the adapter 9 is provided on the inner wall 13 on which the connecting portion 5 of the connector 3 is closely fitted, the sleeve fitting hole 11 provided on the fitting projection 10 on which the sleeve 6 of the connector 3 is fitted, and on the outer periphery of the sleeve 6. The engagement protrusion 10 fitted in the adapter engagement hole 7 is engaged with the engagement groove 8 provided in the connector 3 at the time of connection with the connector 3, and the engagement for positioning the connector 3 in the correct orientation at the time of connection. Convex part 12
have.

When the connector 3 of the optical fiber cable 1 is connected to the adapter 9, the engaging recess 8 of the connector 3 and the engaging protrusion 12 of the adapter 9 are opposed to each other, and the connecting portion 5 of the connector 3 is connected to the adapter 9. When the sleeve 6 is inserted and pushed into the inner wall 13, the sleeve 6 is inserted into the sleeve fitting hole 11 of the adapter 9. When the connector 3 is further pushed into the adapter 9, the connector 3 is completely connected to the adapter 9.

Next, the light emitting diode 19 as a light source
(A) The light source connector 14 to which (b) is attached is connected to the adapter 9.
When the connection is made, the engagement concave groove 18 of the connection tool 14 and the engagement projection 12 of the adapter 9 are opposed to each other, and the connection portion 16 of the light source connection tool 14 is inserted into the inner wall 13 of the adapter 9 and pushed in.
When the fitting protrusion 10 of the adapter 9 is fitted into the fitting hole 17 of the connecting tool 14, and the connecting tool 14 is further pushed into the adapter 9, the connecting tool 14 is completely connected to the adapter 9. 19 (a) and 19 (b) come into contact with the end of the sleeve fitting hole 11 of the adapter 9.

The connector 3 and the light source connector 14 are connected to the adapter 9
Is connected to one of the sleeve fitting holes 1 of the adapter 9.
1 has a sleeve 6 fitted therein, and the other sleeve fitting hole 1
1 is fitted into the fitting hole 17 of the light source connector 14, and its end abuts against the light sources 19 (a) and (b). The light is transmitted to the optical fiber 2 by irradiating the sleeve 6 and irradiating the cross section of the optical fiber 2 inserted in the connector sleeve 6.

In this embodiment, a two-core optical fiber is used.
Red and blue light emitting diodes are used as light sources.
Therefore, when the connector 3 and the light source connector 14 are connected to the adapter 9 and the red light emitting diode 19 (a) and the blue light emitting diode 19 (b) are illuminated, the inside of the connector at the other end of the optical fiber cable 1 for which connection inspection is required. The inserted optical fiber emits red and blue light, and the quality of the connection can be accurately determined visually. The light source is monochromatic light,
Light beams of different colors may be applied to the cross section of the optical fiber by the colored filter.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an inspection method in the inspection apparatus according to the present embodiment.
And a light source 19 (a) (b)
The connector 3a is attached to the other end of the optical fiber cable 1. At the time of inspection, the optical fiber emits light from the sleeve 6a of the connector 3a, and the connection state is inspected.

In the above embodiment, the adapter and the light source connector are connected to each other.
A configuration in which the light source is mounted in the sleeve fitting hole of the adapter can also be adopted. In this case, the optical fiber inspection device is attached to one end of an optical fiber cable, a connector sleeve in which an optical fiber is inserted, a connector having an adapter connection portion to be fitted in the adapter, and a connector sleeve inserted in one end. A fitting projection having a sleeve fitting hole in which a light source is mounted at the other end, and an adapter having an inner wall into which the adapter connecting portion is fitted. By connecting the connector and the adapter, the sleeve fitting hole is formed. Light emitted from the mounted light source is transmitted from the connector sleeve to the optical fiber, and the optical fiber is inspected in the same manner as in the previous embodiment.

[0021]

According to the present invention, an inexpensive and easy-to-operate optical fiber inspection apparatus can be provided. Can be surely performed by a simple method with an inexpensive inspection tool, so that it is possible to provide an inspection apparatus suitable for inspection after installation of optical fibers for controlling transport equipment in a factory.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall schematic diagram showing an optical fiber inspection apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 (a) is a view taken in the direction of arrows AA in FIG. 1, and FIG.
FIG. 2C is a view as seen from the arrow, and FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an inspection method according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Optical fiber cable 2 Optical fiber 3 Connector 3a Connector 4 Casing 5 Connection part 6 Connector sleeve 7 Adapter fitting hole 8 Engaging concave groove 9 Adapter 10 Fitting projection 11 Sleeve fitting hole 12 Engaging convex part 13 Inner wall 14 Light source connection Fixture 15 Casing 16 Connecting part 17 Fitting hole 18 Engagement concave groove 19a, 19b Light source 20 Resistance element 21 Lead wire 22 Flashlight

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Susumu Natori 2000 Tsukiji Arai, Showa-cho, Nakakoma-gun, Yamanashi F-term in Kito Co., Ltd. (reference) 2G086 AA01 AA04 CC06

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An optical fiber cable attached to one end of an optical fiber cable,
What is claimed is: 1. An inspection apparatus for an optical fiber cable, comprising: a connector having an optical fiber-inserted connector sleeve and a connector having an adapter connecting portion to be fitted to the adapter, the connector sleeve having a sleeve fitting hole into which the connector sleeve is inserted. An adapter fitting hole formed on the outer periphery of the connector, a fitting protrusion fitted into the fitting hole of the light source connector, and an inner wall into which a connector and a connection portion of the light source connector are fitted. And a light source connector having a fitting hole into which a light source is fitted, an adapter to which the light source connector is fitted, a connection part to be fitted to the adapter, and a fitting projection of the adapter fitted to the inner end. Multi-core optical fiber inspection equipment. 2. An optical fiber cable attached to one end of the optical fiber cable,
An optical fiber cable inspection device comprising a connector sleeve having an optical fiber inserted therein and a connector having an adapter connecting portion to be fitted to the adapter, wherein a connector sleeve is inserted at one end and a light source is mounted at the other end. A multi-core optical fiber inspection device comprising an adapter having a fitting projection having a sleeve fitting hole and an inner wall into which the adapter connection part fits. 3. The multi-fiber optical fiber inspection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a light source for projecting light rays of different colors.