JP2011018003A - Optical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical connector that simultaneously engages with a connector engaging housing and covers the engaging housing with a cap-like exterior cover, and attaches or detaches the whole including the exterior cover from the engaging housing in a push-on/pull-off method.SOLUTION: The optical connector 10 includes a connector body 20 storing a ferrule 22, a frame-like slider 30 disposed slidably outside the connector body 20, and the cap-like exterior cover 40 attached to the frame-like slider 30. By pressing the exterior cover 40, a latch 23d of the connector body 20 engages with the engaging housing 2, and exterior cover 40 is extrapolated to the engaging housing 2 and engages with the engaging housing 2. By pulling the exterior cover 40 in the engaged state, the frame-like slider 30 cancels engagement of the latch 23d with the engaging housing 2.

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical connector that is attached to and detached from a connector fitting housing such as an optical connector adapter or an optical connector receptacle by a push-on / pull-off method.

As an example of an optical connector that is attached to and detached from an optical connector adapter (hereinafter also simply referred to as an adapter) by a push-on / pull-off method, an MPO optical connector (F13 optical connector established by JIS C 5982. MPO: Multi-fiber Push On Etc. are conventionally known (for example, Non-Patent Document 1). This type of optical connector (push-on / pull-off type optical connector) generally has a configuration in which a ferrule is housed in a plastic housing.
By the way, the connector connection which connects the said optical connectors with the adapter attached so that it might incorporate in the window hole which penetrates the back panel (or back panel which is a part of housing | casing) provided in the housing | casing etc. of the electronic device. In the case of the structure, blocking of electromagnetic waves leaking from the window hole is one of the problems. In view of this, conventionally, a measure has been taken such that a case-like conductive metal cover that can accommodate an optical connector connected to an adapter is screwed to the back panel to cover the entire connector connection portion.

"Fibre optic interconnecting devices and passive components-Fiber optic connector interfaces-Part 7: Type MPO connector family", International Electrotechnical Commission, 2008-03, Edition 3.0, IEC 61754-7.

However, in the case of the shield structure in which the metal cover is screwed to the back panel as described above, there is a complaint that the workability of screw fastening of the metal cover to the back panel is poor. When the distance between the adapters attached to the back panel is narrow, there is a problem that it becomes difficult to operate a tool for rotating the screw.
In addition, after inserting and fitting the optical connector into the adapter, the metal cover is screwed to the back panel (if the back panel does not have a screw hole, it is necessary to form a screw hole). In addition to the optical connector, a fastening part such as a metal cover or a screw is required, which raises a problem of high cost.

