JP2006023502A - Optical wiring unit - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To secure a bending radius as specified in wiring specifications when bending an optical fiber to lay in a small space between a connector support unit and a branch module. <P>SOLUTION: The optical connector adapter 8 is supported by the support unit 5 making the optical axis A higher at the rear than at the inlet for inserting the fibers 191, 192 when connecting the adapter 8 and the optical connector 193 for the optical fibers 191, 192 pulled out from an optical module 108. Lower curved sections 191a and 192a are formed on the optical fibers 191, 192 at the positions lower than the fiber insertion hole 194. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical wiring unit for connecting an optical fiber cable to an optical fiber core wire through a connector connection.

Conventionally, in an optical fiber network, for example, in order to branch and connect an optical fiber cable to an optical fiber core by connecting an optical connector, a large number of optical fibers in a station are terminated to form a large group configuration. A wiring unit is used. In particular, an FTM (Fiber Termination Module) is used as an optical wiring rack used for a subscriber transmission line. As optical wiring racks, there are a wide variety of optical wiring testers equipped with an optical pulse tester mounted on a rack, and the test light output from the optical pulse tester is sent to the optical line for line management. It has been adopted. (For example, refer patent document 1 etc.).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-258055

6, 7, and 8 show an example of the optical wiring rack 101 described above.
In FIG. 6, reference numeral 102 denotes a rack, 103 denotes a module storage shelf, 104 denotes a connector support unit, 106 denotes an optical switch, and 107 denotes an optical switch controller.
6 to 8, the upper side is described as “upper” and the lower side is described as “lower”.
The optical wiring rack 101 includes a module storage unit 103A including a module storage shelf 103 for storing the optical branching module 108 and a connector support unit 104 installed on the module storage shelf 103. It has a configuration mounted on.

In FIG. 7, the module storage shelf 103 stores the optical branching module 108. The optical branching module 108 houses optical parts such as an optical coupler 112, an optical fiber 109, and the like in a case-like module main body 110 formed in a thin plate shape. The optical fiber 109c wired to the left side (7) is connected to the optical fiber 109 and wired to the optical connector (here, the optical connector adapter 111) attached to the module main body 110 on the back side of the frame (right side in FIG. 7). By connecting the optical fiber 109d, the optical fibers 109c and 109d on both sides of the frame are optically connected via the optical fiber 109 in the module main body 110. Thereby, for example, it is possible to realize a branch connection between a multi-core optical fiber ribbon employed as the optical fiber 109c and a plurality of single-core optical fibers 109d.
The optical branching module 108 is configured to be stored in the module storage shelf 103 in an arrangement in which the optical connector adapter 111 at one end of the module main body 110 is arranged on the back side of the frame, arranged vertically and horizontally. The optical fiber 109d on the rear side of the frame is connected to the optical connector adapter 111 from the inside of the module main body 110 by connecting the optical connector 109e at the tip of the optical fiber 109d to the optical connector adapter 111; An optical connection is made via the optical connector adapter 111.

  The optical connector adapter 111 is, for example, an SC type (SC: Single fiber Coupling optical fiber connector) multiple (four, eight, etc.) optical connector adapter, and an optical connector 109e at the tip of the optical fiber 109d (in this case, Corresponding to the optical connector adapter, a configuration in which an SC type optical connector (an optical connector plug) is connected to be switchable is widely adopted. However, the optical connector adapter 111 and the optical connector 109e that connect the optical fiber 109 and the optical fiber 109d in the module main body 110 are not limited to this, for example, an optical connector for a single core other than the SC type optical connector, A multi-fiber optical connector such as an MPO type optical connector (MPO: Multifiber Push-On, established in JIS C 5982, etc.) can also be used. Further, as the optical branching module 108, a configuration in which a plurality of optical connector adapters having only one port to which the optical connector 109e at the end of the optical fiber 109d is connected is installed, or the above-described multiple SC type optical connector adapters. A configuration in which one or a plurality of multiple ones having a plurality of ports are installed can be selected as appropriate.

  On the other hand, the optical connection portion between the optical fiber 109 c on the front side of the frame and the optical fiber 109 in the module main body 110 is accommodated in the module main body 110. In the example illustrated in FIG. 7, the optical connector 113 is employed as the optical connection portion between the optical fibers 109 and 109 c, but is not limited thereto, and for example, a fusion splicing portion or the like can be employed. The optical fiber 109c extending from the optical connection portion extends from the other end portion of the module main body 110 (the side opposite to the one end portion to which the optical connector adapter 111 is attached) to the outside of the optical branching module 108. .

