JP2003035841A - Multifiber multistage optical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a multifiber multistage optical connector that enables a fiber hole to be formed with high accuracy, that facilitates the insertion of an optical fiber into the fiber hole to improve assembling workability, and that makes it possible to demonstrate intended optical characteristics. SOLUTION: This is the multifiber multistage optical connector in which a plurality of optical fibers 12a, 14a, 16a are fixedly arrayed in multiple stages with a prescribed pitch, and mutually positioned with guide pins inserted in the pin holes 11e for butt-connection. The connector is composed of a first sub connector 11 in which a plurality of optical fibers 12a are fixedly arrayed with a prescribed pitch and in which pin holes 11e and an arranging part 11d are provided, and second sub connectors 13, 15 in which a plurality of optical fibers 14a, 16a are fixedly arrayed with a prescribed pitch and arranged in the arranging part 11d.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multi-core multi-stage optical connector in which a plurality of optical fibers per stage are stacked and fixed in a plurality of stages.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A ferrule for a multi-core multi-stage optical connector, in which a plurality of optical fibers are arranged and fixed in a plurality of stages at a predetermined pitch, are positioned by a guide pin inserted through a pin hole and are butt-connected, for example, FIG. The ferrule 1 shown in FIG. 10 has a collar portion 1b formed at the rear portion of the main body 1a, extends in the front-rear direction at substantially the center, and has a rear end face F
An introduction hole 1c that opens to r is formed. Ferrule 1
An opening 1d called an injection window is formed on the upper surface of the main body 1a so as to communicate with the introduction hole 1c and inject the adhesive. Further, the ferrule 1 has two pin holes 1e on both sides for inserting guide pins along the longitudinal direction, and the ferrule 1 has a main body 1a.
Between the two front pin holes 1e, eight fiber holes 1f for each step through which the optical fiber is inserted are formed in three steps shifted in the thickness direction in a stepwise manner.

[0003]

By the way, the ferrule 1 is molded by injecting a synthetic resin into a mold. When the fiber hole 1f is formed stepwise as described above, the lower the fiber hole 1f is formed. Becomes longer. Along with this, in the ferrule 1, the core pin forming the fiber hole 1f becomes long, and the core pin, and hence the molded fiber hole 1f, may be bent depending on the resin pressure during molding. Therefore, an optical connector using such a ferrule 1 is
There is a problem that desired optical characteristics cannot be exhibited, such as an increase in connection loss.

Further, in the ferrule 1, the core pin is usually positioned with high precision by the V groove of the mold to form the fiber hole 1f. However, if the fiber hole 1f has three or more stages, the structure of the mold becomes complicated. Therefore, the fiber hole 1
When forming a ferrule having f of three or more stages, the positioning plate 5 shown in FIG. 11 is used, and the tip of the core pin 2 is inserted into the positioning hole 5a of the positioning plate 5 for positioning. Here, the positioning plate 5 has a pin hole 1e.
The core pin 3 forming the is positioned by the positioning hole 5b.

However, in the positioning plate 5, as shown in FIG. 11, since the tip of the core pin 2 is inserted into the positioning hole 5a with a predetermined clearance, the core pin 2
The positioning accuracy is low, and the fiber hole 1f cannot be molded with high accuracy. Therefore, the positioning plate 5
It cannot be used for molding ferrules for optical connectors that require low insertion loss.

