JP2004334127A - Optical connector plug and method of assembling optical connector plug - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical connector plug which can be applied to an MU connector and is capable of smoothly rotating a ferrule, and to provide a method of assembling the optical connector plug. <P>SOLUTION: The optical connector plug 10 is provided with: a ferrule 11; a spring 12 which energizes the ferrule 11; a holding member 13 which holds the spring 12; a rotation member 14 which has connection parts 31, 31 with the ferrule 11 and is rotatable independent of the holding member 13; and a plug frame 15 which contains the holding member 13 and the rotation member 14. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an optical connector plug used for connecting optical cables for an optical communication system and an optical connector plug assembling method.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As an optical connector plug, the optical connector plug 50 shown in FIG. The both ends of the coil spring 55 are hooked on the stop ring 53, and a stop ring 53 is provided on the rear side of the holder 52. The front part of the stop ring 53 is pushed into the plug frame 56 from the rear end opening, and the locking groove 57 of the holder 52 is formed. , 58 are engaged with the engagement projections 59, 60 of the stop ring 53.
[0003]
Further, when the stop ring 53 is pushed in, the annular ridge 63 of the stop ring 53 is fitted into the locking holes 61 and 62 of the plug frame 56. Since the outer peripheral edge portion of the annular ridge 63 is fitted into the locking holes 61 and 62, the stop ring 53 is rotatable around the axis with respect to the plug frame 56, and the holder 52 is rotated by the rotation of the stop ring 53. , Ferrule 64 can be rotated in the direction around the axis. At this time, the ferrule 64, the coil spring 55, the stop ring 53, and the boot 65 rotate integrally by 360 degrees.
[0004]
In such an optical connector plug 50, after adjusting the optical axis shift of the ferrule 64 steplessly using a rotating member, the adjustment position is fixed by the pressing force of the coil spring 55 against the holder 52. However, only by the pressing force of the coil spring 55, the optimal position moves when the boot 65 or the like is rotated after assembly, so that the adhesive is filled between the stop ring 53 and the plug frame 56. It is fixed (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2002-139650 (FIG. 1, page 4-6)
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the optical connector plug 50 described in Patent Literature 1, since the stop ring 53 is disposed on the outer peripheral side of the coil spring 55 for fixing and holding the ferrule 64, the outer diameter of the stop ring 53 increases. I have. Therefore, the entire optical connector plug 50 becomes large, and cannot be applied as an MU connector using a polarization maintaining optical fiber (PMF).
Further, in the optical connector plug 50 described in Patent Document 1, when the stop ring 53 is rotated around the axis with respect to the plug frame 56 in order to position the ferrule 64, the coil spring 55 Since the stop ring 53 is directly locked, a large amount of elastic repulsion of the coil spring 55 is applied to the stop ring 53, which makes it difficult to rotate the stop ring 53 smoothly, and in particular, a predetermined rotation angle is required. It has become difficult to apply it to a polarization maintaining optical fiber.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an optical connector plug and a method of assembling an optical connector plug that can be applied to a MU connector and that can smoothly rotate a ferrule. It is in.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The optical connector plug according to claim 1 of the present invention includes a ferrule, a spring that biases the ferrule, a holding member that holds the spring, and a ferrule that is disposed on an inner peripheral side of the spring. A rotating member having a connecting portion and rotatable independently of the holding member, and a plug frame including the holding member and the rotating member are provided.
[0009]
According to the optical connector plug having the above configuration, the holding member for holding the spring and the rotating member are included in the plug frame, and the rotating member is arranged on the inner peripheral side of the spring. Further, a rotating member having a connection portion with the ferrule rotates independently of the holding member.
Therefore, the holding member and the rotating member are arranged in the plug frame, and the rotating member is arranged on the inner peripheral side of the spring. It can be applied as a MU connector using a fiber (PMF). Further, since the elastic repulsive force of the spring is not directly applied to the rotating member by the holding member independent of the rotating member, the rotating member can be smoothly rotated when the ferrule is rotated.
