JP2005266086A - Optical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical connector capable of suppressing the breakage of a receiving side optical connector by simplifying its structure, having excellent storage capacity and handleability and capable of performing optical connection correspondingly to a plurality of sorts of receiving side optical connectors. <P>SOLUTION: The optical connector 10 is constituted so that latches 14 having engaging claws 14a to be engaged with engaging recessed parts formed on both sides of a fitting recess of a housing for a receiving side optical connector are formed on both side parts 13s of an outer housing 13, an engaging/fitting part 15 to be fitted to the fitting recess of the receiving side optical connector to position the receiving side optical connector is formed on the tip end of the outer housing 13, and when the outer housing 13 is detached from a plug frame 16, the receiving side optical connector can be inserted and engaged into/with a 2nd receiving side optical connector in which the fitting recess having an aperture part narrower than the aperture part of the fitting recess of the receiving side optical connector is formed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical connector used for optical connection of an optical fiber.

Conventionally, as an optical connector used for optical connection of an optical fiber, there is an SC type optical connector (SC: Single fiber Coupling) described in JIS C 5973, an SC2 type optical connector, or the like. These optical connectors include an optical connector plug (male optical connector) and a receptacle or adapter that is a receiving optical connector (female optical connector) for the optical connector plug. The optical connector plug, the receiving optical connector, The optical fiber is optically connected by the fitting and the slide lock structure (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Publication No. 04-054926

In recent years, with the spread of optical fiber communication networks, it is desired that the optical connector can be operated not only by so-called business operators but also by general users. In the SC-type or SC2-type optical connector, the elastic engagement piece for locking the fitting between the optical connectors is provided in the receiving side optical connector, so that the elastic engagement piece is damaged by excessive external force or impact. In this case, the receiving side optical connector provided in the device, the outlet, or the like becomes unusable. If the receiving side optical connector is damaged, it is necessary to repair the device, the outlet, etc., and it takes a lot of time and money to repair the device, which may cause inconvenience to the user. When the receiving side optical connector has a structure that is not easily damaged, the structure becomes complicated, and it is necessary to ensure a large size of the receiving side optical connector. Then, it may be difficult to accommodate the receiving side optical connector in the device, the outlet, or the like, or the design of the device, the outlet, or the like may be restricted.
Further, in the SC type or SC2 type optical connector plug, the end surface of the ferrule protrudes from the housing. For this reason, there is a possibility that the end face of the ferrule may be damaged when the tip of the optical connector is hit against something, and sufficient care is required in handling the optical connector.
Therefore, an optical connector having a novel interface that can solve the above-described problems is desired. However, now that devices and systems using SC-type or SC2-type optical connectors are widespread, considering compatibility with conventional devices and systems, etc., conventional SC-type optical connectors can be optically connected as necessary. It needs to be possible.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and can simplify the structure of the receiving side optical connector to suppress breakage thereof, and is excellent in containability and handleability, and more than one type of receiving side optical connector. It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical connector capable of optical connection corresponding to the above.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention has a plug frame containing a ferrule and an external housing attached to the outer periphery of the plug frame, and the external housing is formed in the housing of the receiving optical connector. An optical connector adapted to be inserted into and fitted into a mating recess, and engaging recesses formed on both sides of the housing of the receiving optical connector on both sides of the outer housing A latch having an engaging claw that can be engaged with the receiving optical connector is provided, and the front end of the outer housing is fitted into a fitting recess of the receiving optical connector and positioned with respect to the receiving optical connector. An opening narrower than the opening of the fitting recess of the receiving-side optical connector by removing the outer housing from the plug frame. The insertion and fitting into the second receiving-side optical connector fitting concave is formed it is possible to provide an optical connector according to claim having.
In this optical connector, the plug frame is provided in the fitting recess of the second receiving optical connector when inserted and fitted into the fitting recess of the second receiving optical connector. A configuration in which an engagement portion that engages with the elastic engagement piece is also formed.
The outer housing is formed with an elastically deformable elastic engagement piece, and the elastic piece engages with a convex portion formed on a side portion of the plug frame, so that the external housing is separated from the plug frame. It is preferable that drop-off is prevented.

