JP2005258284A - Optical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical connector of which the number of parts is small, mounting is easily conducted, optical loss is minimized and reliability is secured. <P>SOLUTION: When one optical connector housing 4 and the other optical connector housing 5, having a lever member 7 are engaged, projected pins 6 and 6 of the optical connector housing 4 are inserted into cam holes 53 and 53 of the lever member 7 in a first step of the engaging process. Then, in the next step, the lever member 7 is turningly operated along a hold down direction R, the projected pins 6 and 6 are guided by the cam holes 53 and 53, and the optical connector housing 4 is pulled into the optical connector housing 5. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical connector for optically coupling optical fibers.

In order to reduce the optical loss of the optical coupling portion in optical communication, a structure that biases the ferrule using a biasing force of a spring to minimize the gap of the optical coupling portion is disclosed in Patent Document 1 below. Technologies are known.
JP 11-174277 A (page 4-5, FIG. 1)

  By the way, in the above prior art, since a spring and a pressing member for pressing the spring are required, when using the above prior art, parts management becomes complicated and it takes time to assemble. It has the problem of hanging. In addition, since the spring must be pierced through the optical fiber before the ferrule is attached, there is a problem in that a manufacturing loss is caused when the spring is forgotten to be attached. Furthermore, when the optical fiber is pulled by some external force, the spring contracts, and there is a problem that a large gap is generated that increases optical loss.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an optical connector that has a small number of components and can be easily assembled, further minimizes optical loss and ensures reliability.

  The optical connector of the present invention according to claim 1, which has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, includes one optical connector housing and the other optical connector housing that fit together in a state in which the ferrule of the end of the optical fiber is accommodated and locked. The one optical connector housing is formed with a protruding pin that is orthogonal to the fitting direction, and the other optical connector housing has a cam hole into which the protruding pin is inserted and in the push-down direction. A lever member is provided for moving the one optical connector housing in the pulling direction when it is rotated.

  According to the present invention having such a feature, when one optical connector housing is fitted to the other optical connector housing provided with the lever member, the cam of the lever member is formed in the first stage of the fitting process. The protruding pin of one optical connector housing is inserted into the hole. When the lever member is rotated in the next stage, that is, the lever member is rotated in this state from this state, the protruding pin is guided to the cam hole, and one optical connector housing is drawn toward the other optical connector housing. At this time, since the ferrule of the optical fiber terminal is accommodated and locked in one optical connector housing and the other optical connector housing, the ferrule accommodated and locked in one optical connector housing is the other optical connector. It is drawn toward the ferrule accommodated and locked in the housing.

  The optical connector according to a second aspect of the present invention is the optical connector according to the first aspect, wherein when the lever member is turned, the tips of the ferrules are just in surface contact with each other or pressed against each other. The size of each part is set as described above, and a deformation part is formed on the one optical connector housing side and / or the other optical connector housing side to absorb the force generated by the pressing by deformation. Yes.

  According to the present invention having such a feature, when the turning operation of the lever member is completed, the gap between the ferrule tips is always zero. In addition, the formation position of a deformation | transformation part shall be set to at least one of one optical connector housing, the other optical connector housing, and a lever member. Specifically, examples include using the elastic force of the locking portion with respect to the ferrule, crafting the shape of the locking portion, or making the cam hole of the lever member partially deformable. Shall.

  An optical connector according to a third aspect of the present invention is the optical connector according to the first or second aspect, wherein the locking portion of the ferrule in the one optical connector housing is covered with the other optical connector housing, The other optical connector housing has a structure in which a locking portion of the ferrule is covered with the lever member.

  According to the present invention having such a feature, the ferrule is prevented from being unlocked when the one optical connector housing and the other optical connector housing are fitted. In other words, an increase in the gap between the ferrule tips is prevented in the fitted state.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is an effect that the number of parts can be reduced. Moreover, there exists an effect that an assembly | attachment can be made easy. Furthermore, there is an effect that the optical loss can be minimized.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is an effect that the optical loss can always be minimized.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, there is an effect that the reliability of optical coupling can be ensured.

Hereinafter, description will be given with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of an optical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention before fitting. 2 is an overall perspective view in the middle of fitting, FIG. 3 is an overall perspective view after fitting, FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the ferrule, FIG. 5 is a sectional view of one optical connector, and FIG. 6 is the other optical connector. 7 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to the state of FIG. 2, FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to the state of FIG. 3, FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the locking portion of FIG. Sectional drawing which shows the state which absorbed force with the lance, FIG.11 and FIG.12 is explanatory drawing regarding rotation operation of the raising direction of a lever member.