Further, since the ferrule 1 inserts the optical fiber into the fiber hole 1f while visually checking it from the opening 1d,
As the number of steps of the fiber hole 1f increases, the opening 1d needs to be formed larger. However, when the opening 1d becomes large,
The ferrule 1 has a problem that the balance of resin shrinkage after molding becomes poor depending on the presence or absence of molding resin on the side of the opening 1d and on the side opposite to the opening 1d, and the molding accuracy of the fiber hole 1f deteriorates. Moreover, if the fiber hole 1f has multiple stages, the work of inserting the optical fiber becomes very complicated.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and it is possible to mold a fiber hole with high accuracy, to easily insert an optical fiber into the fiber hole, to have good assembly workability, and to exhibit desired optical characteristics. It is an object of the present invention to provide a multi-core multi-stage optical connector that can be used.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object in the present invention, a plurality of optical fibers are arranged and fixed in a plurality of stages at a predetermined pitch, and are positioned and mutually butted and connected by a guide pin inserted into a pin hole. A multi-core multi-stage optical connector in which a plurality of optical fibers are arranged and fixed at a predetermined pitch, a first sub-connector having a pin hole and an arrangement portion, and a plurality of optical fibers are arranged and fixed at a predetermined pitch, That is, the second sub-connector arranged in the arrangement portion is provided.

Preferably, the first and second sub-connectors are formed with positioning portions for positioning each other.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of a multi-core multi-stage optical connector of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the multi-core multi-stage optical connector 10 includes a first sub-connector 11 and a second sub-connector 1.
3, 15 and.

The first sub-connector 11 is a ferrule 11
A plurality of optical fibers 12a of the tape fiber 12 are arranged and fixed to a at a predetermined pitch. The ferrule 11a is
A flange portion 11b is formed on the rear portion, and a concave groove-shaped arrangement groove 11c for arranging the second sub-connectors 13, 15 is formed in the center in the longitudinal direction. The arrangement groove 11c has a triangular cross section.
The ridge positioning protrusions 11d are formed on both sides in the width direction. Further, the ferrule 11a is formed with two pin holes 11e, through which guide pins are inserted, on both sides of the arrangement groove 11c along the longitudinal direction. The first sub-connector 11 is shown in FIG.
As shown in, each optical fiber 12a inserted into the introduction hole 11f opened on the rear end face is inserted into the corresponding fiber hole 11g. Then, the adhesive Ad is injected into the introduction hole 11f from the opening 11h opened on the upper surface of the arrangement groove 11c, and the optical fiber 12
It is manufactured by adhesively fixing a to the ferrule 11a together with the tape fiber 12.

As shown in FIG. 2, the second sub-connectors 13 and 15 are arranged in the arrangement groove 11c in this order and assembled into the multi-fiber multi-stage optical connector 10. Second sub connector 1
In No. 3, a plurality of optical fibers 14a of the tape fiber 14 are arrayed and fixed to the ferrule 13a at a predetermined pitch.
The ferrule 13a has two positioning protrusions 13b having a triangular cross section on its upper surface, and two positioning grooves 13c having a triangular cross section on its lower surface. As shown in FIG. 3, the second sub-connector 13 has an introduction hole 13d opened on the rear end face.
Each optical fiber 14a inserted into the corresponding fiber hole 1
Insert into 3e. Then, the adhesive Ad is injected into the introduction hole 13d through the opening 13f opened on the upper surface, and the optical fiber 14a
And the tape fiber 14 are bonded and fixed to the ferrule 13a.

The second sub-connector 15 is a ferrule 15
A plurality of optical fibers 16a of the tape fiber 16 are arranged and fixed at a at a predetermined pitch. Ferrule 15a
A flange 15b is formed on the rear portion, and two positioning grooves 15c having a triangular cross section are formed on the lower surface. However,
The ferrule 15a does not have a positioning ridge corresponding to the positioning ridge 13b of the second sub connector 13. As shown in FIG. 3, the second sub-connector 15 inserts each optical fiber 16a inserted into the introduction hole 15d opened on the rear end face into the corresponding fiber hole 15e. Then, the adhesive Ad is injected into the introduction hole 15d from the opening 15f opened on the upper surface, and the optical fiber 16a is adhesively fixed to the ferrule 15a together with the tape fiber 16 for manufacture.