  In the aforementioned optical branching module 108, when the optical fibers 109c and 109d on both sides of the frame are connected via the optical fiber 109 in the module main body 110, the optical coupler 112 provided in the middle of the optical fiber 109 is replaced with the optical fiber. It is interposed in the middle of the optical line composed of 109, 109c, 109d. The optical fiber 109 is optically connected to other optical fibers 191 and 192 via the optical coupler 112. When the optical fibers 109c and 109d are connected via the optical fiber 109 in the optical branching module 108, the optical fiber 109 An optical line composed of 109, 109 c, and 109 d is optically branched to the optical fibers 191 and 192 through the optical coupler 112.

The optical fibers 191 and 192 are drawn out of the optical branch module 108 from an optical fiber insertion port 194 provided at the upper part of the other end of the module main body 110 of the optical branch module 108. The leading ends of the optical fibers 191 and 192 extending from the module main body 110 are terminated by an optical connector 193 so that they can be connected to the connector. The front end of the connector support unit 104 on the module storage shelf 103 (left side in FIG. 7) Removably connected to the attached optical connector 141.
The optical connector 141 terminates the optical fiber 142 connecting the optical switch 106 (fiber selector) mounted on the rack 102 and the connector support unit 104 so that the connector can be connected. Specifically, As shown in FIG. 8, the optical connector adapter has a structure in which an optical connector 17 in which the tip of the optical fiber 142 accommodated in the connector support unit 104 is terminated so that the connector can be connected is accommodated (hereinafter referred to as an optical connector 141). Also called optical connector adapter). The optical connector 193 at the distal ends of the optical fibers 191 and 192 is connected to the optical connector in the optical connector adapter 141 by being inserted into the optical connector adapter 141 from the front side of the frame. As the optical connectors 17 and 193, for example, an MT type optical connector (MT: Mechanically Transferable, established in JIS C 5981) or the like is preferably used.
The optical switch controller 107 is for controlling the driving of the optical switch 106.

  To connect the optical connectors 193 at the tips of the optical fibers 191 and 192 extending from the optical branching module 108 stored in the module storage shelf 103 toward the front side of the frame, to the optical connector adapter 141 of the connector support unit 104, The optical fibers 191 and 192 are bent so as to draw a semicircle or a U-shape, and the optical connector 193 at the front end (specifically, the connection end surface at the front end of the optical connector 193) faces the frame rear side (right side in FIG. 8). Thus, the direction of the tip is reversed, and the optical connector adapter 141 is inserted from the front side of the frame. Even after the completion of this connection work, the semicircular or U-shaped curved state of the optical fibers 191 and 192 is maintained by the rigidity of the optical fibers 191 and 192 themselves. An optical connector 193 inserted into the optical connector adapter 141 is an elastic piece projecting from the pressing piece 31 by rotating the pressing piece 31 in the shape of a leaf spring that is pivotally attached to the optical connector adapter 141. Is disposed at the entrance of the optical connector adapter 141 (the entrance into which the optical connector 193 is inserted. The optical connector adapter 141 is open at the end on the front side of the frame). Due to elasticity, the optical connector 17 in the optical connector adapter 141 is pressed down, and a butting force between the optical connectors 17 and 193 is given. The optical connector adapter 141 is displaced by rotating the pressing piece 31 so that the pressing portion 35 is retracted to a position where the entrance of the optical connector adapter 141 is not blocked (indicated by a virtual line 31a in FIG. 8). The optical connector 193 can be freely inserted and removed.