  1 to 9, reference numeral 1 denotes an optical connector according to the present invention for optically coupling optical fibers 2 and 2. The optical connector 1 of the present invention is fitted to each other in a state where the ferrules 3 and 3 attached to the ends of the optical fibers 2 and 2 are accommodated and locked (the arrow P is the fitting direction and the arrow Q is the separating direction). The optical connector housing 4 is provided with one optical connector housing 4 and the other optical connector housing 5. In other words, the optical connector 1 of the present invention includes one optical connector 1a and the other optical connector 1b. In the optical connector 1 of the present invention having such a configuration, a pair of protruding pins 6 and 6 are integrally formed on one optical connector housing 4, and the other optical connector housing 5 is connected to the other optical connector housing 5. On the other hand, a lever member 7 is provided which is freely rotatable (the arrow line R is in the pushing-down direction and the arrow line S is in the pushing-up direction). One feature is that the design is such that the gap between them is always zero. Hereinafter, each component will be described.

  The optical fibers 2 and 2 are the same, and in this embodiment, known POF (Plastic Optical Fiber) or PCS (Polymer Clad Silica) is adopted. The optical fiber 2 includes a central core and a clad provided on the core. A primary sheath 8 and a secondary sheath 9 are provided on the optical fiber 2. In addition, what consists of these structures shall be called the optical fiber strand 10 below. At each end of the optical fiber 10, the primary sheath 8 and the secondary sheath 9 are removed with a predetermined length.

  The ferrule 3 is a substantially cylindrical member attached to each end of the optical fiber 10 and is formed so that the inner diameter is divided into three stages. The optical fiber 2 is inserted into the portion 11 having the smallest inner diameter of the ferrule 3. Further, the primary sheath 8 is inserted into a portion 12 having an intermediate inner diameter. Further, the secondary sheath 9 is inserted into the portion 13 having the largest inner diameter. The ferrule 3 and the optical fiber 10 are fixed by, for example, a thermosetting adhesive (the adhesive is used when the material of the ferrule 3 is made of synthetic resin, and in the case of metal, it is fixed by caulking. Shall be made).

  A flat tip surface 14 is formed at the tip of the ferrule 3 so as to be parallel to a surface orthogonal to the fitting direction P. A portion 11 having the smallest inner diameter of the ferrule 3 is formed in the center of the tip surface 14. In the middle of each ferrule 3, a flange portion 15 projecting in an annular shape is formed. On the front surface of the flange portion 15, an abutting surface 15 a that abuts against a stopper 27 described later is formed. Further, on each rear surface of the flange portion 15, a locking surface 15 b that is locked by a lance 26 described later is formed. A second flange portion 16 projecting annularly is formed at the rear portion of the ferrule 3.

  Between the front end surface 14 of the ferrule 3 and the flange portion 15, an annular tapered surface 17 and annular and stepped front end side cylindrical portions 18 and 19 are formed continuously. An annular rear end side cylinder portion 20 is formed between the flange portion 15 and the second flange portion 16 of the ferrule 3. The outer diameter of the rear end side cylinder part 20 is formed so that the size of the locking surface 15b can be increased. The flange portion 15 and the second flange portion 16 are formed to have the same diameter.

  The one optical connector housing 4 is a resin molded product molded using a synthetic tree material, and is formed in a cylindrical shape as shown. One optical connector housing 4 includes a ferrule housing chamber 25, a lance 26 and a stopper 27, upper guide protrusions 28 and 28, lower guide protrusions 29 and 29 (only one shown), a lever locking release protrusion 30, 30, a dust cap locking protrusion 31, and protruding pins 6 and 6 are formed.

  The ferrule housing chamber 25 is formed according to the shape of the ferrule 3. That is, from the middle to the front end of the ferrule housing chamber 25, the ferrule 3 is formed in accordance with the size of the front end side cylindrical portion 19. Further, from the middle to the rear end of the ferrule housing chamber 25, it is formed in accordance with the sizes of the flange portion 15 and the second flange portion 16 of the ferrule 3. The ferrule housing chamber 25 is formed in a stepped shape having different inner diameters at the front and rear, and the stepped portion serves as a stopper 27 for the ferrule 3.

  The lance 26 is an arm-like portion having flexibility, and is formed so as to exist below the one optical connector housing 4 and the rear side of the ferrule housing chamber 25. The lance 26 is formed in a shape that bends outward of one optical connector housing 4 when the ferrule 3 is allowed to pass. When the lance 26 returns to its original state from the bent state, the locking surface of the ferrule 3 It is formed in a shape that hooks 15b.

