JP2003090934A - Optical connector plug and noadjustment optical connecting structure - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a low cost optical connector plug which has simple structure and excellent attachability/detachability and connecting structure for optically coupling an optical fiber with a light emitting and receiving element without making adjustment. SOLUTION: A cylindrical optical connector plug inserting part which has an engaging part at the tip end, expands and reduces in diameter, is fitted with the fitting part of an optical connector receptacle and engaged with it. In addition, an optical fiber which is attached to the optical connector plug so as to be movable in the radial direction, is guided near to the light emitting/ receiving element by a conical inserting hole which is disposed on the optical connector receptacle to be engaged with the optical connector plug, and is then optically coupled with the element without making adjustment.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical connector and a connection structure for optically coupling an optical fiber and a light emitting / receiving element.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an optical communication system using an optical fiber, an optical module for transmission which converts an electric signal into an optical signal by a light emitting element such as a light emitting diode or a semiconductor laser, and an optical signal by a light receiving element such as a photodiode. A receiving optical module for converting into an electric signal is used, and in any of the optical modules, a connection structure for optically coupling an optical fiber and a light emitting / receiving element greatly affects workability and manufacturing cost. The conventional general optical coupling structure is provided with an optical fiber through hole in an optical module structure provided with a light emitting and receiving element, and an optical fiber is inserted and fixed in this through hole,
Although optical coupling was performed with the light emitting / receiving element, in recent years, due to its excellent workability, connection by a detachable optical connector between an optical fiber and an optical module has been widely used.

In the conventional optical connector plug, a method is used in which an optical fiber is previously fixed to a ferrule with an adhesive or the like, and this is attached to the main body of the optical connector plug.

In order to optically couple the optical fiber and the light emitting / receiving element, it is necessary to have a structure in which the central axis of the optical fiber coincides with the optical axis of the light emitting / receiving element. For example, JP-A-5-3332
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 32, No. 32, a projection or a depression is formed at a focal position of a lens for condensing light on a light emitting / receiving element or a core portion of an end face of an optical waveguide, while a core of an optical fiber to be connected. There is disclosed a means for forming an indentation or a protrusion in the optical fiber so as to optically couple with the end face of the optical fiber without adjustment.

[0005]

The optical connector plug according to the prior art described above has a complicated structure, and a bonding step for fixing the optical fiber to the ferrule requires a long time, resulting in a high manufacturing cost. is there.

Further, in the connection structure for optically coupling the optical fiber and the light emitting / receiving element without adjustment according to the prior art, the optical system for converging on the light emitting / receiving element, the core of the end face of the optical waveguide, and the optical fiber to be connected are connected. There is a problem that the core needs to be subjected to special processing, which increases the manufacturing cost. Also, a plastic optical fiber with a large core diameter (PlasticO
Optical coupling between a vertical fiber cable (hereinafter simply referred to as POF) and the light emitting / receiving element does not often require an optical system for condensing, and the connection structure for optically coupling without adjustment according to the conventional technique is not necessarily required. It is not an effective solution.

The present invention has been made in view of such conventional problems, and an optical connector plug having a simple structure and excellent workability and a connection for optically coupling an optical fiber and a light emitting / receiving element without adjustment. The purpose is to provide the structure at low cost.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an optical connector plug according to claim 1 (hereinafter,
A plug) may be a plug having a cylindrical insertion part that fits into an insertion part of an optical connector receptacle (hereinafter, also simply referred to as a receptacle) without directivity, A slit for expanding and contracting the diameter of the plug insertion portion is provided on the side surface of the insertion portion so that the engagement portion provided on the receptacle and the engagement portion provided on the plug can be engaged with and removed from each other. Characterize.