  In view of the above problems, the present invention can cover the connector fitting housing with a cap-shaped outer cover at the same time as fitting into the connector fitting housing, and the entire connector including the outer cover can be covered with the connector fitting housing. The purpose is to provide an optical connector that can be attached and detached by a push-on / pull-off method.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides the following configuration.
A first aspect of the present invention is an optical connector that can be attached to and detached from a connector fitting housing that is an optical connector adapter or an optical connector receptacle, and the ferrule is housed in a ferrule housing hole that penetrates the housing. A connector body configured to be insertable into the inner connector housing hole, and formed in a frame shape surrounding the outer periphery of the connector body, and slides in the front-rear direction, which is a direction along the central axis of the ferrule housing hole with respect to the connector body A frame-shaped slider that is movably provided, a rear end opposite to the front end side where the joint end surface of the ferrule tip of the connector main body is disposed, and a cap-like shape that is formed in a cap shape that houses the frame-shaped slider. Attached to the slider and slidable in the longitudinal direction of the connector body together with the frame-shaped slider And a gap into which the connector fitting housing enters when the connector body is inserted into a connector housing hole of the connector fitting housing between the frame-shaped slider and the outer cover. The connector main body has a pressing piece abutting portion with which a pressing piece provided on the frame-shaped slider abuts from the rear side, and the housing protrudes from the housing so that the connector main body is fitted with the connector. When inserted into the housing, the connector body enters the front side of the locking portion provided in the connector fitting housing and engages with the locking portion, thereby moving the connector body in the pulling direction with respect to the connector fitting housing. A latch for regulating, the distance from the connector body increases as the latch goes from the front side to the rear side of the connector body. The frame-shaped slider is separated from the connector main body by abutting on the inclined surface of the latch and elastically deforming the latch by sliding backward with respect to the connector main body. There is provided an optical connector having a latch abutting portion for allowing a latch tip portion to be brought close to the connector body.
In a second aspect of the present invention, the frame-shaped slider is an extended portion or a window hole in which a rear end side of a cut portion extending from the front end of the frame-shaped slider toward the rear side is expanded, and the latch front end portion is A latch housing opening through which the latch or the latch penetrates is formed, the inclined surface is formed in a portion of the latch disposed in the latch housing opening, and the latch housing opening of the frame-shaped slider is formed. A portion located on the front side is the latch contact portion. An optical connector according to the first aspect of the present invention is provided.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, the latch abutting portion has an abutting portion inclined surface formed so that a distance from the connector main body decreases as it goes from the front side of the connector to the rear side, and the frame-shaped slider is The optical connector according to the first or second invention is characterized in that the abutting portion inclined surface comes into contact with the inclined surface of the latch from the front side when the connector body is slid rearward with respect to the connector body. provide.
4th invention is the structure by which the said ferrule each accommodated in the said ferrule accommodation hole formed in multiple numbers in the said housing is arranged in the said housing, The said connector fitting housing is inserted in the said connector main body A second optical connector which is an optical connector formed corresponding to and connected to the ferrule, corresponding to the plurality of ferrules of the connector body inserted into the connector storage hole. An optical connector according to any one of the first to third aspects is provided, which is an optical connector adapter including a connector fitting hole inserted and fitted from the opposite side.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a key groove is formed on one of the connector housing hole inner surfaces of the connector main body and the connector fitting housing, and a key that can be inserted into the key groove is projected on the other. An optical connector according to any one of the first to fourth inventions is provided.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a spring for elastically biasing the ferrule forward and a stopper member for restricting displacement of the spring toward the rear side of the connector body are incorporated in the ferrule housing hole of the connector body. An optical connector according to any one of the first to fifth inventions is provided.
A seventh invention provides the optical connector according to any one of the first to sixth inventions, wherein the exterior cover is a conductive member.
In an eighth aspect of the present invention, an optical fiber fixed to the ferrule and extending from a rear end of the ferrule housing hole passes through a fiber insertion hole formed in a rear end portion of the outer cover and is placed outside the outer cover. The optical connector according to any one of the first to seventh aspects is provided.
A ninth invention provides the optical connector according to any one of the first to eighth inventions, wherein the ferrule is an MT type optical connector.
A tenth invention provides the optical connector according to any one of the first to ninth inventions, wherein the connector fitting housing is attached to a back panel.

The optical connector according to the present invention includes a cap-shaped outer cover that is externally inserted into the connector fitting housing when the optical connector is fitted into the connector fitting housing. It can be attached to and detached from the mating housing by a push-on / pull-off method. For this reason, the connector fitting housing can be covered simultaneously with fitting into the connector fitting housing. For example, when a conductive cover is used as the exterior cover and this optical connector is fitted into a connector fitting housing attached to the back panel, the optical connector is simply fitted into the connector fitting housing. The electromagnetic wave shielding property of the housing and the electromagnetic wave shielding property of the window hole opened in the back panel for attaching the connector fitting housing can be easily secured.
Also, compared to the conventional configuration in which the metal cover is screwed to the back panel, the restriction on the distance between the connector fitting housings when mounting multiple connector fitting housings on the back panel is reduced, and the installation interval is narrowed. It becomes possible to do.
Also, according to this optical connector, it is easy to increase the number of connector bodies as a structure containing a plurality of ferrules, and in this case also, it is easy to attach and detach the connector fitting housing by a push-on / pull-off method. realizable.

It is the perspective view seen from the optical connector front side of one embodiment concerning the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the optical connector of FIG. 1 seen from the rear side, and the structure of the connector fitting housing which fits this optical connector. It is a perspective view which shows the state which made the optical connector of FIG. 2 fit to the connector fitting housing. It is a sectional side view which shows the internal structure of the optical connector of FIG. 1, and the internal structure of the connector fitting housing which fits this optical connector. It is a sectional side view which shows the state which fitted the optical connector of FIG. 4 to the connector attachment housing. (A), (b) is a perspective view which shows the housing of the connector main body of the optical connector of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the ferrule, pin clamp, spring, and stopper member which are accommodated in the ferrule accommodation hole of the housing of the connector main body of the optical connector of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the structure seen from the joining end surface side of the ferrule of FIG. (A), (b) is a perspective view which shows the frame-shaped slider of the optical connector of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the exterior cover of the optical connector of FIG. It is a plane sectional view explaining the attachment structure of the exterior cover with respect to the frame-shaped slider of the optical connector of FIG. It is a figure explaining the structure of the connector fitting housing which fits the optical connector of FIG. 1, Comprising: (a) is a front view which shows a structure from a protrusion cylinder part side, (b) is a plane sectional view. It is a perspective view explaining the accommodation state of the latch of the housing of the connector main body in the notch part of the connection board part of the frame-shaped housing of the optical connector of FIG. It is a perspective view explaining the structure of the conductive frame-shaped member used when fixing the connector fitting housing which fits the optical connector of FIG. 1 to a back panel. (A)-(c) is sectional drawing explaining the structure for engagement release of the latch with respect to the connector fitting housing at the time of removing the optical connector of FIG. 1 from the state fitted to the connector fitting housing It is.