A plurality of the optical connectors 141 are attached side by side to the front end portion of the connector support unit 104. The optical fiber 142 extending from the rear side of each optical connector adapter 141 (the side opposite to the entrance side (front side of the frame) into which the optical connector 193 is inserted) is a portion of the portion extended to the outside of the connector support unit 104. The tip is connected to the optical switch 106. The optical switch 106 selectively optically connects a plurality of optical fibers 142 connected to the optical switch 106 to an optical fiber on the optical pulse tester (not shown) side, and is connected to the optical fibers 109c and 109d. In this optical switch 106, the test light output from the optical pulse tester is sent through the optical fiber 142 connected to the optical fiber on the optical pulse tester side. That is, the test light from the optical pulse tester is sent to the optical fiber 109c through the optical fiber 142 and the optical fibers 191 and 192, and the optical fiber 142 and the optical fibers 191 and 192 are connected to the optical fiber 109d. The test light from the optical pulse tester is sent through. Further, by switching the optical fiber 142 connected to the optical fiber on the optical pulse tester side with the optical switch 106, the optical fibers 109c and 109d to be tested for sending the test light from the optical pulse tester are switched. (Specifically, selection of bare optical fibers in the optical fibers 109c and 109d).
The optical pulse tester is a well-known OTDR (Optical Time Domain Reflect meter), and the backscattered light generated in the optical fibers 109c and 109d by the incidence of the test light passes through the optical coupler 112 and the optical pulse tester. Then, the loss of the optical line is monitored by analyzing the waveform of the received backscattered light.

Incidentally, the optical wiring rack 101 described above has the following dissatisfaction.
(A) The module storage shelf 103 (specifically, the optical branching module 108 stored in the module storage shelf 103) and the connector support unit 104 are required to be reduced in size and increased in density. . However, in many cases, the drawing dimensions of the optical fibers 191 and 192 from the module body 110 are standardized constant dimensions, and if the distance between the connector support unit 104 and the module storage shelf 103 is reduced, the optical branching module Since it becomes difficult to secure a prescribed bending radius (generally r = 30 mm) in the optical fibers 191 and 192 that are curved between the optical connector adapter 141 and the optical connector adapter 141, there is a limit to reducing the interval. . In particular, as shown in FIG. 9, in the case where a hard rubber boot (5 to 10 mm) 195 is attached to the optical fibers 191 and 192 led out from the optical fiber insertion port 194, the optical fibers 191 and 192 are provided. However, since it becomes difficult to bend below the optical fiber insertion port 194, it is more difficult to secure a prescribed bending radius.
(B) The optical fibers 191 and 192 that are curved between the optical connector adapter 141 of the connector support unit 104 and the optical branching module 108 have a large protrusion toward the front side of the frame, and the operator inadvertently touches them. It is easy to end. Moreover, the optical fibers 191 and 192 may be damaged by falling objects and colliding objects.
(C) The connector support unit 104 is widely used in the form of a thin plate-like box in view of the reduction in the vertical dimension, but as illustrated in FIG. In the case where the optical connector adapter 141 having the configuration in which the optical connectors 193 at the tips of the optical fibers 191 and 192 are connected in two stages), there is a limit to the reduction in the vertical dimension. In the connector support unit 104, since the optical fiber 142 extending from the optical connector adapter 141 into the connector support unit 104 is wired in an overlapping manner, the optical fiber 142 is switched in the connector support unit 104. There is a complaint that it is difficult to find the optical fiber 142 to be worked.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of such circumstances, and its object is to provide an optical wiring that can ensure a prescribed bending radius even if the gap between the connector support unit and the optical module is reduced. To provide a unit.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention proposes the following means.
The invention according to claim 1 includes: a storage shelf that stores the optical module; and a connector support unit that is disposed above the storage shelf and supports the optical connector adapter, and is stored in the storage shelf. The optical fiber drawn out from the optical fiber insertion port is bent so as to be reversed, and the optical connector provided at the tip of the optical fiber is inserted and connected to the optical connector adapter so that the optical fiber is connected to the connector. An optical wiring unit configured to be connected to an optical fiber on a support unit side, wherein the optical connector adapter has a connection optical axis with the optical connector of the optical fiber drawn from the optical module, It is supported by the connector support unit in an inclined direction so that the back side is above the entrance where the optical connector is inserted, A serial optical fiber, an optical wiring unit, characterized in that the curved lower portion that is bent below the optical fiber insertion opening is adapted to be formed.
The invention according to claim 2 is the optical wiring unit according to claim 1, wherein the optical connector adapter includes a housing in which a connector hole into which the optical connector is inserted is formed, and light inserted into the housing. A pressing piece that holds down the connector and maintains a butt connection state with the optical connector built in the optical connector adapter, the holding piece being pivotally attached to the housing, and further, A lever portion for opening and closing the connector hole inlet is projected, and when the lever is operated to retract the pressing piece from the connector hole inlet of the housing to open the connector hole inlet, the connector adapter The optical connector can be inserted and removed, and by operating the lever portion, the pressing piece is inserted into the connector hole entrance. Placing, the pressing piece, characterized in that it is an inserted said optical connector to said optical connector adapter to press down the optical connector adapter.
The invention according to claim 3 is the optical wiring unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the connector support unit includes a connector mounting plate on which a plurality of the optical connector adapters are mounted side by side, and a wiring gate. And a curved wiring portion in which an optical fiber extending from each optical connector adapter is curvedly routed between the wiring gate portion and the connector mounting plate. The curved wiring portion is characterized in that the optical fiber extending from each optical connector adapter is bent and accommodated in an upwardly convex mountain shape.
The invention according to claim 4 is the optical wiring unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the connection optical axis of the optical connector adapter is above the entrance to which the optical connector is inserted. The angle θ is inclined in the range of 25 ° to 35 ° with respect to the horizontal axis.

