JP2010014821A - Optical receptacle and optical module - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical receptacle and an optical module in which reliability is secured over a long period by preventing foreign objects such as dust from entering an opposite end side of a stab through a slit. <P>SOLUTION: The optical receptacle Ra comprises a sleeve 1a having a bore in which a plug ferrule 5 is inserted in one end and in which a stab 2 is fixedly inserted or fitted with pressure in the other end, the stab 2 fixedly inserted or fitted with pressure in the bore in the other end of the sleeve 1a, and a holder (clamping ring) 3 which clamps the outer circumference of the other end of the sleeve 1a. Then, the sleeve 1a includes a first slit having an open end reaching the one end of the sleeve and a closed end formed in the middle reaching the other end. The closed end is located in a region A2 that abuts on the stab 2 of the sleeve 1a. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical receptacle and an optical module including a sleeve in which a slit is formed from one end side toward the other end side, and a stub inserted, fixed, or press-fitted into the other end side of the sleeve. In particular, the present invention relates to an optical receptacle that can prevent foreign matters such as dust from entering the other end side of the stub through the slit and ensure reliability over a long period of time.

  In the field of optical communications, optical modules including optical elements such as light emitting elements (semiconductor lasers, light emitting diodes, etc.) and light receiving elements (photodiodes) are used. The optical module is connected to an optical fiber serving as a transmission medium, and has a function of receiving an optical signal from the optical fiber and converting it into an electrical signal, or converting an electrical signal into an optical signal and transmitting it to the optical fiber. There are two types of optical modules: a pigtail type in which an optical fiber is directly fixed, and a receptacle type in which a plug ferrule through which the optical fiber is inserted is removable (see Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  A conventional receptacle-type optical module will be described with reference to FIGS. Hereinafter, the same reference numerals are given to the same members in the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the optical module M includes a main body 6 containing optical components such as an optical element 61 and a lens 62, and an optical receptacle R to which a plug ferrule 5 through which an optical fiber 51 is inserted is detachably connected. It is configured. Normally, a sleeve (split sleeve) 1 in which a slit 10 is formed in the longitudinal direction is used for the optical receptacle R (see FIG. 4A).

  The sleeve 1 is a cylindrical member having an inner hole. As shown in FIG. 4B, the inner hole on one end side into which the plug ferrule 5 is inserted is opened, and the inner hole on the other end side is opened. Stub 2 is inserted. The stub 2 is a columnar member through which the optical fiber 21 is inserted. A grip ring 3 is attached to the outer periphery of the other end of the sleeve 1, and the sleeve 1, the stub 2, and the grip ring 3 are integrated. These integrated members are accommodated in the holder 4, and the sleeve 1 is held in the holder 4 via the grip ring 3.

  When connecting the plug ferrule 5 to the optical module M (optical receptacle R), insert the plug ferrule 5 into the sleeve 1, and connect the end faces of the plug ferrule 5 (optical fiber 51) and the stub 2 (optical fiber 21) to the sleeve 1. The optical fiber 51 and the optical element 61 are optically coupled to each other. Here, since the slit 1 is formed in the sleeve 1, it can be elastically deformed in the radial direction, the plug ferrule can be easily inserted and removed, and the inserted plug ferrule 5 is stably held. It is easy.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-332988 JP 2006-295003 A

  In the conventional optical receptacle, foreign matter such as dust may enter the other end side of the stub through the slit of the sleeve, and this foreign matter has a problem of blocking the optical path between the optical fiber and the optical element.

  Specifically, when the slit 10 is formed from one end side to the other end side of the sleeve 1, a foreign substance intrusion path is formed as shown by an arrow in FIG. 4B, and the other end of the stub 2 is formed. Foreign matter may enter the side. Further, it is very difficult to take out the foreign matter that has once entered the other end of the stub 2.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and one of its purposes is to prevent foreign matters such as dust from entering the other end side of the stub through the slit, and to provide long-term reliability. It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical receptacle and an optical module capable of ensuring the above.

  In the optical receptacle of the present invention, a plug ferrule is inserted on one end side, a sleeve having an inner hole into which the stub is inserted and fixed or press-fitted on the other end side, and an inner hole on the other end side of the sleeve is inserted and fixed or press-fitted A stub and a holding body for gripping the outer periphery on the other end side of the sleeve are provided. The sleeve includes a first slit having an open end that reaches one end thereof, and a closed end that is formed on the way to the other end, and the closed end is located in a range where the sleeve contacts the stub of the sleeve. Features.

