JP2014112218A - Optical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical connector capable of easily downsizing a housing to be attached to a print board.SOLUTION: An optical connector 10 includes: a first housing 21 incorporated with a first ferrule 22; and a second housing 31 that is incorporated with a second ferrule 32 butted and connected to the first ferrule 22 and is detachably engaged with the first housing 21. The first housing 21 includes: an external housing 23; and an internal housing 24 that is stored in the external housing 23 and can release the locking with the external housing 23 when the internal housing 24 engages with the second housing. The second housing 31 includes an elastic engaging projection piece 33c that is stored in a notch section 23h of the external housing 23 and engages with the internal housing 24 when the second housing 31 engages with the internal housing 24.

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical connector, and more particularly, to an optical connector having a pair of housings that accommodate a ferrule and that are detachably fitted to each other, and that realizes a butt connection between the ferrules by fitting the housings together.

As a plug-in type optical connector, there is a so-called backplane connector (hereinafter also referred to as a backplane optical connector). The backplane optical connector is obtained by fitting a printboard housing (hereinafter also referred to as PH housing) attached to the printboard to a backplane housing (hereinafter also referred to as BH housing) attached to the backplane of the plug-in unit, An optical connector adapter for connecting optical connectors (plugs) to each other is assembled.
The BH housing generally has a configuration in which an inner housing through which a connector hole into which an optical connector is fitted is inserted inside a front housing attached to a backplane (for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). The PH housing employs a configuration in which an insertion piece to be inserted into the BH housing and an elastic piece with claws to be engaged with the inner housing of the BH housing are provided on the base portion fixed to the printed board. In the PH housing, the insertion piece is inserted into an insertion piece receiving hole secured between the front housing and the inner housing of the BH housing, and elastic engagement claws protruding from both sides of the base portion are provided on both sides of the inner housing of the BH housing. Engage with the BH housing.
Window portions for exposing the inner housing are formed on both sides of the front housing of the BH housing. A pair of elastic engagement claws projecting from both sides of the base portion of the PH housing are engaged with the BH housing by engaging the projection claws at the tips with the inner housing through the window portion of the front housing of the BH housing. Lock the housing to the BH housing.

  The backplane optical connector is fitted into the connector hole of the inner housing of the BH housing and the optical connector fitted into the connector hole that penetrates the base part of the PH housing by fitting the PH housing to the BH housing. It can be connected to the optical connector. Further, the PH housing fitted in the BH housing is pulled away from the BH housing in the pulling direction, thereby releasing the engagement of the elastic engagement claws with respect to the inner housing of the BH housing and removing it from the BH housing. be able to.

  The backplane optical connector is not limited to a configuration in which the PH housing is engaged with the BH housing by engaging and disengaging its elastic engagement claws with the inner housing of the BH housing. There is also a configuration in which the pawl is detachably engaged with the front housing of the BH housing (eg, Patent Documents 2 and 3).

JP 2001-318274 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-21250 JP 2008-44634 A

The insert piece of the PH housing of the conventional backplane optical connector is located between a pair of elastic engagement claws protruding from two spaced apart locations of the base portion of the PH housing.
The pair of elastic engaging claws of the PH housing has a configuration in which the protruding claws are protruded from the ends of the elastic pieces protruding from the base portion of the PH housing. When the PH housing is fitted to the BH housing, the elastic pieces of the pair of elastic engagement claws of the PH housing are disposed on both sides of the front housing of the BH housing.
Between the elastic pieces of the pair of elastic engagement claws of the PH housing, it is necessary to secure a separation distance at which the BH housing fitted with the PH housing can be disposed. For this reason, it is difficult to reduce the size of the PH housing of the conventional backplane optical connector.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an optical connector that can easily realize downsizing of a housing attached to a printed board.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides the following configuration.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, a first housing, a first ferrule incorporated in the first housing, a second housing detachably fitted to the first housing, and the second housing are incorporated into the second housing. A second ferrule that is butt-connected to the first ferrule when the housing is fitted to the first housing, the first housing being housed in the outer housing, and the second ferrule An internal housing that can be released from locking with respect to the outer housing when fitted to the housing, and the second housing engages with the inner housing when engaged with the inner housing. And the outer housing has the elastic engagement of the second housing when the second housing and the inner housing are fitted together. To provide an optical connector having a notch portion which is accommodated in the protruding piece.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, the elastic engagement protruding piece of the second housing protrudes laterally from an elastic piece portion extending from a base portion that houses the second ferrule, and a distal end portion of the elastic piece portion. A protruding piece portion that is accommodated together with the elastic piece portion in the cutout portion of the external housing, and the cutout portion of the external housing extends from the front end of the external housing toward the rear side, and An elastic piece accommodating portion formed so as to be able to accommodate an elastic piece portion of the elastic engagement protruding piece, and a projecting piece portion of the elastic engagement protruding piece extending from the rear end portion of the elastic piece portion accommodating portion to the side thereof A protruding piece receiving portion formed so as to be able to receive the outer portion, and the protruding portion climbing portion located on the front side of the protruding piece receiving portion in the outer housing is externally extended from the rear end to the front side. For disengagement with increased distance from the inner surface of the housing An optical connector according to a first invention in which an inclined surface is formed is provided.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, the elastic engagement protrusion of the second housing and the inner housing of the first housing are engaged with each other with one protrusion claw entering an engagement recess formed in the other. Thus, the optical connector according to the first or second aspect of the present invention is provided that maintains the coupling state between the second housing and the inner housing.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the tip of the elastic engagement protrusion of the second housing is inserted into an engagement recess formed in the inner housing of the first housing so as to be detachable from the inner housing. A mating engagement projection is provided, and the outer housing of the first housing projects from the outer surface to cover the rear end of the notch, and the engagement projection is formed in the engagement recess of the inner housing. The elastic engagement protrusion of the second housing has a pressing piece that holds the engagement protrusion with the inner housing by pressing the tip of the elastic engagement protrusion inserted into the notch. The projecting piece includes an elastic piece portion extending from a base portion that accommodates the second ferrule, and the engagement protrusion projecting from a tip portion of the elastic piece portion, and the engagement of the elastic engagement projecting piece. The mating protrusion is the rear side from the top. The elastic engagement protrusion has an engagement release portion whose projecting dimension from the elastic piece portion is reduced as it goes, and the second housing is placed in the engagement recess located on the front side of the engagement protrusion holding piece. The elastic protrusion that is engaged with the first housing by releasing the engagement protrusion of the piece and pushing it into the first housing, and releasing the locking of the inner housing with respect to the outer housing. An optical connector according to a first aspect of the present invention is provided in which an engagement protrusion tip end portion can be inserted into the inner housing side of the pressing piece.
According to a fifth aspect of the invention, the first housing is attached to a connector mounting wall, the second housing is attached to a printed board that can move forward and backward with respect to the connector mounting wall, and the second housing is connected to the second ferrule. And an insertion protrusion inserted into an insertion protrusion accommodating space secured between the outer housing and the inner housing of the first housing, and the base portion extends in the front-rear direction. The outer shape of the vertical cross section is rectangular, the longitudinal direction of the cross section is attached to the print board in a direction parallel to the print board, and the insertion protrusions protrude from both ends of the base portion in the longitudinal direction of the cross section. The elastic engagement projecting piece of the invention according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the elastic engagement projecting piece protrudes from a central portion in the longitudinal direction of the transverse section at both ends in the lateral direction of the transverse section of the base portion. To provide a connector.
In a sixth aspect of the present invention, the inner housing of the first housing has an elastic engagement piece that is detachably engaged with the outer housing, and the second housing includes an inner housing and an outer housing of the first housing. The engagement release piece portion for releasing the engagement of the elastic engagement piece with the outer housing of the first housing, and the engagement release piece portion of the base portion An optical connector according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is provided that protrudes from both ends in the longitudinal direction of the cross section.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the first ferrule and the second ferrule are MT ferrules, and the second ferrule has an elastic engagement piece provided on both sides of the second housing in the interval direction between the pair of guide pin holes. The first ferrule is aligned in the interval direction of the notch portions provided on both sides of the first housing, and is accommodated in the second housing. An optical connector according to any one of the first to sixth inventions accommodated in the first housing is provided.

According to the present invention, the second housing is fitted into the first housing by inserting the elastic engagement protrusion into the notch of the outer housing and engaging with the inner housing of the first housing. When the second housing is fitted to the first housing, the elastic engagement protrusion of the second housing is not disposed outside the first housing but enters the notch portion of the outer housing to enter the first housing. Engage with the inner housing. For this reason, the second housing can be reduced in size as compared with the PH housing of the backplane optical connector having the conventional configuration.
The adoption of the second housing having a small size is advantageous in securing a region where the electric wiring circuit can be formed on the printed board as much as possible when the second housing is attached to the printed board (printed circuit board). In addition, the adoption of the second housing having a small size effectively contributes to a reduction in installation pitch when a plurality of first housings are attached to a connector attachment wall such as a backplane or a middle plane.

It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the structure of the optical connector of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the state which fitted the 2nd housing of the optical connector of FIG. 1 to the 1st housing. It is a figure which shows the external appearance of the 1st optical connector of the optical connector of FIG. 1, (a) is a top view, (b) is a front view, (c) is a side view, (d) is a rear view. It is a figure which shows the external appearance of the 2nd optical connector of the optical connector of FIG. 1, (a) is a top view, (b) is a rear view, (c) is a side view, (d) is a front view. It is a figure explaining the optical connector (state which removed the 2nd housing from the 1st housing) of Drawing 1, (a) is a plane sectional view and (b) is a side view. It is a sectional side view corresponding to FIG.5 (b) of the optical connector of FIG. It is a figure explaining the state which pushed the 2nd housing of the optical connector of Drawing 1 into the 1st housing, and made the projection claw of the elastic engagement projection piece front end part enter the engagement recess of the inner housing of the 1st housing, (A) is a plane sectional view, (b) is a side view. It is a sectional side view corresponding to FIG.7 (b) of the optical connector of FIG. It is a figure explaining the state which pushed the 2nd housing of the optical connector of FIG. 1 into the 1st housing, and completed fitting with the 1st housing, (a) is a plane sectional view, (b) is a side view. is there. FIG. 10 is a side sectional view corresponding to FIG. 9B of the optical connector of FIG. 1. It is a figure explaining the other aspect of the optical connector of embodiment which concerns on this invention, (a) is a plane sectional view, (b) is a side view. FIG. 12 is a diagram for schematically explaining the relationship between the protrusion claw of the first housing of the optical connector of FIG. 11 and the engagement recess (engagement window hole in the illustrated example) of the elastic engagement piece of the second housing; a) shows a state where the second housing is detached from the first housing, and (b) shows a state where the fitting of the second housing to the first housing is completed. It is a figure which shows the optical connector of another embodiment which concerns on this invention, Comprising: (a) is a perspective view which shows the movable side optical connector (2nd optical connector) of this optical connector, (b) is the receiving side of this optical connector It is a perspective view which shows an optical connector (1st optical connector). It is a figure explaining the optical connector (state which removed the 2nd housing from the 1st housing) of Drawing 13, (a) is a plane sectional view and (b) is a side view. It is a figure explaining the state which pushed the 2nd housing of the optical connector of FIG. 13 into the 1st housing, and completed fitting with the 1st housing, (a) is a plane sectional view, (b) is a side view. is there.