According to the present invention, the optical fiber drawn from the optical module can earn a distance of the drawn optical fiber by tilting the connection optical axis of the optical connector adapter. It is possible to connect to the optical connector adapter while maintaining the above, and it is possible to maintain a prescribed radius of curvature even when the distance between the connector connecting unit and the optical module is narrowed. Moreover, the protrusion of the curved optical fiber can be reduced. For this reason, it is possible to prevent an operator from inadvertently coming into contact with the optical fiber, and to prevent a fallen object from colliding with the optical fiber. Further, since the optical connector adapter is directed downward, it is possible to reduce the possibility of dust and dirt entering the adapter hole.
The connector support unit has a connector mounting plate to which the plurality of optical connector adapters are mounted side by side, a wiring gate portion, and each light between the wiring gate portion and the connector mounting plate. By adopting a configuration in which the optical fiber extending from the connector adapter has a curved wiring portion that is curvedly routed between the wiring gate portion and the wiring gate portion, in the curved wiring portion, the optical fiber is curved in a convex mountain shape. Therefore, the curved wiring portion can be reduced in size. Further, when the optical fiber is bent and accommodated in an upward convex chevron, for example, when the distribution wiring portion has a removable upper lid, the optical fiber extends from each optical connector adapter when the upper lid is removed. The operation of taking out the target optical fiber to be worked out from the optical fiber can be easily performed.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
1 to 5 show an embodiment of the present invention. The present invention is applied to an optical wiring rack as an example of an optical wiring unit. 1 is a side view showing an optical wiring unit, FIG. 2 (a) is a side view showing a connector support unit and an optical branching module, FIG. 2 (b) is a side view showing respective numerical values in FIG. 2 (a), FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the connector support unit, FIG. 4 is a side sectional view showing the optical connector adapter fixed to the connector support unit, and FIG. 5 is a front view of the optical connector adapter. The optical branching module 108 used in this embodiment is configured such that no boot is attached to the optical fiber insertion port 194.
The optical wiring rack is installed on the floor, and in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, the lower side is the lower side and the upper side is the upper side.

The optical wiring rack 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a configuration in which the connector support unit 104 of the module housing unit 103A in the optical wiring rack 101 shown in FIG.
An optical connector at the tip of the optical fibers 191 and 192 drawn from the optical branching module 108 is attached to the connector mounting plate 25 that forms the end surface of the connector support unit 5 on the front side of the frame (left side in FIG. 1 and left side in FIG. 2A). An optical connector adapter 8 to which 193 is detachably connected is attached.
Here, the optical fibers 191 and 192 employ single-core or multi-core optical fiber ribbons. Here, as the optical connector 193 at the tip of the optical fibers 191 and 192, an MT type optical connector (MT: Mechanically Transferable. For example, an optical connector established in JIS C 5981) is adopted and stored in the optical connector adapter 8. As the optical connector 17 (described later), an MT type optical connector that can be connected to the optical connector 193 is employed.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the module main body 110 of the optical branching module 108 includes a side end portion 110a that is orthogonal to the horizontal direction, a curved wall portion 110b that is curved in the horizontal direction from the side wall portion 110a, It has a stepped end portion 110d that protrudes upward from the horizontal wall portion 110c that is horizontal through the curved wall portion 110b, and an optical fiber insertion port 194 that is formed in the end portion 110d. ing. The lengths of the optical fibers 191 and 192 drawn from the optical fiber insertion port 194 of the module main body 110 of the optical branching module 108 are generally defined as 150 mm (± 5 mm). The optical fibers 191 and 192 are formed with curved lower end portions 191a and 192a which are bent from the optical fiber insertion port 194 of the module main body 110 to the lower side than the optical fiber insertion port 194. Inverted from 191a, 192a, curved in a semicircular shape or U-shape, the optical connector 193 provided at the end is inserted into the optical connector adapter 8 and connected.