  According to this configuration, since the position of the closed end of the first slit is defined in a range in contact with the stub of the sleeve, foreign matter such as dust can be prevented from entering the other end side of the stub. In addition, since the first slit exists in the range where the plug ferrule of the sleeve is inserted, it is possible to obtain a stable holding force and extraction force of the plug ferrule by elastic deformation.

  The sleeve further includes a second slit having an open end reaching the other end and a closed end formed on the way to the one end, and the closed end is in contact with a stub of the sleeve and a holding body of the sleeve. It is preferable that it is located in the range which overlaps with the range which contact | abuts.

  According to this configuration, since the second slit is present, the other end side of the sleeve is easily elastically deformed, and the stub is press-fitted easily. Moreover, since the position of the closed end of the second slit is defined as a range where the range where the sleeve abuts the stub and the range where the sleeve abuts against the overlap, foreign matter such as dust enters the other end of the stub. Can be prevented.

  The second slit may be formed on an extension line of the first slit.

  When the first slit and the second slit are formed on the same extension line, when the plug ferrule is inserted into one end side of the sleeve, the other end side of the sleeve in which the second slit is formed contracts, and the stub of the sleeve is The gripping force increases. As a result, since the stub is firmly fixed to the sleeve, the connection reproducibility can be maintained even when the plug ferrule is repeatedly inserted and removed, which is advantageous in that so-called Wiggle resistance is improved. On the other hand, when the first slit and the second slit are not formed on the same extension line, the length of the other slit is not limited by the length of the one slit, so the length of each slit accordingly. This is advantageous in that the degree of freedom of setting becomes high.

  In the optical receptacle of the present invention, the end surface on the other end side of the stub is an inclined surface, and the portion closest to the other end side of the sleeve on the outer peripheral edge on the other end side of the stub is at least one first slit. It is preferable that it lies on the extension line.

  According to this configuration, since the end surface on the other end side of the stub is inclined, it is possible to prevent the reflected light from the end surface of the stub from returning to the optical element. Moreover, the length of this 1st slit can be largely set because the location nearest to the other end side of a sleeve in the outer periphery of the other end side of a stub is located on the extension line | wire of a 1st slit. Accordingly, the degree of freedom in setting the length of the first slit is increased, so that the holding force and the removal force of the plug ferrule can be easily adjusted. The end surface on the other end side of the stub is preferably inclined within a range of 5 to 8 ° with respect to a plane perpendicular to the axis of the stub.

  The optical module of the present invention includes the above-described optical receptacle and optical element of the present invention.

  The optical receptacle and the optical module according to the present invention can reliably prevent foreign matters such as dust from entering the other end of the stub, and can exhibit high reliability over a long period of time.

  The most characteristic feature of the optical receptacle of the present invention is that the formation range of the slit formed in the sleeve is different from the conventional optical receptacle described above. Hereinafter, this point will be mainly described.

<Example 1>
1A is a schematic perspective view of a sleeve used for an optical receptacle according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a schematic cross-sectional view of the optical receptacle according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. is there.

  The sleeve 1a is a cylindrical member having an inner hole, and a first slit 11 is formed in the longitudinal direction from one end side to the other end side (see FIG. 1A). In the optical receptacle Ra, as shown in FIG. 1B, the sleeve 1a has an inner hole on one end side into which the plug ferrule 5 is inserted, and a stub 2 is press-fitted into the inner hole on the other end side. ing. The stub 2 is a cylindrical member through which the optical fiber 21 is inserted, and the end face 2f on the other end side is inclined by about 6 ° with respect to a plane perpendicular to the axis of the stub. A grip ring (holding body) 3 is attached to the outer periphery of the other end side of the sleeve 1a, and the sleeve 1a, the stub 2, and the grip ring 3 are integrated. The optical receptacle Ra is configured such that these integrated members are accommodated in the holder 4 and the sleeve 1a is held in the holder 4 via the grip ring 3. The grip ring 3 may be fixed integrally in the holder 4 and the sleeve 1a into which the stub 2 is press-fitted may be accommodated in the holder 4. Further, the stub 2 may be fixed by being press-fitted into the inner hole on the other end side of the sleeve 1a, or may be inserted and fixed with a resin or the like.

