JP2003149506A - Optical connection component with ferrule and optical connector receptacle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To develop a technique for actualizing connection between an optical device such as a laser module and an optical connector. SOLUTION: Provided are an optical connection component 1A with a ferrule which has an optical fiber array 8 connectable to the optical device 6 such as a laser module assembled at one end of an optical fiber 9 and the optical connector ferrule 10 assembled at the other end of the optical fiber 9, and a small-sized optical connector receptacle 1 in which the optical connector ferrule 10 of the optical connection component 1A with the optical ferrule can easily be assembled and which can easily be mounted on a circuit board 7.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical connection component with a ferrule and an optical connector receptacle that enable connector connection to an optical connector of an optical device such as a laser module.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A module (laser module) mainly including an optical element such as a light emitting element such as a semiconductor laser (LD) or a light receiving element such as a photodiode, an optical device such as a substrate type optical waveguide, and an optical line. It can be said that there is almost no mechanism (hereinafter, “connector connection mechanism”) for realizing a connector connection with an optical connector at the end of an optical fiber.In particular, the connector connection mechanism is integrally mounted on an optical device such as a laser module on a circuit board. If you consider
The size of the connector connection mechanism is a problem, and it can be said that there is no suitable mechanism that satisfies the conditions such as size, connection workability, and mass productivity. For example, the MPO type optical connector (MPO: Multifiber Push-O established in JIS C 5982).
In n), in order to realize the connector connection between the optical connector (optical connector plug) on the optical fiber side and the optical device, the optical connector plug and the optical connector adapter are assembled on the optical device side and mounted on the board. However, since the size is too large, inconvenience such as interference with other components on the substrate cannot be avoided in reality, and it cannot be said that this is feasible.

[0003]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a ferrule that enables connector connection to an optical connector of an optical device by connecting an optical fiber array to the optical device such as a laser module. An object of the present invention is to provide a small-sized optical connector receptacle in which the attached optical connection part and the optical connector ferrule can be easily incorporated and can be easily mounted on a circuit board or the like.

[0004]

According to the present invention, the following constitution is used as a means for solving the above problems. An optical connector with a ferrule according to claim 1, wherein an optical connector is assembled at one end of the optical fiber, and a fitting pin positioning type optical connector ferrule is assembled at the other end of the optical fiber. . According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the optical connection component with a ferrule according to the first aspect, a plurality of optical fibers exposed on the joint end face of the optical connector ferrule are two-dimensionally arranged. The invention according to claim 3 is the optical connection component with a ferrule according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the optical connector is an optical fiber array. The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to claim 1.
The optical connector with a ferrule described in any one of 1 to 3 is characterized in that an optical connector in which the optical connector ferrule is incorporated is assembled at the other end of the optical fiber. The optical connector receptacle of the invention according to claim 5 stores the optical connector ferrule assembled at the tip of the optical fiber in the ferrule housing groove,
A ferrule accommodating portion to be held and a plug hole into which an optical connector plug is inserted and connected are penetrated, and the plug hole is positioned so as to communicate with the ferrule accommodating groove and is provided on a side portion of the ferrule accommodating portion. An optical connector ferrule having a plug accommodating portion and held at the tip of the optical connector plug inserted and connected to the plug hole is butt-connected to the optical connector ferrule accommodated and held in the ferrule accommodating portion. Is configured as
An insertion opening for inserting the optical connector ferrule into the ferrule housing groove is opened on the upper surface of the ferrule housing portion. Claim 6
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the optical connector receptacle according to the fifth aspect, a holding component for urging the optical connector ferrule from the side of the insertion opening for pushing the optical connector ferrule into the ferrule housing groove is attached to the ferrule housing portion. It is characterized by being

The optical connection component with a ferrule of the present invention is an optical device such as a module (laser module) mainly including an optical element such as a light emitting element such as a semiconductor laser (LD) or a light receiving element such as a photodiode, and an external light. It realizes a connector connection with an optical connector provided at the tip of the fiber, etc., the optical connector at one end is optically connected to the optical device, and the optical connector ferrule at the other end is provided at the tip of the external optical fiber. By connecting the optical device to the optical connector, the optical device can be connected to the optical connector. In addition, an optical connection component with a ferrule of the present invention includes a multi-core optical fiber, an optical connector (optical fiber array, etc.) capable of multi-core connection to an optical device such as the above-mentioned laser module, and a multi-core connection. By adopting the optical connector ferrule of, it is possible to easily realize the connector connection of the optical device to the multi-fiber optical connector or the like.

The optical connector relating to the optical connection part with a ferrule of the present invention is a general term for an optical fiber terminal fixing part in which terminals of an optical fiber are aligned and positioned, and other optical parts (optical waveguide, optical element, etc.). ) Refers to the parts used to position and connect the optical fiber. The optical fiber array illustrated in (embodiment of the invention) described later is an example thereof, and for example, an MT type optical connector (MT: Mechanically Transferable) defined in JIS C 5981 or a collar portion of the MT type optical connector is provided. The optical connector ferrule in the removed form, various optical connectors, and the like can also be included in the optical connector of the present invention. As the mating pin positioning type optical connector ferrule, various structures such as an MT type optical connector and an optical connector ferrule having a structure similar to this can be adopted.