The optical connector adapter 8 has the same structure as the optical connector adapter 141 described with reference to FIG.
The structure of the optical connector adapter 8 will be specifically described.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the optical connector adapter 8 connects two optical connectors 193, and a housing 28 in which two connector holes 27 into which the optical connectors 193 are inserted are formed, The optical connector 193 inserted in the housing 28 is pressed down to roughly hold the pressing piece 31 that maintains a butt connection state with the optical connector 17 incorporated in the optical connector adapter 8 in advance. As described above, the connection optical axis A of the optical connector adapter 8 is angled with respect to the horizontal axis so that the back side (the left side in FIG. 2A) is above the entrance into which the optical connector 193 is inserted. The angle θ is in the range of 25 ° to 35 ° and is fixed to the connector support unit 5.
An engaging claw 32 is formed on the curved wiring portion 24 side (left side in FIG. 4) of the housing 28. The engaging claw 32 functions as a retaining member that prevents the optical connector 17 inserted into the connector hole 27 from the curved wiring portion 24 side from falling out to the curved wiring portion 24 side. Further, the optical connector 17 is restricted from moving toward the inlet of the connector hole 27 by a stopper (not shown) in the housing 28. As a result, the optical connector 17 can be incorporated into the optical connector adapter 8.

  Two holding pieces 31 are provided on both sides corresponding to the two connector holes 27 of the housing 28, and are pivotally attached to the housing 28 via the pivotal attachment portion 33. It can be rotated around the base point. The pressing piece 31 has a lever portion 34 formed for opening and closing operation, and a pressing portion 35 formed of an elastic member such as a spring on both sides of the lever portion 34 for pressing the optical connector 193. The operation of the pressing piece 31 will be described. By the rotation operation of the holding piece 31 of the lever portion 34, the holding portion 35 is displaced so as to be retracted to a position where the entrance of the optical connector adapter 139 is not blocked (in FIG. 31a). As a result, the connector hole 27 is opened, and the optical connector 193 can be inserted into and removed from the optical connector adapter 8. Further, the holding portion 35 that has been retracted from the inlet of the connector hole 27 by the closing operation of the lever portion 34 is disposed in the connector hole 27. As a result, a pressure is applied to the rear end of the inserted optical connector 193 so that the optical connector 193 is pressed and fixed to the optical connector adapter 8.

As shown in FIG. 3, the connector support unit 5 connects the optical fibers 191 and 192 and the optical fiber 9 described above to connect to an optical switch (reference numeral 106 shown in FIG. 6). The connector support unit 5 includes a unit main body 22 formed in a tray shape and a unit lid member 23 that is detachably covered on the unit main body 22. A space formed by the unit body 22 and the unit lid member 23 is a curved wiring portion 24 (described later). The unit main body 22 is formed with a connector mounting plate 25 for mounting a plurality of optical connector adapters 8 arranged side by side. As shown in FIG. 4, the connector mounting plate 25 is fixed so that the end surface 26 of the connector mounting plate 25 and the connection optical axis A of the optical connector adapter 8 are orthogonal to each other. angle theta _a Te is provided to be inclined 55 ° to 65 °. For this reason, the connection optical axis A of the optical connector adapter 8 orthogonal to the end face 26 is at an angle θ with respect to the horizontal axis so that the back side (right side in FIG. 4) is above the entrance into which the optical connector 193 is inserted. Is inclined in the range of 25 ° to 35 °. The connector mounting plate 25 is formed with a through hole (adapter housing hole 25a) for inserting the optical connector adapter 8, and the optical connector adapter 8 inserted into the through hole is, for example, screwed or the like. It is fixed to the connector mounting plate 25.