  The upper guide protrusions 28 and 28 and the lower guide protrusions 29 and 29 are piece-like portions guided by guide grooves 37 and 38 (to be described later) of the other optical connector housing 5 at the time of fitting. , 28 are formed in the upper part and the middle of one optical connector housing 4, and the lower guide projections 29, 29 are formed in the lower part and the front end side of one optical connector housing 4 with a predetermined interval.

  The lever locking release protrusions 30 and 30 are formed on the side and in the middle of one optical connector housing 4. The lever locking release protrusions 30 and 30 have a function of releasing the temporarily locked state of the lever member 7 when fitted. The dust cap locking projection 31 is formed on the upper side of one optical connector housing 4 and in front of the upper guide projections 28 and 28. The dust cap locking projection 31 has a function for locking a dust cap (not shown). The dust cap is a member for preventing dust from adhering to the end face of the optical fiber 2 and the like until, for example, before fitting.

  The protruding pins 6 and 6 are formed on the side and in the middle of one optical connector housing 4. Further, the projecting pins 6 and 6 project in a direction perpendicular to the fitting direction P and are sized to be inserted into cam holes 53 and 53 (to be described later) of the lever member 7. In addition, the protruding pins 6 and 6 of this form are comprised by the column-shaped part and the larger-diameter and thinner disk-shaped part than this.

  The other optical connector housing 5 is a resin molded product molded using a synthetic tree material, and has a fitting portion 35 and a receiving portion 36 coupled to the fitting portion 35 at the front and rear. The shape is as shown in the figure. The fitting portion 35 is formed as a portion where fitting with one optical connector housing 4 is performed. Such a fitting portion 35 is formed in a size that can cover at least a part of the lance 26 of the one optical connector housing 4 when the one optical connector housing 4 is inserted and fitted together. Yes.

  In the fitting portion 35, a guide groove 37, guide grooves 38 and 38 formed on the opposite side of the guide groove 37, slits 39 and 39, and a lever rotation shaft (not shown) are formed. The guide groove 37 is a groove for guiding the upper guide protrusions 28, 28 of one optical connector housing 4, and is formed in the upper part of the fitting portion 35. The guide grooves 38, 38 are grooves for guiding the lower guide protrusions 29, 29 of one optical connector housing 4, and are formed in the lower part of the fitting portion 35. The slits 39, 39 are portions that guide the protruding pins 6, 6 of one optical connector housing 4, and are formed on the side portion of the fitting portion 35. A lever rotation shaft (not shown) is a portion for rotatably mounting the lever member 7 and is formed to protrude outward behind the slits 39 and 39.

  In the accommodating portion 36, a ferrule accommodating chamber 40, a lance 41 and a stopper 42, and a lever locking portion 43 are formed. The ferrule housing chamber 40 is formed so that the front end thereof opens to the back wall 44 of the fitting portion 35. The opening portion of the back wall 44 is formed in accordance with the size when a substantially cylindrical sleeve 45 is attached to the outside of the distal end side cylindrical portion 18 of the ferrule 3. The rear side of the ferrule housing chamber 40 is formed in accordance with the sizes of the flange portion 15 and the second flange portion 16 of the ferrule 3 with respect to the opening portion of the back wall 44. The ferrule housing chamber 40 is formed in a stepped shape whose inner diameter is different between the opening portion of the back wall 44 and the rear thereof. The stepped portion serves as a stopper 42 for the ferrule 3 and the sleeve 45.

  The sleeve 45 is configured such that the distal end side cylinder portion 18 of the ferrule 3 housed in one optical connector housing 4 is inserted and guided when fitted.

  The lance 41 is a flexible arm-shaped part, and is formed so as to exist in the upper part of the accommodating part 36. Further, the lance 41 is formed in a shape that bends outward of the housing portion 36 when the ferrule 3 is passed, and when the lance 41 returns to its original state from the bent state, the locking surface 15b of the ferrule 3 is It is formed in a shape that can be hooked. The lever locking portion 43 is formed at the upper part of the accommodating portion 36 and behind the lance 41. The lever locking portion 43 is formed as a portion for locking a locking projection 56 described later of the lever member 7.

  The lever member 7 is attached so as to be supported by a lever rotation shaft (not shown) of the fitting portion 35, a pair of lever base portions 50, 50, a connecting portion 51 for connecting them, and a pair of rotations. It has the operation parts 52 and 52 and is formed in the shape as shown in the figure. The lever bases 50 and 50 are portions arranged so as to face the side portions of the fitting portion 35, respectively, and have cam holes 53 and 53 that open in a desired path. Temporary locking portions 54 and 54 are formed on the lever base portions 50 and 50. The temporary locking portions 54, 54 are hooked on the edges of the slits 39, 39 of the fitting portion 35, and are temporarily locked by the action of the lever locking release protrusions 30, 30 of one optical connector housing 4. The state is to be released. It should be noted that the opening end portions of the cam holes 53 and 53 are designed so as to match the positions of the slits 39 and 39 of the fitting portion 35 when the lever member 7 is temporarily locked. The cam holes 53 and 53 are configured by a hole for guiding the cylindrical portion of the projecting pins 6 and 6 and a hole for guiding the disk-shaped portion.