According to the optical connector of the present invention, since the latch for operating the attachment / detachment with respect to the receiving side optical connector is provided, the structure of the receiving side optical connector can be simplified and the breakage thereof is suppressed. The receiving optical connector can be accommodated in a relatively small size, and can be easily accommodated in a device, an outlet, or the like, and the spatial constraints are reduced in the design of the device, the outlet, or the like.
By removing the external housing from the plug frame, it becomes possible to insert and fit into the second receiving optical connector having an opening narrower than the opening of the receiving recess of the receiving optical connector. And the like can be ensured.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which an optical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention is connected to a receiving optical connector. 2 to 4 are drawings showing an optical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 2 (a) is a partially cutaway view, FIG. 2 (b) is a front view, and FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway perspective view. FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view. FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an outer housing of the optical connector of FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which the external housing is removed from the optical connector of FIG. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a state in which the external housing is removed from the optical connector of FIG.
8 to 11 are drawings showing an example of the receiving side optical connector. FIGS. 8 and 9 are sectional views, FIG. 10 is an end view, and FIG. 11 is a perspective view. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing a second receiving optical connector. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the optical connector of FIG. 6 is connected to the second receiving-side optical connector.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the optical connector 10 of the present invention is an optical connector plug (male optical connector) having a ferrule 11 and a housing 12 in which the ferrule 11 is accommodated. The receiving optical connector 20 connected to the optical connector 10 includes a housing 22 and a ferrule 21 in which a fitting recess 23 into which the housing 12 of the optical connector 10 is inserted and fitted is formed. The receiving side optical connector 20 is, for example, a female optical connector such as a receptacle or an adapter. Here, the receiving side optical connector 20 is an optical connector receptacle.

  At least the tip of the ferrule 11 of the optical connector 10 is made of a hard material such as zirconia, and the tip of the ferrule 11 is a joining end surface 11a. Inside the ferrule 11, an optical fiber insertion hole (fine hole) 11b opened in the joining end surface 11a is formed, and the optical fiber 11f is inserted and fixed in the optical fiber insertion hole 11b. The optical fiber 11f is not particularly limited. For example, the coating of the tip portion is removed from an optical fiber core wire, an optical fiber strand, an optical fiber cord, an optical fiber cable (for example, an indoor cable or a drop cable), and the like. An exposed bare optical fiber or a short bare optical fiber (connecting optical fiber) other than the optical fiber to be terminated is used. When a connection optical fiber is used, the optical fiber terminated with a connector is optically connected to the connection optical fiber by abutting or the like in the housing of the optical connector.

  In this embodiment, the housing 12 of the optical connector 10 includes an inner housing 12i including a plug frame 16 that houses the ferrule 11 and a rear housing 19 that is fitted to the rear end side of the plug frame 16, and the inner housing 12i. And an outer housing 13 accommodated so as to surround it. The joint end surface 11 a of the ferrule 11 protrudes from the plug frame 16.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6 and the like, the engaging claws of the elastic engaging pieces 34 provided in the fitting recesses 33 of the second receiving side optical connector 30 described later are provided on both sides of the plug frame 16. An engagement portion 16a (a retaining projection) that can be engaged with 34a and a convex portion 16c (engagement portion) that can be engaged with the elastic engagement piece 18 formed on both side portions 13s of the outer housing 13 are formed to protrude. Has been. The edge of the protrusion 16c on the tip end side of the plug frame 16 is an inclined surface 16b inclined toward the recess 16d formed between the engagement portion 16a and the protrusion 16c.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the rear housing 19 is formed on the rear end side of the main body 19 a housed in the outer housing 13 and on the rear end side of the main body 19 a and is more outward than the outer periphery of the main body 19 a. And a protruding flange portion 19b. The step between the main body portion 19a and the flange portion 19b serves as an abutting portion 19c that prevents the housing 13 from falling off when the outer housing 13 abuts.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the outer housing 13 includes a housing main body 13 m having a housing receiving hole 13 i for receiving the inner housing 12 i therein and formed in a cylindrical shape, and both side portions of the housing main body 13 m. 13s has a latch 14 extended from the rear end side, and a projecting piece 15 formed so as to project from the housing body 13m to the front end side (right side in FIG. 5) of the outer housing 13. Elastic engagement pieces 18 are formed on the distal ends of both side portions 13s of the housing main body 13m. These elastic engagement pieces 18 are arranged so as to face each other through the housing accommodation hole 13i.