[0010]
In the optical connector plug according to claim 2 of the present invention, the connecting portion includes at least two locking claws, and the locking claw is disposed on an inner peripheral side of the spring and the holding member. The optical connector plug according to claim 1, wherein the optical connector plug is engaged with the formed engaging groove.
[0011]
According to the optical connector plug having the above-described configuration, the locking claw of the rotating member is disposed on the inner peripheral side of the spring and the holding member, and is assembled by being locked and connected to the locking groove of the ferrule. Is rotated. Thereby, the rotation member can be easily assembled to the ferrule. Also, it is sufficient that at least two locking claws are provided, and in the case where two locking claws are provided, the mounting is performed within a rotation range of 180 degrees, so that there is little possibility that a wrong mounting may occur.
[0012]
The optical connector plug according to claim 3 of the present invention, wherein a polarization maintaining optical fiber is adhesively fixed to the ferrule, and the rotation member rotates in accordance with a direction of a stress applying portion of the polarization maintaining optical fiber. The optical connector plug according to claim 1, wherein the rotation member is fixed to the plug frame after the position is determined.
[0013]
According to the optical connector plug having the above-described configuration, the rotational position of the rotating member is determined according to the direction of the stress applying portion of the polarization maintaining optical fiber bonded and fixed to the ferrule, and then the rotating member is fixed to the plug frame. The direction of the birefringence axis of the polarization maintaining optical fiber can be accurately adjusted, and the polarization maintaining optical fiber can be connected with high accuracy.
[0014]
The method for assembling an optical connector plug according to claim 4 of the present invention includes a step of adjusting the rotation member to a predetermined rotation position, and a step of fixing the rotation member and the plug frame at the adjusted rotation position. It is characterized by having.
[0015]
According to the method of assembling the optical connector plug having the above-described configuration, the ferrule is positioned by adjusting the rotating member to a predetermined rotating position, and the ferrule is positioned by fixing the rotating member to the plug frame at the adjusted rotating position. The ferrule can be arranged in the plug frame without displacement.
[0016]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of an optical connector plug according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of each component showing one embodiment of an optical connector plug and an optical connector assembling method according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the optical connector plug in FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A.
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 1, an optical connector plug 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a ferrule 11, a spring 12, a stop ring (holding member) 13, a rotating member 14, and a plug frame 15. ing.
[0018]
The ferrule 11 includes a holder 16 and a capillary 17. The holder 16 has a disk portion 19 having an outer diameter larger than that of the cylindrical portion 18 formed at an end of the cylindrical portion 18 having a cylindrical shape. The disk portion 19 is formed with two locking grooves 20, 20 cut into concave grooves along the cylinder direction. The locking grooves 20 are opposed to each other at a range of 180 degrees on the circumference of the disk portion 19.
The capillary 18 has a micro hole 21 penetrating the axis thereof, into which an optical fiber (see FIG. 2) 41 from which the coating at the tip of an optical fiber cable (see FIG. 2) 40 has been peeled is inserted. It is then adhesively fixed.
[0019]
The spring 12 is a torsion coil spring, which is smaller than the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion 18 of the ferrule 11, the outer diameter of the insertion cylindrical portion 29 formed on the rotating member 14, and the inner diameter of the insertion hole 23 formed on the stop ring 13. The outer diameter of the ferrule 11 is smaller than the outer diameter of the disk portion 19 of the ferrule 11 and the outer diameter of the spring contact surface 22 formed on the stop ring 13. The spring 12 is externally inserted into the insertion cylindrical portion 29 of the rotating member 14 on the outer peripheral side of the cylindrical portion 18 of the ferrule 11. One end of the spring 12 is in contact with the disk portion 19 of the ferrule 11, and the other end is in contact with the spring contact surface 22 of the stop ring 13. The spring 12 has a function of urging the ferrule.