If the optical connector and the optical connector ferrule are connected by an optical fiber, the optical connector ferrule can be moved within the range of the length of the optical fiber.
The degree of freedom of the connector connection position with the optical connector provided at the tip of the external optical fiber is improved. According to the invention as set forth in claim 4, if an optical connector having a structure in which an optical connector ferrule is incorporated is assembled at an end portion of an optical fiber for connecting between the optical connector and the optical connector ferrule, the optical connector allows the external wire to be connected. The connection with the optical connector assembled on the tip of the optical fiber or the like can be easily performed. In this case, by designing and selectively using a housing that constitutes an optical connector incorporating the optical connector ferrule, it is possible to widely support a variety of types of optical connectors assembled at the tip of an external optical fiber or the like. Here, the optical connector assembled with the other end of the optical fiber by incorporating the optical connector ferrule may be a female connector housing such as an optical connector receptacle, or a male optical connector such as an optical connector plug. .

The optical connector receptacle according to the present invention comprises:
For example, unlike the optical connector adapter of the MPO type optical connector, in which the optical connector plug formed by assembling the housing around the optical connector ferrule is inserted from both sides and connected internally, the ferrule housing of the ferrule housing is different. The optical connector ferrule is directly accommodated in the groove, and the optical connector ferrule at the tip of the optical connector plug connected to the plug accommodating portion is held such that the optical connector ferrule can be butt-connected to the groove. This enables mounting on a circuit board on which a module (laser module) mainly including an optical element such as a light emitting element such as a semiconductor laser (LD) or a light receiving element such as a photodiode is mounted.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 4 are diagrams showing the configurations of an optical connection component 1A with a ferrule and an optical connector receptacle 1 according to the present invention. FIG. 1 shows an optical connector plug 3 in a plug housing portion 2 of the optical connector receptacle 1. A plan view showing a state before connection, FIG. 2 is a front view of FIG. 1, and FIG.
Is a plan view showing a state in which the optical connector plug 3 is connected to the plug housing portion 2, and FIG. 4 is a front view of FIG. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the ferrule accommodating portion 4 and the pressing component 5 that form the optical connector receptacle 1.

1 to 4, reference numeral 6 denotes a module (optical device; hereinafter referred to as "optical device" or "optical device", which is mainly composed of a light emitting element such as a semiconductor laser (LD) or a light receiving element such as a photodiode. It is referred to as a “laser module”) and is mounted on the circuit board 7. An optical fiber array as the optical connector 8 of the optical connection component 1A with a ferrule according to the present invention (hereinafter, the optical connector may be referred to as "optical fiber array") is connected to the laser module 6. The optical fiber 9 drawn from the optical fiber array 8 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “device side optical fiber”) has an optical connector ferrule 10 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “device side optical connector ferrule”). Yes) is assembled. The optical fiber array 8 is installed on the pedestal 19 positioned on the optical device 6 so that the optical device 6
Is positioned and connected to. Optical fiber array 8
Has a block shape as a whole, and the connection end face 8f at one end face thereof faces the connection end face at the side of the optical device 6 for optical connection.

The optical connection component 1A with a ferrule has a structure in which an optical fiber array 8 as an optical connector is assembled at one end of an optical fiber 9 and an optical connector ferrule 10 is assembled at the other end of the optical fiber 9. By optically connecting the fiber array 8 to the optical device 6, the optical connector ferrule 10 enables connector connection of the optical line on the optical device 6 side to another optical fiber 15 (described later) or the like.

Here, the optical fiber array 8 is a member for positioning the optical fibers, and is a block 8a made of quartz.
A plurality of bare fibers 9a (here, one end of the optical fiber 9 is exposed bare fiber 9a) is formed on a precise positioning groove (not shown) such as a V-groove formed in an array on the upper surface near the connection end face 8f. (See FIGS. 1 and 3) and place the bare fiber 9a on the block 8a with a lid 8b made of quartz.
The optical fiber 9 including the covering portion of the optical fiber 9 from which the bare fiber 9a is exposed is fixed to the block 8a with an adhesive or the like so as to be integrated. It has been transformed. 1 to
The connecting end face 8f of the optical fiber array 8 illustrated in FIG. 4 is obliquely polished, and the tip of the bare fiber 9a fixed to the optical fiber array 8 and precisely positioned is exposed on the connecting end face 8f. Has been done. In order to suppress the return of the reflected light to the internal light emitting element of the optical device 6, an optical isolator or the like may be attached to the obliquely polished connection end face 8f. The material for forming the block 8a and the lid 8b forming the optical fiber array 8 is not limited to quartz, and any known material for the block or lid of the optical fiber array can be adopted. Polishing of the connecting end face 8f is not limited to oblique polishing, and various known polishing can be adopted.
Further, as the optical fibers (the optical fibers housed in the coating of the optical fiber 9) constituting the ferrule-attached optical connection component 1A, in addition to the SM type optical fiber and the GI type optical fiber, a dispersion shift optical fiber, a polarization Holding optical fiber, etc.
Optical fibers of various transmission forms can be adopted.