As shown in FIG. 3, the curved wiring portion 24 is formed between the hose 21 and the connector mounting plate 25 that collect the optical fibers 9 arranged in the wiring gate portion (hereinafter also referred to as a hose fixing portion) 36. An optical fiber 9 extending from the optical connector adapter 8 is curvedly wired, and the optical fiber 9 connected to the optical connector adapter 8 is curved and stored in an upwardly convex mountain shape; The optical fiber 9 drawn out from the hose 21 is configured with a distribution wiring area 39 in which the optical fiber 9 is distributed and wired. The hose fixing part 36 has a function of drawing the hose 21 into the curved wiring part 24 and fixing it. In the present embodiment, the hose 21 is used as means for concentrating the optical fibers 9 in the connector support unit 5. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an insulation tie may be used.
As shown in FIG. 2A, in the longitudinally curved wiring region 38, the optical fiber 9 extending from the optical connector adapter 8 is bent into an upwardly convex mountain shape and then bent toward the unit body 22 below. Wired. During this time, the optical fiber 9 is gradually twisted by 90 °, and can be bent along the bottom plate 22 a of the unit body 22.
As shown in FIG. 3, the distribution wiring area 39 is an area where the optical fiber 9 extending from the longitudinal curved wiring area 38 to the hose fixing portion 36 is wired along the bottom plate 22 a of the unit body 22. In the distribution wiring area 39, each optical fiber 9 is gradually concentrated from the longitudinal curved wiring area 38 and wired to the hose fixing portion 36, and is accommodated in the hose 21.

  As shown in FIGS. 2A and 4, in order to connect the optical fiber 193 of the optical fibers 191 and 192 drawn from the optical branching module 108 to the optical connector adapter 8, the lever portion 34 of the optical connector adapter 8 is moved. The holding portion 35 is retracted from the connector hole 27 by operating the opening (the imaginary line 31a in FIG. 4), and the optical connector 193 can be inserted into and removed from the connector hole 27 (specifically, reference numeral B shown in FIG. 5). State of the connector hole 27). And the optical connector 193 provided in the front-end | tip part of the optical fibers 191 and 192 is inserted in the connector hole 27 which became pluggable. At this time, the optical connector 17 provided at the ends of the optical fibers 191 and 192 accommodated in the connector support unit 5 is connected in advance to the opposite side of the optical connector adapter 8. Is inserted, the joining end face of the optical connector 193 can be connected to the joining end face of the optical connector 17. Thereafter, the lever portion 34 is closed to place the pressing portion 35 in the connector hole 27, and the pressing portion 35 applies pressure to the rear end of the optical connector 193, thereby pressing and fixing the optical connector adapter 8.

At this time, the optical fibers 191 and 192 are pulled out from the optical fiber insertion port 194 of the module main body 110, and bent lower end portions 191a and 192a bent below the optical fiber insertion port 194 are formed. The lower end portions 191 a and 192 a are bent so as to be reversed and connected to the optical connector adapter 8. Here, the optical connector adapter 8 is connected to the optical connector 193 of the optical fibers 191 and 192 by the angle θ of the connection optical axis A being in the range of 25 ° to 35 ° and being fixed to the connector mounting plate 25. The optical axis is also inclined and connected to the optical connector adapter 8. At this time, the lengths of the optical fibers 191 and 192 drawn out from the module main body 110 are specified dimensions (150 mm), but since the connection optical axis A is inclined and connected, the connection optical axis is horizontal. Compared to the case, it is easier to maintain the prescribed curvature, so that it is possible to connect to the optical connector adapter 8 while maintaining a prescribed curvature radius or more.
2B, a is a distance from the side end portion 110a of the module main body 110 of the optical branching module 108 to the optical fiber insertion port 194 formed in the stepped end portion 110d (the longitudinal direction of the module main body 110 (FIG. 2 (b) in the left-right direction), b is the distance from the optical fiber insertion port 194 to the column 102a of the frame 102 to which the optical branching module 108 is attached (the longitudinal direction of the module main body 110 (left and right in FIG. 2B)). C) is the height from the optical fiber insertion port 194 (center axis) to the optical connector adapter 8 (center of the adapter housing hole 25a of the connector mounting plate 25), and d is from the support column 102a of the frame. The protruding dimension of the connector support unit 5 to the front side, L is the drawing length of the optical fibers 191 and 192 from the optical fiber insertion port 194.

