JP2006350213A - Optical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical connector which is resistant to connection failure between optical fibers and photoelectric transducers due to vibration, and is excellent in positioning accuracy of the optical fibers and the photoelectric transducers. <P>SOLUTION: In the optical connector 20 which is provided with a holding block 2 and a housing 3, and optically connects between the optical fibers 1 and the photoelectric transducers 4, a holding block storage part 9 and a photoelectric transducer storage part 16 are arranged to be perpendicular to each other; the holding block 2 is provided with at least one guide groove 6 on a side face 5 parallel to the optical axes of the optical fibers 1 held thereby, along the direction vertical to the optical axes of the optical fibers 1; and the housing 3 is provided with at least one vertical projecting bar 12 which is on the inside face 10 of the holding block storage part 9 along the direction of the depth and is engaged with the guide groove 6 when the holding block 2 is put into the holding block storage part 9. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical connector used for joining an optical fiber and a photoelectric conversion element, and more particularly to an optical connector used for joining a POF sensor for an automobile and a photoelectric conversion element via an optical fiber.

Examples of the coupling method of an optical connector used for optical connection between a plastic optical fiber (POF) sensor for an automobile and a photoelectric conversion element include a plug head type and a plug receptacle type.
Photoelectric conversion elements include optical elements such as light emitting diodes (LEDs) and photodiodes (photo diodes, PDs), integrated circuits for driving, lens components, etc., and these are packaged in a transparent resin. It is an optical module.

  Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 5, using a plug head type optical connector, a photoelectric conversion element 103 mounted on a substrate 101 and an optical connector 104 holding an optical fiber are connected via a connection terminal 102 Since the optical axis of the photoelectric conversion element 103 is substantially parallel to the surface of the substrate 101, the optical connector 104 is advanced substantially parallel to the substrate 101 toward the housing (not shown), and the optical connector 104 is moved to the photoelectric conversion element 103. Connect the two so that they face each other.

  If the force with which the optical connector 104 is abutted against the photoelectric conversion element 103 is too large, the connection terminal 102 of the photoelectric conversion element 103 may be bent toward the substrate 101 or the substrate 101 may be distorted, resulting in damage to the substrate 101. was there.

As a method for preventing such a problem, a structure in which the force of the optical connector 104 to the photoelectric conversion element 103 is completely received by the internal mechanism of the housing so that no force is directly applied to the photoelectric conversion element 103 is considered. It is done.
Alternatively, a structure in which the connecting terminal 102 is not bent when the optical connector 104 is abutted against the photoelectric conversion element 103 by increasing the bonding force between the housing and the substrate 101 can be considered.
However, in both of these structures, since the force by the optical connector 104 is transmitted to the substrate 101 side, a bonding strength of a certain level or more is required for bonding the housing and the substrate 101.

In addition, if a circuit component is disposed on the insertion path of the optical connector 104 on the substrate 101, the circuit component becomes an obstacle and the optical connector 104 cannot be inserted into the housing. It was arranged near the edge of the substrate 101 with few obstacles such as parts.
As described above, in the system in which the photoelectric conversion element 103 and the optical connector 104 are connected substantially parallel to the surface of the substrate 101, the housing structure and the connection position between the photoelectric conversion element 103 and the optical connector 104 are limited.

  Thus, in order to solve the problem in connection between the photoelectric conversion element 103 and the optical connector 104, for example, a method of abutting the optical connector perpendicularly to the substrate as disclosed in Patent Document 1 has been developed. .

The optical connector disclosed in Patent Document 1 is a system in which an optical connector plug holding an optical fiber is inserted into a plug housing portion of an optical connector socket attached on the board so as to be pushed perpendicularly to the board. This is a plug head type optical connector.
In this optical connector, vertical grooves are provided on both side surfaces of the optical connector plug. Further, when the optical connector plug is fitted into the plug housing portion of the optical connector socket at the position corresponding to the longitudinal groove on the inner wall surface of the plug housing portion of the optical connector socket, the hook is engaged with the vertical groove. A claw portion is provided. When the optical connector plug is pushed into the plug housing portion of the optical connector socket, the hooking claw portion enters the vertical groove, so that the optical connector plug is fixed to the optical connector socket.