Optical connector receptacle 1 according to the present invention
Is a ferrule accommodating portion 4 that accommodates and holds the device-side optical connector ferrule 10 in the ferrule accommodating groove 11.
And the plug housing 2 into which the optical connector plug 3 is inserted and connected are fixed by a fixing means such as a screw 12 and integrated. Also, this optical connector receptacle 1
Is adapted to be fixedly attached to the target member such as the circuit board 7 or the like. The ferrule housing portion 4 functions as a fixed base for a target member. Further, the ferrule housing portion 4 has only to have a size that can secure the ferrule housing groove 11 for housing and holding the optical connector ferrule 10, and can be formed extremely small. Therefore, the optical connector receptacle 1 is mounted on the circuit board 7.
In the case of mounting, the space for fixing the ferrule accommodating portion 4 may be secured on the circuit board 7, and there is almost no influence on the design of the wiring on the circuit board 7 and the installation position of various devices.

In FIGS. 1 to 4, by fixing the ferrule accommodating portion 4 to the end portion of the circuit board 7, the plug accommodating portion 2 is projected to the outside of the circuit board 7 so that the circuit board 7 is exposed to light. Although the connector receptacle 1 is mounted, the mounting position of the optical connector receptacle 1 on the circuit board 7 may be a position where the plug accommodating portion 2 is on the circuit board 7.
When the ferrule accommodating portion 4 is fixed on the circuit board 7, the plug accommodating portion main body 22 of the plug accommodating portion 2 is supported at a position slightly lifted from the surface of the circuit board 7 and does not interfere with wiring on the circuit board 7. Although the fixing structure of the ferrule housing portion 4 to the circuit board 7 is not specifically shown here, for example, the expanded portion 11b of the ferrule housing groove 11 is used.
The screw that penetrates the bottom wall portion 41 of the ferrule accommodating portion 4 from the bottom of the screw is screwed into the circuit board 7, or the screw is also passed through the circuit board 7 and screwed into a nut or the like arranged on the opposite side of the circuit board 7. A wearing configuration or the like can be adopted. Bottom wall portion 41
Forms a bottom surface 42 that abuts the circuit board 7 of the ferrule housing portion 4.

The ferrule accommodating portion 4 is a resin molded product such as plastic, and is designed not to damage the optical connector ferrule 10 accommodated in the ferrule accommodating groove 11. The optical connector ferrule 10 is specifically a multi-core MT type optical connector (optical connector established in JISC 5981; MT: Mechanically Transferable), and connects the optical connector ferrule 10 and the optical fiber array 8. The optical fiber 9 is a multi-fiber optical fiber ribbon. However, in the present invention, the optical connector ferrule 10 and the optical fiber 9 are not limited to the multi-core type, and a single-core type can also be adopted.
Various types of optical fibers 9 can be used.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the ferrule housing groove 11 extends from the front end surface 43 of the ferrule housing portion 4 to the rear end surface 44 of the ferrule housing portion 4 along the bottom wall portion 41 of the ferrule housing portion 4. An extending groove portion 11a extending toward
In plan view, the ferrule accommodating portion 4 has a central portion of the ferrule accommodating portion 4 and an expanding portion 11b formed in a shape obtained by expanding the extending groove portion 11a. A pin clamp 1 is provided on the rear end side of the optical connector ferrule 10 (the side facing the joining end face 10a).
4 is integrally assembled, and the ferrule housing groove 11 is formed as a whole so that the optical connector ferrule 10 with the pin clamp 14 is housed therein. The ferrule housing groove 11 is wholly opened to the upper surface 45 of the ferrule housing portion 4 (upper surface facing the bottom surface 42 of the ferrule housing portion 4 which is brought into contact with the circuit board 7), and the opening in the ferrule housing portion upper surface 45. Portion for inserting the optical connector ferrule 10 into the ferrule housing groove 11 for incorporation therein.
Function as.

To accommodate the optical connector ferrule 10 in the ferrule accommodation groove 11, the main body portion 10b having the joining end face 10a formed therein is accommodated in the extending groove portion 11a by inserting from the assembling insertion opening 11c. The flange portion 10c and the pin clamp 14, which are provided around the rear end of the main body portion 10b in a flange shape, are housed in the expansion portion 11b. Step 1 between the extending groove portion 11a of the ferrule housing groove 11 and the expansion portion 11b
1d corresponds to the projecting dimension of the collar portion 10c at the rear end of the optical connector ferrule 10 from the side surface of the optical connector ferrule main body portion 10b.
0 Ferrule housing groove 1 without rattling
It is stably housed in 1. Further, the optical fiber 9 pulled out from the rear end of the optical connector ferrule 10 has a slit-like shape that penetrates the rear wall portion 46 between the expanded portion 11 b of the ferrule housing groove 11 and the rear end surface 44 of the ferrule housing portion 4. It is accommodated in the optical fiber insertion groove 46a.