  The connecting portion 51 is formed as a plate-like portion that can cover the entire upper portion of the accommodating portion 36. In such a connecting portion 51, a slit 55 is formed from the rear end toward the front end. Further, in the vicinity of the rear end of the connecting portion 51, a locking projection 56 that is locked to the lever locking portion 43 of the housing portion 36 is formed. The locking projection 56 is formed so as to be continuous with the slit 55. The rotation operation parts 52 and 52 are piece-like parts and are formed so as to be continuous with the side part of the connecting part 51. The rotation operation parts 52 and 52 are used when the lever member 7 is operated to rotate. The shape of the rotation operation parts 52 and 52 will be described later.

  The lever member 7 and the projecting pins 6 and 6 are similar in structure to the LIF mechanism used in the electrical connector, but their uses are completely different. In other words, the LIF mechanism of the electrical connector is used to reduce the insertion force between a large number of terminals, but in the case of the present invention, it is used as a puller for always minimizing optical loss. Yes.

  In the above configuration, when the ferrule 3 is attached to the end of the optical fiber 10 and the ferrule 3 is inserted from the rear end of one optical connector housing 4 toward the inside, the ferrule 3 is accommodated in the ferrule accommodating chamber 25, As a result, the assembly of one optical connector 1a constituting the optical connector 1 is completed. The ferrule 3 is restricted from moving in the fitting direction P and the detaching direction Q by the lance 26 and the stopper 27.

  Similarly to the above, when the ferrule 3 is attached to the end of the optical fiber strand 10 and the ferrule 3 is inserted from the rear end of the other optical connector housing 5 into the housing portion 36, the ferrule 3 is moved to the ferrule housing chamber 40. As a result, the assembly of the other optical connector 1b constituting the optical connector 1 is completed. The ferrule 3 is restricted from moving in the fitting direction P and the detaching direction Q by the lance 41 and the stopper 42. At this time, the lever member 7 is in a temporarily locked state in which the connecting portion 51 and the like are lifted.

  Next, when one optical connector 1a is moved in the fitting direction P with respect to the other optical connector 1b to start fitting for optical coupling, first, the one optical connector housing 4 is moved. It is inserted into the fitting portion 35 of the other optical connector housing 5. At this time, the lower guide protrusions 29 and 29 of one optical connector housing 4 are guided by the guide grooves 38 and 38 of the fitting portion 35 of the other optical connector housing 5. When the projecting pins 6 and 6 of one optical connector housing 4 are inserted and guided into the slits 39 and 39 of the fitting portion 35 of the other optical connector housing 5, the cam holes 53 and 53 is inserted into the open end. At this time, the upper guide protrusions 28, 28 of one optical connector housing 4 are guided by the guide groove 37 of the fitting portion 35 of the other optical connector housing 5, and the lever locking release protrusion of one optical connector housing 4. 30 and 30 press the temporary locking portions 54 and 54 of the lever member 7 to release the temporary locking state of the lever member 7. The lever member 7 is in a state in which a turning operation of pushing down in the direction of the arrow R is possible.

  Subsequently, when a rotation operation is performed to push down the lever member 7 in the direction of the arrow R, the projecting pins 6 and 6 are guided to the cam holes 53 and 53. Accordingly, one optical connector 1a is drawn toward the other optical connector 1b. That is, one optical connector housing 4 is drawn toward the other optical connector housing 5, and the front end surface 14 of the ferrule 3 accommodated in the one optical connector housing 4 is ferrule accommodated in the other optical connector housing 5. 3 toward the front end surface 14 of the third.

  Finally, when the locking projection 56 of the lever member 7 is locked to the lever locking portion 43 of the housing portion 36 of the other optical connector housing 5, the optical coupling is completed. At this time, the engaging portion (lance 26) with respect to the ferrule 3 accommodated in one optical connector housing 4 is covered by the fitting portion 35 of the other optical connector housing 5. Further, the locking portion (lance 41) for the ferrule 3 accommodated in the other optical connector housing 5 is also covered by the connecting portion 51 of the lever member 7. In either case, the lock on the ferrule 3 cannot be released.