Hereinafter, an optical connector embodying the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the optical connector 10 can be inserted into and removed from the receiving side optical connector 20 (first optical connector) attached to the connector mounting wall 51 of the plug-in unit 50 and the plug-in unit 50. And a movable optical connector 30 (second optical connector) attached to a printed board 60 (printed circuit board).

  As shown in FIG. 1, the plug-in unit 50 includes a pair of guide walls 52 and 53 extending in parallel with each other, and a connector mounting wall 51 perpendicular to the guide walls 52 and 53. The connector mounting wall 51 functions as a middle plane or a back plane.

The receiving side optical connector 20 has a contact protrusion 23 b disposed on one side of the connector mounting wall 51. For the plug-in unit 50, the side on which the abutting protrusion 23 b of the receiving optical connector 20 is disposed via the connector mounting wall 51 is hereinafter referred to as the front side (or front side), and the side opposite to the front side. Hereinafter, it is also referred to as a back side.
The receiving side optical connector 20 is attached to the connector mounting wall 51 in a protruding state on the front side. The receiving side optical connector 20 is attached to the connector attachment wall 51 so as to correspond to a window hole 51 a (hereinafter also referred to as an attachment wall window hole) formed in the connector attachment wall 51.

Guide grooves 52 a and 53 a that guide the forward and backward movement of the printed board 60 relative to the connector mounting wall 51 are formed on the inner surfaces of the pair of guide walls 52 and 53 facing each other. The print board 60 can move forward and backward toward the connector mounting wall 51 while maintaining a vertical orientation with respect to the guide walls 52 and 53 while being guided by the guide grooves 52 a and 53 a of the guide walls 52 and 53. .
The guide walls 52 and 53 are illustrated only in FIG. 1 and are not illustrated in other drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3B, FIG. 5A, and FIG. 6, the receiving side optical connector 20 has a ferrule 22 (first housing; hereinafter also referred to as receiving side housing) inside a ferrule 22 (first receiving housing). Hereinafter, it is a schematic configuration accommodating the first ferrule).
As shown in FIGS. 4D, 5A, and 6, the movable optical connector 30 has a ferrule 32 (hereinafter referred to as a first housing) inside a housing 31 (second housing; hereinafter also referred to as a movable housing). It is a schematic configuration that accommodates 2 ferrules).

As shown in FIGS. 9A and 10, the optical connector 10 is configured to fit the ferrules 22 and 32 to each other by fitting the movable housing 31 (second housing) to the receiving housing 21 (first housing). Butt connection is possible. The movable housing 31 can be attached to and detached from the receiving housing 21 by moving the printed board 60 forward and backward with respect to the connector mounting wall 51. The movable housing 31 is detachably fitted to the receiving housing 21.
The optical connector 10 can switch between connection and disconnection of the ferrules 22 and 32 by detaching the movable housing 31 from the receiving housing 21.

  As shown in FIGS. 1, 3 (b) to 3 (d), FIG. 5 (a), and FIG. 6, the receiving-side housing 21 is inside the external housing 23 attached to the connector mounting wall 51 using a clip 29. In addition, an inner housing 24 incorporating the first ferrule 22, the pin clamp 25, and the spring 26 is accommodated.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 3B, and 3D, the outer housing 23 in the illustrated example has an outer housing body 23a having a substantially rectangular tube shape.
A cross-sectional outline perpendicular to the central axis of the outer housing body 23a is rectangular. Hereinafter, the receiving side optical connector 20 will be described with the longitudinal direction of the cross section perpendicular to the central axis of the outer housing body 23a being the vertical direction and the short side direction of the cross section being the lateral direction. The receiving-side optical connector 20 will be described with the central axis of the outer housing body 23a of the receiving-side housing 21 as the front-rear direction.

As shown in FIGS. 3A to 3D and FIG. 6, the outer housing 23 has contact protrusions 23 b that protrude from both longitudinal sides of the rear end portion of the outer housing body 23 a. The contact protrusions 23b protrude from the rear end of the outer housing body 23a slightly to the front side in the longitudinal direction.
As shown in FIG. 6, the outer housing 23 is inserted into the window hole 51 a of the connector mounting wall 51 by inserting a portion (rear end cylindrical portion) protruding rearward from the abutting protrusion 23 b of the outer housing body 23 a. The contact protrusions 23 b on both sides in the vertical direction are arranged on the front surface side of the connector mounting wall 51 and are attached to the connector mounting wall 51 by clips 29.

  The clip 29 shown in FIGS. 3A to 3D and FIG. 6 is entirely formed of a single metal plate. As shown in FIG. 6, the clip 29 is passed through a slit-like through hole 23 c that penetrates the proximal end portion of the abutting protrusion 23 b of the outer housing 23 in the front-rear direction and a mounting wall window hole 51 a of the connector mounting wall 51. And a substrate portion 29a provided along the outer housing body portion 23a.

  Further, the clip 29 is raised from each of the portions of the base plate portion 29a arranged on both sides via the slit-shaped through hole 23c and the mounting wall window hole 51a, and is raised to the opposite side to the outer housing body portion 23a. It has the stop piece parts 29b and 29c. The clip 29 holds the abutment protrusion 23b of the outer housing 23 and the connector mounting wall 51 between the locking pieces 29b and 29c, and allows the outer housing 23 to slightly float on the connector mounting wall 51. It is attached.

In FIG. 6, slit-like through holes 23c formed in the contact protrusions 23b on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the outer housing 23 are communicated with the mounting wall window holes 51a.
Further, a portion of the contact protrusion 23b on both sides in the vertical direction of the outer housing 23 located on the side opposite to the outer housing body 23a through the slit-like through hole 23c is located on the front side (front side) of the connector mounting wall 51. ) Are arranged so as to be able to come into contact with each other.

  The locking piece 29b disposed on the side opposite to the connector mounting wall 51 (the front side of the connector mounting wall 51 with respect to the contact protruding piece 23b) via the abutting protruding piece 23b of the outer housing 23 is hereinafter referred to as a front side engagement. It is also called a stop piece. In addition, the locking piece portion 29c disposed on the back side opposite to the front surface side of the connector mounting wall 51 is hereinafter also referred to as a rear locking piece portion.

The front side locking piece 29b increases the separation distance from the board part 29a to the side opposite to the outer housing body part 23a (hereinafter also referred to as the board part outer surface side) as going to the rear side of the receiving side housing 21. Further, it is formed to be inclined with respect to the substrate portion 29a.
The rear locking piece portion 29c is formed to be inclined with respect to the substrate portion 29a so that the separation distance from the substrate portion 29a to the outer surface side of the substrate portion increases toward the front side of the receiving housing 21.
The abutting protrusion 23 b of the external housing 23 and the connector mounting wall 51 are disposed between the tips of the locking pieces 29 b and 29 c protruding from the board portion 29 a of the clip 29.

As shown in FIGS. 3A to 3D, the clip 29 in the illustrated example includes a pair of substrate portions 29a and a bridging portion 29d that bridges the pair of substrate portions 29a. The locking piece portions 29b and 29c are provided on each of the pair of substrate portions 29a.
A pair of board | substrate part 29a is protruded perpendicularly | vertically with respect to the bridging part 29d from the both ends of the long plate-shaped bridging part 29d to the bridging part 29d single side | surface. In the clip 29, the board portions 29a on both sides are overlapped with the end plate portions 23d on both sides in the vertical direction of the external housing body portion 23a, and the bridging portions 29d are overlapped on one of the side plate portions 23e on both sides in the lateral direction of the external housing body portion 23a. In addition, the outer housing body 23a is assembled.

The first ferrule 22 in the illustrated example is specifically an MT ferrule (MT type optical connector; F12 type optical connector established in JIS C 5981. MT: Mechanically transferable).
The 1st ferrule 22 is attached to the front-end | tip of the optical fiber 71 (refer FIG.3 (d)).

  Here, the optical fiber 71 is a single-core optical fiber such as a single-core optical fiber or an optical fiber. The tip of the optical fiber 71 is inserted and fixed to the first ferrule 22. As shown in FIG. 3 (b), the end face of the bare optical fiber 71a of the optical fiber 71 whose tip is inserted and fixed to the first ferrule 22 is exposed at the joining end face 22a of the front end (tip) of the first ferrule 22. Has been.

As shown in FIG. 3 (b), the first ferrule 22 has a plurality of (in the illustrated example, 48 in the illustrated example) tip portions of optical fibers 71 inserted and fixed.
3 (b) and 5 (a), the portion of the plurality of optical fibers 71 having the tip portion inserted and fixed to the first ferrule 22 and extending rearward from the first ferrule 22 is formed on the protective tube 72. Contained. The first ferrule 22 is provided at the tip of an optical fiber unit 73 in which a plurality of optical fibers 71 are accommodated in a protective tube 72.

The optical fiber whose tip is inserted and fixed to the first ferrule 22 is not limited to a single-core optical fiber such as a single-core optical fiber or an optical fiber.
As this optical fiber, for example, a multi-fiber optical fiber ribbon can be used.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 5 (a), and 6, a ferrule accommodation hole 24 a is formed in the inner housing 24 of the receiving housing 21. The ferrule housing holes 24 a are formed at a plurality of locations (two locations in the illustrated example) that are spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the inner housing 24. One first ferrule 22 is accommodated in each of the plurality of ferrule accommodation holes 24 a of the inner housing 24.
Each first ferrule 22 is accommodated in the inner housing 24 with the distance between the pair of guide pin holes 22c (see FIG. 1) aligned in the lateral direction of the inner housing 24.

Each ferrule housing hole 24 a communicates with a rear recess 24 p formed to be recessed from the rear end of the inner housing 24. Each ferrule housing hole 24a extends from the rear recess 24p to the front side thereof.
The rear recess 24p accommodates a pin clamp 25 disposed on the rear side opposite to the joining end surface 22a of the first ferrule 22, and a spring 26 disposed on the rear side of the pin clamp 25.

As shown in FIG. 5A, a retaining protrusion 24b is provided on the inner surface of the ferrule housing hole 24a so as to prevent the first ferrule 22 from falling off from the ferrule housing hole 24a to the front side of the inner housing 24.
The first ferrule 22 is prevented from dropping from the ferrule housing hole 24a to the front side of the inner housing 24 by the flange portion 22b protruding to the outer periphery of the rear end portion coming into contact with the retaining protrusion 24b from the rear side.
When the flange portion 22b of the first ferrule 22 comes into contact with the retaining protrusion 24b from the rear side, the front end portion on the joining end face 24a side protrudes from the ferrule housing hole 24a to the front side of the inner housing 24.