Since the optical connector ferrule 10 is housed in the ferrule housing groove 11 through the assembling insertion opening 11c opened in the upper surface 45 of the ferrule housing portion, for example, the assembling insertion is performed. The mouth is a side surface of the ferrule housing portion 4 mounted on the circuit board 7 (a bottom surface 42 fixed to the circuit board 7 and an upper surface 4 facing the bottom surface 42).
Compared to the case where the optical connector receptacle 1 is opened on the side surface), the work can be efficiently performed without interfering with the electric devices and other members mounted on the circuit board 7 around the optical connector receptacle 1. Interference can be similarly avoided in the work of taking out the optical connector ferrule 10 from the ferrule housing groove 11. Therefore, there is almost no need to consider the working space for housing and taking out the optical connector ferrule 10 in the ferrule housing groove 11 in the installation space of the optical connector receptacle 1 on the circuit board 7. There is an advantage that the installation space for the connector receptacle 1 can be easily secured and the flexibility of the mounting position (installation position) can be improved.

The holding component 5 comprises a plate-shaped holding component main body 51 and a biasing member 52 assembled to the holding component main portion 51. In this holding component 5, both ends of the holding component main body 51 are provided with the wall portions 47, 4 on both sides via the ferrule housing groove 11 of the ferrule housing portion 4.
8 and the pressing component main body 51 is attached to the upper part of the ferrule accommodation groove 11 in a erected state, so that the protruding portion of the biasing member 52 downward from the pressing component main body 51 causes the light in the ferrule accommodation groove 11 to be lightened. The connector ferrule 10 is pressed into the ferrule housing groove 11 with a biasing force.

Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the pressing component main body 51 is composed of two elongated plates 5.
1a and 51b are vertically overlapped with each other, and they are arranged between the wall portions 47 and 48 on both sides thereof via the extending groove portion 11a so that both ends are screwed to the wall portions 47 and 48. It is attached. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 53 is a screw for fixing the pressing component main body 51 to the wall portions 47 and 48.
The pressing component main body 51 is screwed into the screw holes 47b and 48b opened on the upper surfaces of the wall parts 47 and 48, respectively.
Fixed to.

The urging member 52 is a leaf spring curved in a U shape here (hereinafter, the urging means may be referred to as "leaf spring"), and is an insertion portion which is one end of the U shape. 52a is a pair of plates 51 of the pressing component main body 51.
It is press-fitted and fixed in the insertion groove 51c secured between a and 51b, and is attached to the holding component body 51 in a posture in which the holding piece 52b, which is the other end of the U-shape, is on the lower side.

The holding component main body 51 is attached to the ferrule housing 4
When it is fixed to the optical connector ferrule 10 in the ferrule housing groove 11, the pressing piece 52b is pressed against the optical connector ferrule 10 and the leaf spring 52 is elastically deformed. The biasing force generated by the leaf spring 52 causes the optical connector ferrule to be deformed. 10 is pressed and pressed into the ferrule housing groove 11. Moreover, the holding component 5 is the ferrule housing groove 1
Both ends of the holding parts housing grooves 47a, 48a are slightly recessed from the upper surfaces of the wall parts 47, 48 on both sides of 1 to be screwed together. The optical connector ferrule 10 is designed to be pressed down. By this pressing, the optical connector ferrule 1 in the ferrule housing groove 11
The storage stability of 0 is further improved. Ferrule housing groove 1
It goes without saying that the detachment of the optical connector ferrule 10 from 1 is prevented.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 5, the plug accommodating portion 2 is a connector housing made of plastic here, and has a sleeve shape for forming a plug hole 21 into which the optical connector plug 3 is inserted and connected. 22 of the plug housing body
It is mainly composed of. This plug housing 2 is
The plug hole 21 is arranged on the front end face 43 side of the ferrule accommodating portion 4 such that it extends on the ferrule accommodating groove 11 of the ferrule accommodating portion 4, and the end portion of the plug accommodating portion main body 22 on the ferrule accommodating portion 4 side. The fixing pieces 23 projecting from the (rear end portion) to the opposite sides are provided with the wall portions 47, 4 on both sides via the ferrule housing groove 11 of the ferrule housing portion 4.
It is fixed by screwing to 8. As a result, the plug hole 21 is placed in communication with the ferrule housing groove 11 of the ferrule housing portion 4, and the optical connector plug 3 inserted and connected to the plug hole 21 is inserted into the ferrule housing groove 11. A positional relationship in which the connector ferrule 10 is connected is obtained.