The optical connector socket is provided with a photoelectric conversion element storage portion for storing a photoelectric conversion element at a position facing the plug storage portion. Further, a connection terminal protrudes from the lower side (side to be bonded to the substrate) of the photoelectric conversion element.
In this optical connector, when the optical connector plug is pushed into the plug housing portion of the optical connector socket, the tips of the hooking claws of the optical connector socket are inserted into the vertical grooves provided on both side surfaces of the optical connector plug. The optical connector plug is guided and fixed at a predetermined position in the optical connector socket.
The hooking claw portion guides the optical connector plug and has a mechanism (locking mechanism) for pressing the optical connector plug at the tip at a position where the optical connector plug is completely fitted into the optical connector socket.
Thus, in this optical connector, when the optical connector plug is pushed into the plug housing portion of the optical connector socket, the optical fiber held by the optical connector plug and the optical axis of the photoelectric conversion element are aligned. Yes.
JP 2003-114364 A

  However, although the optical connector disclosed in Patent Document 1 fits in the vertical groove of the optical connector plug, there is a gap between the hooking claw portion and the vertical groove, so that only the front end of the hooking claw portion is vertical. Since the optical connector plug is fixed to the optical connector socket by pressing down the protrusion provided in the groove, the force for fixing the optical connector plug to the optical connector socket is weak. Therefore, in the optical connector disclosed in Patent Document 1, the optical connector plug is displaced from a predetermined position by vibration, the state of optical connection between the optical fiber and the photoelectric conversion element becomes poor, and loss occurs. The optical connector plug may fall off from the optical connector socket, and is not suitable for applications that are susceptible to vibration such as automobile applications. In addition, since there is a gap between the hooking claw portion and the vertical groove, it is difficult to accurately position the optical fiber with respect to the photoelectric conversion element due to the positional relationship between them.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides an optical connector that is unlikely to cause poor connection between an optical fiber and a photoelectric conversion element due to vibration and that has excellent positioning accuracy between the optical fiber and the photoelectric conversion element. With the goal.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical connector comprising: a holding block that holds a tip portion of an optical fiber; a holding block storage portion that stores the holding block; and a photoelectric conversion element that is mounted on a substrate. And a housing provided with a photoelectric conversion element storage section that is stored so as to face the optical connector, and an optical connector that optically connects between the optical fiber and the photoelectric conversion element, the holding block storage section and the The photoelectric conversion element storage portion is provided so as to be orthogonal, and the holding block is along a side surface parallel to the optical axis of the optical fiber held by the holding block in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical fiber. At least one guide groove, wherein the housing is located along an inner surface of the holding block storage portion along a depth direction of the holding block storage portion, and the holding block is When housed in the serial holding block housing unit, characterized in that it comprises at least one projection fits in the guide groove of the holding block.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical connector comprising: a holding block that holds a tip portion of an optical fiber; a holding block storage portion that stores the holding block; and a photoelectric conversion element that is mounted on a substrate. And a housing provided with a photoelectric conversion element storage section that is stored so as to face the optical connector, and an optical connector that optically connects between the optical fiber and the photoelectric conversion element, the holding block storage section and the The photoelectric conversion element storage portion is provided so as to be orthogonal, and the holding block is along a side surface parallel to the optical axis of the optical fiber held by the holding block in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical fiber. At least one protrusion, and the housing extends along an inner surface of the holding block storage portion along a depth direction of the holding block storage portion, and the holding block is connected to the holding block storage portion. When housed in diblock housing portion, characterized by comprising at least one guide groove to fit to the protrusion of the holding block.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the optical connector according to the third aspect of the present invention, wherein the holding block has an optical axis of the optical fiber at a periphery of a surface that does not contact the holding block storage portion when the holding block is stored in the holding block storage portion. And the housing is protruded from an inner edge of the opening end of the holding block storage portion, is in a direction facing the photoelectric conversion element storage portion, and the holding When the block is stored in the holding block storage portion, a locking piece that locks in the locking groove of the holding block is provided.

  An optical connector according to claim 4 of the present invention is characterized in that the locking groove has the four corners of the surface that do not come into contact with the holding block storage portion when the holding block is stored in the holding block storage portion as base ends. Along the parallel to the optical axis of the fiber, the locking piece is located in the direction facing the photoelectric conversion element storage portion with the four corners of the opening end of the holding block storage portion as the base ends. To do.