The spring 26 in the illustrated example shown in FIGS. 5A and 6 is specifically a coil spring. The spring 26 (coil spring) is extrapolated to the optical fiber unit 73 and interposed between the pin clamp 25 and a spring receiving member 27 (spring push) fitted and attached to the rear end portion of the inner housing 24. It is disguised.
The receiving housing 21 also includes this spring receiving member 27.

  The spring receiving member 27 has a plate-shaped receiving member main body 27a against which the spring 26 is abutted. The spring receiving member 27 has engaging protrusions 27b protruding from both sides of the receiving member main body 27a (both sides in the lateral direction of the receiving optical connector 20 of the receiving member main body 27a) formed on both sides of the inner housing 24. It is inserted into the window hole 24k for use and fitted into the inner housing 24. The engaging protrusions 27b serve to restrict the spring receiving member 27 from falling off the rear side of the inner housing 24.

  As shown in FIGS. 1, 5 (a), 5 (b), and 6, the first ferrule 22 is configured such that the movable side optical connector 30 is detached from the receiving side optical connector 20 and the receiving side light with respect to the inner housing 24 is received. When the pushing force to the rear of the connector 20 is not applied, the flange portion 22b is pressed against the retaining protrusion 24b from the rear side by the elastic biasing force of the spring 26. The spring 26 elastically biases the second ferrule 32 toward the front side of the movable side inner housing 34.

  The position of the first ferrule 22 with respect to the inner housing 24 shown in FIGS. 5A, 5B and 6, that is, the position when the flange portion 22 b abuts against the retaining protrusion 24 b from the rear side, will be referred to as the initial stage. Also called position. The first ferrule 22 of the receiving optical connector 20 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3A to 3D is in an initial position with respect to the inner housing 24.

In FIG. 5A, FIG. 6 and the like, the rear end portion including the flange portion 22b of the first ferrule 22 is inserted into the front and rear direction of the inner housing 24 (in the direction of the central axis of the ferrule housing hole 24a). It is housed in a freely movable manner.
The first ferrule 22 in the initial position can be pushed toward the inner housing 24 from the initial position toward the rear while the spring 26 is pressed and contracted by the pushing force from the front side of the inner housing 24 to the rear side of the receiving optical connector 20. it can. The rear end portion of the first ferrule 22 is pushed out into the rear recess 24p of the inner housing 24 as the first ferrule 22 is pushed backward from the initial position with respect to the inner housing 24.
Further, the first ferrule 22 pushed to the rear side relative to the initial position with respect to the inner housing 24 is disposed at the initial position by the elastic biasing force of the spring 26 when the pushing force toward the rear of the inner housing 24 is released. The

As shown in FIG. 6, the internal housing 24 has an internal housing body 24c in which a ferrule housing hole 24a is formed, and an elastic engagement piece 24d protruding from the internal housing body 24c.
As shown in FIGS. 3B and 6, a plurality (two in the illustrated example) of ferrule housing holes 24a are formed in the inner housing body 24c. The plurality of ferrule accommodation holes 24a are formed in the inner housing main body 24c so that the respective central axes are parallel to each other. The inner housing 24 is housed inside the outer housing 23 such that the center axis of the ferrule housing hole 24a of the inner housing body 24c is parallel to the center axis of the rectangular outer housing body 23a.

As shown in FIG.3 (d), the cross section perpendicular | vertical to the external housing trunk | drum 23a axial direction of the inner side area | region of the outer housing trunk | drum 23a is a rectangular shape.
As shown in FIG. 6 and the like, the inner housing main body 24c has a housing main portion 24e extending in the front-rear direction corresponding to the central axis direction of the ferrule housing hole 24a with a rectangular cross-sectional outer shape along the inner surface of the outer housing body 23a. And a front cylindrical portion 24f protruding forward from the housing main portion 24e. The rear recess 24p is formed in the housing main portion 24e.
The housing main portion 24e is accommodated in the outer housing body portion 23a such that the longitudinal direction of the cross section perpendicular to the front-rear direction coincides with the longitudinal direction of the outer housing 23.

As shown in FIG. 6 and the like, the elastic engagement pieces 24d of the inner housing 24 in the illustrated example are provided on both longitudinal sides of the housing main portion 24e of the inner housing body 24c.
The elastic engagement piece 24d has an elastic extension piece 24g extending from the longitudinal end portion of the front end portion of the housing main portion 24e to the front side, and a pair of elastic engagement pieces at the distal end portion of the elastic extension piece 24g. It has the structure which has the engaging claw 24h which protrudes on the opposite side to the inner surface side which the piece 24d mutually faces.

  As shown in FIG. 3D, FIG. 6, etc., the inner housing 24 has a forward restricting protrusion 24i that protrudes in a direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction from the rear end portion of the inner housing main body 24c. The forward restricting protrusion 24i is disposed on the rear side of the outer housing 23, specifically, on the rear side of the outer housing body 23a. The advance restriction protrusion 24 i abuts the outer housing 23 from the rear side thereof, thereby restricting the advance of the inner housing 24 relative to the outer housing 23.

As shown in FIG. 6 and the like, the inner housing 24 allows the engaging claw 24h of the elastic engaging piece 24d to enter the engaging claw window hole 23g formed in the insertion projection piece 23b of the outer housing 23. A portion of the outer housing 23 is held between the joint claw 24 h and the forward movement restricting projection 24 i and is fitted to the outer housing 23.
The inner housing 24 fitted to the outer housing 23 is moved relative to the outer housing 23 relative to the outer housing 23 by the engaging claw 24h of the elastic engaging piece 24d inserted into the engaging claw window hole 23g of the outer housing 23. Is regulated. In addition, relative movement of the inner housing 24 relative to the outer housing 23 is restricted by a forward restricting protrusion 24 i disposed on the rear side of the outer housing 23.

As shown in FIGS. 5 (a), 5 (b), etc., the ferrule accommodation holes 24a are arranged at a plurality of locations in the vertical direction that coincide with the vertical direction of the external housing 23 (the interval direction of the end plate portions 23d on both sides) in the internal housing body 24c. Is formed.
The front end of the ferrule housing hole 24a is open to the front end of the front cylindrical portion 24f (the front end of the internal housing body 24c). The ferrule housing hole 24a extends in the front-rear direction of the inner housing 24 from the front end of the front cylindrical portion 24f of the inner housing body 24c to the rear recess 24p.
The first ferrule 22 in the initial position with respect to the inner housing 24 protrudes to the front side of the inner housing 24 from the opening of the ferrule housing hole 24a that opens to the front side of the inner housing body 24c.

As shown in FIGS. 3D, 5A, and 6, the receiving member main body 27a of the spring receiving member 27 is formed with a fiber insertion hole 27c for allowing the optical fiber unit 73 to pass therethrough. In the receiving-side optical connector 20 of the illustrated optical connector 10, the fiber insertion holes 27 c of the spring receiving member 27 correspond to the plural (two in the illustrated example) ferrule housing holes 24 a of the inner housing 24, and the receiving member main body 27 a. Are formed at a plurality of locations (two locations in the illustrated example) that are spaced apart from each other.
The optical fiber unit 73 extends from the receiving side optical connector 20 to the rear side through the fiber insertion hole 27 c of the spring receiving member 27.

Next, the movable side optical connector 30 will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 1, 4 (a), 5 (a), and 6, the movable side housing 31 of the movable side optical connector 30 includes an external housing 33 attached to the printed board 60 using a clip 39. And an inner housing 34 accommodated inside the outer housing 33. The movable optical connector 30 includes a second ferrule 32, a spring receiving block 35, and a spring 36 that are incorporated in the inner housing 34.
Hereinafter, the outer housing 33 of the movable housing 31 is also referred to as a movable outer housing, and the inner housing 33 of the movable housing 31 is also referred to as a movable inner housing.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 4B, and 4D, the movable outer housing 33 in the illustrated example has an outer housing body 33a having a substantially rectangular tube shape.
A cross-sectional outline perpendicular to the central axis of the outer housing body 33a is rectangular. Hereinafter, the movable-side optical connector 30 will be described with the longitudinal direction of the cross section perpendicular to the central axis of the outer housing body 33a as the vertical direction and the short direction of the cross section as the horizontal direction. The movable optical connector 30 will be described with the central axis of the outer housing body 33a as the front-rear direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 1, 4 (a) to 4 (d), FIGS. 5 (a), (b), and FIG. 6, the movable outer housing 33 projects forward from the outer housing body 33 a described above. It has an insertion protrusion 33b and an elastic engagement protrusion 33c.

  The rectangular cylindrical outer housing body 33a of the movable outer housing 33 in the illustrated example is composed of end plate portions 33d on both sides in the vertical direction and side plate portions 33e on both sides in the horizontal direction. The insertion protrusions 33b protrude forward from both longitudinal ends of the outer housing body 33a. The movable outer housing 33 has a pair of insertion protrusions 33b on the front side of the outer housing body 33a.

  The elastic engagement protrusions 33c extend forward from the center in the vertical direction of the movable outer housing 33 of the side plate portions 33e on both sides of the outer housing body 33a. The movable outer housing 33 has a pair of elastic engagement protrusions 33c on the front side of the outer housing body 33a.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5A, the movable-side external housing 33 is clipped with its vertical direction (the interval direction of the side plate portions 33e on both sides of the external housing body 33a) being perpendicular to the print board 60. 39 is attached to the print board 60. Side plate portions 33 e on both sides in the lateral direction of the movable outer housing 33 are parallel to the printed board 60.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the entire clip 39 of the illustrated example is formed of a single metal plate. The clip 39 includes a substrate portion 39a and tongue-like fitting piece portions 39b extending in parallel to each other from one side of the substrate portion 39a from both sides of the substrate portion 39a. The substrate portion 39a is formed in a V-shaped plate shape. The clip 39 is formed in an M-shaped plate shape in which a portion located between both ends connected to the fitting piece portion 39b of the board portion 39a projects over a region between the pair of fitting piece portions 39b.

  The board portion 39 a of the clip 39 is disposed on the side opposite to the movable side optical connector 30 via the print board 60. The pair of fitting pieces 39b of the clip 39 is passed through a slit-like through hole 61 (see FIGS. 1, 2, and 5A) that penetrates the print board 60. The slit-like through hole 61 is shown only in FIGS. 1, 2, and 5A, and is not shown in other drawings. The clip 39 has end fitting portions 39c protruding from the side opposite to the substrate portion 39a via the printed board 60 of the pair of fitting pieces 39b, and end plate portions on both sides of the movable outer housing 33. It is assembled to the movable outer housing 33 by being fitted in a fitting recess 33h that is recessed from the outer surface of 33d. The movable-side optical connector 30 is configured such that the print board 60 is sandwiched between the movable-side external housing 33 and the board portion 39a of the clip 39 assembled to the movable-side external housing 33. Is attached.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, in the illustrated example, a plate-like spacer 391 is interposed between the movable-side outer housing 33 and the print board 60. In addition to the print board 60, a spacer 391 is also sandwiched between the movable side outer housing 33 and the board portion 39 a of the clip 39 assembled to the movable side outer housing 33.