The structure for fixing the plug accommodating portion 2 and the ferrule accommodating portion 4 has a through hole 23 formed in a pair of fixing pieces 23.
a and the screw 1 which is communicated with the through hole 49a of the fixing piece 49 which is projected from both the wall portions 47 and 48 of the ferrule housing portion 4.
2 and a nut 13 that is fastened to the screw 12, and has a plug housing 2 and a ferrule housing 4.
It is detachably fixed between and. As this fixed structure,
The present invention is not limited to this, and may be, for example, engagement by an engagement claw, fitting of the plug housing 2 and the ferrule housing 4, or the like. However, in this fixing structure, it is more preferable that the plug accommodating portion 2 and the ferrule accommodating portion 4 are detachably fixed, so that the optical connector plug 3 can be connected according to the type of the optical connector plug 3. It is possible to improve versatility by selectively using a different plug accommodating portion 2 and improve maintainability such as cleaning the inside of the ferrule accommodating groove 11.

The optical connector plug 3 is a JIS in this case.
MPO type optical connector (MP
O: Multifiber Push-On) optical connector plug (hereinafter referred to as “MPO type optical connector plug”). As you know,
The MPO type optical connector plug is a plastic optical connector in which an MT type optical connector is incorporated in a plastic housing, and has a sleeve-shaped plug frame 31.
The optical connector ferrule 32, which is the MT type optical connector, is housed and held in a projecting state at the tip.
The optical connector ferrule 32 is kept in a projecting state from the tip of the plug frame 31 by the spring 33 built in the optical connector plug 3. In the plug hole 21 of the plug accommodating portion 2 into which the optical connector plug 3 is inserted and connected, an engaging claw (not shown) that is removably engaged with the plug frame 31 of the optical connector plug 3 is formed. There is.

When the optical connector receptacle 1 is mounted on the circuit board 7 and the device side optical connector ferrule 10 is housed in the ferrule housing groove 11 of the ferrule housing portion 4 and is pressed by the holding component 5, the optical connector ferrule 10 is opened. The built-in optical connector receptacle 1 (the optical connector according to the invention of claim 4) can be obtained. here,
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, when the optical connector plug 3 is inserted and connected to the plug accommodating portion 2 of the optical connector receptacle 1,
The optical connector ferrule 32 at the tip of the optical connector plug 3 is butt-connected to the device-side optical connector ferrule 10, and as a result, the optical fiber 15 and the optical device 6, which are terminated by the optical connector plug 3 in a butt-connectable manner, are connected to each other by a ferrule-equipped optical fiber. It is optically connected via the connection component 1A. Although the optical fiber 15 is an external optical fiber here, the optical fiber 15 is not limited to this and may be, for example, an optical fiber or the like that connects a plurality of optical connector receptacles 1 mounted on a circuit board.

The optical connector plug 3 inserted in the plug accommodating portion 2 of the optical connector receptacle 1 is further pushed in after the optical connector ferrule 32 at the tip thereof is brought into contact with the device side optical connector ferrule 10 in a butted state. The connection state is maintained by being engaged with the engaging claw in the plug accommodating portion 2, but is in contact with the rear wall portion 46 of the ferrule accommodating portion 4 (here, pin clamp). 14), the optical connector plug 3 is pushed into the optical connector receptacle 1 while the position of the device side optical connector ferrule 10 is not changed, and the optical connector ferrule 32 of the optical connector plug 3 is advanced. However, the built-in spring 3 in the optical connector plug 3
The optical connector plug 3 is pushed into the rear end side (the side facing the front end; the left side in FIGS. 1 to 4) while compressing and compressing the optical connector 3. Therefore, when the optical connector plug 3 is engaged and held by the engaging claws of the plug accommodating portion 2 and the pushing operation is completed, the biasing force of the spring 33 causes the optical connector ferrules 10 and 3 to move.
Since it acts as a butting force between the two, stable connection of the optical connector ferrules 10 and 32 and low connection loss can be realized.

Optical connector ferrules 10, 32, M
As is well known, the butt connection between the T-type optical connectors employs a pin fitting type positioning method (fitting pin positioning method) using the guide pins 16 (fitting pins). Then, in the guide pin hole 17 (see FIG. 6A) of the optical connector ferrule 32 at the tip of the optical connector plug 3 inserted into the plug accommodating portion 2, the guide projecting on the joint end face 10a of the device side optical connector ferrule 10 is guided. By inserting and fitting the pin 16, the optical connector ferrules 10 and 32 are precisely positioned and butt-connected. The guide pin 16 of the device side optical connector ferrule 10 is provided so as to penetrate the optical connector ferrule 10 and is fixed by a pin clamp 14 on the rear end side of the optical connector ferrule 10. Also, the optical connector ferrules 10, 32
At the time of butt connection, the optical connector plug 3 inserted into the plug housing 2 and the inner surface of the plug hole 21 are slightly floated by the optical connector ferrule 10 within the elastic deformation range of the biasing member 52 of the pressing component 5. By absorbing the dimensional tolerance and the like, the guide pin hole 17 is inserted into the guide pin 16 so as to be inserted and fitted, and the fitting between the guide pin hole 17 and the guide pin 16 is smooth. Done