Hereinafter, an optical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, an optical connector 10 described here is an optical connector adapter 2 (connector fitting housing, hereinafter simply referred to as an adapter) attached to a back panel 1 provided in a casing of an electronic device. To be detachably fitted.
The adapter 2 is fixedly attached to the back panel 1 so as to be incorporated into a window hole 1 a penetrating the back panel 1.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 4, and 5, the optical connector 10 includes a connector body 20 in which a plurality of ferrules 22 attached to the tip of an optical fiber 21 are housed in a housing 23, and the connector body 20. A frame-like slider 30 which is formed in a frame shape surrounding the outer periphery of the rear end portion opposite to the front end side from which the front end of the ferrule 22 protrudes, and is slidable in the front-rear direction with respect to the connector main body 20; It is formed in a cap shape that accommodates the rear end portion of the connector main body 20 and the frame-shaped slider 30 and is attached to the frame-shaped slider 30 so as to slide in the front-rear direction relative to the connector main body 20 integrally with the frame-shaped slider 30. An exterior cover 40 that can be provided is provided.
The optical connector 10 will be described with the right side in FIGS. 4 and 5 as the front and the left side as the rear.

As shown in FIGS. 4, 6 (a) and 6 (b), the housing 23 of the connector main body 20 is a member in which a plurality of ferrule housing holes 24 for housing the ferrule 22 are provided. In the housing 23, the plurality of ferrule housing holes 24 are formed in a row in parallel to each other.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the ferrule 22 is housed in each of the plurality of ferrule housing holes 24. A plurality of ferrules 22 are arranged in a row at the front end of the connector body 20.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the ferrule housing hole 24, a spring 25 (coil spring) for elastically urging the ferrule 22 toward the connector front side, and displacement of the spring 25 toward the rear side of the connector main body 20 are restricted. A sleeve-like stopper member 26 (spring pushing) is incorporated. The ferrule 22 is provided on the connector main body 20 in a state in which the tip end portion where the joining end face 22 a for abutment is formed protrudes from the front end portion of the housing 23 by the elastic biasing force of the spring 25.
In addition, a stopper (not shown) that restricts the withdrawal of the ferrule 22 from the ferrule housing hole 24 to the front side is brought into contact with the front end portion of the ferrule housing hole 24 by the flange 22b at the rear end of the ferrule 22. Is provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 7, the stopper member 26 has protrusions 26a provided on both sides thereof on both sides in the thickness direction of the flat housing 23 from the inside of the ferrule housing hole 24. Is fitted into a locking hole 23a (see FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b)) formed on the housing 23 to restrict displacement of the ferrule housing hole 24 relative to the housing 23 in the direction of the central axis (the longitudinal direction of the connector body 20). It has been.

The ferrule 22 is specifically an MT type optical connector (F12 type optical connector established in JIS C 5981. MT: Mechanically Transferable).
The MT type optical connector is a pin coupling positioning type optical connector ferrule.
In the connector main body 20 of the illustrated optical connector 10, a pin clamp 27 (not shown) for fixing guide pins (not shown) inserted in a pair of guide pin holes 22c (see FIG. 8) of the ferrule 22 is shown. 4 and FIG. 7) is disposed on the rear side of the ferrule 22 (on the side opposite to the joining end face 22 a), and the ferrule 22 is biased by the spring 25 through the pin clamp 27. However, in the present invention, a configuration in which the pin clamp 27 is omitted can also be adopted.