The second ferrule 32 in the illustrated example is specifically an MT ferrule (MT type optical connector; F12 type optical connector established in JIS C 5981. MT: Mechanically transferable).
The 2nd ferrule 32 is attached to the front-end | tip of the optical fiber 81 (refer FIG.4 (b)).

  Here, the optical fiber 81 is a single-core optical fiber such as a single-core optical fiber or an optical fiber. The tip of the optical fiber 81 is inserted and fixed to the second ferrule 32. As shown in FIG. 3 (b), the end face of the bare optical fiber 81a of the optical fiber 81 whose end is inserted and fixed to the second ferrule 32 is exposed at the joining end face 32a of the front end (tip) of the second ferrule 32. Has been.

As shown in FIG. 3B, the distal end portions of a plurality (48 in the illustrated example) of optical fibers 81 are inserted and fixed to the second ferrule 32.
3 (b) and 5 (a), the portion of the plurality of optical fibers 81 having the distal end portion inserted and fixed to the second ferrule 32 and extending rearward from the second ferrule 32 is attached to the protective tube 82. Contained. The second ferrule 32 is provided at the tip of an optical fiber unit 83 in which a plurality of optical fibers 81 are accommodated in a protective tube 82.

The optical fiber for inserting and fixing the tip portion to the second ferrule 32 is not limited to a single-core optical fiber such as a single-core optical fiber or an optical fiber.
As this optical fiber, for example, a multi-fiber optical fiber ribbon can be used.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 5 (a), and 6, the second ferrule 32 is accommodated in a ferrule accommodation hole 34 a formed in the movable side inner housing 34.
The movable inner housing 34 has an inner housing main body 34c (hereinafter also referred to as a movable inner housing main body) in which a ferrule accommodating hole 34a is formed, and an elastic engagement piece 34d protruding from the inner housing main body 34c.

  As shown in FIGS. 4D and 6, a plurality (two in the illustrated example) of ferrule housing holes 34a are formed in the movable inner housing body 34c. The plurality of ferrule accommodation holes 34a are formed in the movable-side inner housing body 34c so that the respective central axes are parallel to each other. The movable inner housing 34 has a central axis of the ferrule receiving hole 34a of the movable inner housing main body 34c in a direction parallel to the central axis of the movable outer housing body 33a having a rectangular tube shape. Contained.

As shown in FIG. 4B, the cross section perpendicular to the axial direction of the movable side outer housing body 33a in the inner region of the movable side outer housing body 33a is rectangular.
As shown in FIG. 6 and the like, the movable-side inner housing body 34c extends in the front-rear direction that coincides with the central axis direction of the ferrule housing hole 34a with a rectangular cross-sectional shape along the inner surface of the movable-side outer housing body 33a. It has a housing main portion 34e and a front cylinder portion 34f that protrudes forward from the housing main portion 34e.
The housing main part 34e is accommodated in the movable-side external housing body 33a such that the longitudinal direction of the cross section perpendicular to the front-rear direction coincides with the vertical direction of the movable-side external housing 33.

As shown in FIG. 6 and the like, the elastic engagement pieces 34d of the movable inner housing 34 are provided on both sides of the housing main portion 34e of the movable inner housing main body 34c. In the illustrated movable inner housing 34, the elastic engagement pieces 34d are provided on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the housing main portion 34e.
The elastic engagement piece 34d has an elastic extension piece 34g extending forward from the longitudinal end portion of the front end portion of the housing main portion 34e, and a pair of elastic engagement pieces is attached to the distal end portion of the elastic extension piece 34g. It has the structure which has the engaging claw 34h which protrudes in the opposite side to the mutually opposing side of the piece 34d.

  As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 6, etc., the movable inner housing 34 has a forward restricting protrusion 34i that protrudes in a direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction from the rear end portion of the inner housing main body 34c. Yes. The forward restricting protrusion 34i is disposed on the rear side of the movable outer housing 33, specifically, on the rear side of the movable outer housing body 33a. The advance restriction projection 34 i abuts the movable side outer housing 33 from the rear side thereof, thereby restricting the advance of the movable side inner housing 34 relative to the movable side outer housing 33.

As shown in FIG. 6 and the like, the movable-side inner housing 34 enters the engagement claw 34h of the elastic engagement piece 34d into the engagement claw window hole 33g formed in the insertion protrusion 33b of the movable-side outer housing 33. A part of the movable outer housing 33 is held between the engaging claw 34h and the forward movement restricting projection 34i and is fitted to the movable outer housing 33.
The movable side inner housing 34 fitted to the movable side outer housing 33 is moved by the engagement claw 34h of the elastic engagement piece 34d inserted into the engagement claw window hole 33g of the movable side outer housing 33. The rearward relative movement with respect to 33 is restricted. In addition, relative movement of the movable inner housing 34 with respect to the movable outer housing 33 is restricted by a forward restricting projection 34 i disposed on the rear side of the movable outer housing 33.

As shown in FIG. 6 and the like, the movable housing 31 has a base portion 31a composed of a housing main portion 34e of the inner housing 34 and an outer housing body portion 33a. The movable housing 31 has a configuration in which an insertion projection piece 33b and an elastic engagement projection piece 33c protrude from the base portion 31a to the front side.
The movable housing 31 is not limited to the configuration in which the internal housing 34 is accommodated in the external housing 33. For example, a configuration having a housing body in which the internal housing 34 and the external housing 33 are integrated may be employed.

As shown in FIGS. 5A, 5B, etc., the front cylindrical portion 34f of the movable inner housing 34 includes an insertion protrusion 33b and an elastic engagement protrusion on the front side of the outer housing body 33a of the movable outer housing 33. It is arranged in the inner area surrounded by 33c.
The ferrule accommodation holes 34a are formed at a plurality of locations in the vertical direction that coincide with the vertical direction of the movable side outer housing 33 (the interval direction of the end plate portions 33d on both sides) in the movable side inner housing main body 34c.
The front end of the ferrule housing hole 34a is open to the front end of the front cylindrical portion 34f of the movable side inner housing body 34c. The ferrule housing hole 34a extends in the front-rear direction of the movable inner housing 34 from the front end of the front cylindrical portion 34f of the movable inner housing body 34c to the rear recess 34p formed in the housing main portion 34a from the rear end. Has been.

The second ferrules 32 are accommodated one by one in the plurality of ferrule accommodation holes 34 a of the movable side inner housing 34.
As shown in FIG. 4 (d), each second ferrule 32 is accommodated in the inner housing 34 with the distance between the pair of guide pin holes 32 c aligned in the lateral direction of the inner housing 34.

Each ferrule housing hole 34 a is in communication with a rear recess 34 p formed in the movable inner housing 34. Each ferrule accommodation hole 34a is formed to extend from the rear recess 34p to the front side thereof.
The rear recess 34p accommodates a spring receiving block 35 disposed on the rear side opposite to the joining end surface 32a of the second ferrule 32 and a spring 36 disposed on the rear side of the spring receiving block 35. .

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5A, guide pins 22 d are inserted into the pair of guide pin holes 22 c of the first ferrule 22 of the receiving side optical connector 20.
The guide pin 22d is passed through a guide pin hole 22c that passes through the first ferrule 22 in the front-rear direction. The distal end side of the guide pin 22 d protrudes forward from the joining end surface 22 a of the first ferrule 22. The rear end portion of the guide pin 22 d that protrudes to the rear side of the ferrule 22 is fixed to the pin clamp 25.

On the other hand, the guide pin hole 32c (see FIG. 4D) of the second ferrule 32 of the movable side optical connector 30 is in an empty state in which the guide pin is not inserted and fitted.
The first ferrule 22 and the second ferrule 32 protrude to the front side of the first ferrule 22 of the pair of guide pins 22d fitted to the first ferrule 22 when the movable housing 31 is fitted to the receiving housing 21. The parts to be inserted are inserted into and removed from the guide pin holes 32c of the second ferrule 32 so that they can be inserted and removed.

In the illustrated example, the configuration in which the guide pin is provided on the first ferrule 22 is illustrated, but the guide pin may be provided on the second ferrule 32.
The spring receiving block 35 of the movable side optical connector 30 in the illustrated example uses the same member as the pin clamp 25 of the receiving side optical connector 20. When the guide pin is provided on the second ferrule 32, the portion of the guide pin that protrudes to the rear side of the second ferrule 32 can be fixed to the spring receiving block 35.
When guide pins are provided on the second ferrule 32, no guide pins are provided on the first ferrule 22.

As shown in FIG. 5A, a retaining protrusion 34b is provided on the inner surface of the ferrule housing hole 34a so as to prevent the second ferrule 32 from dropping from the ferrule housing hole 34a to the front side of the inner housing 34.
The second ferrule 32 is prevented from dropping from the ferrule housing hole 34a to the front side of the inner housing 34 by the flange portion 32b protruding to the outer periphery of the rear end portion coming into contact with the retaining protrusion 34b from the rear side.
When the flange portion 32b of the second ferrule 32 comes into contact with the retaining protrusion 34b from the rear side, the front end portion that forms the joining end surface 34a protrudes from the ferrule housing hole 34a to the front side of the inner housing 34. .

The spring 36 in the illustrated example shown in FIGS. 5A and 6 is specifically a coil spring. This spring 36 (coil spring) is extrapolated to the optical fiber unit 83, and between the spring receiving block 35 and a spring receiving member 37 (spring pushing) attached to the rear end portion of the inner housing 34. It is intervened.
The movable housing 31 also includes this spring receiving member 37.

  The spring receiving member 37 has a plate-shaped receiving member main body 37a with which the spring 36 is abutted. The spring receiving member 37 has engaging protrusions 37b that protrude from both sides of the receiving member main body 37a (both sides of the receiving member main body 37a in the lateral direction of the movable optical connector 30). The spring receiving member 37 fits into the inner housing 34 by engaging the engaging protrusions 37b into the locking window holes 34j formed on both sides of the housing main portion 34e of the inner housing 34 (both sides in the lateral direction in the illustrated example). Are combined. The engaging protrusions 37b fulfill the function of restricting the spring receiving member 37 from dropping to the rear side of the inner housing 34.

  As shown in FIGS. 1, 5 (a), 5 (b), and 6, the second ferrule 32 is configured so that the movable side optical connector 30 is detached from the receiving side optical connector 20 and the movable side light with respect to the movable side inner housing 34 is moved. When the pushing force to the rear of the connector 30 is not applied, the flange portion 32b is pressed against the retaining protrusion 34b from the rear side by the elastic biasing force of the spring 36. The spring 36 elastically biases the second ferrule 32 toward the front side of the movable side inner housing 34.

  With respect to the second ferrule 32 of the movable optical connector 30, the position with respect to the movable inner housing 34 shown in FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 6, that is, the flange portion 32b abuts against the retaining protrusion 34b from the rear side. Hereinafter, the time position is also referred to as an initial position. The second ferrule 32 of the movable optical connector 30 shown in FIGS. 1 and 4A to 4D is in the initial position.