FIG. 6A shows the optical connector ferrule 32 on the optical connector plug 3 side. In FIG. 6 (a),
The optical connector ferrule 32 is an optical fiber 15 which is a multi-fiber optical fiber such as a multi-fiber optical fiber cord, and is terminated so that it can be abutted and connected, and the joint end face 32a is pulled out to the tip of the optical fiber 15. The tip surfaces of the plurality of optical fibers 15a (bare fibers) are exposed. A plurality of bonding end faces 32a (8 in FIG. 6A)
6A of optical fibers 15a arranged side by side (the arrangement direction of the guide pin holes 17; left and right in FIG. 6A) are arranged vertically (FIG. 6A). By arranging a plurality of columns (two columns in FIG. 6A) in the direction of performing the two-dimensional arrangement.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6B, the arrangement state of the optical fibers on the joint end face 10a of the device side optical connector ferrule 10 is the same as that of the optical connector ferrule 32 on the optical connector plug 3 side. A plurality of optical fibers 9b (bare fibers) that have been fed out from the terminal (the other end) and distributed in the optical connector ferrule 10 are exactly the same two-dimensional array as the optical connector ferrule 32 on the optical connector plug 3 side, that is, here. Then, eight pieces are arranged side by side (the arrangement direction of the guide pins 16 and the guide pin holes 17. FIG. 6A).
The left and right rows 9A are arranged in two rows in the vertical direction (the vertical direction in FIG. 6A. The direction orthogonal to the line connecting the guide pin holes 17 (or the guide pins 16)) and exposed on the joint end surface 10a. . The device side optical connector ferrule 10
And the optical connector ferrule 32 on the optical connector plug 3 side
The optical fibers 9b, 1 on the joint end faces 10a, 32a of
It is only necessary that the arrangement states of 5a match each other, and the optical fibers 9b and 15 that form the rows 9A and 15A are arranged side by side.
The number of a's, the number of arranged rows, and the like can be changed as appropriate. Further, the arrangement direction of the optical fibers 9b and 15a is not necessarily limited to the arrangement along the line connecting the guide pin holes 17 and the direction orthogonal thereto. For example, the arrangement direction of the optical fibers 9b and 15a is orthogonal to the line connecting the guide pin holes 17. Various forms such as an arrangement in an oblique direction with respect to the moving direction can be adopted.

The optical fibers exposed on the joint end faces 10a, 32a of the optical connector ferrules 10, 32 are positioned with high precision with respect to the guide pins 16 and the guide pin holes 17, and the optical connector ferrules 10, 3 are provided.
Due to the butt connection between the two, the corresponding optical fibers 9b and 15a are optically connected to each other in a one-to-one manner. The device-side optical fiber 9 is a multi-core optical fiber having the same number of cores as the optical fiber 15 on the optical connector plug 3 side.

Therefore, according to the optical connector receptacle 1 and the optical connection part 1A with a ferrule, the optical fiber array 8 at one end of the optical fiber 9 of the optical connection part 1A with a ferrule is connected to the optical device 6 (laser module), By incorporating the device-side optical connector ferrule 10 at the other end of the optical fiber 9 into the optical connector receptacle 1, the optical device 6 is provided with a multi-core optical fiber 15 such as an external optical fiber cord, and the optical connector 3 at the end (optical connector plug 3). The connector 6 can be connected to the optical connector 6, and the optical device 6 is optically connected to the optical fiber 15 by inserting and connecting the optical connector plug 3 into the plug housing 2 of the optical connector receptacle 1. Further, when the optical connector plug 3 is pulled out from the plug accommodating portion 2, the connection state between the optical connector ferrules 10 and 32 is released, and the optical connection of the optical fiber 15 to the optical device 6 is released.
To pull out the optical connector plug 3 which is an MPO type optical connector from the plug accommodating portion 2, specifically, the pulling operation of the coupling 34 slidably provided outside the plug frame 31 of the optical connector plug 3 is performed. Done by

When the holding component 5 attached to the ferrule housing 4 is removed, the device side optical connector ferrule 10 can be taken out from the ferrule housing 4. Accordingly, the device-side optical connector ferrule 10 accommodated in the ferrule accommodating portion 4 can be easily replaced.

(Other Embodiments) FIGS. 7 and 8 show examples of application to the backplane connector 100. 7 and 8
In the optical connection component 1A with a ferrule, the optical fiber array 8 at one end of the optical fiber 9 is optically connected to the optical device 102, which is a laser module mounted on the printed board 101 of the backplane connector 100, and the optical fiber 9 The optical connector ferrule 10 at the other end is incorporated in a print board housing 103 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “PH housing”) attached to a print board 101. Optical connector ferrule 10
The PH housing 103 is accommodated in a ferrule accommodation groove 103b formed inside the PH housing 103 through an assembling insertion opening 103a opened on a side surface (an upper surface facing a mounting surface for the PH housing 103). Optical connector ferrule 1 housed in ferrule housing groove 103b
0 is biased by the biasing member 52 of the pressing component 5 (not shown in FIG. 8) attached to the side surface of the PH housing 103, and is stably pressed into the ferrule housing groove 103b.