The optical fiber 21 is, for example, an optical fiber ribbon having four, eight, twelve, twenty-four cores.
The ferrule 22 of the optical connector 10 in the illustrated example is a 24-fiber MT type optical connector having a structure in which one end of a 12-fiber optical fiber ribbon is inserted and fixed. As shown in FIG. Are arranged such that the front end surfaces of a total of 24 bare optical fibers 21a of the two optical fiber ribbons 21 are arranged.
As the optical fiber 21, a single-core optical fiber or an optical fiber can be used. There are no particular limitations on the number of cores of the optical fiber ribbon and the MT type optical connector, and they can be selected as appropriate.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, the optical fiber 21 is drawn through the spring 25 (coil spring) and the sleeve-shaped stopper member 26 (spring push) from the rear end of the ferrule housing hole 24. It extends and passes through a fiber insertion hole 41 formed at the rear end of the outer cover 40 and is drawn out of the outer cover 40.
A protective tube 28 that houses a portion of the optical fiber 21 that extends from the rear end of the connector body 20 is also passed through the fiber insertion hole 41 of the outer cover 40. The protective tube 28 is fastened to the connector body 20 by fixing its end to the rear end of the stopper member 26 using a fixing tool (not shown).

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the optical connector 10 can be fitted into the adapter 2 by pressing the outer cover 40 and pushing it into the adapter 2.
The operation of fitting the optical connector 10 to the adapter 2 is performed such that the connector main body 21 protruding forward from the outer cover 40 is inserted into the connector housing hole 2a inside the adapter 2 so that the adapter 2 is attached to the outer cover 40. It may be pushed into the adapter 2 by applying a pressing force to the adapter 2.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 9A, and 9B, the frame-shaped slider 30 is provided in parallel with a pair of side plate portions 31 that are parallel to each other and disposed along both surfaces of the connector body 20. And a pair of connecting plate portions 32 that connect the pair of side plate portions 31 to each other. The frame-shaped slider 30 is an integrally molded product made of plastic.
As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the exterior cover 40 has a pair of flat plate portions 42 arranged along a pair of side plate portions 31 of the frame-shaped slider 30, and claws formed on the flat plate portion 42. The projecting claws 33 projecting from the outer surface sides of the pair of side plate portions 31 of the frame-shaped slider 30 are pushed into the insertion holes 42a, and the frame-shaped slider 30 integrally slides in the front-rear direction with respect to the connector body 20. It is possible.
For this reason, when the outer cover 40 is pressed toward the adapter 2, the frame-shaped slider 30 is also pressed toward the adapter 2 integrally with the outer cover 40 by the pressing force pressing the outer cover 40.

  As shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the protrusions 33 projecting from both sides of the frame-shaped slider 30 are specifically slit-shaped slits formed on the side plate portion 31. It protrudes from the elastic piece 34 which is the inner part. The outer cover 40 is allowed to swing slightly with respect to the frame-shaped slider 30 due to elastic deformation of the elastic piece portion 34.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, in this optical connector 10, the pressing piece abutting portion in which the front end of the connecting plate portion 32 of the frame-shaped slider 30 protrudes from the housing 23 of the connector main body 20. The pressing force applied to the exterior cover 40 is transmitted to the connector main body 20 from the rear side thereof to the connector main body 20 and functions as a pressing piece for realizing insertion and fitting of the adapter 2 into the connector housing hole 2a. .

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the connector main body 20 is inserted and fitted into the connector main body fitting hole 2b on the back side of the connector housing hole 2a by being pushed into the connector housing hole 2a. .
In order to prevent reverse insertion of the optical connector 10 with respect to the adapter 2, the housing 23 of the connector body 20 has a key 2c (see FIGS. 12 (a) and 12 (b)) protruding from the connector housing hole 2a. A key groove 23c (see FIG. 1) to be inserted is formed. Note that a key groove may be formed in the connector housing hole 2a, and a key inserted into the key groove may protrude from the housing 23 of the connector body 20.

As shown in FIG. 4, the connector housing hole 2a is slightly expanded from the connector body fitting hole 2b and the opening side from the connector body fitting hole 2b compared to the connector body fitting hole 2b. It is comprised by the opening side hole 2d of a structure.
As shown in FIG. 5, when the connector body 20 is inserted and fitted into the connector body fitting hole 2b, the frame-shaped slider 30 is accommodated in the opening side hole 2d (see FIG. 4). The
Further, at this time, the latches 23d protruding from both ends in the longitudinal direction of the cross section perpendicular to the front-rear direction of the housing 23 are engaged with the adapter 2 from the connector housing hole 2a (specifically, the connector main body fitting hole 2b) side. By being combined, the movement of the connector body 20 in the pulling direction from the adapter 2 is restricted.