Here, each sub-connector 11, 13, 15
Is a plurality of optical fibers 12 as shown in FIGS.
a, 14a, 16a are arranged at equal intervals in the stacking direction,
It is fixed to each ferrule 11a, 13a, 15a. The multi-core multi-stage optical connector 10 configured as described above includes the first sub-connector 11 and the second sub-connector 1.
It is assembled using 3,15 as follows.

First, the arrangement groove 11 of the first sub-connector 11
Adhesive Ad (see Fig. 3) is applied to c, and the positioning ridge 1
A corresponding positioning groove 13c is superposed on each 1d, and the second sub connector 13 is positioned and fixed to the first sub connector 11. Next, the adhesive Ad (see FIG. 3) is applied to the upper surface of the second sub-connector 13, the positioning grooves 15c corresponding to the two positioning protrusions 13b are overlapped, and the second sub-connector 15 is connected to the second sub-connector. Position and fix at 13.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of optical fibers 12a, 14a, 16a are arranged at a predetermined pitch in the arrangement direction, and a multi-fiber multi-stage optical connector 10 fixed at three equal intervals is provided. Can be assembled. At this time, the multi-fiber multi-stage optical connector 10 is assembled using the first sub-connector 11 and the second sub-connectors 13 and 15 that are individually manufactured. Therefore, the multi-core multi-stage optical connector 10
Is a first sub connector 11 and a second sub connector 13,
The 15 fiber holes 11g, 13e, 15e can be molded with high precision. Further, the first sub-connector 11 and the second sub-connectors 13, 15 have fiber holes 11g, 13e, 15
Since e is a single stage, the optical fibers 12a, 14a, 16
It is possible to provide the multi-core multi-stage optical connector 10 in which a can be easily inserted, the assembling workability is good, and the desired optical characteristics can be exhibited.

Here, the multi-core multi-stage optical connector 10 is shown in FIG.
As shown in (a), the first sub-connector 11 and the second sub-connector 13, the second sub-connector 13 and the second sub-connector 15, respectively, the positioning protrusion 11d and the positioning groove 1
3c, the positioning ridge 13b and the positioning groove 15c are positioned at an appropriate position in the width direction. However, the first sub-connector 11 and the second sub-connector 13 have positioning grooves 11j and 13g, as shown in FIG. 4B, instead of the positioning protrusions 11d and 13b. Then, the first sub-connector 11 and the second sub-connector 13, and the second sub-connector 13 and the second sub-connector 15 are arranged in the width direction by the positioning pins 17 arranged between the positioning grooves 11j and 13c and the positioning grooves 13g and 15c, respectively. May be positioned at an appropriate position.

Next, another embodiment of the multi-core multi-stage optical connector of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 5, the multi-fiber multi-stage optical connector 20 includes a first sub connector 21 and second sub connectors 23 and 25. In the first sub-connector 21, a plurality of optical fibers 22a of a tape fiber 22 are arranged and fixed on a ferrule 21a at a predetermined pitch. The ferrule 21a has a collar portion 21b formed at the rear portion thereof, and concave groove-shaped arrangement grooves 21c for arranging the second sub-connectors 23, 25 in the upper and lower sides of the center, respectively, are formed in the longitudinal direction. Here, each placement groove 21
Two positioning protrusions (not shown) are formed in c in the longitudinal direction by shifting the position in the width direction. Further, the ferrule 21a is formed with two pin holes 21e, through which guide pins are inserted, on both sides of the arrangement groove 21c along the longitudinal direction. As shown in FIG. 6, the first sub-connector 21 has each optical fiber 22a inserted into an introduction hole 21f opened on the rear end face.
Are inserted into the corresponding fiber holes 21g. Then, from the opening 21h opened on the upper surface of the arrangement groove 21c to the introduction hole 21f.
It is manufactured by injecting an adhesive Ad into the optical fiber 22a and adhering and fixing the optical fiber 22a together with the tape fiber 22 to the ferrule 21a.

