JP2003243857A - Package for optical communication - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a package for optical communications wherein an optical connector is connected with it easily, and when setting it, the occupied region of optical cables is prevented from being made large in a front surface of its front panel. <P>SOLUTION: After attaching a front panel 104 to the end surface of a board 101 of a package for optical communications, a tray 106 is attached in a rotatable way to the front panel 104, and there is attached to the tray 106 such an optical adapter 109 as to be able to connect the package optically with an outside optical connector 112. When connecting an outside optical connector 112 with the optical adapter 109, the tray 106 is so rotated as to be able to insert the outside optical connector 112 into the optical adapter 109 from the horizontal direction. When setting the package, the connector plugging port of the optical adapter 109 is oriented downward. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for performing communication using an optical cable, and relates to an optical communication package used as an external access interface.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The prior art shown in FIG.
It is the storage box used for the extra length processing of the optical cable, which is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 0-268144.

In the drawing, 30 is an optical connector attached to a lead-in cable, an optical connector on the lead-in cable side, 31 is an adapter connector for supporting a connecting portion of the optical connector 30 on the lead-in cable side, and 32 is an extension cable side attached to an extension cable. The optical connector is connected to the lead-in cable side optical connector 30 in the adapter connector 31. Reference numeral 33 is a rubber cover dome for winding the extra length of the pull-in cable, 34 is a termination tray on which the end of the pull-in cable is placed, 35 is a storage tray for storing the termination tray 34, and 50 is a storage case for storing the storage tray 35. It is the body. Further, a bearing shaft 51 is provided at the corner of the housing 50,
The support shaft 51 penetrates the plurality of storage trays 35.

In the prior art having such a structure, the receiving tray 35 can be rotated to an arbitrary position around the support shaft 51. Therefore, the termination tray 34 can be moved to an arbitrary position, and in the narrow space such as an optical cabinet, the pull-in cable side optical connector 30 is provided.
And the extension cable side optical connector 32 can be easily connected.

[0005]

In such a conventional technique, although the optical cable connector 30 on the lead-in cable side and the optical connector 32 on the extension cable side can be connected from the horizontal direction,
After connecting the pull-in cable side optical connector 30 and the extension cable side optical connector 32 (here, referred to as the installation).
The extension cable connected to the extension cable side optical connector 32 was projected in the front in a horizontal state and gradually became vertical. Therefore, the extension cable occupies a large area on the side surface of the housing 50, which requires a large space. Further, if the connector side when the accommodation tray 35 is accommodated in the accommodation housing 50 is the front surface of the housing, a large space is required in the front surface of the accommodation housing 50.

Further, the optical fiber connector 30 on the lead-in cable side
There is nothing covering the upper part of the connection part of the extension cable side optical connector 32, and there is a risk that dust may enter the connection part.
Especially when conducting an optical signal, the presence of dust hinders the transmission and reception of the signal.

Further, the optical fiber connector 30 on the lead-in cable side
When the optical cable 32 on the extension cable side is not connected and the signal is flowing to the optical connector 30 on the pull-in cable side, the operator's eyes may be irradiated with the optical signal.

An object of the present invention is to easily connect an optical connector and to reduce the area occupied by an optical cable on the front surface of the front panel during installation.

An object of the present invention is to prevent the optical signal emitted from the optical connector from entering the eyes of the user.

An object of the present invention is to prevent dust from entering the connection portion of the optical connector.

[0011]

According to the present invention, in a package for optical communication arranged side by side in a storage shelf, a front panel attached to an end face of a substrate and a tray rotatably attached to the front panel. And an optical adapter that is attached to this tray and is connectable to an external optical connector. When connecting the external optical connector and the optical adapter, the tray is rotated so that the external optical connector is placed on the optical adapter in a horizontal direction. It is insertable, and the connector insertion port of the optical adapter faces downward at the time of installation.

According to the present invention, in an optical communication package arranged side by side in a storage shelf, a front panel attached to an end surface of a substrate, a tray rotatably attached to the front panel, and an attachment to the tray. And an optical adapter connectable to an external optical connector, and a member for restricting a rotation range of the tray with respect to the front panel. When the external optical connector and the optical adapter are connected, the tray is rotated by a predetermined angle. The external optical connector is inserted into the optical adapter so that the connector insertion port of the optical adapter faces downward at the time of installation.

According to the present invention, the connector insertion port of the optical adapter is provided with a switch for cutting off an optical signal flowing to the optical connector connected to the optical adapter when the connector insertion port is rotated downward by a predetermined angle. is there.

The present invention includes a case for covering the optical adapter attached to the tray.

The present invention comprises a case for covering the optical adapter,
It is characterized in that a recess is provided in the front panel so that the front panel is flush with the tray and the optical adapter is housed in the recess.