The housing 23 is an integrally molded product made of plastic.
As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the latch 23 d is a plate extending from the protruding end of the pressing piece abutting portion 23 b protruding from the housing 23 toward the rear side of the connector body 20. A latching protrusion 23f to be inserted into a latching hole 2e formed in the substantially square tube-shaped adapter 2 is projected at the tip of the latch body 23e, which is a cylindrical elastic piece. The locking hole 2e is formed in a portion of the adapter 2 that protrudes from the back panel 1 (protruding tube portion 2f, see FIG. 4).
As shown in FIG. 4, the latch main body 23 e has end faces (width direction end faces) formed in parallel to each other at both longitudinal ends of the housing 23 (cross section perpendicular to the front-rear direction) from the pressing piece abutting portion 23 b. 23s) extending in parallel.

Here, the pressing piece contact portion 23b functions as a base end portion of the latch 23d.
The latch 23d extends from a central portion in the extending direction (longitudinal direction) of the protrusion-shaped pressing piece abutting portion 23b protruding from the housing 23 so as to extend along the thickness direction of the connector body 20. Has been.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the connecting plate portion 32 of the frame-shaped slider 30 is formed with a cut portion 35 extending from the front end 39 (see FIG. 9B) toward the rear side. The notch 35 accommodates a latch body 23e of the latch 23d.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the front end 39 of the connecting plate portion 32 has a bridging portion that bridges portions located on both sides of the cut portion 35 of the connecting plate portion 32. 38 is formed. The bridging portion 38 reinforces the front end portion of the connecting plate portion 32 and prevents deformation when the latch 23 d is disengaged from the adapter 2. Thereby, it is possible to achieve smooth and stable disengagement.
The bridging portion 38 is located at the end on the inner surface side of the frame-like slider 30 in the thickness direction of the connecting plate portion 32. As shown in FIG. 13, the latch main body 23 e is accommodated in the cutout portion 35 on the outer surface side of the connecting plate portion 32 as compared with the bridge portion 38. Further, as shown in FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 13, the latch body 23e has an arched surface facing the end surface 23s in the width direction of the housing 23 of the connector body 20, and has a bridging portion. Since the clearance is secured between the front end portion 38 and the front end portion 38 as shown in FIG. 15B, the tip end portion is elastically deformed so as to approach (or contact) the width direction end face 23s of the connector main body 20. Also, the bridge portion 38 is not touched.
In addition, when the required intensity | strength of the connection board part 32 is low, the bridge part 38 can also be abbreviate | omitted.

  Of the connecting plate portion 32, the front end 39 (see FIG. 9B) of the portion located on both sides of the cut portion 35 functions as a pressing piece portion for pressing the connector body 20. The front end 39 that functions as the pressing piece portion of the frame-shaped slider 30 is located at the center in the longitudinal direction from which the latch 23d protrudes from the pressing piece abutting portion 23b when the optical connector 10 is fitted to the adapter 2. By being brought into contact with the parts located on both sides of the part, the pushing force to the adapter 2 given from the exterior cover 40 is transmitted to the connector body 20.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 13, the locking projection 23 f protrudes to the end of the latch body 23 e provided away from the outer peripheral surface of the housing 23, on the opposite side of the outer peripheral surface of the housing 23. Is formed. The locking projection 23f protrudes from the connecting plate portion 32 of the frame-shaped slider 30 to the outside of the frame-shaped slider 30, and the connector main body 20 is inserted into the connector main body fitting hole 2b as shown in FIG. When fitted, the latch body 23e is inserted by being pushed into the locking hole 2e of the adapter 2 by the elasticity of the latch body 23e.
As a result, the latch 23d engages with a portion of the projecting tube portion 2f of the adapter 2 that is located on the distal end side of the projecting tube portion 2f (opening side of the connector housing hole 2a) from the locking hole 2e. A locking projection 23f protruding from the tip of the latch 23d functions as an engaging portion engaged with the locking portion, and movement of the connector body 20 in the pulling direction is restricted.

4 and 5, when the connector body 20 is inserted into the connector housing hole 2a of the adapter 2 between the frame-shaped slider 30 and the outer cover 40, the adapter 2 A gap 11 into which the projecting tube portion 2f enters is secured.
As shown in FIG. 5, when the insertion and fitting of the connector main body 20 into the connector main body fitting hole 2b is completed, the outer cover 40 is externally inserted into the protruding cylindrical portion 2f.