  In an optical connector according to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the optical fiber is a plastic optical fiber, the plastic optical fiber is fixed in an optical fiber housing provided in the holding block by an adhesive, and the holding block Has a polished surface facing the photoelectric conversion element.

  The optical connector according to claim 5 of the present invention is characterized in that the optical fiber is a multi-fiber having two or more fibers.

  According to the optical connector of the present invention, the holding block that holds the tip of the optical fiber, the holding block storage that stores the holding block, and the photoelectric conversion element mounted on the substrate face the optical fiber. An optical connector that optically connects between the optical fiber and the photoelectric conversion element, the holding block storage unit and the photoelectric conversion element. The storage portion is provided so as to be orthogonal to each other, and the holding block has at least one side surface that is parallel to the optical axis of the optical fiber held by the holding block and is perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical fiber. The housing includes a guide groove, and the housing is located on an inner surface of the holding block storage portion along a depth direction of the holding block storage portion, and holds the holding block. Since it has at least one protrusion that fits into the guide groove of the holding block when stored in the lock storage portion, when the holding block is stored in the housing, the protrusion is fitted into the guide groove, The holding block is positioned with respect to the housing, and the holding block is fixed to the housing. Further, by fitting the protrusion into the guide groove, the holding block is housed in the housing while maintaining a predetermined distance between the front end surface of the holding block and the inner surface of the holding block housing portion of the housing 3. Therefore, when the holding block is stored in the housing, the front end surface of the holding block contacts the inner surface of the holding block storage portion, and as a result, the front end surface of the optical fiber held by the holding block is not damaged. . Therefore, the optical connector of the present invention is less likely to cause poor connection between the optical fiber and the photoelectric conversion element due to vibration, and is excellent in positioning accuracy between the optical fiber and the photoelectric conversion element.

  Hereinafter, an optical connector embodying the present invention will be described in detail.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an embodiment of the optical connector of the present invention. 2A and 2B are schematic perspective views showing a method of connecting the optical connector of the present invention, in which FIG. 2A shows a state before the holding block is stored in the housing, FIG. 2B shows a state where the holding block is stored in the housing, c) shows a state in which the holding block is housed in the housing. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a method for connecting an optical connector of the present invention.
1, 2, and 3, reference numeral 1 is an optical fiber, 2 is a holding block, 3 is a housing, 4 is a photoelectric conversion element, 5 is a side surface of the holding block, 6 is a guide groove, 7 is an upper surface of the holding block, 8 is a locking groove, 9 is a holding block storage portion, 10 is an inner surface of the holding block storage portion, 11 is a bottom surface of the holding block storage portion, 12 is a protrusion, 13 is an opening end of the holding block storage portion, and 14 is engaged. A stop piece, 15 is a support member, 16 is a photoelectric conversion element housing portion, 17 is a bottom surface of the housing, 18 is a connection terminal, and 20 is an optical connector.

The optical connector 20 of this embodiment includes a holding block 2 that holds the distal end portion of the optical fiber 1, a holding block storage portion 9 that stores the holding block 2, and a photoelectric conversion mounted on a substrate (not shown). The element 4 is schematically configured from a housing 3 provided with a photoelectric conversion element storage portion 16 that is stored so as to face the optical fiber 1 held by the holding block 2.
In the optical connector 20, the holding block storage portion 9 and the photoelectric conversion element storage portion 16 of the housing 3 are provided so as to be orthogonal to each other. The optical connector 20 stores the holding block 2 in the holding block storage portion 9 of the housing 3 so that the end face of the optical fiber 1 held by the holding block 2 faces the light receiving portion of the photoelectric conversion element 4. A plug head type optical connector that optically connects the optical fiber 1 and the photoelectric conversion element 4.

The holding block 2 faces the photoelectric conversion element 4 stored in the photoelectric conversion element storage section 16 of the housing 3 when the holding block 2 is stored in the holding block storage section 9 (hereinafter referred to as “tip surface”) 2a. An optical fiber housing (not shown) comprising a plurality of holes formed in parallel with each other through the holding block 2 from a surface 2b (hereinafter referred to as "rear end surface") 2b toward the front end surface 2a. I have.
In the present invention, the number of optical fiber storage portions is not particularly limited, and the number of optical fiber storage portions is appropriately determined as necessary.