Hereinafter, an appropriate range of the angle θ in a specific example of the size of the widely used optical wiring unit 1 will be described. In this example, verification of an appropriate range of the angle θ in the optical wiring unit 1 in which a is 62 mm, b is 30, c is 48 to 54 mm, and d is 91.5 mm in FIG. The lengths of the optical fibers 191 and 192 are 150 mm (± 5 mm).
2 (a) and 2 (b), when the angle θ (see FIG. 4) is less than 25 °, the frame from the optical connector adapter 8 in the optical fibers 191 and 192 is caused by the rigidity of the optical fibers 191 and 192 itself. From the optical connector adapter 8 to the portion extending to the front side (from the curved portion where the extending direction of the optical fibers 191 and 192 is reversed (specifically, the portion of the curved portion that protrudes most to the front side of the frame) ) And the position of the entire optical fibers 191 and 192 wired between the optical branch module 108 and the optical connector adapter 8 is increased, so that the bent optical fibers 191 and 192 are eventually obtained. In the vicinity of the portion where the protrusion to the front side of the frame is the largest, the curve becomes tight, and the effect of gradual bending of the optical fibers 191 and 192 cannot be obtained sufficiently. Further, the bent lower end portions 191a and 192a that are bent downward from the optical fiber insertion port 194 are hardly formed (or not at all), and the bent optical fibers 191 and 192 protrude toward the front side of the frame. Will also grow.
On the other hand, when the angle θ exceeds 35 °, the curve near the optical connector adapter 8 becomes tight. Specifically, in order to ensure the curvature at which the optical fibers 191 and 192 interfere with the optical branch module 108 and the optical fiber 9 comes into contact with the connector support unit 5, Thickness is required. However, it is impossible to increase the density, which is the initial purpose.

Next, the wiring of the optical fiber 9 in the curved wiring section 24 as shown in FIGS. 2A and 3 will be described. The optical fiber 9 extending from the optical connector adapter 8 is connected to the back side of the optical connector adapter 8 (FIG. 2). (A) Since the left side is inclined upward, it is curved into an upwardly convex mountain shape and stored in the vertically curved wiring region 38. During this time, the optical fiber 9 has a prescribed radius of curvature (r = 30 mm as in the optical fibers 191 and 192 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 described above). Thereby, for example, when the optical connector 17 is switched, the optical fiber 9 protrudes upward, so that the optical fiber 9 can be easily found and taken out easily.
In the distribution wiring area 39, the optical fibers 9 are gradually concentrated and wired to the hose fixing portion 36, and the concentrated optical fibers 9 are stored in the hose 21.
Moreover, in order to adjust the surplus length of the hose 21, a space for curvedly accommodating the surplus length of the hose 21 is required. Accordingly, by securing the extra hose storage space 51 on the upper surface of the connector support unit 5 as the shape of the curved portion 24 as shown in FIG. 2, the curvature of the optical fiber 9 is ensured in the connector support unit 5 and the hose 21. It is possible to achieve both the storage of the extra length.

According to the above configuration, since the connection optical axis A of the optical connector adapter 8 is tilted and fixed to the connector mounting plate 25, the optical fibers 191 and 192 connected to the optical connector adapter 8 are bent in a prescribed curve. Can be maintained at a radius. Therefore, even if the distance between the connector support unit 5 and the optical branching module 108 is narrow, it is possible to secure a bending radius that is greater than or equal to that of the optical fibers 191 and 192 drawn from the module body 110. The wiring unit 1 can be reduced in size and density.
Further, since the optical fibers 191 and 192 drawn from the optical fiber insertion port 194 are curved so as to be reversed from the curved lower end portions 191a and 192a bent downward from the optical fiber insertion port 194, A radius of curvature greater than the specified value can be ensured.
In addition, since the curved optical fibers 191 and 192 have a small protrusion, it is possible to prevent an operator's inadvertent contact and to avoid a collision of falling objects from above. Further, since the optical connector adapter 8 is directed downward, it is possible to avoid a fallen object from above colliding with the optical connector adapter 8 and being damaged. Further, since the optical connector adapter 8 faces downward, dust and dirt are less likely to enter the optical fiber adapter 8, so that the cleaning operation in the optical connector adapter 8 can be simplified and the cleaning operation can be performed. The cost required can be reduced. In addition, since the lower lever portion 34 of the optical connector adapter 8 does not contact the optical fibers 191 and 192 connected to the optical connector adapter 8 as compared with the case where the connection optical axis A is horizontal, By contacting the lever portion 34, it is possible to prevent the optical fibers 191 and 192 from being bent tightly.
Further, in the curved wiring portion 24 of the connector support unit 5, since the optical fiber 9 is curved and wired in the vertical and horizontal directions, the wiring area can be reduced as compared with the conventional curved wiring portion. A reduction in size of 24 can also be realized.