The present invention is characterized in that the window of the front panel for penetrating the optical cable connecting the substrate and the optical adapter is covered with the electromagnetic wave absorbing member.

The present invention has a plurality of optical adapters.

[0018]

Embodiment 1 The structure of an optical communication package according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Reference numeral 101 is a board on which electrical components and optical components are mounted, and 102 is a connector attached to the rear of the board 101, which electrically connects the board 101 and a device other than the board 101. Reference numeral 103 is a substrate optical cable attached to the substrate 101, and 104 is a front panel attached to the front end surface of the substrate 101. The term "front" and "rear" as used herein is determined by the direction in which the optical communication package is installed in a storage shelf, which will be described later, and the optical communication package allows electrical hot-line insertion and removal at the rear and optical hot line at the front. It can be inserted and removed. In addition, in the front panel 104, when the inner area and the outer area of the storage rack are partitioned, the outer surface is the front surface and the inner surface is the back surface. Further, the front panel 104 has a lead-in window for leading the substrate optical cable 103 to the surface of the front panel 104. An optical adapter box 105 is rotatably attached to the front panel 104.

The front panel 104 will be described with reference to FIGS.
The mounting structure of the optical adapter box 105 and the internal structure of the optical adapter box 105 will be described. A tray 106 is rotatably attached to the front panel 104. This attachment is made up of a support member 107 fixed to the front panel 104 and a rotation shaft 108 that rotatably supports the tray 106 with respect to the support member 107. 109a is an optical connector connected to the substrate optical cable 103, and 109b is an optical adapter attached to the tray 106, which connects the optical connector 109a. 1
A case 10 covers the optical adapter 109b attached to the tray 106. The shape of the case may be a rectangular parallelepiped case 110a as shown in FIG.
As in the case 110b shown in FIG. 1, it is more preferable that the outline of the upper part of the case is smooth so that the case is not covered with dust. Here, the optical adapter box 105 is
Tray 106, optical adapter 109b, and case 110
Is a set of. Reference numeral 111 is an external optical cable provided in the external device, and 112 is an external optical connector attached to the external optical cable 111, which is connected to the optical adapter 109b.

The operation of the first embodiment will be described. First, the place where the optical communication package is used will be described with reference to FIG. Reference numeral 113 denotes the optical communication package shown in FIG. 1, reference numeral 114 denotes a housing shelf for accommodating the optical communication packages 113 side by side, and 115 denotes a backboard electrically connected to the connector 102 of the optical communication package 113. In the initial state of the first embodiment, the external optical connector 112 is not connected to the optical adapter 109b included in the optical communication package 113.

A person who uses the optical communication package 113 (hereinafter referred to as a user) selects an arbitrary optical communication package 113 from the plurality of optical communication packages 113 arranged on the storage shelf 114. The user selects the optical adapter box 105 included in the selected optical communication package 113.
Is grasped, and the rotating shaft 108 is rotated in the upward direction so that the rotating shaft 108 becomes substantially horizontal. The optical adapter box 105 is in a state of protruding from the other optical communication package 113 that is adjacent thereto. As shown in FIG. 7, in this state, the user inserts the external optical connector 112 from the horizontal direction into the optical adapter 109b of the optical adapter box 105 to connect it. The optical adapter box 105 is made horizontal so that the external optical connector 112 can be connected more easily. If the connection is easy, the optical adapter 109b can be moved from 45 ° to 90 °.
You may perform it in the state rotated in the range of.

When the user connects the external optical connector 112 to the optical adapter 109b, the optical adapter box 105
Is returned to the state of being hung on the rotary shaft 108. The state at this time is referred to as installation. That is, when installed, the optical adapter 1
The connector insertion port of 09b faces downward.

According to the configuration of the first embodiment,
The external optical connector 112 and the optical adapter 109b are connected by connecting the external optical connector 112 from the horizontal direction to the optical adapter 1.
It can be easily done by inserting into 09b, and at the time of installation,
The external optical cable 111 is laid in the vertical direction as it is without extending in the horizontal direction. Therefore, the area occupied by the external optical cable 111 during installation can be reduced, and the space in front of the front panel can be reduced.

Second Embodiment A second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.
Reference numeral 201 denotes a micro switch for cutting off an optical signal flowing through the optical connector 109a, which is attached to the front panel 104. The other configurations are similar to those of the first embodiment, and therefore the same reference numerals are given and the description thereof is omitted.