[0020]
The stop ring 13 is formed in an annular shape, has a spring contact surface 22 at a front end portion, and has an insertion hole 23 at a center portion of the spring contact surface 22. Further, the stop ring 13 has locking projections 24, 24 protruding outward in the radial direction above and below the rear end. The stop ring 13 has an outer diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the housing portion 32 formed on the plug frame 15 and is inserted into the housing portion 32, and the locking projections 24, 24 are formed on the plug frame 15. It is fixed to the plug frame 15 by being locked in the locking holes 33, 33. The stop ring 13 is formed such that the inner diameter of the insertion hole 23 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the insertion tube portion 29 of the rotating member 14, and the insertion tube portion 29 is inserted to support the rotation of the rotating member 14. . The stop ring 13 has a function of holding the spring 12 between the spring contact surface 22 and the ferrule 11.
[0021]
The rotating member 14 is a member having a cylindrical shape, and is smaller than the main body 25 having the first cylindrical portion 26, the second cylindrical portion 27, and the third cylindrical portion 28, and smaller than the first cylindrical portion 26 of the main body 25. And an insertion cylinder portion 29 having an outer diameter and protruding from the main body portion 25. The first cylindrical portion 26 has an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the housing portion 32 of the plug frame 15 and is inserted into the housing portion 32. Since the outer diameter of the insertion cylinder portion 29 is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the insertion hole 23 of the stop ring 13, the insertion cylinder portion 29 is rotatably inserted into the insertion hole 23. Then, a step portion 30 formed between the insertion tube portion 29 and the first tube portion 26 comes into contact with the rear end surface of the stop ring 13.
[0022]
Two engaging claws 31, 31 which are connecting portions are formed at the distal end of the insertion tube portion 29. The locking claws 31, 31 are formed at the distal end of the insertion cylindrical portion 29 so as to correspond to the two locking grooves 20, 20 in the disk portion 19 of the ferrule 11. Therefore, when the locking claws 31, 31 are inserted into the locking grooves 20, 20, the locking claws 31, 31 are engaged in the circumferential direction of the disk portion 19 of the ferrule 11. The rotating member 14 is rotated independently of the stop ring 13, and the rotating force applied to the rotating member 14 is transmitted to the ferrule 11 via the disk portion 19, and rotates the ferrule 11.
[0023]
The plug frame 15 is made of resin, and has a housing portion 32 formed in a round hole shape at an inner peripheral portion thereof. On the upper and lower surfaces of the plug frame 15, locking holes 33, 33 (the locking holes 33 on the lower surface are shown in FIG. 2) corresponding to the locking projections 24, 24 of the stop ring 13 are formed. Further, slits 34, 34 (not shown) on the side surfaces of the plug frame 15 are formed by cutting out from the ends to the positions corresponding to the locking holes 33, 33 (the slits on the back side are not shown). When the stop ring 13 is inserted into the housing portion 32 and the locking projections 24 are locked in the locking holes 33, the upper surface and the lower surface of the plug frame 15 are directed outward. It has a function to make it easily elastically deformed.
[0024]
As shown in FIG. 2, a guide 35 for supporting the disk portion 19 of the ferrule 11 is formed in the receiving portion 32 of the plug frame 15 at a distal end portion away from the locking holes 33, 33. . The guide 35 supports the rotation of the ferrule 11 via the disk portion 19 when the disk portion 19 of the ferrule 11 inserted into the accommodation portion 32 abuts.
[0025]
As shown in FIG. 3, the locking claws 31, 31 of the rotating member 14 inserted into the housing portion 32 of the plug frame 15 are inserted into the two locking grooves 20, 20 in the disk portion 19 of the ferrule 11. Thereby, the ferrule 11 is rotated by the rotational force of the rotating member 14. At this time, when the optical fiber 41 bonded and fixed to the ferrule 11 is the illustrated polarization maintaining optical fiber, the ferrule 11 is rotated by 360 degrees in accordance with the directions of the stress applying portions 41a, 41a in the polarization maintaining optical fiber. Can be done. Then, the rotational position of the ferrule 11 is determined in accordance with the direction of the stress applying portions 41a, 41a in the polarization maintaining optical fiber, and then the rotating member 14 is fixed to the plug frame 15 so that the polarization maintaining optical fiber can be accurately formed. The direction of the birefringent axis can be matched, and the polarization maintaining optical fiber can be connected with high accuracy.