The outer housing 13 is inserted from the rear end 13b side (left side in FIG. 5) of the outer housing 13 to the front end side (right side in FIG. 6) of the inner housing 12i, and the elastic engagement piece 18 of the outer housing 13 is connected to the plug frame 16. The elastic engagement piece 18 is once elastically bent outward in the width direction of the housing along the inclined surface 16b of the housing and further pushed over the inclined surface 16b until reaching the rear of the convex portion 16c. As shown, the outer housing 13 is disposed between the convex portion 16 c of the plug frame 16 and the abutting portion 19 c of the rear housing 19, and the main body portion 19 a of the rear housing 19 and the rear end portion of the plug frame 16 are located on the outer housing 13. It is accommodated in the housing accommodation hole 13i. For this reason, when the optical connector 10 is connected to the receiving optical connector 20 and when this connection is released, the tip of the elastic engagement piece 18 protrudes from the protrusion of the plug frame 16 under a load required to attach and detach the optical connector 10. The rear end portion 13b of the outer housing 13 hits against the abutting portion 19c of the rear housing 19 and does not come off the inner housing 12i.
In order to remove the external housing 13 from the internal housing 12i, for example, an external force exceeding the load required for attaching / detaching the optical connector 10 is applied to the housing so that the external housing 13 is relatively displaced toward the distal end side of the internal housing 12i. There is a method of releasing the engagement between the elastic engagement piece 18 of the external housing 13 and the convex portion 16c of the plug frame 16.

  A pair of latches 14 having engaging claws 14 a at the tip are provided on both side portions 13 s of the outer housing 13. The latch 14 has an insertion piece 14b on the distal end side and an operation portion 14c on the rear end side, and the operation portion 14c is connected to the rear end portion 13b of the external housing 13 through a base end portion 14d that can be elastically deformed. . The insertion piece 14b extends along the side portion 13s of the outer housing 13 to the distal end side of the optical connector 10 (the side facing the joining end surface of the ferrule, the right side in FIG. 2), and is received together with the engaging claws 14a from the distal end side. It can be inserted into the fitting recess 23 of the side optical connector 20. Note that the latch may be provided on one side of the housing, but by providing it on both sides of the housing, the operability of the optical connector and the stability of the engagement with the receiving side optical connector are improved. It is preferable.

The optical connector 10 is provided in two directions (up and down in FIG. 3; both in the thickness direction perpendicular to the width direction of the optical connector) perpendicular to the direction (width direction of the optical connector) in which both the latches 14 of the outer housing 13 face each other. A pair of projecting pieces 15 extending toward the front end side of the head are formed. The plug frame 16 is surrounded on both sides by the protruding pieces 15 and the latches 14.
Both side edges 15 a and the outer surface 15 b of the projecting piece 15 are fitted into a key groove 25 (described later) formed in the fitting recess 23 of the receiving side optical connector 20, thereby allowing light to the receiving side optical connector 20. The connector 10 can be positioned in two directions orthogonal to the optical axis (width direction and thickness direction of the optical connector; vertical direction in FIG. 1 and direction perpendicular to the paper surface). That is, the protruding piece 15 also has a function as the fitting and fitting portion 15 of the optical connector 10. As shown in FIG. 2A, the protruding piece 15 extends from the joint end surface 11a of the ferrule 11 to the distal end side (right side of FIG. 2A) of the optical connector 10 in the optical axis direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 to 11, the ferrule 21 of the receiving optical connector 20 has at least a tip portion made of a hard material such as zirconia, and the tip of the ferrule 21 serves as a joining end surface 21 a. An optical fiber insertion hole (fine hole) 21b opened in the joining end surface 21a is formed inside the ferrule 21, and the optical fiber 21f is inserted and fixed in the optical fiber insertion hole 21b. The optical fiber 21f is not particularly limited, but, for example, a bare optical fiber exposed by removing the coating of the tip from an optical fiber core, an optical fiber, an optical fiber cord, an optical fiber cable, A short bare optical fiber (connecting optical fiber) other than the optical fiber to be terminated is used. When a connection optical fiber is used, the optical fiber terminated with a connector is optically connected to the connection optical fiber by abutting or the like in the housing of the optical connector.

  The housing 22 of the receiving side optical connector 20 includes a connector holder 27 having a sleeve holder 26 containing the ferrule 21 and a fitting recess 23 formed so as to surround the sleeve holder 26 in this embodiment. The fitting recess 23 opens to the distal end side of the connector insertion portion 27 (opening 23a), and the distal end portion of the housing 12 of the optical connector 10 can be inserted and fitted into the fitting recess 23. It has become.