  Here, the optical coupling portion will be described. When the optical connector 1 of the present invention completes the turning operation of pushing down the lever member 7 in the direction of the arrow R, the front end surfaces 14 and 14 of the ferrules 3 and 3 are aligned with each other. The dimensions of each part are set so that the surface contact or the front end surfaces 14 and 14 are pressed against each other. Accordingly, in the optical connector 1 of the present invention, when the rotation operation of the lever member 7 is completed, the gap between the front end surfaces 14 and 14 of the ferrules 3 and 3 is always zero. In addition, when the end surfaces 14 and 14 are pressed against each other, the force generated by the pressing is absorbed by the deformation of the lance 26 as shown in FIG. 10 (the deformation is not limited to this). For example, the cam holes 53 and 53 may be partially deformed). The lance 26 shown in FIG. 10 corresponds to a deformed portion described in the claims.

  The push-up rotation operation of the lever member 7 in the arrow S direction (see FIG. 1) will be described with reference to FIGS. The rotation operation parts 52 and 52 are formed so that one wall thickness is thinner than the other wall thickness (the right side is thin in the figure). Further, a gap 57 due to a thickness difference is formed between the one rotation operation unit 52 and the storage unit 36. In such a structure, when the turning operation parts 52 and 52 are picked and a force is applied inward, the one turning operation part 52 is bent by the gap 57 and the slit 55, and accordingly, the locking operation part 52 is locked. The locked state of the protrusion 56 is released. And the lever member 7 will be in the state which can be pushed up in the arrow S direction (refer FIG. 1).

  As described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 12, the optical connector 1 of the present invention does not require a conventionally used spring and a pressing member for pressing the spring. As a result, the number of components can be reduced. Further, as the number of parts is reduced, there is an effect that the assembly can be made easier than before. Furthermore, since the gap between the tips of the ferrules 3 and 3 is always zero, there is an effect that optical loss can be minimized. Furthermore, since the locked state of the ferrules 3 and 3 is stable even if pulling occurs due to some external force, it is possible to prevent the generation of a large gap that increases optical loss.

  In addition, it goes without saying that the present invention can be variously modified without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Needless to say, the present invention can also be applied to a multi-core type optical connector that optically couples a plurality of optical fibers.

It is a whole perspective view before fitting showing one embodiment of the optical connector by the present invention. It is a whole perspective view in the middle of fitting. It is the whole perspective view after a fitting. It is sectional drawing of a ferrule. It is sectional drawing of one optical connector. It is sectional drawing of the other optical connector. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to the state of FIG. 2. It is sectional drawing corresponding to the state of FIG. It is an expanded sectional view of the latching | locking part of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which absorbed the force which arises by pressing with the lance. It is explanatory drawing (figure seen from the back before latch release) regarding rotation operation of the pushing-up direction of a lever member. It is explanatory drawing (figure seen from the back after latch release) regarding rotation operation of the raising direction of a lever member.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Optical connector 2 Optical fiber 3 Ferrule 4 One optical connector housing 5 The other optical connector housing 6 Projection pin 7 Lever member 8 Primary sheath 9 Secondary sheath 10 Optical fiber strand 14 Tip surface (tip)
15 flange portion 15a contact surface 15b locking surface 16 second flange portion 25 ferrule housing chamber 26 lance (deformation portion, locking portion)
27 Stopper 30 Lever lock release projection 35 Fitting portion 36 Storage portion 39 Slit 40 Ferrule storage chamber 41 Lance (locking portion)
42 Stopper 43 Lever locking portion 44 Back wall 45 Sleeve 50 Lever base 51 Connecting portion 52 Rotating operation portion 53 Cam hole 54 Temporary locking portion 56 Locking protrusion 57 Gap

Claims (3)

One optical connector housing and the other optical connector housing that fit together in a state in which the ferrule of the end of the optical fiber is housed and locked,
The one optical connector housing has a protruding pin that is orthogonal to the fitting direction, and
The other optical connector housing has a cam hole into which the protruding pin is inserted, and is provided with a lever member that moves the one optical connector housing in the pulling direction when operated to rotate in the push-down direction. connector. The optical connector according to claim 1,
The size of each part is set so that the front ends of the ferrules are just in surface contact with each other or the front ends are pressed against each other at the completion of the rotation operation of the lever member, and the one optical connector housing side and / or the other An optical connector characterized in that a deforming portion for absorbing the force generated by the pressing by deformation is formed on the optical connector housing side. The optical connector according to claim 1 or 2,
The locking portion of the ferrule in the one optical connector housing is covered with the other optical connector housing, and the locking portion of the ferrule in the other optical connector housing is covered with the lever member. Optical connector.

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