In FIG. 5A, FIG. 6 and the like, the rear end portion including the flange portion 32b of the second ferrule 32 is connected to the ferrule housing hole 34a of the movable side inner housing 34 in the longitudinal direction of the movable side inner housing 34 (ferrule housing hole 34a). It is accommodated so as to be movable in the same direction as the central axis.
The second ferrule 32 in the initial position moves from the initial position toward the rear with respect to the movable inner housing 34 while pressing and contracting the spring 36 by the pushing force from the front of the movable inner housing 34 to the rear of the movable optical connector 30. Can be pushed in. The rear end portion of the second ferrule 32 is pushed out to the rear recess 34p of the movable inner housing 34 as the second ferrule 32 is pushed backward from the initial position with respect to the movable inner housing 34. It will be.
Further, the second ferrule 32 pushed to the rear side relative to the initial position with respect to the movable inner housing 34 is released by the elastic biasing force of the spring 36 when the pushing force toward the rear side of the movable side inner housing 34 is released. Placed in.

As shown in FIGS. 3D, 5A, and 6, the receiving member main body 37a of the spring receiving member 37 is formed with a fiber insertion hole 37c through which the optical fiber unit 83 is passed. In the movable optical connector 30 of the illustrated optical connector 10, the fiber insertion holes 37c of the spring receiving member 37 correspond to a plurality (two in the illustrated example) of ferrule receiving holes 34a of the inner housing 34, and the receiving member main body 37a. Are formed at a plurality of locations (two locations in the illustrated example) that are spaced apart from each other.
The optical fiber unit 83 passes through the fiber insertion hole 37 c of the spring receiving member 37 and extends from the movable side optical connector 30 to the rear side.

As shown in FIG. 6, the movable inner housing 34 includes an inner housing body 34c having an outer surface along the inner surface of the movable outer housing body 33a, and elastic engagement pieces 34d protruding from both longitudinal sides of the inner housing body 34c. And have.
The second ferrule accommodation hole 34a of the movable inner housing 34 is formed in the inner housing body 34c. The second ferrule accommodation hole 34a opens to the front side of the inner housing main body 34c. The front end portion of the second ferrule 32 that is in the initial position with respect to the movable side inner housing 34 projects to the front side of the inner housing 34 from an opening portion that opens to the front side of the inner housing body 34c of the ferrule housing hole 34a.

As shown in FIGS. 3B and 6, there are an external housing 23 (hereinafter also referred to as a receiving side external housing) and an internal housing 24 (hereinafter referred to as a receiving side internal housing) at both longitudinal ends of the receiving side housing 21. A clearance 21a (hereinafter also referred to as an insertion protrusion receiving space) in which the insertion protrusion 33b of the movable-side outer housing 33 is inserted is secured. Specifically, there are a plurality of insertion projecting piece accommodating spaces 21a in the longitudinal direction of the front end portion of the outer housing body 23a of the receiving-side outer housing 23 and the receiving-side inner housing 24 facing the inner surface thereof. It is ensured between the arranged front cylinders 24f and those arranged closest to the end plate 23d of the outer housing body 23a.
Further, the side plate portions 23 d on both sides of the receiving side outer housing 23 are formed with notches 23 h for accommodating the elastic engagement protrusions 33 c of the movable side outer housing 33.

  As shown in FIGS. 5A, 5 </ b> B, 6, and the like, the elastic engagement protrusion 33 c of the movable side outer housing 33 has a vertical center portion of the side plate portion 33 e of the movable side outer housing 33 at the movable side outer side. It has an elastic piece part 33i extended to the front side of the housing 33, and an overhanging piece part 33j that projects from the tip of the elastic piece part 33i to both sides in the vertical direction. The elastic engagement protrusion 33c has a protruding claw 33k that protrudes from the distal end of the elastic piece 33i toward the opposing elastic engagement protrusion 33c of the pair of elastic engagement protrusions 33c.

The cutout portion 23h of the receiving-side outer housing 23 includes an elastic piece housing portion 23i that extends from the front end of the side plate portion 23d of the outer housing body 23a of the receiving-side outer housing 23 toward the rear side of the receiving-side outer housing 23; The elastic piece portion accommodating portion 23i has a protruding piece portion accommodating portion 23j extending from the rear end portion to both sides in the vertical direction.
As shown in FIG. 3C, FIG. 5B, etc., the receiving-side outer housings 23 in the illustrated example are positioned on both sides via the elastic piece housing portions 23i of the notches 23h in the side plate portions 23d. It has a projecting protruding piece riding-up portion 23n protruding from the portion toward the elastic piece housing portion 23i. The elastic piece portion accommodating portion 23i (hereinafter also referred to as an elastic piece portion accommodating notch portion) is formed to extend to the side plate portion 23d further to the rear than the protruding piece riding-up portion 23n from the front end of the side plate portion 23d. The overhanging piece portion accommodating portion 23j (hereinafter also referred to as the overhanging piece portion accommodating notch portion) of the notch portion 23h extends from the rear end portion of the elastic piece portion accommodating portion 23i behind the overhanging piece ride-up portion 23n. The elastic piece accommodating cutout portion 23n is formed on the rear side.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the movable optical connector 30 in a detached state with respect to the receiving optical connector 20 advances the print board 60 toward the connector mounting wall 51, so that FIG. 2, FIG. (B) As shown in FIG. 10, the insertion protrusion 33 b of the movable outer housing 33 is inserted into the insertion protrusion receiving space 21 a of the receiving housing 21, and the elastic engagement protrusion 33 c is cut off of the receiving housing 21. It can be accommodated in the notch 23h. The movable-side optical connector 30 allows the protrusions 33k at the tip of the elastic engagement protrusions 33c to enter the protrusion claw accommodating spaces 24n that open to both sides of the inner housing body 24c in the lateral direction of the receiving-side inner housing 24. The movable housing 31 can be fitted into the receiving housing 21.

As shown in FIGS. 9A and 10, the optical connector 10 is fitted into the receiving housing 21 with the movable housing 31, so that the ferrule 32 of the movable optical connector 30 is received. 32 can be butt-connected.
The projecting claws 33k that enter the projecting claw receiving spaces 24n that open on both sides in the lateral direction of the inner housing body 24c (hereinafter referred to as the receiving side inner housing body) of the receiving side inner housing 24 project on both sides in the lateral direction of the receiving side inner housing body 24c. It engages with a locking wall portion 24m located on the front side of the opening of the claw receiving space 24n. As a result, the backward movement of the movable side optical connector 30 with respect to the receiving side optical connector 20 can be restricted, and the ferrules 22 and 32 of the receiving side optical connector 20 and the movable side optical connector 30 are placed by the elastic biasing force of the springs 26 and 36. It is possible to maintain the butt connection state with the abutting force of the period. Therefore, the coupling state of the movable housing 31 to the receiving housing 21 can be maintained, and the optical connection state between the optical fibers 71 and 81 can be stably maintained.

The projecting claw accommodating space 24n functions as an engagement recess for allowing the projecting claw 33k at the tip of the elastic engagement projecting piece 33c to enter and engage the projecting claw 33k with the receiving-side inner housing 24.
Specifically, the protruding claw receiving space 24 n of the receiving side inner housing 24 in the illustrated example is secured between the front side cylinder portions 24 f of the receiving side inner housing 24. The locking wall portion 24m is a bridging wall portion that bridges between the front cylindrical portions 24f adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction of the receiving side inner housing 24 at a position spaced forward from the housing main portion 24e of the receiving side inner housing 24. Function as. Specifically, the openings of the protruding claw receiving spaces 24n on both sides in the lateral direction of the receiving side inner housing main body 24c are spaces secured between the housing main portion 24e and the locking wall portion 24m of the receiving side inner housing 24. is there.
Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3B, the protruding claw accommodating space 24n of the receiving side inner housing 24 in the illustrated example is also opened on the front side of the receiving side inner housing main body 24c. The opening portion of the protruding claw receiving space 24n that opens to the front side of the receiving side inner housing main body 24c includes a front cylindrical portion 24f that is adjacent to the receiving side inner housing 24 in the vertical direction and a locking wall that bridges between the front side cylindrical portions 24f. It opens to the inner side surrounded by the portion 24m.
The engaging recesses for inserting the protruding claws 33k at the tip of the elastic engaging protruding pieces 33c and engaging the protruding claws 33k with the receiving inner housing 24 include both sides of the receiving inner housing body 24c in the lateral direction. The recess may be a recess that is formed so as to be able to accommodate the protrusion claw 33k at the tip of the elastic engagement protrusion 33c, and is not limited to the protrusion protrusion accommodation space 24n described above.

The optical connector 10 receives the movable side optical connector 30 (see FIGS. 5A, 5 </ b> B, 6, etc.) in a detached state with respect to the receiving side optical connector 20. When pushed into the connector 20, as shown in FIGS. 7 (a), 7 (b), and 8, first, to the insertion protrusion receiving space 21a of the receiving housing 21 of the insertion protrusion 33b of the movable outer housing 33. Is inserted. Along with this, the insertion of the elastic engagement protrusion 33c of the movable outer housing 33 into the notch 23h of the receiving housing 21 is also started.
Next, as the optical connector 10 continues to push the movable optical connector 30 into the receiving optical connector 20, the joint end surface 32 a of the front end of the second ferrule 32 of the movable optical connector 30 becomes the first ferrule 22 of the receiving optical connector 20. Is abutted against the joining end face 22a.

The movable side optical connector 30 is fitted to the receiving side optical connector 20 such that the vertical direction thereof is aligned with the vertical direction of the receiving side optical connector 20 and the horizontal direction is aligned with the horizontal direction of the receiving side optical connector 20.
As shown in FIG. 5B, FIG. 7B, etc., the width of the portion (front side portion) that is located on the front side of the overhanging protruding portion 23n of the elastic piece receiving cutout portion 23i of the receiving side housing 21 The dimension (longitudinal dimension) is a size that can accommodate the entire tip of the elastic engagement protrusion 33c including the protruding piece 33j.
The distance between the protruding piece run-up portions 23n on both sides via the elastic piece receiving cutout portion 23i (in other words, the width dimension of the portion of the elastic piece receiving cutout portion 23i located between the protruding piece rideup portions 23n. ) Is of a size that can accommodate the elastic piece portion 33i of the elastic engagement protrusion 33c.
When the movable engaging optical connector 30 in a detached state with respect to the receiving optical connector 20 is pushed into the receiving optical connector 20, the elastic engaging protrusion 33 c has its tip portion at the elastic piece accommodating notch 23 i. It is inserted from the front end.

  Next, as the optical connector 10 continues to push the movable optical connector 30 into the receiving optical connector 20, the protruding piece 33 j at the distal end of the elastic engagement protruding piece 33 c causes the protruding outer piece 21 of the receiving external housing 21 to run. The portion 23n is moved from the front side to the rear side and is accommodated in the overhanging piece accommodating cutout portion 23j. Thereby, the elastic piece part 33i of the elastic engagement protrusion 33c is accommodated in the elastic piece part accommodating notch 23j. As a result, the projecting claw 33k at the tip of the elastic engagement projecting piece 33c enters the projecting claw receiving space 24n of the receiving-side inner housing 24.