[0026]
In the method of assembling the optical connector plug 10, first, the spring 12 is externally inserted into the cylindrical portion 18 of the ferrule 11.
[0027]
Next, the insertion cylindrical portion 29 of the rotating member 14 is inserted from the rear end face side of the insertion hole 23 of the stop ring 13, and passes through the inner peripheral side of the spring 12 and the outer peripheral side of the cylindrical portion 18 of the ferrule 11. Then, the locking claws 31 are inserted into the locking grooves 20 in the disk portion 19 of the ferrule 11.
[0028]
Then, an assembly including the ferrule 11, the spring 12, the stop ring 13, and the rotating member 14 is inserted into the housing portion 32 of the plug frame 15. As the assembled body is inserted, the disk portion 19 of the ferrule 11 collides with the guide 35 in the accommodation portion 32 and is supported by the disk portion 19 of the ferrule 11 and the spring contact surface 22 of the stop ring 13. The spring 12 is elastically deformed, and the locking projections 24 of the stop ring 13 pressed by the step 30 of the rotating member 14 are fitted into the locking holes 33 of the plug frame 15. Thus, the disc portion 19 of the ferrule 11 is supported by the guide 35, and the stop ring 13 receiving the elastic force of the spring 12 is fixed to the plug frame 15.
[0029]
Subsequently, a step of adjusting the rotation member 14 to a predetermined rotation position and a step of fixing the rotation member 14 and the plug frame 15 at the adjusted rotation position are executed. In the step of adjusting the rotation member 14 to a predetermined rotation position, the ferrule 11 is rotated by the rotation member 14 so as to adjust to the directions of the stress applying portions 41a, 41a in the polarization maintaining optical fiber adhered and fixed to the ferrule 11. Done. Then, in the step of fixing the rotating member 14 and the plug frame 15 at the adjusted rotation position, the rotating member 14 for which the positioning of the ferrule 11 has been completed is fixed to the plug frame 15 by bonding means such as bonding. Thus, the assembly of the optical connector plug 10 is completed.
[0030]
According to the optical connector plug 10 of the present embodiment, the stop ring 13 for holding the spring 12 and the rotating member 14 are included in the plug frame 15, and the rotating member 14 is disposed on the inner peripheral side of the spring 12. You. Further, the rotating member 14 having the connecting portions 31, 31 with the ferrule 11 rotates independently of the stop ring 13.
Therefore, since the stop ring 13 and the rotating member 14 are arranged in the plug frame 15 and the rotating member 14 is arranged on the inner peripheral side of the spring 12, the entire outer diameter is smaller than that of the conventional one. It can be applied as a MU connector using a polarization maintaining optical fiber (PMF). Further, since the elastic repulsive force of the spring 12 is not directly applied to the rotating member 14 by the stop ring 13 independent of the rotating member 14, the rotating member 14 can be smoothly rotated when the ferrule 11 is rotated. Can be.
[0031]
In addition, according to the optical connector plug 10 of the present embodiment, the locking claws 31 of the rotating member 14 are arranged on the inner peripheral side of the spring 12 and the stop ring 13 so that the locking claws 31 are formed in the locking grooves 20 of the ferrule 11. The ferrule 11 is rotated by the rotating member 14 by being locked and connected. Thereby, the rotation member 14 can be easily assembled to the ferrule 11.
[0032]
Further, according to the optical connector plug 10 of the present embodiment, after the rotational position of the rotary member 14 is determined in accordance with the directions of the stress applying portions 41a, 41a of the polarization maintaining optical fiber bonded and fixed to the ferrule 11, By fixing the rotating member 14 to the plug frame 15, the direction of the birefringence axis of the polarization maintaining optical fiber can be accurately adjusted, and the polarization maintaining optical fiber can be connected with high accuracy.