  Here, the first slit 11 of the sleeve 1a has an open end that reaches one end of the sleeve 1a and a closed end that is formed on the way to the other end, as shown in FIG. The closed end of the first slit 11 is located in a range A2 in contact with the stub 2 of the sleeve 1a. Therefore, in the optical receptacle Ra, foreign matter does not enter the other end side of the stub 2 through the first slit 11. Further, since the first slit 11 exists in the range where the plug ferrule 5 of the sleeve 1a is inserted, a stable holding force and removal force of the plug ferrule by elastic deformation can be obtained. Furthermore, since the portion 2p closest to the other end side of the sleeve 1a on the outer peripheral edge on the other end side of the stub 2 is located on the extension line of the first slit 11, the degree of freedom in setting the length of the first slit 11 is increased. High, the length of the first slit 11 can be set large.

<Example 2>
2A is a schematic perspective view of a sleeve used in an optical receptacle according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2B is a schematic sectional view of the optical receptacle according to the second embodiment of the present invention. is there. The optical receptacle Rb according to the second embodiment has a sleeve 1b, a stub 2, a grip ring (holding body) 3, and a holder 4 as main components, and has a second slit 12 formed in the sleeve 1b. Is different from the optical receptacle Ra of the first embodiment, and the other points are the same. Hereinafter, the description will focus on the differences, and description of other points will be omitted.

  In the sleeve 1b, in addition to the first slit 11, a second slit 12 is formed in the longitudinal direction from the other end side to the one end side (see FIG. 2A). Here, the first slit 11 and the second slit 12 are formed on the same extension line.

  Here, the second slit 12 of the sleeve 1b has an open end reaching the other end of the sleeve 1b, and a closed end formed on the way to the one end, as shown in FIG. The range A2 where the closed end of the second slit 12 contacts the stub 2 of the sleeve 1b and the range A3 where the closed end 3 of the sleeve 1b contacts the holding body 3 overlap each other. Therefore, in the optical receptacle Rb, foreign matter does not enter the other end side of the stub 2 through the second slit 12. In addition, since the second slit 12 exists on the other end side of the sleeve 1a, the stub 2 can be easily press-fitted.

  As described above, the optical receptacle of the present invention can ensure the reliability of the optical module over a long period of time because foreign substances such as dust do not enter the other end of the stub.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, a plurality of first or second slits may be formed in the circumferential direction of the sleeve. Moreover, it is good also as a structure which forms a protrusion in the internal peripheral surface of a holder and hold | maintains a sleeve by this protrusion instead of a holding ring. That is, a configuration in which the grip ring 3 and the holder 4 in FIG. 1B are integrally formed may be employed.

  The optical receptacle of the present invention can be suitably used for an optical module that requires high reliability over a long period of time.

(A) is a schematic perspective view of a sleeve used in Example 1 of the present invention, and (B) is a schematic cross-sectional view of an optical receptacle according to Example 1 of the present invention. (A) is a schematic perspective view of a sleeve used in Embodiment 2 of the present invention, and (B) is a schematic cross-sectional view of an optical receptacle according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the structure of the conventional optical module. (A) is a schematic perspective view of a sleeve used in a conventional optical receptacle, and (B) is a schematic cross-sectional view of a conventional optical receptacle.

Explanation of symbols

R, Ra, Rb Optical receptacle M Optical module
1,1a, 1b sleeve
10 Slit 11 First slit 12 Second slit
2 Stub 21 optical fiber
2f End face (inclined face) of the other end of the stub
2p Location closest to the other end of the sleeve
3 Grip ring (holding body)
4 Holder
5 Plug ferrule 51 Optical fiber
6 Body 61 Optical element 62 Lens

Claims (5)

A sleeve having an inner hole into which a plug ferrule is inserted at one end and a stub is inserted, fixed, or pressed into the other end; a stub inserted, fixed, or pressed into an inner hole at the other end of the sleeve; An optical receptacle comprising a holding body for gripping the outer periphery on the other end side,
The sleeve includes a first slit having an open end reaching one end and a closed end formed on the way to the other end,
The optical receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the closed end of the first slit is located in a range where the closed end contacts the stub of the sleeve. The sleeve further includes a second slit having an open end reaching the other end and a closed end formed on the way to the one end,
2. The optical receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the closed end of the second slit is located in a range in which a range in contact with the stub of the sleeve overlaps with a range in contact with the holding body of the sleeve.   The optical receptacle according to claim 2, wherein the first slit and the second slit are formed on the same extension line. The end surface on the other end side of the stub is an inclined surface,
The optical receptacle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a portion closest to the other end of the sleeve at an outer peripheral edge on the other end side of the stub is located on an extension line of the first slit. An optical module comprising an optical receptacle and an optical element,
An optical module, wherein the optical receptacle is the optical receptacle according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

Images