As shown in FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b), the front end of the overhanging portion 23n approaches the lateral center of the receiving outer housing 23 as it goes to the front side of the receiving outer housing 23. A front inclined surface 23o that is inclined with respect to the outer surface of the side plate portion 23e is formed. The outer surface of the side plate portion 23e indicates a surface of the side plate portion 23e opposite to the inner surface of the receiving side outer housing 23.
In the illustrated example, the overhanging portion 23n has a top surface 23q continuous from the outer surface of the side plate portion 23e. The front inclined surface 23o extends from the front end of the top surface 23q to the front side.
The overhanging piece 33j at the tip of the elastic engagement protrusion 33c rides on the front inclined surface 23o of the overhanging part ride-on part 23n as the movable side optical connector 30 is pushed into the receiving side optical connector 20. Go over the ride 23n to the rear side.

The elastic engagement protrusions 33c on both sides of the movable side optical connector 30 are elastically deformed so as to be separated from each other when the overhanging piece portion 33j rides over the overhanging piece ride-up portion 23n.
The elastic engaging protrusions 33c on both sides of the movable side optical connector 30 are connected to the receiving side optical connector 20 of the movable side optical connector 30 after the protruding piece portion 33j has climbed over the top surface 23q of the protruding piece riding portion 23n. Accompanying the pushing, the elastic engagement protrusions 33c themselves return elastically so as to approach each other and are finally accommodated in the notch 23h of the receiving-side outer housing 23. As a result, the projecting claw 33k at the tip of the elastic engagement projecting piece 33c enters the projecting claw receiving space 24n of the receiving-side inner housing 24.

  The optical connector 10 further pushes the movable-side optical connector 30 into the receiving-side optical connector 20 after the protruding claws 33k of the elastic engagement protruding pieces 33c enter the protruding-nail receiving space 24n of the receiving-side inner housing 24. As a result of the continuation, as shown in FIG. 10, the disengagement piece portion 33 q of the insertion piece portion 33 b of the movable side outer housing 33 is engaged with the elastic engagement piece 24 d of the reception side inner housing 24 and the reception side outer housing 23. Is released.

  9 (a), 9 (b), and 10 show the elasticity of the springs 26 and 36 after completion of the disengagement between the elastic engagement piece 24d of the receiving side inner housing 24 and the receiving side outer housing 23. The state where the distance between the receiving side inner housing 24 and the base part 31a of the movable side housing 31 is slightly increased is shown. However, the distance between the receiving-side inner housing 24 and the base portion 31a of the movable-side housing 31 is that the protruding claw 33k at the tip of the elastic engagement protruding piece 33c is engaged with the receiving-side inner housing locking wall portion 24m. Therefore, expansion is regulated.

  When the movable housing 31 is fitted to the receiving inner housing 24, the disengagement between the elastic engaging piece 24d of the receiving inner housing 24 and the receiving outer housing 23 is completed. The projecting claw 33k is completed by engaging with the receiving-side inner housing locking wall portion 24m. When the movable housing 31 is fitted into the receiving inner housing 24, the coupling between the movable optical connector 30 and the receiving optical connector 20 is completed.

9A, 9B, and 10 show a state where the coupling of the movable side optical connector 30 and the receiving side optical connector 20 is completed.
As described above, the receiving side inner housing 24 is fitted to the receiving side outer housing 23 when the movable side optical connector 30 is detached from the receiving side optical connector 20.
As shown in FIGS. 9A, 9 </ b> B, and 10, the receiving-side inner housing 24 is fitted to the receiving-side outer housing 23 when the fitting of the movable housing 31 to the receiving-side inner housing 24 is completed. Is released and fitted into the movable housing 31. At this time, the receiving-side inner housing 24 is movable relative to the receiving-side outer housing 23 in the front-rear direction. At this time, the movable housing 31 fitted to the receiving side inner housing 24 is also relatively movable in the front-rear direction with respect to the receiving side outer housing 23.

4 (a), 4 (c), 5 (a), 5 (b), 6 and the like, the insertion piece 33b of the movable-side outer housing 33 is the outer housing body of the movable-side outer housing 33. An end portion (vertical end portion) adjacent to the end plate portion 33d of the side plate portion 33e of the outer housing body portion 33a is extended to the front side on both sides of the extended piece portion 33m that extends the end plate portion 33d of the 33a to the front side. An insertion piece main body 33o integrated with the rib 33n is provided. Further, the insertion piece portion 33b has a front end protrusion 33p that protrudes forward from the front end of the insertion piece portion main body 33o.
The front end protrusion 33p protrudes forward from both lateral ends of the insertion piece main body 33o.
The front end protrusion 33p facilitates the insertion of the insertion piece 33m into the outer housing body 23a of the receiving-side outer housing 23, and tapers in a tapered shape as it goes from the insertion piece main body 33o to the front side. Is formed.

Of the extended piece portion 33m, a portion located between the front end protrusions 33p on both sides in the lateral direction of the insertion piece portion 33b functions as the above-described disengagement piece portion 33q.
As shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, the elastic engagement piece 24d of the receiving-side inner housing 24 has a distal end portion (front end portion) constituted by an elastic extension piece 24g distal end portion and an engagement claw 24h. This elastic engagement piece 24d has a pair of elastic extension pieces 24g extending from the tip toward the base side (base end side) of the elastic engagement piece 24d protruding from the receiving side inner housing 24. An inclined surface 24j is formed to increase the distance from the inner surface facing the opposing mating side of the elastic engagement piece 24d.

  The engagement release piece 33q of the insertion piece 33b is pushed into the receiving housing 21 by receiving the movable housing 31 of the movable optical connector 30, so that the front end thereof causes the inclined surface 24j of the distal end portion of the elastic engagement piece 24d. To press the tip of the elastic engagement piece 24d. The disengagement piece 33q presses the tip of the elastic engagement piece 24d to elastically deform the elastic engagement piece 24d, and the engagement claw 24h of the elastic engagement piece 24d receives the engagement of the receiving external housing 23. A function of releasing the engagement of the elastic engagement piece 24d with respect to the receiving-side outer housing 21 is achieved from the joint claw window hole 23g.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, the front end portion of the disengagement piece portion 33q is located between the pair of insertion piece portions 33b as it goes from the front end of the disengagement piece portion 33q to the rear side (base portion 31a side). An inclined surface 33r is formed in which the distance from the outer surface opposite to the region increases gradually.
The disengagement piece 33q is formed by pushing the movable housing 31 into the receiving housing 21 and the inclined surface 24j of the front end of the elastic engagement piece 24d engaged with the receiving outer housing 23. The engagement claw window hole 23g of the receiving side outer housing 23 can be inserted into the front portion. Disengagement of the distal end portion of the elastic engagement piece 24d engaged with the receiving side outer housing 23 with respect to the receiving side outer housing 23 can be easily and smoothly realized by pushing the movable side housing 31 into the receiving side housing 21.

  The receiving-side optical connector 30 in a state of being coupled to the receiving-side optical connector 20 is elastically engaged by exerting a displacement force in the pulling direction with respect to the receiving-side optical connector 20, that is, from the receiving-side optical connector 20 in the forward direction. The protrusions 33 c of the protrusion 33 c can be extracted from the protrusion nail receiving space 24 n of the receiving inner housing 24 to disengage from the receiving inner housing 24. Therefore, the movable side optical connector 30 coupled to the receiving side optical connector 20 is pulled out (detached) from the receiving side optical connector 30 only by applying a displacement force in the pulling direction with respect to the receiving side optical connector 20. be able to.

  The protruding piece portion 33j of the elastic engagement protrusion 33c is displaced to move in the removal direction opposite to the time when the movable optical connector 30 coupled to the receiving optical connector 20 is pushed into the receiving optical connector 20. By applying a force, it is possible to ride on the overhanging piece ride-up portion 23n. The protrusions 33k of the elastic engagement protrusions 33c of the movable optical connector 30 coupled to the receiving optical connector 20 act on a displacement force that moves the movable optical connector 30 in the removal direction relative to the receiving optical connector 20. Then, the protruding piece portion 33j of the elastic engagement protruding piece 33c rides on the protruding piece riding-up portion 23n, and is extracted from the protruding claw receiving space 24n of the receiving side inner housing 24. Thereby, engagement with the receiving side inner housing 24 of the elastic engagement protrusion 33c can be cancelled | released.

As shown in FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b), on the rear side of the top surface 23q of the overhanging piece riding-up portion 23n, as it goes to the rear side of the receiving-side outer housing 23, the receiving-side outer housing 23 has a laterally central portion. A rear inclined surface 23p that is inclined with respect to the outer surface of the side plate portion 23e is formed so as to approach. The front inclined surface 23o is formed to extend from the rear end of the top surface 23q of the overhanging piece riding-up portion 23n to the rear side.
As shown in FIGS. 5A and 9A, the rear end of the protruding piece 33j at the distal end of the elastic engagement protrusion 33c of the movable optical connector 30 is elastic in the longitudinal direction of the movable optical connector 30. It is located on the rear side of the projecting claw 33k of the engaging projecting piece 33c.

The protruding piece 33j at the distal end of the elastic engagement protrusion 33c applies a displacement force that moves the movable optical connector 30 coupled to the receiving optical connector 20 in the direction of removal relative to the receiving optical connector 20. Then, it rides on the rear inclined surface 23q of the overhanging piece ride-up portion 23n and gets over the overhanging piece ride-up portion 23n to its front side.
The elastic engagement protrusions 33c on both sides of the movable side optical connector 30 are elastically deformed so as to be separated from each other by the overhanging piece portion 33j riding on the overhanging piece riding portion 23n, and then the overhanging piece portion 33j is The elastic recovery is achieved by overcoming the overhanging portion 23n.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 5 (a) and 9 (a), a protruding piece portion inclined surface 33s is formed at the rear end portion of the protruding piece portion 33j of the elastic engagement protrusion 33c of the movable optical connector 30. Is formed.
This projecting piece portion inclined surface 33s extends from the outer surface opposite to the inner surfaces of the pair of elastic engagement protrusions 33c facing each other as it goes from the rear end of the projecting piece portion 33j to the front side. Is formed so as to be inclined with respect to the outer surface of the overhanging piece portion 33j.
The movable optical connector 30 coupled to the receiving optical connector 20 is pulled away from the connector mounting wall 51 in order to be removed from the receiving optical connector 20, so that The overhanging piece portion inclined surface 33s of the overhanging piece portion 33j abutting on the rear side inclined surface 23p from the rear side of the receiving side housing 21 slides along the rear side inclined surface 23p. For this reason, it is possible to smoothly carry on and over the overhanging portion 23n of the overhanging piece portion 33j.