The sleeve holder 26 has a shape protruding toward the opening 23 a of the fitting recess 23, and a ferrule receiving hole 26 a into which the ferrule 11 of the optical connector 10 is inserted and received is provided in the sleeve holder 26. Yes. A split sleeve 26b having a C-shaped cross section is mounted on the inner surface of the ferrule housing hole 26a. By inserting and housing the ferrule 11 of the optical connector 10 in the split sleeve 26b, the ferrules 11 and 21 of both the optical connectors 10 and 20 are abutted with the joining end surfaces 11a and 21a facing each other. The split sleeve 26b positions the outer peripheral surfaces of the ferrules 11 and 21 in order to precisely align the optical fibers 11f and 21f provided in the ferrules 11 and 21.
A flange 22f for attaching the receiving side optical connector 20 to a panel, a box, or the like is formed on both side surfaces of the connector insertion portion 27 so as to protrude.

  On both sides of the connector insertion portion 27 in the width direction, engagement recesses 24 communicating with the fitting recesses 23 are formed on both sides sandwiching the sleeve holder 26 therebetween. Here, the engagement recess 24 is a through-hole penetrating the side wall of the connector insertion portion 27, and the edge portion on the opening 23 a side of the fitting recess 23 of the through-hole is the engagement of the tip of the latch 14. It becomes the latching | locking part 24a (refer FIG. 1) with which the nail | claw 14a is engaged.

Two directions orthogonal to the direction in which the engagement recess 24 of the connector insertion portion 27 faces (the width direction of the receiving side optical connector) (up and down in FIGS. 10 and 11; the thickness direction orthogonal to the width direction of the receiving side optical connector) A key groove 25 extending between the opening 23a of the fitting recess 23 and the bottom 23b facing the opening 23a is formed on both the upper and lower sides. Each key groove 25 is a U-shaped groove having a bottom surface 25b and side surfaces 25a and 25a located on both sides of the bottom surface 25b. The key groove 25 is formed by inserting and fitting the protruding piece 15 of the optical connector 10 so that the two optical connectors 10 and 20 are perpendicular to the optical axis (width direction and thickness direction of the optical connector; FIG. 1). It can be positioned in the vertical direction and the direction perpendicular to the paper surface. Specifically, the optical connectors 10 and 20 are positioned in the width direction (vertical direction in FIG. 1) by fitting and fitting the both side surfaces 25a of the key groove 25 and the both side edges 15a of the projecting piece 15 into the key groove. 25, the optical connectors 10 and 20 are positioned in the thickness direction (perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 1).
The key groove 25 serving as the fitting and fitting portion 25 of the receiving side optical connector 20 reaches the back side (right side in FIG. 8) of the optical connector 20 in the optical axis direction from the joining end surface 21 a of the optical connector 20.

Furthermore, in the optical connector of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, when the outer housing 13 is removed, the fitting having an opening 33 a narrower than the opening 23 a of the fitting recess 23 of the receiving side optical connector 20. It can be inserted and fitted into the second receiving side optical connector 30 in which the recess 33 is formed.
6 and 7 show a state in which the external housing 13 is removed from the optical connector 10 of this embodiment. Here, in order to distinguish the state where the external housing 13 is removed, it may be referred to as an optical connector 10i. In the optical connector 10 i, the joint end surface 11 a of the ferrule 11 protrudes from the plug frame 16.
As shown in FIG. 12, the second receiving optical connector 30 is a so-called simplified optical connector receptacle or SC optical connector of an SC optical fiber connector (SC: Single fiber Coupling) defined in JIS C 5973 or the like. An SC2 type optical connector receptacle or the like can be used.

The ferrule 31 of the second receiving side optical connector 30 has at least a tip made of a hard material such as zirconia, and the tip of the ferrule 31 serves as a joining end face 31a. Inside the ferrule 31, there is formed an optical fiber insertion hole (fine hole) 31b that opens to the joining end face 31a and into which the optical fiber 31f is inserted and fixed.
The housing 32 of the second receiving side optical connector 30 is a connector insertion portion 37 having a sleeve holder 36 containing the ferrule 31 and a fitting recess 33 formed so as to surround the sleeve holder 36 in this embodiment. Is provided. The fitting recess 33 is open to the distal end side of the connector insertion portion 37 (opening 33a), and the distal end portion of the housing 12 of the optical connector 10 can be inserted and fitted into the fitting recess 33. It has become.