As can be seen from the above, the optical connector 10 can be easily fitted to the adapter 2 simply by performing a pushing operation to the adapter 2 by pressing the exterior cover 40.
As shown in FIGS. 4, 12A, and 12B, the adapter 2 includes a first housing portion 2A into which the optical connector 10 is fitted, and the connector housing hole inside the first housing portion 2A. Connector fitting in which the second optical connector 3, which is an optical connector that can be butt-connected to the ferrule 22 of the connector main body 20 inserted and fitted in 2 a, is inserted and fitted from the side opposite to the connector housing hole 2 a The hole 2g includes a plurality of second housing portions 2B formed so as to correspond to the plurality of ferrules 22 of the connector main body 20.
Here, the second optical connector 3 is specifically an MPO type optical connector (F13 type optical connector established in JIS C 5982; MPO: Multi-fiber Push On).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the adapter 2 is fixed to the back panel 1 by screwing rib-shaped fixing pieces 2h protruding from both sides of the first housing part 2A. It is attached to the back panel 1 with the first housing part 2A protruding on the side where the fixed piece 2h is disposed via the back panel 1 and the second housing part 2B protruding on the opposite side. It has been. A portion protruding from the back panel 1 of the first housing portion 2A is the protruding cylindrical portion 2f.

In terms of electromagnetic shielding properties, the back panel 1 has conductivity.
As the back panel 1, for example, a laminate made of a conductive metal as a whole, a laminate in which an electrically insulating insulating resin layer and a conductive metal layer are laminated, or the like can be adopted.
Here, the exterior cover 40 is a metal integrally formed product made of a conductive metal.
Therefore, only by fitting the optical connector 10 to the adapter 2, it is possible to block leakage of electromagnetic waves through the window hole 1 a of the back panel 1 without requiring additional work.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 14, the adapter 2 has a fixing structure in which a conductive frame member 4 is sandwiched between the fixing piece 2 h and the back panel 1 (fixing structure of a connector fitting housing). ) Is adopted. The conductive frame-like member 4 is extended to both sides from one end in the central axis direction of the frame-like portion 4a and the frame-like portion 4a inserted into the window hole 1a of the back panel 1 in a state of being externally attached to the adapter 2. Exterior of the optical connector 10 fitted to the protruding piece 4b sandwiched between the fixed piece 2h and the back panel 1 and the adapter 2 protruding so as to rise at the tip of the protruding piece 4b A contact piece 4c that comes into contact with the cover 40 is provided.
In this fixing structure, when the optical connector 10 is fitted to the adapter 2, the exterior cover 40 of the optical connector 10 comes into contact with the contact piece 4 a of the conductive frame member 4, and the conductive It is electrically connected to the conductor layer of the back panel 1 through the frame member 4. Thereby, the exterior cover 40 can be grounded via the conductor layer of the back panel 1, and the electromagnetic wave shielding performance of the exterior cover 40 can be ensured satisfactorily.

The conductive frame-like member 4 is obtained by processing a conductive metal plate such as stainless steel. However, a conductive metal layer provided with a conductive metal layer on the surface of a plastic member can also be used. .
The same material can be used for the outer cover 40 as the conductive frame member 4.

The optical connector 10 fitted to the adapter 2 can release the engagement of the latch 23d with respect to the adapter 2 by pulling the outer cover 40 in a direction away from the adapter 2, and can be removed from the adapter 2.
As shown in FIG. 13, on both sides of the front end of the latch body 23e, a connector is arranged such that the distance from the housing 23 (the distance from the end surface 23s in the width direction of the housing 23) increases from the front side to the rear side. A side protrusion 23h is provided with an inclined surface 23g that is inclined with respect to the front-rear direction. The leading end of the latch 23d has a structure in which a latching projection 23f and a side projection 23h are provided at the leading end of the latch body 23e.

The cut portion 35 formed in the connecting plate portion 32 of the frame-shaped slider 30 has an extended portion 36 (latch storage opening) whose rear end is extended, and the side protrusion 23h is formed on the extended portion 36. The leading end of the latch 23d is housed. However, as described above, the locking protrusion 23 f provided at the tip of the latch protrudes outside the frame-shaped slider 30.
It should be noted that the side protrusion 23h at the leading end of the latch is thus housed in the expansion portion 36 in the initial state before the optical connector 10 is fitted to the adapter 2 (no external force is applied). This is the same when the optical connector 10 is fitted to the adapter 2 and the locking projection 23f of the latch 23d is engaged with the adapter 2.