The elastic engagement protrusions 33c of the movable housing 31 of the optical connector 10 are not arranged outside the receiving housing 21 when the movable housing 31 is fitted to the receiving housing 21, but are arranged outside the receiving housing 21. 23 enters the notch 23 h of 23 and engages with the receiving-side inner housing 24. For this reason, the movable housing 31 can be reduced in size as compared with the PH housing of the backplane optical connector having the conventional configuration.
The use of the movable housing 31 having a small size is advantageous in ensuring as much as possible a region where the electric wiring circuit can be formed on the printed board 60 to which the movable housing 31 is attached. In addition, the use of the movable housing 31 having a small size effectively contributes to a reduction in installation pitch when a plurality of receiving housings 21 are attached to a connector attachment wall such as a backplane or a middle plane.

11 (a), 11 (b), 12 (a), and 12 (b) show a protrusion claw 24o projecting from the inner housing 24 of the receiving side optical connector 20 for the optical connector 10 described above, and movable side light. A configuration in which the projection claw 33k is omitted from the elastic engagement projection piece 33c of the connector 30 and the engagement window hole 33t is formed as an engagement recess into which the projection claw 24o of the receiving optical connector is inserted is illustrated. Reference numeral 10A is added to the optical connector shown in FIGS.
The movable-side outer housing 33 of the movable-side optical connector 30 illustrated in FIGS. 11A, 11B, 12A, and 12B has a connecting portion 33u that connects the elastic engagement protrusions 33c on both sides. Have.
A point in which a protruding claw 24o protrudes from the inner housing 24 of the receiving side optical connector 20, a point in which the protruding claw 33k is omitted from the elastic engaging protruding piece 33c of the movable side optical connector 30, and an engagement window hole 33t is formed. Since the configuration other than the point that the connecting portion 33u is provided in the side external housing 33 is the same as that of the optical connector 10 described above, the description thereof is omitted here.

  11A, 11B, 12A, and 12B, the optical connector 10A illustrated in FIGS. By pushing, the protrusion claw 24o of the receiving side inner housing 24 is inserted into the engaging window hole 33t of the elastic engagement protruding piece 33c, and the engagement between the movable side housing 31 and the receiving side inner housing 24 can be realized. The protrusion 24o protrudes from the locking protrusion 24m of the receiving inner housing 24 of the optical connector 10 described above to the receiving inner housing 24.

11 (a), 11 (b), 12 (a), and 12 (b), the connecting portion 33u of the movable-side outer housing 33 is in the lateral direction of the movable-side outer housing 33 (the interval direction between the side plate portions 33e on both sides). ). Further, in this connecting portion 33u, the movable-side outer housing 33 bridges the portions on the rear side of the engagement window holes 33t of the elastic engagement protrusions 33c on both sides. The connecting portion 33u functions to prevent excessive elastic deformation of the elastic engagement protrusions 33c and prevent damage to the elastic engagement protrusions 33c.
As shown in FIGS. 11A, 12A, and 12B, the connecting portion 33u is disposed in contact with the front end of the portion located between the front cylindrical portion 34f of the movable inner housing 34. . The connecting portion 33 u is disposed between the front end of the movable inner housing 34 and the front end of the receiving inner housing 24 when the movable housing 31 is fitted to the receiving housing 21. However, the connecting portion 33u is formed to a size that does not hinder the butting of the first ferrule 22 and the second ferrule 32 when the movable housing 31 is fitted to the receiving housing 21.

Next, an optical connector 10B according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 (a) and 13 (b) to FIGS. 15 (a) and 15 (b).
As shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B to FIGS. 15A and 15B, the optical connector 10B according to this embodiment is protruded from the receiving-side external housing 23 of the optical connector 10 described above. A receiving side optical connector 40 (first optical connector) having a receiving side outer housing 41 in which the portion 23n is omitted is employed. The optical connector 10B includes an elastic engagement protrusion 92 having a configuration different from that of the elastic engagement protrusion 33c instead of the elastic engagement protrusion 33c of the movable outer housing 33 of the optical connector 10 described above. A movable side optical connector 90 (second optical connector) having the formed movable side outer housing 91 is employed.
Components similar to those of the optical connector 10 described above of the optical connector 10B of this embodiment are denoted by common reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted or simplified.

As shown in FIGS. 13 (a), 14 (a), and 14 (b), the movable optical connector 90 is different in elasticity from the elastic engagement protrusions 33c of the movable outer housing 31 of the optical connector 10 described above. Only the point which employ | adopted the engagement protrusion 92 differs from the movable side optical connector 30 mentioned above. The configuration of the movable side optical connector 90 other than the elastic engagement protrusions 92 is the same as that of the movable side optical connector 30 described above.
The movable-side optical connector 90 has a movable-side housing 95 (second housing) composed of a movable-side outer housing 91 in which an elastic engagement protrusion 92 is formed and an inner housing 34.

  13 (a) and 13 (b) in the vertical direction, FIG. 14 (a) in the depth direction of the paper surface, FIG. 14 (b) in the vertical direction, FIG. 15 (a) in the depth direction of the paper surface, and FIG. Description will be made assuming that the vertical direction is the vertical direction, FIG. 14A is the vertical direction, FIG. 14B is the paper depth direction, FIG. 15A is the vertical direction, and FIG. 15B is the horizontal direction.

As shown in FIGS. 13A and 14A, the elastic engagement protrusions 92 of the movable optical connector 90 are formed on both lateral sides of the movable outer housing 91.
Each elastic engagement protrusion 92 includes an elastic piece 93 extending from the outer housing body 33 a of the movable outer housing 91 to the front side, and a pair of elastic engagement protrusions 92 at the tip of the elastic piece 93. And an engaging protrusion 94 projecting from the inner surfaces facing each other.

  The elastic piece portion 93 is formed in a plate-like shape in which the longitudinal central portion of the outer housing body portion 33a is extended to the front side. The elastic piece 93 extends from the front end portion formed in the tapered shape to the rear side in the front-rear direction of the movable optical connector 90 with a constant width direction dimension that coincides with the longitudinal direction of the movable optical connector 90. doing. The elastic piece portion 93 does not have an overhanging piece portion 33j (see FIG. 5B, etc.), so that the elastic engagement projection piece 33c of the movable optical connector 30 of the optical connector 10 described above is elastic. Different from the piece 33i.

  As shown in FIGS. 13A and 14A, the engagement protrusion 94 of the elastic engagement protrusion 92 of the illustrated example has a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the movable side optical connector 90 (transverse cross section). It is a protrusion that makes a shape. The engaging protrusion 94 is formed in a cross-sectional shape in which the protruding dimension from the elastic piece 93 decreases as the distance from the top of the engaging protrusion 94 increases in the longitudinal direction of the movable optical connector 90.

  The engaging protrusion 94 engages with the inner housing 44 of the receiving side optical connector 40 when the movable side optical connector 90 arranged to be separated from the receiving side optical connector 40 is pushed into the receiving side optical connector 40. It enters the recess 45 and engages with the receiving side inner housing 44. The movable side optical connector 90 engages with the receiving side optical connector 40 by engaging the engaging protrusion 94 with the receiving side inner housing 44.

  As shown in FIGS. 13B, 14A, and 14B, the receiving-side outer housing 41 of the optical connector 10B is connected to the receiving-side outer housing 23 of the optical connector 10 described above. Instead of the cutout portion 23h having the storage portion 23j, a cutout portion 42 that does not have the protruding piece storage portion 23j is formed. The notch 42 can accommodate the entire elastic engagement protrusion 92 of the movable side optical connector 90. In addition, the receiving-side outer housing 41 presses the elastic engagement protrusion 92 of the movable-side optical connector 90 accommodated in the notch portion 42 into the notch portion 42 to the outside opposite to the receiving-side outer housing 41 inside. It has a pressing piece 43 that regulates the protrusion.

In addition, the receiving side optical connector 40 has an inner housing 44 in which an engaging recess 45 is formed inside the receiving side outer housing 41 so that the engaging protrusions 94 of the elastic engaging protrusions 92 of the movable side optical connector 90 are inserted. Is housed.
The configuration of the receiving side inner housing 44 other than the engagement recess 45 is the same as that of the receiving side inner housing 24 of the optical connector 10 described above.

The configuration of the receiving optical connector 40 other than the cutout portion 42, the pressing piece 43, and the engaging recess 45 is the same as that of the receiving optical connector 20 of the optical connector 10 described above.
The receiving side optical connector 40 includes a receiving side housing 46 (first housing) constituted by a receiving side outer housing 41 and an inner housing 44.

  13 (a) and 13 (b) in the vertical direction, FIG. 14 (a) in the depth direction on the paper surface, FIG. 14 (b) in the vertical direction, FIG. 15 (a) in the depth direction on the paper surface, and FIG. Description will be made assuming that the vertical direction is the vertical direction, FIG. 14A is the vertical direction, FIG. 14B is the paper depth direction, FIG. 15A is the vertical direction, and FIG. 15B is the horizontal direction.

As shown in FIGS. 13B, 14A, and 14B, the cutout portion 42 of the receiving side optical connector 40 is received from the front end of the side plate portion 23d of the outer housing body portion 23a of the receiving side outer housing 41. The side outer housing 41 is formed to extend toward the rear side. The notch 42 has a front end opening 42a in which the dimension in the longitudinal direction of the receiving optical connector 40 (notch width direction) increases toward the front side, and a width direction from the front end opening 42a toward the rear side. And a notch main portion 42b extending with a constant dimension.
The cutout portions 42 are formed on both lateral sides of the receiving side outer housing 41.

As shown in FIGS. 13B, 14A, and 14B, the holding piece 43 of the receiving-side outer housing 41 in the illustrated example extends along the side plate portion 23d of the outer housing body portion 23a. The cutout portion 42 (specifically, the cutout main portion 42b) is formed in a plate shape covering the rear end portion.
As shown in FIG. 14A, the surface (inner surface 43 a) facing the inner housing 24 through the notch 42 of the holding piece 43 in the illustrated example is a side plate portion 23 d of the rectangular tubular receiving-side outer housing 41. It is flush with the outer surface.

  13 (b), 14 (a), and 14 (b), the receiving side inner housing 44 is engaged with the receiving side outer housing 41 by the engaging claw 24h of the elastic engaging piece 24d (see FIG. 6 and the like). The nail window hole 23g is inserted into and engaged therewith. Hereinafter, the position of the receiving side inner housing 44 with respect to the receiving side outer housing 41 shown in FIGS. 13B, 14A, and 14B is also referred to as a locked position.

As shown in FIGS. 13B and 14A, the engagement recesses 45 of the receiving-side inner housing 44 are recessed from the side surfaces on both sides of the inner housing body 24c in the lateral direction of the receiving-side inner housing 44, respectively. Is formed.
The engagement recesses 45 on both sides in the lateral direction of the inner housing main body 24c of the receiving side inner housing 44 when in the locked position with respect to the receiving side outer housing 41 communicate with the notch portions 42 of the receiving side outer housing 41 as a whole. In addition, only the rear end portion is covered with the pressing piece 43 of the receiving-side outer housing 41. A portion on the front side from the rear end portion of the engagement recess 45 is located on the front side of the pressing piece 43 of the receiving-side outer housing 41 and is exposed without being covered by the pressing piece 43.