As shown in FIG. 5, the second sub-connectors 23 and 25 are disposed above and below the first sub-connector 21 in the arrangement groove 21c.
To be assembled into the multi-core multi-stage optical connector 20. The second sub connector 23 is the ferrule 23.
A plurality of optical fibers 24a of the tape fiber 24 are arranged and fixed to a at a predetermined pitch. The ferrule 23a is
A flange portion 23b is formed on the rear portion, and two positioning grooves (not shown) are formed on the lower surface. As shown in FIG. 6, the second sub-connector 23 has an introduction hole 2 that opens to the rear end surface.
Each optical fiber 24a inserted into 3d is inserted into the corresponding fiber hole 23e. And the opening 23 opened on the upper surface
The adhesive Ad is injected into the introduction hole 23d from f, and the optical fiber 24a is adhesively fixed to the ferrule 23a together with the tape fiber 24 for manufacture.

The second sub connector 25 is a ferrule 25.
A plurality of optical fibers 26a of the tape fiber 26 are arranged and fixed to a at a predetermined pitch. Ferrule 25a
A collar portion 25b is formed on the rear portion, and two positioning grooves (not shown) are formed on the upper surface. As shown in FIG. 6, the second sub-connector 25 has an introduction hole 2 that opens to the rear end surface.
Each optical fiber 26a inserted through 5d is inserted through the corresponding fiber hole 25e. And the opening 25f opened on the lower surface
The adhesive Ad is injected into the introduction hole 25d from the optical fiber 2
6a is adhesively fixed to the ferrule 25a together with the tape fiber 26, and is manufactured.

Here, each sub-connector 21, 23, 25
Is a plurality of optical fibers 22a, 24, as shown in FIG.
The a and 26a are fixed to the respective ferrules 21a, 23a and 25a so that they are evenly spaced in the stacking direction. Multi-core multi-stage optical connector 20 configured as described above
Is a first sub connector 21 and a second sub connector 23,
25 is used to assemble as follows.

First, the adhesive Ad (see FIG. 6) is applied to the arrangement groove 21c on the upper side of the first sub-connector 21, and the corresponding positioning groove is superposed on each of the positioning protrusions, and the second sub-connector is formed. 23 to the first sub-connector 21
Position and fix to. Next, the adhesive Ad (see FIG. 6) is applied to the lower placement groove 21c of the second sub-connector 25,
The corresponding positioning groove is superposed on each of the positioning protrusions, and the second sub-connector 25 is positioned and fixed to the first sub-connector 21.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of optical fibers 22a, 24a, 26a are arranged at a predetermined pitch in the arrangement direction, and a multi-core multi-stage optical connector 20 fixed at three equal intervals is provided. Can be assembled. At this time, the multi-fiber multi-stage optical connector 20 is assembled by using the first sub-connector 21 and the second sub-connectors 23, 25 that are individually manufactured. Therefore, the multi-core multi-stage optical connector 20
Is the fiber hole 2 of the first sub-connector 21 and the second sub-connectors 23, 25, as in the multi-core multi-stage optical connector 10.
1g, 23e, 25e can be molded with high precision, the optical fibers 22a, 24a, 26a can be easily inserted, the assembling workability is good, and the desired optical characteristics can be exhibited.

Here, the multi-core multi-stage optical connector of the present invention is
If a plurality of optical fibers are arranged and fixed in a plurality of stages at a predetermined pitch, the first sub-connector and the second sub-connector may be fixed in a plurality of stages of optical fibers unlike the above embodiment. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, the multi-core multi-stage optical connector 20 uses two tape fibers 24 and 26, respectively, and uses a plurality of optical fibers 2 in the second sub-connectors 23 and 25.
4a and 26a may be fixed in two stages.