The sleeve holder 36 has a shape protruding toward the opening 33a of the fitting recess 33, and a ferrule accommodation hole 36a into which the ferrule 11 of the optical connector 10i is inserted and accommodated is provided in the sleeve holder 36. Yes. A split sleeve 36b having a C-shaped cross section for positioning the ferrule 11 is mounted on the inner surface of the ferrule housing hole 36a.
As shown in FIG. 13, when the ferrule 11 is inserted and fitted into the ferrule housing hole 36 a, the distal end portion of the plug frame 16 is fitted to the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve holder 36.

  The elastic engagement piece 34 can be elastically deformed so as to be curved, and is formed in a direction protruding from the bottom 33b of the fitting recess 33 toward the opening 33a. Engaging claws 34a that can be engaged with engaging portions 16a (detachment protrusions) formed on both sides of the plug frame 16 of the optical connector 10i are formed at the leading ends of the elastic engaging pieces 34 in the protruding direction. .

Next, the operation of the optical connector of this embodiment will be described.
The distal end of the optical connector 10 is inserted into the fitting recess 23 of the connector insertion portion 27 of the side optical connector 20 while the distance between the distal ends of the latches 14, 14 is reduced by operating the operation portion 14 c of the latch 14. Then, the optical connector 10 is pushed toward the bottom 23b of the fitting recess 23 while the fitting and fitting portions 15 and 25 of the optical connectors 10 and 20 are fitted together, so that the optical connector 10 receives the receiving optical connector. Inserted while being accurately positioned with respect to 20.
The fitting recess 23 of the optical connector 10 is pushed by pushing the optical connector 10 until the engaging claw 14a of the latch 14 engages with the engaging recess 24 of the receiving side optical connector 20 while weakening the operating force on the latch 14 as appropriate. It is prevented from coming off. The ferrule 11 of the optical connector 10 is inserted into the ferrule receiving hole 26a of the receiving optical connector 20 and is opposed to the ferrule 21 of the receiving optical connector 20 in the split sleeve 26b, thereby interpolating into the ferrule 11 of the optical connector 10. The fixed optical fiber 11f and the optical fiber 21f inserted and fixed to the ferrule 21 of the receiving optical connector 20 are optically connected.
On the other hand, when the optical connection between the optical connectors 10 and 20 is canceled, first, the operation portion 14c of the latch 14 is operated to reduce the distance between the tips of the latches 14 and 14, and the engaging claws of the latch 14 are engaged. 14a and the engagement concave portion 24 of the receiving side optical connector 20 are disengaged. By pulling out the optical connector 10 from the fitting recess 23, the optical connector 10 can be removed from the receiving optical connector 20.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the optical connector 10 of this embodiment functions as an optical connector 10 i compatible with the SC2 type optical connector plug by removing the external housing 13 from the plug frame 16. That is, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, insertion and fitting into the second receiving optical connector 30 having the opening 33 a narrower than the opening 23 a of the fitting recess 23 of the receiving optical connector 20. Can do. The optical connector 10i from which the external housing 13 has been removed can be removed by releasing the connection with the second receiving-side optical connector 30 by using a removal tool, as is well known for SC2 type optical connectors.

  As described above, according to the optical connector 10 of the present embodiment, the optical connector 10 is provided with the latch 14 for operating the attachment / detachment of the optical connectors 10 and 20, so that damage to the receiving optical connector 20 is suppressed. The Moreover, the structure of the receiving side optical connector 20 can be simplified, and the dimension of the receiving side optical connector 20 can be accommodated comparatively small. Therefore, it can be easily accommodated in a device, an outlet, or the like, and a spatial restriction is reduced in designing the device, the outlet, or the like.

  By removing the outer housing 13, light is transmitted to the second receiving optical connector 30 (here, the SC2 type optical connector receptacle) having an opening 33 a narrower than the opening 23 a of the fitting recess 23 of the receiving optical connector 20. The connector 10i can be inserted and fitted, and compatibility with conventional devices and systems can be ensured.