The backplane housing 106 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "BH housing") assembled to the backplane 105 forming the side wall facing the opening 104a through the internal space of the plug-in unit 104 is a plug. From the outside of the in-unit 104, a window 105a opened through the back plane 105 (see FIG. 8).
A connector housing into which the optical connector plug 3 is inserted and connected via a connector housing, and functions as a plug accommodating portion of the optical connector receptacle of the present invention. The clip 107 for attaching the BH housing 106 to the plug-in unit 104 is arranged to face the BH housing 106 via the backplane 105, and the engaging claw 107a protruding from the clip 107 is inserted through the window 105a. By engaging the BH housing 106 with the BH housing 106, the backplane 105 is sandwiched between the BH housing 106 and the BH housing 106, and the BH housing 106 is supported at a position just corresponding to the window 105a. A window 107b having a size substantially corresponding to the window 105a is opened in the clip 107, and the optical connector plug 3 has the backplane 105 and the window 105a of the clip 107 from the outside of the plug-in unit 104.
It is inserted and connected to the BH housing 106 through the 107b.

The PH housing 103 is formed by inserting the printed board 101 into the plug-in unit 104 from the opening 104a of the plug-in unit 104.
It is removably fitted to the BH housing 106. When the PH housing 103 and the BH housing 106 are fitted together, the optical connector receptacle 1 for connecting the device side optical connector ferrule 10 and the optical connector plug 3 together.
08 is assembled. Here, the PH housing 103
Functions as a ferrule accommodating portion in which the device side optical connector ferrule 10 is incorporated. The optical connector receptacle 108 is provided with a ferrule accommodating portion and a plug only by releasing the engagement of the engaging claws 103c on both sides of the PH housing 103 facing the BH housing 106 and separating the PH housing 103 from the BH housing 106. The housing portion can be easily separated, and the BH housing 106 to be fitted with the PH housing 103 can be selected and switched very easily. With respect to the optical connector receptacle 108 assembled in the plug-in unit 104, the optical connector plug 3 is inserted and connected, and is disconnected by pulling out,
Switching connection and the like can be freely performed. By selecting the optical connector receptacle 108 to which the optical connector plug 3 is connected, the target optical line (here, the optical fiber 15 on the external line side) to which the optical device 6 is connected can be freely selected.

It is needless to say that the specific configuration of the optical connection component with a ferrule and the optical connector receptacle of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and the design can be changed appropriately. The ferrule-equipped optical connection component may have a configuration in which the optical connector ferrule 10 is integrally assembled to the optical fiber array 8 as shown in FIG. 9, for example. In FIG. 9, reference numeral 18 is an optical fiber (bare fiber). Various types and configurations of optical connector ferrules for optical connection parts with ferrules are available.
It is not limited to the above-mentioned MT type optical connector. Further, the optical connector optically connected to the optical device such as the laser module is not limited to the optical fiber array, and various configurations can be adopted. However, an optical fiber array, which is suitable for downsizing and multi-fibers, and which can position the optical fiber with high accuracy, is adopted.

The specific structure of the ferrule accommodating portion and the plug accommodating portion of the optical connector receptacle is not limited to those of the above-described embodiment, and the design can be changed appropriately. For example,
In addition to the application example to the backplane connector, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which the ferrule housing portion and the plug housing portion are separably integrated by fitting. Further, the ferrule accommodating portion and the plug accommodating portion are not limited to a separate structure, and a structure in which these are integrally formed by resin molding or the like can also be adopted. The pressing component is not limited to the structure in which the optical connector ferrule in the ferrule housing groove is pressed by the biasing force of the biasing member that is separate from the pressing component main body, and for example, the entire pressing member is formed of a spring material. It is also possible to adopt a holding component. In the case of a single-component pressing component, the optical connector ferrule is pressed into the ferrule housing groove by the biasing force generated by the pressing component itself.

[0039]

As described above, according to the optical connecting part with a ferrule of the present invention, the optical connector ferrule can be used to connect an external optical fiber tip to an optical fiber by simply connecting the optical connector to an optical device such as a laser module. Connector connection (optical connection) of an optical device to an optical connector and other various optical connectors becomes possible. If the configuration is such that the optical connector and the optical connector ferrule are optically connected via an optical fiber,
The length of the optical fiber improves the degree of freedom in the connection position with the optical connector. Further, as in the invention described in claim 4, in the structure in which the optical connector in which the optical connector ferrule is incorporated at the other end of the optical fiber is assembled, the optical fiber tip of the external optical fiber is changed by the specific structure of the optical connector. It becomes easier to connect to the optical connector that is assembled in the above.