Further, the multi-core multi-stage optical connector of the present invention, like the multi-stage multi-core optical connector 10, has a first sub-connector 11, a second sub-connector 13, and a second sub-connector 1.
3 and the second sub-connector 15 were positioned at appropriate positions in the width direction by the two positioning protrusions 11d and the positioning grooves 13c, and the two positioning protrusions 13b and the positioning grooves 15c, respectively. However, the multi-stage multi-fiber optical connector 1
0 is a positioning groove for the first sub-connector 11 instead of the positioning projection 11d, a positioning projection for the second sub-connectors 13, 15 instead of the positioning grooves 13c, 15c, and a positioning projection for the second sub-connector 13. Positioning grooves may be provided instead of 13b.

Further, these positioning protrusions and positioning grooves are not limited to two as long as the first sub connector and the second sub connector can be positioned at proper positions in the multi-core multi-stage optical connector of the present invention. However, it may be three or more articles or one article. Further, the multi-fiber multi-stage optical connector of the present invention includes a first sub-connector 31 and second sub-connectors 33, 35, like the multi-fiber multi-stage optical connector 30 shown in FIGS. 8 (a) and 8 (b). It may be configured.

The first sub-connector 31 is a ferrule 31.
A plurality of optical fibers 32a of the tape fiber 32 are arranged and fixed to a at a predetermined pitch. The ferrule 31a is
A flange portion 31b is formed on the rear portion, and two recessed portions 31e having a semicircular cross section are formed along the longitudinal direction on both sides of the upper surface in the width direction to form pin holes for inserting guide pins. The other parts of the first sub-connector 31 are configured substantially the same as the first sub-connector 11, and the plurality of optical fibers 32a are bonded to the ferrule 31a by an adhesive injected from an opening (not shown) opened on the upper surface. Manufactured fixedly.

The second sub-connector 33 is arranged between the first sub-connector 31 and the second sub-connector 35 and is composed of three divided bodies of a ferrule 33a and side members 33b and 33c. In the ferrule 33a, a plurality of optical fibers 34a of the tape fiber 34 are arranged and fixed at a predetermined pitch. The second sub-connector 33, when properly arranged, as shown in FIG.
And the side members 33b and 33c, two slits S that form a pin hole for inserting the guide pin are formed.
The ferrule 33a is manufactured by adhesively fixing a plurality of optical fibers 34a with an adhesive injected from an opening (not shown) opened on the upper surface.

The second sub connector 35 is a ferrule 35.
A plurality of optical fibers 36a of the tape fiber 36 are arranged and fixed to a at a predetermined pitch. The ferrule 35a
A flange portion 35b is formed on the rear portion, and two recesses 35c having a semicircular cross section are formed along the longitudinal direction on both sides of the lower surface in the width direction to form pin holes for inserting guide pins. The other part of the second sub-connector 35 is configured substantially the same as the second sub-connector 15, and the opening 35f opened on the upper surface.
A plurality of optical fibers 3 are provided by the adhesive Ad injected from the
It is manufactured by adhesively fixing 6a to the ferrule 35a.

The multi-core multi-stage optical connector 30 has a concave portion 31e,
A guide pin 38 (see FIG. 8B) is inserted into each of the two pin holes formed by the slit 35c and the slit S to position the first sub-connector 31 and the second sub-connector 33, 35 with an adhesive. It is glued and assembled.
At this time, the multi-fiber multi-stage optical connector 30 includes the first sub-connector 31 and the second sub-connectors 33, 35 which are the connection end faces.
It goes without saying that the front side is assembled so that the adhesive does not adhere to it and become dirty.

Further, in the multi-core multi-stage optical connector 30, at the time of assembly, a release agent such as grease is applied to the guide pins 38 in advance, and after the assembly, the guide pins 38 are pulled out, and the front connection end face is formed into a desired shape. You may grind to. The multi-core multi-stage optical connector 30 assembled in this manner is butt-connected to another multi-core multi-stage optical connector 30 by the guide pin 38 inserted into the pin hole.