In addition, the holding block 2 includes guide grooves 6 that extend along the direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical fiber 1 on each of the two side surfaces 5 parallel to the optical axis of the optical fiber 1 held by the holding block 2. .
In the present invention, the guide groove 5 is not necessarily provided on the two side surfaces 5 of the holding block 2. It is sufficient that at least one guide groove 5 is provided on either one of the two side surfaces 5 parallel to the optical axis of the optical fiber 1, and the number of guide grooves 6 provided on the side surface 5 of the holding book 2 is as follows. It is determined as appropriate according to the size of the holding block 2 and the connection accuracy required for the optical connector 20.
Further, the length of the guide groove 6 along the side surface 5 of the holding book 2 is not particularly limited, and is appropriately determined according to the size of the holding block 2 and the connection accuracy required for the optical connector 20. .

On the other hand, when the housing 3 is along the depth direction of the holding block storage portion 9 on each of the two inner side surfaces 10 of the holding block storage portion 9 and the holding block 2 is stored in the holding block storage portion 9 Further, a protrusion 12 that fits into the guide groove 6 of the holding block 2 is provided.
In the present invention, the protrusions 12 are not necessarily provided on the two inner side surfaces 10 of the holding block storage portion 9. It is sufficient that at least one protrusion 12 is provided on one of the two inner side surfaces 10 of the holding block storage portion 9 so as to correspond to the guide groove 6. The number of the ridges 12 provided in is appropriately determined according to the number of the guide grooves 6.
For example, when two guide grooves 6 are provided on each of the two side surfaces 5 of the holding book 2, each of the two inner side surfaces 10 of the holding block storage portion 9 of the housing 3 corresponds to the guide groove 6. It is preferable to provide two protrusions 12 each. In this way, the front end surface 2a of the holding block 2 and the surface 19 of the holding block storage unit 9 that the front end surface 2a of the holding block 2 faces when the holding block 2 is stored in the holding block storage unit 9. , That is, the distance between the tip surface of the optical fiber 1 and the light receiving surface of the photoelectric conversion element 4 can be made more uniform.
Further, the length of the ridge 12 along the inner side surface 10 of the holding block storage portion 9 is not particularly limited, and is appropriately determined according to the length of the guide groove 6.

Further, the holding block 2 has a peripheral edge of a surface 7 (hereinafter referred to as “upper surface”) that does not come into contact with the inner side surface 10 or the bottom surface 11 of the holding block storage portion 9 when the holding block 2 is stored in the holding block storage portion 9. In addition, a locking groove 8 is provided along the optical axis of the optical fiber 1 held by the holding block 2.
In the present invention, the position and the length of the locking groove 8 are not particularly limited as long as the locking groove 8 is parallel to the optical axis of the optical fiber 1, and the size of the holding block 2 is not limited. In addition, it is appropriately determined according to the connection accuracy required for the optical connector 20.

On the other hand, the housing 3 protrudes from the inner edge of the opening end 13 of the holding block storage unit 9, extends along the direction facing the photoelectric conversion element storage unit 16, and stores the holding block 2 in the holding block storage unit 9. When this is done, a locking piece 14 that locks in the locking groove 8 of the holding block 2 is provided.
In the present invention, the position and the length of the locking piece 14 are not particularly limited as long as the locking piece 14 is located in a direction facing the photoelectric conversion element housing portion 16. 8 is appropriately determined.

  In particular, in order to reduce the influence of vibration and position the holding block 2 with high accuracy with respect to the housing 3 to increase the connection accuracy between the optical fiber 1 and the photoelectric conversion element 4, The four corners 7a of the upper surface 7 of the holding block 2 are used as base ends, and are parallel to the optical axis of the optical fiber 1, and the locking pieces 14 are provided at the four corners of the opening end 13 of the holding block storage portion 9. It is preferable to be along the direction facing the photoelectric conversion element storage portion 16 with 13a as a base end.

