JP2003029091A - Structure of multi-fiber optical fiber connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate a connection by a connector which is difficult by a conventional method by a connector which adopts a multi-fiber, e.g. two-fiber or 4-fiber round type ferrule. SOLUTION: A means is employed which enables fixation at an arbitrary position where optical transmission is least while enabling the ferrule to rotate.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a structure of a connector such as an optical fiber, and more particularly to a connector structure having a function of aligning a multicore connector at an arbitrary position.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There are many types of conventional optical fiber connectors such as SC type, FC type, MU type, etc.
The shape is as shown, and the main part is composed of parts such as the adapter housing 1, the ferrule housing 2, the split sleeve 3, the ferrule 4, the flange 5, the spring 6, the fiber cord 7, etc. The ferrule housing 2 of the same shape is inserted and fitted inside, and the split sleeve 3 in the adapter housing 1 is inserted.
Insert the ferrule 4 in the ferrule housing 2 into
The flange 5 press-fitted into the ferrule 4 is configured to press the ferrules 4 in the sleeve 3 by utilizing the elasticity of the spring 6.

Since many types of connectors such as SC type, FC type and MU type use ferrules for single-core type, they do not have a function of rotating and aligning at arbitrary positions. Therefore, for example, there is a problem that it cannot be used in the case of a connector for connecting a multi-core round ferrule 4 having holes 8 such as two cores or four cores as shown in FIG.

[0004]

In view of the above, the present invention has been made.
It is an object of the present invention to easily connect a connector using a multi-core circular ferrule such as a two-core or four-core connector, which was difficult with the conventional method.

[0005]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention enables a ferrule to be rotatable in a multi-fiber optical fiber connector, and at the same time, can be fixed at an arbitrary position with the least light attenuation. Adopted means.

[0006]

FIG. 3 is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention, in which the fiber cord 7, the cap 8, the ferrule housing 2, the notch 9 for the stopper, and the removal are shown. Stop projection 10, adapter 1
1, a stopper boss 12, a positioning notch 13, and a positioning boss 14. The adapter 11 is provided at the entrance of the stopper notch 9 of the ferrule housing 2.
While pressing the stopper boss 12 on the surface of the connector while pressing it, rotate it to the right to lock it, and prevent the ferrule housing 2 from coming off from the adapter 11 with the stopper protrusion 10 for positioning. The positioning boss 14 that engages with the cutout portion 13 enables fixing at an arbitrary position where the light attenuation is smallest.

FIG. 4A is a sectional view of FIG. 3, but the optical connector includes a ferrule housing 2, a ferrule 4,
The ferrule housing 2 is made up of seven parts: a spring 15, a flange 5, a positioning boss 14, a positioning spring 17, and a cap 8. The ferrule housing 2 is thick on the left side and sharply narrowed on the right side, and then the thin one. The tube is a cylindrical tube having the same inner diameter and gradually decreasing outer diameter. The ferrule 4 is placed inside the thin tube of the ferrule housing 2.
Cylindrical thin tube 16 extending rearward of the flange 5 in which the
Is inserted from the left with the built-in spring 15, and the cap 8 is screwed and fixed to the screw portion provided in the vicinity of the right end surface of the cylindrical thin tube. Inside the cap 8, the narrower one of the ferrule housing 2 is attached. The tube is slidably attached to the left and right,
Further, inside the cap 8, a positioning boss 1 having a taper similar to this taper on the inner surface is provided outside the portion where the outer diameter of the narrower tube of the ferrule housing 2 becomes gradually smaller.
4 is fitted with a positioning notch 13 provided in the cap 8, a positioning spring 17 is built in on the right side and is slidably mounted, and a side surface of the positioning boss 14 is
As shown in the front view and the side view of FIG.
The ferrule 4 is inserted into the sleeve hole 20 by using the tapered hole 19 of the adapter 11 that also serves as the split sleeve as a guide, and the other ferrule and the center hole are accurately in contact with each other. There is.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a state of use in the above embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5A, the stopper boss 12 is first temporarily aligned with the stopper notch 9 of the ferrule housing 2. After engaging with, the cap 8 is rotated a little and the position where the light attenuation is smallest is examined and determined. When the positioning boss 14 is moved upward with a finger, the inside of the positioning notch 13 is positioned inside the positioning boss 14. Slides toward the left side with the force of the positioning spring 17,
The state shown in FIG. 5B is obtained and the structure is fixed at an accurate position.

In the present invention, it is desirable that all the parts including the ferrule part are made of metal, and it is possible to easily manufacture by adopting electroforming, and it becomes easier to reduce the wall thickness by improving the strength. However, the material is not limited to metal, and for example, engineering plastic may be used.

[0010]

According to the method of the present invention, in a connector using a multi-core circular ferrule such as a two-core or a four-core, the ferrule can be rotated, and at the same time, at any arbitrary position with the least light attenuation. Since the means that can be fixed is adopted, the connection, which was difficult with the conventional method, can be performed very easily, and all parts including the ferrule can be made of metal easily. Therefore, it becomes easy to significantly improve the performance such as heat resistance and to reduce the size.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of an SC type optical connector according to a conventional method.

FIG. 2 is a front view and a side view showing an example of a conventional multi-core round ferrule.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the multi-core connector according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of FIG. 3 and a positioning boss 1 according to the present invention.
4 is a front view and a side view of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing a state at the time of carrying out the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Adapter Housing 2 Ferrule Housing 3 Sleeve 4 Ferrule 5 Flange 6 Spring 7 Fiber Code 8 Cap 9 Notch for Stopper 10 Stopping Protrusion 11 Adapter 12 Stopper Boss 13 Positioning Notch 14 Positioning Boss 15 Spring 16 Cylindrical Capillary 17 Positioning Spring 18 slit 19 taper hole 20 sleeve hole

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. In a ferrule housing 2 having a tube shape in which the left side is thick and the right side is sharply narrowed and narrowed, the narrower tube has the same inner diameter, and the outer diameter gradually increases toward the right. It is a cylindrical tube that becomes narrower, and a cylindrical thin tube 16 extending in the rearward direction of the flange 5 in which the ferrule 4 is inserted is inserted from the left inside the thin tube of the ferrule housing 2 with a spring 15 built-in. The cap 8 is fixed to a locking portion such as a screw portion provided near the right end of the cylindrical thin tube, and the thin tube of the ferrule housing 2 is slidably attached to the left and right inside the cap 8. Is
Further, on the inside of the cap 8, a positioning boss 14 having a slit 18 is formed on the inner surface of the ferrule housing 2 on the outer side of the portion where the outer diameter of the narrower tube is gradually reduced. Is fitted with an L-shaped positioning notch 13 provided in the cap 8 and has a positioning spring 17 built in on the right side and is slidably mounted. Fiber connector structure. 2. The structure of the optical fiber connector according to claim 1, wherein all parts are made of metal.