Here, the multi-core multi-stage optical connector 30 has a second
The sub-connector 33 is arranged between the first sub-connector 31 and the second sub-connector 35 and is composed of three divided bodies of the ferrule 33a and the side members 33b and 33c. . Therefore, the multi-core multi-stage optical connector 30 includes the first sub connector 31 and the second sub connector 31.
The sub-connectors 33, 35 are replaced with the first sub-connector 11 and the second sub-connectors 13, 15 of the multi-core multi-stage optical connector 10.
With such a configuration, it is possible to form a total of three component members.

[0033]

According to the invention of claim 1, the fiber hole can be formed with high accuracy, the optical fiber can be easily inserted into the fiber hole, the assembling workability is good, and the desired optical characteristics can be exhibited. It is possible to provide a multi-core multi-stage optical connector.
According to the invention of claim 2, in addition to the effect of claim 1, it is possible to provide a multi-core multi-stage optical connector in which the first and second sub-connectors are positioned at appropriate positions.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a multi-fiber multi-stage optical connector of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a state in which the multi-fiber multi-stage optical connector of FIG. 1 is assembled.

3 is a cross-sectional view of the multi-core multi-stage optical connector of FIG.

4 is a front view (a) showing an enlarged left half side of a positioning portion when the multi-fiber multi-stage optical connector of FIG. 1 is viewed from the front;
It is a front view (b) which similarly shows the modification of the positioning part.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing another embodiment of the multi-fiber multi-stage optical connector of the present invention.

6 is a cross-sectional view of the multi-core multi-stage optical connector of FIG.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing still another embodiment of the multi-core multi-stage optical connector of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view (a) showing another embodiment of a multi-fiber multi-stage optical connector of the present invention and a perspective view (b) after assembly.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a ferrule for a conventional multi-core multi-stage optical connector.

10 is a cross-sectional view of the ferrule of FIG.

FIG. 11 is a front view of a positioning plate that is used in a mold for molding a conventional ferrule and that positions a core pin that molds a fiber hole.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Multi-core multi-stage optical connector 11 First sub connector 11a ferrule 11c arrangement groove 11d Positioning ridge (positioning part) 11e pin hole 11h opening 12 tape fiber 12a optical fiber 13 Second sub connector 13a ferrule 13b Positioning ridge (positioning part) 13c Positioning groove (positioning part) 13f opening 14 tape fiber 14a optical fiber 15 Second sub connector 15a ferrule 15c Positioning groove (positioning part) 15f opening 16 tape fiber 16a optical fiber 20 Multi-core multi-stage optical connector 21 1st sub connector 21a ferrule 21c Placement groove 21e Pin hole 21h opening 22 tape fiber 22a optical fiber 23 Second sub connector 23a ferrule 23f opening 24 tape fiber 24a optical fiber 25 Second sub connector 25a ferrule 25f opening 26 tape fiber 26a optical fiber 30 Multi-core multi-stage optical connector 31 1st sub connector 31a Ferrule 31b collar part 31e recess 32 tape fiber 32a optical fiber 33 Second sub connector 33a ferrule 33b, 33c Side member 34 tape fiber 34a optical fiber 35 Second Sub Connector 35a ferrule 35b collar part 35c recess 35f opening 36 tape fiber 36a optical fiber 38 Guide pin Ad adhesive S slit

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Takashi Shigenaga             2-6-1, Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo             Kawa Electric Industry Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 2H036 JA04 QA23 QA49 QA56

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A multi-core multi-stage optical connector in which a plurality of optical fibers are arranged and fixed in a plurality of stages at a predetermined pitch, and are positioned by a guide pin inserted through a pin hole and are butt-connected to each other. A first sub-connector arranged and fixed at a predetermined pitch and having a pin hole and an arrangement portion; and a second sub-connector arranged and fixed at a predetermined pitch and arranged in the arrangement portion. A multi-fiber multi-stage optical connector characterized in that 2. The first and second sub-connectors are formed with positioning portions for positioning each other.
The multi-core multi-stage optical connector according to claim 1.