According to the optical connector receptacle of the present invention, an optical connector plug formed by assembling a housing around the optical connector ferrule is inserted from both sides and connected internally such as an optical connector adapter of an MPO type optical connector. Unlike the configuration, the optical connector ferrule is directly accommodated in the ferrule accommodating groove of the ferrule accommodating portion, and the optical connector ferrule at the tip of the optical connector plug connected to the plug accommodating portion is held so as to be butt-connectable, It can be miniaturized. As a result, it can be mounted on a circuit board on which an optical device such as a module (laser module) mainly including an optical element such as a light emitting element such as a semiconductor laser (LD) or a light receiving element such as a photodiode is mounted. It has an excellent effect of becoming. With the configuration in which the insertion opening for incorporation is opened on the upper surface, for example, when the optical connector receptacle is mounted on the circuit board by bringing the bottom surface side facing the upper surface into contact with the circuit board, the optical connector for the ferrule receiving groove is formed. There is also an advantage that operations such as inserting, assembling, and removing the ferrule can be performed without interfering with various electric and electronic devices mounted on the circuit board. According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, if a pressing component that biases the optical connector ferrule from the side of the insertion opening side to press the optical connector ferrule into the ferrule housing groove is attached to the ferrule housing portion, The optical connector ferrule housed in the ferrule housing groove can be held without rattling.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an optical connection component with a ferrule and an optical connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is a plan view showing a state before an optical connector plug is connected to a plug accommodating portion of the optical connector receptacle. .

FIG. 2 is a front view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a state in which an optical connector plug is connected to the plug housing portion of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a front view of FIG.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing a ferrule accommodating portion and a pressing component forming the optical connector receptacle according to the embodiment of the present invention.

6A is a view of the optical connector ferrule housed and held at the tip of an optical connector plug inserted and connected to the optical connector receptacle of FIG.
(B) is the figure which looked at the optical connector ferrule of the optical connection part with a ferrule of FIG. 1 from the joining end surface side.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention,
It is an exploded perspective view showing a backplane connector to which an optical connection part with a ferrule and an optical connector receptacle of the present invention are applied.

FIG. 8 is a front sectional view showing the backplane connector of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a front view showing another aspect of the optical connection component with a ferrule.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Optical connector receptacle, 1A ... Optical connection part with ferrule, 2 ... Plug accommodation part, 3 ... Optical connector plug,
4 ... Ferrule housing part, 5 ... Holding part, 8 ... Optical connector (optical fiber array), 9 ... Optical fiber (device side optical fiber), 10 ... Optical connector ferrule (device side optical connector ferrule), 10a ... Joining end face , 9b, 1
8 ... Optical fiber (bare fiber), 11 ... Ferrule receiving groove, 11c ... Insertion port for incorporation, 21 ... Plug hole, 22 ... Plug receiving section, 32 ... Optical connector ferrule, 45 ... Top surface, 103 ... Ferrule receiving section ( Print board housing), 103a ... Insertion port for insertion, 103b ... Ferrule housing groove, 106 ... Plug housing (backplane housing), 108 ... Optical connector receptacle.

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Kazuhiro Takizawa             Fuji Co., Ltd. 1440 Rokuzaki, Sakura City, Chiba Prefecture             Kura Sakura Office (72) Inventor Yasuhiro Tamaki             Fuji Co., Ltd. 1440 Rokuzaki, Sakura City, Chiba Prefecture             Kura Sakura Office F-term (reference) 2H036 JA02 LA03 LA08 QA43 QA47                       QA48 QA49 QA56

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An optical connector (8) is assembled to one end of an optical fiber (9), and an optical connector ferrule (10) of a fitting pin positioning system is assembled to the other end of the optical fiber. An optical connection part with a ferrule (1A). 2. A plurality of optical fibers (9) exposed at a joint end face (10a) of the optical connector ferrule.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein b) is two-dimensionally arranged.
Optical connection parts with ferrule described. 3. The optical connection part with a ferrule according to claim 1, wherein the optical connection device is an optical fiber array. 4. The ferrule according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an optical connector (1) having a structure incorporating the optical connector ferrule is assembled at the other end of the optical fiber. Optical connection parts. 5. An optical connector ferrule (10) assembled at the tip of an optical fiber (9) is provided with a ferrule housing groove (1).
1, 103b) to accommodate and hold the ferrule accommodating portion (4, 103), and the plug hole (2) into which the optical connector plug (3) is inserted and connected.
1) is penetrated through, and the plug hole is positioned so that the plug hole communicates with the ferrule housing groove, and the plug housing portion (22, 106) is provided on the side portion of the ferrule housing portion.
And an optical connector ferrule (32) held at the tip of the optical connector plug inserted into and connected to the plug hole is butt-connected to the optical connector ferrule housed and held in the ferrule housing. And an insertion opening (11c, 103a) for inserting the optical connector ferrule into the ferrule accommodating groove, which is formed in the upper surface (45) of the ferrule accommodating portion. Optical connector receptacle (1, 10
8). 6. A holding component (5) for urging the optical connector ferrule from the side of the insertion opening for pushing the optical connector ferrule into the ferrule housing groove is attached to the ferrule housing portion. Item 5. The optical connector receptacle according to item 5.