[0033]
Further, according to the method for assembling optical connector plug 10 of the present embodiment, ferrule 11 is positioned by adjusting rotating member 14 to a predetermined rotating position, and rotating member 14 is inserted into plug frame 15 at the adjusted rotating position. By fixing the ferrule 11 to the plug frame 15, the ferrule 11 positioned can be disposed in the plug frame 15 without being displaced.
[0034]
Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and appropriate modifications and improvements can be made.
For example, it is sufficient that at least two locking claws are provided, and in the case where two locking claws are provided, the mounting is performed within a rotation range of 180 degrees, so that the possibility of a wrong mounting can be reduced.
Further, it is preferable that the number of the locking grooves in which the locking claws are locked is increased corresponding to the pair of the locking claws.
As the spring, a torsion coil spring is preferable, but instead of the torsion coil spring, a corrugated leaf spring or a cylindrical rubber member may be used.
[0035]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the optical connector plug of the present invention, the holding member for holding the spring and the rotating member are included in the plug frame, and the rotating member is arranged on the inner peripheral side of the spring. Further, a rotating member having a connection portion with the ferrule rotates independently of the holding member.
Therefore, the holding member and the rotating member are arranged in the plug frame, and the rotating member is arranged on the inner peripheral side of the spring. It can be applied as an MU connector using a fiber (PMF). Further, since the elastic repulsive force of the spring is not directly applied to the rotating member by the holding member independent of the rotating member, the rotating member can be smoothly rotated when the ferrule is rotated.
[0036]
Further, according to the optical connector plug of the present invention, the locking claw of the rotating member is disposed on the inner peripheral side of the spring and the holding member and is locked and connected to the locking groove of the ferrule, so that the rotating member is assembled. Rotates the ferrule. Thereby, the rotation member can be easily assembled to the ferrule.
[0037]
According to the optical connector plug of the present invention, the rotational position of the rotating member is determined in accordance with the direction of the stress applying portion of the polarization maintaining optical fiber adhered and fixed to the ferrule, and then the rotating member is fixed to the plug frame. By doing so, the direction of the birefringence axis of the polarization maintaining optical fiber can be accurately adjusted, and the polarization maintaining optical fiber can be connected with high accuracy.
[0038]
According to the optical connector plug assembling method of the present invention, the ferrule is positioned by adjusting the rotating member to a predetermined rotating position, and the rotating member is fixed to the plug frame at the adjusted rotating position, thereby positioning the ferrule. The ferrule thus set can be arranged in the plug frame without displacement.
[0039]
As described above, it is possible to provide an optical connector plug and an optical connector plug assembling method which can be applied to the MU connector and can rotate the ferrule smoothly.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of each component showing an optical connector plug and an optical connector assembling method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the optical connector plug in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a conventional optical connector plug.
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 10 optical connector plug 11 ferrule 12 spring 13 stop ring (holding member)
14 rotating member 15 plug frame 20 locking groove 31 locking claw (connecting portion)

Claims (4)

A ferrule, a spring for urging the ferrule, a holding member for holding the spring, and a rotating member that is arranged on an inner peripheral side of the spring and that has a connection portion with the ferrule and that is independently rotated by the holding member. An optical connector plug, comprising: a rotatable member; and a plug frame enclosing the holding member and the rotatable member. The connecting portion includes at least two locking claws, and the locking claw is disposed on an inner peripheral side of the spring and the holding member, and is locked and connected to a locking groove formed in the ferrule. The optical connector plug according to claim 1, wherein: A polarization maintaining optical fiber is bonded and fixed to the ferrule, and after determining the rotational position of the rotating member in accordance with the direction of the stress applying section of the polarization maintaining optical fiber, the rotating member is connected to the plug frame. The optical connector plug according to claim 1, wherein the optical connector plug is fixed to the optical connector plug. A method for assembling an optical connector plug, comprising: a step of adjusting the rotation member to a predetermined rotation position; and a step of fixing the rotation member and the plug frame at the adjusted rotation position.

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