As shown in FIGS. 15A to 15C, the outer cover 40 of the optical connector 10 fitted to the adapter 2 is pulled in a direction away from the adapter 2 (rear side with respect to the connector main body 10). Then, as shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B, the exterior cover 40 and the frame-shaped slider 30 are integrally slid to the rear side with respect to the connector main body 10, and the connecting plate portion 32 of the frame-shaped slider 30. A portion of the cut portion 35 located on the front side of the extended portion 36 is brought into contact with the inclined surface 23g of the side protrusion 23h at the tip of the latch 23d.
The connector main body 20 does not move following the outer cover 40 and the frame-shaped slider 30 until the latch 23d is disengaged from the protruding cylindrical portion 2f of the adapter 2.

  A portion of the connecting plate portion 32 of the frame-shaped slider 30 that is in contact with the inclined surface 23g of the latch 23d (a portion located on the front side of the expansion portion 36, hereinafter also referred to as a latch contact portion) is from the front side to the rear side. A contact portion inclined surface 37 that is inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction of the connector is formed so that the distance from the connector body 20 (the distance from the end surface 23s in the width direction of the housing 23) decreases as the distance from the connector body 20 increases.

  As shown in FIG. 15 (b), the latch 23d is configured such that the latch contact portion of the frame-shaped slider 30 contacts the inclined surface 23g of the latch 23d, and then the frame-shaped slider 30 is moved rearward with respect to the connector body 10. By continuing the slide movement, the latch tip provided apart from the width direction end surface 23 s of the housing 23 of the connector body 20 is elastically deformed so as to approach the width direction end surface 23 s of the housing 23. As a result, the locking projection 23f protruding from the latch tip is extracted from the locking hole 2e of the adapter 2, and the engagement of the latch 23d of the connector body 20 with the adapter 2 is released.

  As shown in FIG. 15B and the like, the sliding movement of the frame-shaped slider 30 to the rear side with respect to the connector main body 20 causes the connecting plate portion 32 to be almost (or not at all) from the end surface 23s in the width direction of the housing 23 of the connector main body 20. Realized without floating. The distal end portion of the latch 23d does not fall off from the extended portion 36 of the cut portion 35 formed in the connecting plate portion 32 of the frame-shaped slider 30 after the locking projection 23f is extracted from the locking hole 2e of the adapter 2. Then, the distal end portion of the latch 23d continues the sliding movement of the frame-shaped slider 30 to the rear side of the connector main body 10, so that the end surface 23s in the width direction of the housing 23 is pressed by the pressing force from the latch contact portion of the frame-shaped slider 30. The connector housing hole 2a of the adapter 2 facing the width-direction end surface 23s and the width-direction end surface 23s of the housing 23 of the connector main body 20 is maintained in the state of being close to or in contact with the expansion portion 36. It is extracted from the adapter 2 through a gap between the inner surface.

Therefore, when the optical connector 10 is fitted to the adapter 2, the outer cover 40 is simply pulled in the direction away from the adapter 2 (rear side with respect to the connector main body 10). Can be easily removed.
The optical connector 10 can be attached to and detached from the adapter 2 by a push-on / pull-off method.

In addition, this invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, In the range which does not deviate from the main point, it can change suitably.
In the embodiment described above, the leading end of the latch in which the inclined surface for releasing the engagement of the latch 23d with respect to the adapter is accommodated in the extended portion 36 of the cut portion 35 formed in the connecting plate portion 32 of the frame-shaped slider 30. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the latch penetrates the extension portion and protrudes to the outside of the frame-shaped slider, and the tip portion thereof can be engaged with and disengaged from the locking portion formed on the adapter. It is also possible to employ a configuration that engages with. In this case, the inclined surface for releasing the engagement with the adapter is formed in a portion of the latch disposed in the extension portion.
In addition, a window hole formed in the frame-shaped slider is adopted in place of the extended portion of the notch 35, and the latch tip is housed in this window hole. The latch penetrates the window hole and projects outside the frame-shaped slider. A configuration is also adopted in which the tip portion is detachably engaged with a locking portion formed on the adapter.
Further, the connector fitting housing is not limited to an adapter, and an optical connector receptacle configured by incorporating a ferrule that can be butt-connected with a ferrule housed in the connector main body of the optical connector according to the present invention can also be adopted.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Back panel, 1a ... Window hole, 2 ... Connector fitting housing (optical connector adapter), 10 ... Optical connector, 11 ... Gap, 20 ... Connector main body, 21 ... Optical fiber (optical fiber ribbon), 22 ... Ferrule (MT type optical connector), 23 ... housing, 23b ... pressing piece abutting portion, 23f ... locking projection, 23g ... inclined surface, 24 ... ferrule housing hole, 30 ... frame-shaped slider, 37 ... latch abutting portion ( Abutting portion inclined surface), 40 ... exterior cover.