The operation of the second embodiment will be described. If the external optical connector 112 is removed from the optical adapter 109b while the optical connector 109a is in the live state, an optical signal is emitted to the outside. The operator uses the optical adapter 1 while the light is radiated.
If it is directed toward the connector insertion port of 09b, the optical signal may enter the operator's eyes and be dangerous. Therefore, in the second embodiment, when an operator rotates the optical adapter box 105, the optical signal flowing to the optical connector 109a is cut off so that the optical signal does not enter the eyes. There is. The initial state of this second embodiment is shown in FIG.
The external optical connector 112 is already connected to the optical adapter 109b as shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 05 is in a state of hanging on the rotary shaft 108. At this time, the micro switch 201 is the optical adapter box 10
The front panel 1 is received by this force.
04 It is pushed into the inside. When the micro switch 201 is pushed into the front panel 104, an optical signal flows to the optical connector 109a.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9B, when the user rotates the optical adapter box 105 in the upward direction from the initial state, the microswitch 201 does not receive any force from the optical adapter box 105, and the optical connector box 105 receives the optical connector. 109a
The optical signal flowing through is disconnected. In this state, the user inserts / removes the external optical connector 112 from the optical adapter 109b.

With the above arrangement, when the user rotates the optical adapter box 105 upward, the optical signal flowing through the optical connector 109a is cut off. Therefore, the operator can connect the optical adapter 109b to the external connector 11
Even if the number 2 is omitted, the optical signal is not emitted to the operator's eyes, so that the safety can be improved.

Third Embodiment The configuration of the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Figure 10
Connect the tray 106 of the optical adapter box 105 used in this embodiment and the connecting portion of the support member 107 to the rotary shaft 10.
It is the figure seen from the axial direction of 8. In this figure, 301
Is a projection provided on the support member 107, 302 is an arc-shaped stop window provided at a predetermined position on the tray 106, and the projection 301 is penetrated. The other configurations are similar to those of the first embodiment, and therefore the description thereof is omitted.

The operation of the third embodiment will be described. When the user lifts the optical adapter box 105, the tray 10
6 rotates with respect to the support member 107. When the tray 106 rotates, the stop window 302 moves upward in accordance with the movement of the tray 106. When the other end surface of the stop window 302 moves to the protrusion 301, the tray 106 is prevented from moving. That is, the rotation range of the tray is restricted, and the movement of the adapter box 105 stops at a predetermined position. The rotation range of the tray 106 is preferably 45 ° or less from the viewpoint of worker safety, but is preferably about 70 ° to 80 ° considering the ease of connection between the optical adapter 109b and the external optical connector 112.

With such a configuration, even if the user lifts the optical adapter box 105 while the optical connector 109a is in a live state, the optical adapter box 1
Since the movement of 05 is stopped at a predetermined position, the optical signal is not emitted to the eyes of the user, and it is possible to easily realize a safer optical communication package.

Fourth Embodiment The configuration of the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 to 13. In the fourth embodiment, the optical adapter box 401 is attached to the front panel 104. The internal configuration of the optical adapter box 401 will be described. 402a
And 402b are trays used in the fourth embodiment, 403
a and 403b are corresponding trays 402a and 402b
Is attached to the optical adapter, 404 is a supporting member having a plurality of openings, and 405a and 405b are supporting members 40.
A rotary shaft 406 that rotatably supports the trays 402a and 402b by penetrating the hole of No. 4 is a case capable of enclosing a plurality of trays. Note that the trays 402a, 40a
2b, the optical adapters 403a and 403b, and the rotating shaft 40.
5a and 405b may be the same as the tray 106, the optical adapter 109b, and the rotating shaft 108 used in the first embodiment, respectively.

According to the above configuration, the optical adapters can be provided in multiple stages in a space-saving manner, so that it is possible to connect the board and many external devices in a space-saving manner.

Fifth Embodiment The structure of the optical communication package of the fifth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 14 to 17. 501 is an optical adapter box,
502 is an optical adapter box 501 as shown in FIG.
The front panel has a concave portion 502a provided in a part of its shape so that the optical adapter box 501 can be installed so that the case of the optical adapter box 501 is flush with the front panel 502 at the time of installation. A rotary shaft 503 penetrates the side surface of the front panel 502, and rotatably supports the tray of the optical adapter box 501. Further, as shown in FIG. 16, the micro switch 201 is attached to the concave portion of the front panel 502.
As shown in FIG. 7, when the optical adapter box 501 is flush with the front panel 502, the micro switch 2
01 is pushed into the concave surface of the front panel 502. The other configurations and operations are the same as those in the second embodiment, and therefore their explanations are omitted.

According to the above configuration, the optical adapter box 501 does not project from the front panel 502, and therefore the optical adapter box 501 is less likely to be damaged during the work.

Embodiment 6 The structure of the optical communication package of Embodiment 6 will be described with reference to FIG. Reference numeral 601 denotes an electromagnetic wave absorbing member that closes a lead-in window provided on the front panel 502 in order to penetrate the substrate optical cable 103 that connects the substrate and the optical adapter. The other configuration is the same as that of the fifth embodiment, and therefore the description is omitted. Although the electromagnetic wave absorbing member 601 is attached to the front panel 502 here, it may be attached to the front panel 104 as shown in FIG.