The optical fiber 1 is not particularly limited, and a known optical fiber such as a quartz optical fiber or a plastic optical fiber (POF) can be used.
Moreover, in this embodiment, although the case where the some optical fiber 1 was hold | maintained by the holding block 2 was illustrated, this invention is not limited to this. The optical connector of the present invention can also be applied to connection between a single optical fiber and a photoelectric conversion element.

  The material of the holding block 2 and the housing 3 is not particularly limited, and a known material that is usually used for an optical connector is used.

  Here, for example, when the optical fiber 1 is a plastic optical fiber and the holding block 2 is made of plastic, the optical fiber 1 is fixed to an optical fiber housing provided in the holding block 2 by an adhesive, and this light The holding block 2 holding the fiber 1 forms a surface facing the photoelectric conversion element 4, that is, a bonding surface (polished surface) in which the tip surface 2 a is polished.

  Thus, if the optical fiber 1, the holding block 2, and the adhesive bonding them are all made of resin (plastic), they are polished almost uniformly when the front end surface 2 a of the holding block 2 is polished. The problem of polishing burr does not occur. Therefore, since the front end surface 2a of the holding block 2 forms a flat polished surface, connection loss between the optical fiber 1 and the photoelectric conversion element 4 can be suppressed. Particularly, when the optical fiber 1 is a multi-core fiber having two or more fibers, a difference in the degree of polishing depending on the position of each fiber hardly occurs.

  Examples of the photoelectric conversion element 4 include optical elements such as light emitting diodes (LEDs) and photodiodes (PDs), integrated circuits for driving, lens components, etc., and a flat optical module in which these are packaged with a transparent resin. It is done.

In this embodiment, the photoelectric conversion element 4 is composed of two photodiodes 4A and 4B and two light emitting diodes 4C and 4D, as shown in FIG.
The photodiodes 4A and 4B have two light receiving portions 4a and 4a arranged symmetrically, and a connection terminal 18 is connected to each of the light receiving portions 4a and 4a. Similarly, the light emitting diodes 4C and 4D have two light emitting portions 4b and 4b arranged symmetrically, and a connection terminal 18 is connected to each of the light receiving portions 4b and 4b.
In this embodiment, two photodiodes 4 </ b> A, 4 </ b> B arranged in parallel are arranged on the opening end 13 side of the housing 3 and are accommodated in the photoelectric conversion element accommodating portion 16. The two light emitting diodes 4C and 4D arranged in parallel are arranged in parallel with the photodiodes 4A and 4B and on the bottom surface 17 side of the housing 3 and are accommodated in the photoelectric conversion element accommodating portion 16. Thereby, in a state where the photodiodes 4A and 4B and the light emitting diodes 4C and 4D are housed in the photoelectric conversion element housing part 16, the light receiving surfaces of the light receiving parts 4a and 4a of the photodiodes 4A and 4B and the light emitting diodes 4C and 4D The light emitting surfaces of the light emitting units 4b and 4b are arranged on the same surface, and the light receiving units 4a and 4a and the light emitting units 4b and 4b are exposed on the surface 19 of the holding block storage unit 9 described above.
The optical fibers 1 facing the photodiodes 4A and 4B and the light emitting diodes 4C and 4D are respectively held by the holding block 2 while distinguishing between the incident optical fiber and the outgoing optical fiber.

  In this embodiment, the arrangement of the photodiodes 4A and 4B and the light emitting diodes 4C and 4D constituting the photoelectric conversion element 4 is as shown in FIG. 4, but the present invention is not limited to this. In the present invention, the arrangement of the photodiodes and the light emitting diodes constituting the photoelectric conversion element can be arbitrarily set.

Here, with reference to FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 3, the connection method of the optical connector of this invention is demonstrated.
This optical connector 20 is usually used by being mounted on a substrate 21.
In order to mount the optical connector 20 on the substrate 21, the photoelectric conversion element 4 mounted on the substrate via the connection terminal 18 is stored in the photoelectric conversion element storage portion 16 of the housing 3, and on the bottom surface 17 of the housing 3, The housing 3 is fixed on the substrate 21 via a support member 15 provided in parallel with the photoelectric conversion element housing portion 16.
Note that the height of the support member 15 is appropriately determined according to the size of the photoelectric conversion element 4, and the housing 3 is always arranged in parallel to the substrate.