Claims (10)

An optical connector detachable from a connector fitting housing which is an optical connector adapter (2) or an optical connector receptacle,
A connector body (20) configured such that the ferrule (22) is housed in a ferrule housing hole (24) penetrating the housing (23) and can be inserted into the connector housing hole (2a) inside the connector fitting housing. And a frame-like slider (30) formed in a frame shape surrounding the outer periphery of the connector main body and slidable in the front-rear direction which is a direction along the central axis of the ferrule housing hole with respect to the connector main body, The frame-shaped slider is attached to the frame-shaped slider and is formed in a cap shape for housing the rear end portion opposite to the front end side where the joining end surface (22a) of the ferrule tip of the connector main body is disposed and the frame-shaped slider. And an exterior cover (40) provided so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction of the connector main body, and the frame-shaped slider and the front Between the outer cover said connector fitting housing enters gap (11) is secured upon insertion of the connector body to the connector receiving hole of the connector fitting housing,
The connector body includes a pressing piece abutting portion (23b) on which a pressing piece provided on the frame-shaped slider abuts from the rear side, and the housing protrudes from the housing. When the connector body is inserted into the connector fitting housing, it enters the front side of the locking portion provided in the connector fitting housing and engages with the locking portion, thereby restricting the movement of the connector body in the pulling direction with respect to the connector fitting housing. A latch (23d) for
The latch has an inclined surface (23g) formed so that a distance from the connector main body increases as it goes from the front side to the rear side of the connector main body, and the frame-shaped slider has a rear side with respect to the connector main body. A latch abutting portion (37) that is brought into contact with the inclined surface of the latch by sliding movement toward the latch body and elastically deforms the latch so as to approach the connector main body from a latch tip portion provided apart from the connector main body. An optical connector (10) comprising: The frame-shaped slider is an extended portion or a window hole in which the rear end side of the cut portion extending from the front end of the frame-shaped slider toward the rear side is expanded, and the front end of the latch is accommodated or the latch penetrates. A latch housing opening is formed,
The inclined surface is formed in a portion of the latch disposed in the latch storage opening, and a portion of the frame-like slider located on the front side of the latch storage opening is the latch contact portion. The optical connector according to claim 1.   The latch contact portion has a contact portion inclined surface formed so that a distance from the connector main body decreases as it goes from the front side of the connector to the rear side, and the frame-shaped slider is arranged with respect to the connector main body. 3. The optical connector according to claim 1, wherein the contact portion inclined surface is brought into contact with the inclined surface of the latch from the front side when slidingly moved rearward. The connector body has a configuration in which the ferrules housed in the ferrule housing holes formed in the housing are arranged and installed,
A plurality of the connector fitting housings are formed corresponding to the connector housing holes into which the connector body is inserted and the plurality of ferrules of the connector body inserted into the connector housing holes, and are butt-connected to the ferrules 4. The optical connector adapter according to claim 1, wherein the second optical connector, which is a connector, is provided with a connector fitting hole that is inserted and fitted from the side opposite to the connector housing hole. The optical connector in any one.   The key groove is formed in one of the connector housing hole inner surfaces of the connector main body and the connector fitting housing, and the key that can be inserted into the key groove is projected on the other. An optical connector according to any one of the above.   A spring for elastically urging the ferrule forward and a stopper member for restricting displacement of the spring toward the rear side of the connector body are incorporated in the ferrule housing hole of the connector body. The optical connector according to claim 1.   The optical connector according to claim 1, wherein the exterior cover is a conductive member.   The optical fiber fixed to the ferrule and extending from the rear end of the ferrule housing hole passes through a fiber insertion hole formed in the rear end portion of the outer cover and is drawn out of the outer cover. 8. The optical connector according to claim 1, wherein   9. The optical connector according to claim 1, wherein the ferrule is an MT type optical connector.   The optical connector according to claim 1, wherein the connector fitting housing is attached to a back panel.

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