  Since the fitting and fitting portion 15 of the optical connector 10 protrudes from the joining end surface 11a of the ferrule 11, the joining end surface 11a of the ferrule 11 is difficult to be damaged during fitting work or the like, and the handleability is excellent. Since the fitting and fitting portion 25 of the receiving side optical connector 20 reaches the back side from the joining end surface 21a, the length of the fitting and fitting portion 25 of the receiving side optical connector 20 (the length in the direction along the optical axis) is set. While ensuring, the distance between the joining end surface 21a of the receiving side optical connector 20 and the tip end (the opening 23a of the fitting recess 23) can be shortened. Therefore, it is possible to shorten the overall length of the receiving side optical connector, which is advantageous in terms of storage in a narrow space such as an outlet.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the fitting length at which the fitting and fitting portions 15 and 25 of the optical connectors 10 and 20 are fitted to each other is substantially L as shown in FIG. The length of the outer surface 15b of the projecting piece 15 and the bottom surface 25b of the keyway 25 is as long as or longer than L in FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the range of the mating length between the mating mating portions 15 and 25 includes the positions of the joining end surfaces 11a and 21a in the optical connection state, and both sides in the optical axis direction (opening of mating recesses). The optical connector extends to the side and the bottom), so that the fitting and fitting of the two optical connectors is stable, the durability of the optical characteristics is sufficiently secured, and an excellent optical connector is obtained.

Although the present invention has been described based on the best mode, the present invention is not limited to the above-described best mode, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.
Specific shapes, structures, and the like of the optical connectors in the above embodiments are merely examples, and do not limit the present invention.

  The present invention can be used for optical connection of optical fibers in various industrial fields.

It is sectional drawing which shows the state connected to the optical connector which receives the optical connector which concerns on the example of 1 form of this invention. 1A is a partially cutaway view and FIG. 1B is a front view showing an optical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a partial notch perspective view which shows the optical connector which concerns on the example of 1 form of this invention. It is a longitudinal section showing an optical connector concerning one example of the present invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the external housing of the optical connector of FIG. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state where an external housing is removed from the optical connector of FIG. 2. It is a perspective view which shows the state which removed the external housing from the optical connector of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows an example of a receiving side optical connector. It is sectional drawing which shows an example of a receiving side optical connector. It is an end view which shows an example of a receiving side optical connector. It is a perspective view which shows an example of a receiving side optical connector. It is sectional drawing which shows a 2nd receiving side optical connector. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which connected the optical connector of FIG. 6 to the 2nd receiving side optical connector.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Optical connector, 11 ... Ferrule, 13 ... External housing, 13s ... Side part of external housing, 14 ... Latch, 14a ... Engagement claw, 15 ... Fitting fitting part, 16 ... Plug frame, 16a ... Engagement part ( Retaining protrusions), 16c ... convex portions (retaining protrusions), 18 ... elastic engaging pieces, 20 ... receiving side optical connector, 22 ... housing, 23 ... fitting recess, 23a ... opening of the fitting recess, 24 ... engaging recess, 30 ... second receiving optical connector, 33 ... fitting recess, 33a ... opening of the fitting recess, 34 ... elastic engagement piece.

Claims (3)

It has a plug frame (16) containing the ferrule (11) and an external housing (13) mounted on the outer periphery of the plug frame, and this external housing is attached to the housing (22) of the receiving side optical connector (20). An optical connector adapted to be inserted and fitted into the formed fitting recess (23),
Latches having engaging claws (14a) that can be engaged with engaging recesses (24) formed on both sides of the fitting recesses of the receiving side optical connector housing on both side portions (13s) of the outer housing. 14)
On the front end side of the outer housing is formed a fitting and fitting portion (15) that fits into a fitting recess of the receiving optical connector and positions the receiving optical connector with respect to the receiving optical connector.
By removing the outer housing from the plug frame, a fitting recess (33) having an opening (33a) narrower than the opening (23a) of the fitting recess of the receiving optical connector is formed. An optical connector (10) characterized in that it can be inserted and fitted into the second receiving side optical connector (30).   The plug frame has an elastic engagement piece (34) provided in the fitting recess of the second receiving side optical connector when inserted and fitted into the fitting recess of the second receiving side optical connector. The optical connector according to claim 1, wherein an engaging portion (16 a) that engages with the optical connector is formed.   An elastic engagement piece (18) that can be elastically deformed is formed in the outer housing, and the elastic piece engages with a protrusion (16c) formed on a side portion of the plug frame, thereby The optical connector according to claim 1, wherein the outer housing is prevented from falling off.

Images