  When the photoelectric conversion element 4 is stored in the photoelectric conversion element storage portion 16 of the housing 3, the holding block 2 is stored when the holding block 2 is stored in the holding block storage portion 9 among the inner side surfaces 10 of the holding block storage portion 9. The light receiving portion of the photoelectric conversion element 4 is exposed on the surface 10a facing the front end surface 2a.

  In this way, the holding block 2 holding the optical fiber 1 is perpendicular to the holding block storage portion 9 of the housing 3 fixed on the substrate 21 (in the direction of the arrow shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 3). When pushed in, the protrusion 12 of the housing 3 is fitted into the guide groove 6 of the holding block 2, whereby the holding block 2 is stored in a predetermined position of the holding block storage portion 9 and the locking piece 14 of the housing 3. However, the holding block 2 is fixed to the housing 3 by being locked in the locking groove 8 of the holding block 2.

  According to the optical connector 20 of this embodiment, the holding block 2 extends along each of the two side surfaces 5 parallel to the optical axis of the optical fiber 1 held by the holding block 2 in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical fiber 1. The guide groove 6 is provided, and the housing 3 extends along the depth direction of the holding block storage portion 9 on each of the two inner side surfaces 10 of the holding block storage portion 9, and holds the holding block 2 in the holding block. Since the protrusion 12 that fits into the guide groove 6 of the holding block 2 is provided when stored in the storage portion 9, the protrusion 12 fits into the guide groove 6 when the holding block 2 is stored in the housing 3. As a result, the holding block 2 is positioned with respect to the housing 3 and the holding block 2 is fixed to the housing 3. Further, by fitting the protrusion 12 into the guide groove 6, the holding block 2 is held in the housing while the front end surface 2 a of the holding block 2 and the inner surface 10 of the holding block storage portion 9 of the housing 3 are kept at a predetermined distance. 3 is stored. Therefore, when the holding block 2 is stored in the housing 3, the front end surface 2 a of the holding block 2 comes into contact with the inner side surface 10 of the holding block storage portion 9, and as a result, the optical fiber 1 held in the holding block 2. The tip face is not damaged. Therefore, the optical connector 20 is less likely to cause a connection failure between the optical fiber 1 and the photoelectric conversion element 4 due to vibration, and has excellent positioning accuracy between the optical fiber 1 and the photoelectric conversion element 4. In particular, as in this embodiment, the end face of the multi-core fiber needs to be arranged on the same plane as the end face 2a of the holding block 2, and all the optical fibers 1 and the photoelectric conversion elements 4 need to be positioned with high accuracy. It is effective when there is.

  Further, according to the optical connector 20 of this embodiment, the holding block 2 is provided with the locking groove 8 located along the periphery of the upper surface 7 along the optical axis of the optical fiber 1 held by the holding block 2. At the same time, the housing 3 protrudes from the inner edge of the opening end 13 of the holding block storage unit 9, extends along the direction facing the photoelectric conversion element storage unit 16, and stores the holding block 2 in the holding block storage unit 9. Since the locking piece 14 is provided to be locked in the locking groove 8 of the holding block 2 when the holding block 2 is held in the direction parallel to the optical axis of the optical fiber 1. 3, the holding block 2 can be firmly fixed by the housing 3. Therefore, the optical connector 20 is not easily affected by vibration, and the holding block 2 can be positioned with high accuracy relative to the housing 3 so that the optical fiber 1 and the photoelectric conversion element 4 can be optically connected with higher accuracy. In particular, if the locking grooves 8 are provided with the four corners of the upper surface 7 of the holding block 2 as the base ends, and the locking pieces 14 are provided with the four corners of the opening end 13 of the housing 3 as the base ends, it is further affected by vibration. Therefore, the optical fiber 1 and the photoelectric conversion element 4 can be optically connected with higher accuracy.