In addition, this invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, A various change is possible.
As the optical connector used in the present embodiment, an MT type optical connector (MT: Mechanically Transferable. For example, an optical connector established in JIS C 5981) is adopted, but the present invention is not limited to this, for example, an SC type. Optical connector (Established in JIS C 5973, SC: Single fiber Coupling optical fiber connector), SC2 type optical connector, MU type optical connector (Established in JIS C 5983, etc. MU: Miniature-Unit coupling optical fiber connector) or the like can also be employed. Further, the optical connector adapter 8 adopts a format in which an optical connector 193 to be used can be connected. The range of the inclination angle θ of the connection optical axis A is 25 ° to 35 ° with respect to the horizontal line, but it is more preferably set to 30 °. As a result, the prescribed radius of curvature can be maintained more reliably.

It is a side view which shows an optical wiring unit. (A) The side view which shows a connector support unit and an optical branching module, (b) is the side view which described each numerical value in (a). It is a top view which shows a connector support unit. It is a sectional side view which shows the optical connector adapter currently fixed to the connector support unit. It is a front view of an optical connector adapter. It is a schematic block diagram which shows an optical wiring unit. It is a side view which shows the conventional optical wiring unit. It is a side view which shows a connector support unit and an optical branching module. It is a side view which shows the connector support unit and optical branching module at the time of attaching a boot.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 5 ... Connector support unit, 8 ... Optical connector adapter, 9 ... Optical fiber (optical fiber tape core wire), 24 ... Curved wiring part, 25 ... Connector mounting plate, 27 ... Connector hole, 31 ... Holding piece, 34 ... Lever part , 35 ... holding part, 36 ... wiring gate part (hose fixing part), 101 ... optical wiring unit (optical wiring rack), 103 ... storage shelf (module storage shelf), 108 ... optical module (optical branching module), 191 , 192 ... Optical fiber (fiber optic ribbon), 191a, 192a ... curved lower end, 193 ... optical connector, A ... connecting optical axis.

Claims (4)

A storage shelf (103) for storing the optical module (108), and a connector support unit (5) disposed above the storage shelf and supporting the optical connector adapter (8);
The optical fiber (191, 192) drawn out from the optical fiber insertion port (194) of the optical module stored in the storage shelf is bent so as to be reversed, and the optical connector (193 provided at the tip of the optical fiber is provided. ) Is inserted into the optical connector adapter and connected, so that the optical fiber is connected to the optical fiber on the connector support unit side (101),
The optical connector adapter has a direction in which the connection optical axis (A) of the optical fiber drawn out from the optical module and the optical connector is inclined so that the back side is above the entrance into which the optical connector is inserted. It is supported by the connector support unit, and the optical fiber is formed with a curved lower end portion (191a, 192a) bent downward from the optical fiber insertion port. An optical wiring unit. The optical connector adapter is assembled into the optical connector adapter by pressing down the optical connector inserted into the housing (28) in which a connector hole (27) into which the optical connector is inserted is formed, and the housing. A holding piece (31) that maintains a butt connection state with the optical connector (17)
The pressing piece is pivotally attached to the housing, and a lever portion (34) for projecting and opening the connector hole entrance by a rotation operation is provided.
When the lever is operated to retract the holding piece from the connector hole inlet of the housing and open the connector hole inlet, the optical connector can be inserted into and removed from the connector adapter.
When the pressing piece is arranged at the connector hole entrance by the operation of the lever portion, the pressing piece presses the optical connector inserted into the optical connector adapter into the optical connector adapter. The optical wiring unit according to claim 1. The connector support unit includes a connector mounting plate (25) to which a plurality of the optical connector adapters are mounted side by side, a wiring gate portion (36), and a space between the wiring gate portion and the connector mounting plate. And an optical fiber (9) extending from each optical connector adapter has a curved wiring portion (24) that is curvedly routed to the wiring gate portion,
3. The optical wiring unit according to claim 1, wherein in the curved wiring portion, an optical fiber extending from each optical connector adapter is bent and accommodated in an upward convex mountain shape. 4. The connection optical axis of the optical connector adapter is inclined at an angle θ in the range of 25 ° to 35 ° with respect to the horizontal axis so that the back side is above the entrance where the optical connector is inserted. The optical wiring unit according to claim 1, wherein the optical wiring unit is a single unit.

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