With such a configuration, the front panel 5
The electromagnetic wave absorbing member 601 closes the lead-in window provided on the No. 02, so that the electromagnetic wave is absorbed by the front panel 502.
The amount of electromagnetic waves received by the worker can be reduced without leaking to the outside.

[0037]

According to the present invention, since the insertion port of the optical adapter rotates, it is possible to easily connect the external optical connector to the optical adapter, and the insertion port of the optical adapter faces downward during installation. Since it is mounted on the front panel, the area of the front surface of the front panel occupied by the external optical cable can be reduced.

According to the present invention, since the insertion port of the optical adapter rotates by a predetermined angle, the external optical connector can be easily connected to the optical adapter, and the connector insertion port of the optical adapter can be directed to the operator's eyes. It can be prevented. Furthermore, since the insertion port of the optical adapter is attached downward at the time of installation, it is possible to reduce the area of the front surface of the front panel occupied by the external optical cable.

According to the present invention, the switch for cutting off the optical signal flowing to the optical connector connected to the optical adapter when the connector insertion port of the optical adapter is rotated downward by a predetermined angle from the state in which the connector insertion port faces downward, It is possible to prevent the optical signal from being emitted to the eyes of the worker when the connector insertion port of the adapter is directed to the eyes of the worker.

According to the present invention, since the case is attached to the tray, it is possible to prevent dust from entering the optical adapter from above the optical adapter.

According to the present invention, since the adapter box and the front panel are mounted flush with each other, the risk of damaging the adapter box can be reduced.

According to the present invention, since the front panel window is provided with the electromagnetic wave absorbing member, the amount of electromagnetic waves leaking to the outside of the front panel can be reduced.

According to the present invention, since the optical adapters are provided in multiple stages, the board can be connected to many external devices in a space-saving manner.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an internal configuration diagram of the optical adapter box according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged configuration diagram of a connecting portion between the front panel and the tray according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a case shape according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another case shape according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a storage shelf to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a method for connecting an optical adapter and an external optical connector according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view around a front panel according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a side view showing an operation when rotating the tray according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a side view showing a relationship with a supporting member at the time of rotating a tray according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an optical adapter box according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram of the inside of an optical adapter box according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a case shape according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a configuration diagram at the time of installation according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the shape of a front panel according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a configuration diagram when a connector is connected according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a sectional view of the periphery of a front panel for an adapter box according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a configuration diagram of a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a configuration diagram of a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

101: substrate 104, 502: Front panel 105, 401, 501: Optical adapter box 106, 402a, 402b: trays 109a: optical connector 109b, 403a, 403b: optical adapter 110a, 110b, 406: Case 112: External optical connector 113: Package for optical communication 114: Storage shelf 201: Micro switch 301: protrusion 302: Stop window 601: Electromagnetic wave absorbing member

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F-term (reference) 2H038 AA21 CA32                 4E352 AA08 AA16 BB04 BB07 BB10                       DR05 DR22 DR24 GG09 GG11                       GG12 GG15 GG25                 5E348 AA03 AA07 EF03 EF04 EF16                       EF26 EF39 EF42 EF47 EH05                       FF03

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A package for optical communication arranged side by side in a storage shelf, a front panel attached to an end surface of a substrate, a tray rotatably attached to the front panel, and a tray attached to the tray, An optical adapter connectable to an external optical connector is provided, and when the external optical connector and the optical adapter are connected, the tray is rotated so that the external optical connector can be inserted into the optical adapter from the horizontal direction, and at the time of installation, An optical communication package in which the connector insertion port of the optical adapter faces downward. 2. An optical communication package arranged side by side in a storage shelf, a front panel attached to an end surface of a board, a tray rotatably attached to the front panel, and an tray attached to the tray, An optical adapter that can be connected to an external optical connector and a member that restricts a rotation range of the tray with respect to the front panel are provided. When the external optical connector and the optical adapter are connected, the tray is rotated by a predetermined angle and externally rotated. An optical communication package in which an optical connector is inserted into an optical adapter, and a connector insertion port of the optical adapter faces downward when installed. 3. The switch according to claim 1, further comprising a switch for cutting off an optical signal flowing to the optical connector connected to the optical adapter when the connector insertion port of the optical adapter is rotated by a predetermined angle from the downward facing state. The optical communication package according to claim 2. 4. The package for optical communication according to claim 1, further comprising a case that covers the optical adapter attached to the tray. 5. The optical communication according to claim 4, wherein a recess is formed in the front panel so that the front panel is flush with the case that covers the optical adapter, and the tray and the optical adapter are housed in the recess. package. 6. The light according to claim 1, wherein a window of a front panel through which an optical cable connecting the substrate and the optical adapter is penetrated is covered with an electromagnetic wave absorbing member. Communication package. 7. The package for optical communication according to claim 1, wherein the optical adapter is provided in multiple stages.