In this embodiment, the holding block 2 includes guide grooves 6 on each of the two side surfaces 5, and the housing 3 includes protrusions 12 on each of the two inner side surfaces 10 of the holding block storage portion 9. Although the optical connector 20 is illustrated, the present invention is not limited to this. In the optical connector of the present invention, the holding block includes at least one protrusion on a side surface parallel to the optical axis of the optical fiber held by the holding block and extending in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical fiber. However, at least one guide groove that fits on the inner surface of the holding block storage portion and extends in the depth direction of the holding block storage portion and that fits the protrusion of the holding block when the holding block is stored in the holding block storage portion. You may have.
Even with such an optical connector, the same operations and effects as the optical connector of the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

It is a schematic perspective view which shows one Embodiment of the optical connector of this invention. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the connection method of the optical connector of this invention, (a) The state before accommodating a holding block in a housing, (b) The state which accommodated the holding block in a housing, (c) is a holding | maintenance. The state which accommodated the block in the housing is each shown. It is a schematic diagram which shows the connection method of the optical connector of this invention. It is a schematic perspective view which shows an example of the photoelectric conversion element used for the optical connector of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the connection method of the conventional optical connector.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Optical fiber, 2 ... Holding block, 3 ... Housing, 4 ... Photoelectric conversion element, 4A, 4B ... Photodiode, 4C, 4D ... Light emitting diode, 5 ... Side surface, 6 ... guide groove, 7 ... upper surface, 8 ... locking groove, 9 ... holding block storage portion, 10 ... inside surface, 11 ... bottom surface, 12 ... projection Strips, 13 ... open ends, 14 ... locking pieces, 15 ... support members, 16 ... photoelectric conversion element storage, 17 ... bottom surface, 18 ... connecting terminals, 20 ... -Optical connector, 21 ... substrate.

Claims (6)

A holding block (2) for holding the tip of the optical fiber (1), a holding block storage (9) for storing the holding block, and a photoelectric conversion element (4) mounted on the substrate are the optical fiber. An optical connector (20) that optically connects between the optical fiber and the photoelectric conversion element, and a housing (3) provided with a photoelectric conversion element storage portion that is stored so as to face each other,
The holding block storage part and the photoelectric conversion element storage part are provided to be orthogonal,
The holding block includes at least one guide groove (6) along a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical fiber on a side surface (5) parallel to the optical axis of the optical fiber held by the holding block. ,
The housing is located on the inner surface (10) of the holding block storage portion along the depth direction of the holding block storage portion, and the holding block is stored when the holding block is stored in the holding block storage portion. An optical connector comprising at least one protrusion (12) that fits into a guide groove of a block. A holding block for holding the tip of the optical fiber, a holding block storage for storing the holding block, and a photoelectric conversion element storage for storing the photoelectric conversion element mounted on the substrate so as to face the optical fiber An optical connector that optically connects between the optical fiber and the photoelectric conversion element.
The holding block storage part and the photoelectric conversion element storage part are provided to be orthogonal,
The holding block includes at least one protrusion extending along a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical fiber on a side surface parallel to the optical axis of the optical fiber held by the holding block.
The housing extends along the inner surface of the holding block storage portion along the depth direction of the holding block storage portion, and protrudes from the holding block when the holding block is stored in the holding block storage portion. An optical connector comprising at least one guide groove that fits into a strip. The holding block has a locking groove that is located along the periphery of the surface (7) that does not come into contact with the holding block storage portion when the holding block is stored in the holding block storage portion, parallel to the optical axis of the optical fiber. (8)
The housing protrudes from an inner edge of the opening end (13) of the holding block storage portion, is in a direction facing the photoelectric conversion element storage portion, and stores the holding block in the holding block storage portion. The optical connector according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a locking piece (14) that locks into a locking groove of the holding block. The locking groove is parallel to the optical axis of the optical fiber with the four corners (7a) of the surface not contacting the holding block storage portion when the holding block is stored in the holding block storage portion as the base ends. And
4. The light according to claim 3, wherein the locking piece is located in a direction facing the photoelectric conversion element storage portion with four corners (13 a) of the opening end of the holding block storage portion as base ends. connector.   The optical fiber is a plastic optical fiber, the plastic optical fiber is fixed in an optical fiber housing provided in the holding block by an adhesive, and the holding block is a polished surface facing the photoelectric conversion element The optical connector according to claim 1, comprising:   6. The optical connector according to claim 1, wherein the optical fiber is a multi-core fiber having two or more cores.

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