Further, in a connection structure for optically coupling an optical fiber and a light emitting / receiving element, a tip end of the optical fiber to be connected is attached to a plug so as to be movable in a radial direction, and a receptacle to be fitted with the plug is attached. An optical fiber insertion hole that guides the optical fiber to the vicinity of the light emitting / receiving element and becomes narrower toward the light emitting / receiving element is provided, and optical coupling is performed without adjustment.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of an embodiment of an optical fiber attached to a plug structure according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view of the optical fiber attached to a plug 10, and FIG. Receptacle 20
FIG. In these figures, the optical fiber 1 is fixed to the plug 10 by the optical fiber fixing portion 12 of the plug, but the optical fiber core wire 1a on the end face side to be optically coupled is used.
Is movable in the radial direction. The plug insertion portion 11 has a cylindrical shape with no directivity in fitting with the receptacle insertion portion 21, and has a convex engagement portion 11a that engages with the concave engagement portion 21 of the receptacle at the tip of the plug insertion portion 11, and Four slits 12 are provided on the side surface of the plug insertion portion 11, and the divided pieces constituting the plug insertion portion 11 divided by the slit 12 have elasticity in the radial direction.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a process of fitting the plug and the receptacle, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a state where the plug and the receptacle are fitted. As shown in these figures, in the process of inserting and fitting the plug insertion portion 11 into the receptacle insertion portion 21, in the process before the plug convex engagement portion 11a reaches the receptacle concave engagement portion 21a, the plug insertion The convex portion of the convex engaging portion 11a at the tip of the portion 11 exerts a pressing force on the divided piece that constitutes the plug insertion portion 11, and the divided piece is pressed in the center direction of the diameter so that the diameter of the plug insertion portion 11 becomes smaller. to shrink. When the plug convex engaging portion 11a reaches the receptacle concave engaging portion 21a, the plug inserting portion 1
1 by the elastic restoring force of the divided pieces constituting the plug insertion portion 1
The diameter of No. 1 is restored and enlarged, and the convex engaging portion 11a becomes the concave engaging portion 21a.
And the plug and the receptacle are fitted together.

Although four slits 12 are provided on the side surface of the plug insertion portion 11 in the above embodiment, the number of slits is two.
Any number of books or more may be used.

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are sectional views showing an embodiment of a connection structure for optically coupling an optical fiber and a light emitting / receiving element according to the present invention without adjustment. In these figures, the optical fiber 1 is attached to the plug 10 so as to be movable in the radial direction.
The core fiber 1a of the optical fiber core 1a of the optical fiber 1a is inserted in the process of inserting and plugging the plug 10 into the receptacle 20.
Is guided toward the light emitting and receiving element along the inclined wall surface of the so-called mortar-shaped optical fiber insertion hole which becomes narrower toward the light receiving and emitting element 30, and the position of the portion where the diameter of the optical fiber insertion hole is reduced. It is possible to perform optical coupling with the center axis of the optical fiber aligned with the optical axis of the light emitting / receiving element without being regulated and adjusted.

[0014]

As described above, according to the present invention, an optical connector that simplifies the structure and is excellent in workability of insertion and removal, and a connection structure for optically coupling an optical fiber and a light emitting and receiving element without adjustment. Can be provided at low cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of an optical connector plug to which an optical fiber is attached.

FIG. 2 is a front view of an optical connector plug to which an optical fiber is attached.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an optical connector receptacle.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the optical connector plug and the optical connector receptacle are being fitted together.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a state in which an optical connector plug and an optical connector receptacle are fitted together.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a connection structure for optically coupling an optical fiber and a light emitting / receiving element. (Example 1)

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a connection structure for optically coupling an optical fiber and a light emitting / receiving element. (Example 2)

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a connection structure for optically coupling an optical fiber and a light emitting / receiving element. (Example 3)

[Explanation of symbols]

1 optical fiber 1a Optical fiber core wire 1b Optical fiber sheath 10 Optical connector plug 11a Optical connector plug insertion part 11b Optical connector plug convex engagement part 11 Split pieces that form the optical connector plug insertion part 20 Optical connector receptacle 20a Optical connector receptacle insertion part 20b Optical connector receptacle concave engaging portion 30 Light emitting / receiving element 40 Optical fiber insertion hole

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (71) Applicant 599032121             Horinouchi Hide             1-46 Shishigaya, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa             No. 1 (72) Inventor Yasuhiro Koike             23, 534, Ichigao-cho, Aoba-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa (72) Inventor Yoshinori Matsumoto             1-6-6 Tsurugamine, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture             Lions Plaza Tsurugamine 618 (72) Inventor Hideyuki Horinouchi             1-46 Shishigaya, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa             No. 1 (72) Inventor Takayoshi Ishikawa             1-252 Komaoka, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa               Japan Arefu Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 2H037 AA01 BA02 BA11 DA03 DA04                       DA15 DA31 DA35

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An optical connector plug having a cylindrical insertion portion that fits into the optical connector receptacle without directivity, wherein the optical connector plug is provided at an engagement portion provided on the optical connector receptacle. An optical connector plug, wherein a slit for expanding and contracting a diameter of the optical connector plug insertion portion is provided on a side surface of the optical connector plug insertion portion in a detachable structure in which the engaged portion is engaged. 2. In a connection structure for optically coupling an optical fiber and a light emitting / receiving element, the tip of the optical fiber to be connected is attached to an optical connector plug so as to be movable in the radial direction, and is fitted with the optical connector plug. A connection structure characterized in that an optical fiber insertion hole that guides the optical fiber to the vicinity of the light emitting / receiving element and is narrowed toward the light receiving / emitting element is provided on the mating optical connector receptacle side, and optical coupling is performed without adjustment.