The movable side optical connector 90 is advanced from a disengagement position separated from the receiving side optical connector 40 to the front side thereof and pushed into the receiving side optical connector 40, so that the insertion protrusion 33b (see FIG. a), see FIG. 14B, etc.) The insertion of the receiving side optical connector 40 into the insertion protrusion piece accommodating space 21a (see FIG. 6, etc.) is started. Along with this, the insertion of the elastic engagement protrusion 92 of the movable outer housing 91 into the cutout portion 42 of the receiving outer housing 41 is also started.
In this optical connector 10B, when the movable side optical connector 90 is in the disengaged position separated from the receiving side optical connector 40 in the front side, the receiving side inner housing 44 is in the locked position with respect to the receiving side outer housing 41.

Next, the joining end surface 32a of the front end of the second ferrule 32 of the movable side optical connector 90 is continuously pushed into the receiving side optical connector 40 of the movable side optical connector 90, so that the joining end surface 22a of the first ferrule 22 of the receiving side optical connector 40 is obtained. It is hit by.
Next, the optical connector 10B receives the engagement protrusion 94 of the elastic engagement protrusion 92 after compressing and deforming the springs 26 and 36 by further pressing the movable-side optical connector 90 into the reception-side optical connector 40. The engagement recess 45 of the side inner housing 44 is inserted. The movable-side optical connector 90 is coupled to the receiving-side inner housing 44 by causing the engaging protrusion 94 to enter the engaging recess 45 and engage with the receiving-side inner housing 44. As a result, the ferrules 22 and 32 are abutted with each other with a desired abutting force by the elastic biasing force of the springs 26 and 36, and the optical connection state between the optical fibers 71 and 81 can be stably maintained.

  The engagement protrusions 94 at the front end portions of the pair of elastic engagement protrusions 92 of the movable-side outer housing 91 inserted into the notch portion 42 of the receiving-side outer housing 41 are exposed to the notch portion 42 of the receiving-side inner housing 44. It touches the part to do. The engaging protrusion 94 slides into the receiving side inner housing 44 as the movable side optical connector 90 is pushed into the receiving side optical connector 40, and then enters the engaging recess 45 of the receiving side inner housing 44.

  As described above, the rear end portion of the engagement recess 45 of the receiving side inner housing 44 at the locking position with respect to the receiving side outer housing 41 is covered by the pressing piece 43 of the receiving side outer housing 41. The engaging protrusion 94 at the front end of the elastic engaging protrusion 92 can smoothly enter the engaging recess 45 by pushing the movable optical connector 90 into the receiving optical connector 40.

  At the front end portion of the pressing piece 43, an inclining inclined surface 43b is formed extending from the pressing piece inner surface 43a so that the distance from the outer surface opposite to the inner surface 43a of the pressing piece 43 decreases toward the front side. The front end of the pressing piece inner surface 43a is at the boundary position between the rear end of the invitation inclined surface 43b and the pressing piece inner surface 43a.

  When the movable optical connector 90 is pushed into the receiving optical connector 40 toward the rear end, the front end of the elastic engagement protrusion 92 that is in contact with the invitation inclined surface 43b is guided by the invitation inclined surface 43b and is held by the holding piece. 43 moves to the inner surface 43a side. The front end of the elastic engagement protrusion 92 is finally pushed into the rear end of the notch 42 between the pressing piece 43 and the receiving inner housing 44 by pushing the movable optical connector 90 into the receiving optical connector 40. Get in. As a result, the engagement protrusion 94 at the front end of the elastic engagement protrusion 92 enters the engagement recess 45 of the receiving side inner housing 44 smoothly and reliably.

  The distance between the tops of the engagement protrusions 94 of the pair of elastic engagement protrusions 92 of the movable side optical connector 90 is slightly smaller than the lateral dimension of the receiving side inner housing 44. Therefore, the elastic protrusions 93 of the pair of elastic engagement protrusions 92 are respectively provided with the engagement protrusions 94 of the pair of elastic engagement protrusions 92 inserted into the cutout portions 42 of the reception side outer housing 41. When brought into contact with the housing 44, elastic deformation is given such that the front end portions of the elastic piece portions 93 of the respective elastic engagement protrusions 92 are slightly expanded as compared with the rear end portions.

The pair of elastic engagement protrusions 92 are formed by the elastic piece portions when the engagement protrusions 94 of the elastic engagement protrusions 92 are in contact with the front side of the engagement recess 45 of the receiving side inner housing 44. The state between the front end portions of 93 is slightly larger than that between the rear end portions.
The elastic piece portion 93 of the pair of elastic engagement protrusions 92 is configured such that the engagement protrusion 94 enters the engagement recess 45 when the movable side optical connector 90 is pushed into the receiving side optical connector 40, whereby the outer housing body portion 33a. Elastically returns to a state extending straight from the front to the front. Accordingly, the movable side optical connector 90 can surely allow the engagement protrusions 94 of the respective elastic engagement protrusions 92 to enter the engagement recesses 45 of the receiving side inner housing 44.
When the engagement protrusion 94 enters the engagement recess 45, the elastic piece portion 93 of each elastic engagement protrusion 92 is an outer surface opposite to the inner surfaces of the pair of elastic engagement protrusions 92 facing each other. The receiving side outer housing body 23a is accommodated in the notch 42 so as to be flush with the outer peripheral side surface of the body 23a.

  The engagement release piece 33q (see FIG. 10) of the insertion piece 33b of the movable optical connector 90 enters the engagement recess 45 of the receiving inner housing 44 by receiving the engagement protrusion 94 of each elastic engagement protrusion 92. As the movable optical connector 90 continues to be pushed into the receiving optical connector 40, the engagement between the elastic engagement piece 24d of the receiving inner housing 44 and the receiving outer housing 41 is released. The engagement release piece 33q (see FIG. 10) of the insertion piece 33b releases the engagement between the elastic engagement piece 24d of the receiving side inner housing 44 and the receiving side outer housing 41 (the receiving side of the receiving side inner housing 44). The configuration for releasing the engagement with the external housing 41 is the same as that of the optical connector 10 described above.

The movable-side optical connector 90 continues to push the receiving-side inner housing 44 into the receiving-side optical connector 40 after the receiving-side inner housing 44 is disengaged from the receiving-side outer housing 41, so Push toward the back side. As shown in FIG. 15B, the pushing of the movable side optical connector 90 into the receiving side optical connector 40 is terminated by bringing the front end of the movable side external housing body 33 a into contact with the front end of the receiving side external housing 41.
When the movable optical connector 90 has been pushed into the receiving optical connector 40, the movable optical connector 90 is fitted into the receiving optical connector 40 (specifically, the receiving external housing 41).

  As shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B, the elastic engagement protrusions 92 of the movable optical connector 90 are arranged so that the movable optical connector 90 after the engagement of the receiving inner housing 44 with the receiving outer housing 41 is released. By being pushed into the receiving side optical connector 40, the engaging protrusion 94 is moved into the receiving side outer housing 41 together with the receiving side inner housing 44 with the engaging protrusion 94 being inserted into the engaging recess 45. When the pressing of the movable side optical connector 90 to the receiving side optical connector 40 is finished, the elastic engagement protrusion 92 of the movable side optical connector 90 has its front end at the holding piece 43 and the receiving side of the receiving side outer housing 41. It is inserted between the inner housing 44.

  In other words, the front end portion of the elastic engagement protrusion 92 of the movable side optical connector 90 is pressed by the pressing piece 43 of the receiving side outer housing 41 so as not to be significantly raised from the receiving side inner housing 44. The holding piece 43 of the receiving side outer housing 41 regulates the elastic deformation of the elastic engagement protruding piece 92 in the direction of lifting from the receiving side internal housing 44, and the engaging protrusion 94 at the front end portion of the elastic engaging protruding piece 92 is engaged. The exit from the recess 45 is prevented. The configuration in which the front end portion of the elastic engagement protrusion 92 is inserted between the pressing piece 43 of the receiving side outer housing 41 and the receiving side inner housing 44 is such that the receiving side of the engaging protrusion 94 that has entered the engaging recess 45. This contributes to the stable maintenance of the engaged state with respect to the inner housing 44.

  As shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B, the configuration in which the displacement of the front end portion of the elastic engagement protrusion 92 in the lifting direction from the receiving-side inner housing 44 is regulated by the pressing piece 43 is, for example, A hand tool or the like is prevented from coming into contact with the front end portion of the elastic engagement protrusion 92. Therefore, the operator's fingers, hand tools, and the like come into contact with the front end portion of the elastic engagement projection piece 92, and the front end portion of the elastic engagement projection piece 92 is given a displacement in the lifting direction from the receiving-side inner housing 44. The inconvenience that the engaging protrusion 94 that has entered the mating recess 45 comes out of the engagement recess 45 can be prevented.

The receiving-side inner housing 44 is slidable in the front-rear direction (center axis direction) with respect to the receiving-side outer housing 41 in a state where the engagement with the receiving-side outer housing 41 is released.
The front end portion of the elastic engagement protrusion 92 that has engaged the engagement protrusion 94 with the reception-side inner housing 44 is movable side light in a state where the engagement of the reception-side inner housing 44 with the reception-side outer housing 41 is released. By manually moving the connector 90 forward and backward toward the receiving-side outer housing 41, the connector 90 can be inserted into and removed from the space between the pressing piece 43 of the receiving-side outer housing 41 and the receiving-side inner housing 44.

  The movable side optical connector 90 (see FIGS. 15A and 15B) fitted to the receiving side optical connector 40 applies a displacement force forward to the receiving side optical connector 40 by hand or the like (for example, By pulling the print board 60), it is possible to move (retract) the receiving side outer housing 41 relative to the front side while maintaining the coupling state with the receiving side inner housing 44. As a result, the front end portion of the elastic engagement protrusion 92 disposed between the pressing piece 43 of the receiving side outer housing 41 and the receiving side inner housing 44 can be extracted from the pressing piece 43 to the front side.

As described above, the engagement protrusion 94 of the elastic engagement protrusion 92 in the illustrated example has a partial cross-sectional shape. A portion on the rear side (left side in FIGS. 4A and 15A) from the top portion of the engagement protrusion 94 is an engagement release portion in which the projecting dimension from the elastic piece portion 93 is reduced toward the rear side. 94a.
Further, as shown in FIG. 14 (a), the receiving-side inner housing 44 is disposed on both the front and rear sides through the center portion in the front-rear direction through the engagement recess 45 of the receiving-side inner housing 44 as it goes toward the center portion in the front-rear direction. Recessed inclined surfaces 45a and 45b that are deeper from the outer surface are formed. Further, as shown in FIGS. 13B and 14A, the engagement recess 45 is further recessed from the recess inclined surfaces 45a and 45b between the front and rear recess inclined surfaces 45a and 45b. A central recess 45c is formed.

  The elastic engagement protrusion 92 extracted from between the pressing piece 43 of the receiving side outer housing 41 and the receiving side inner housing 44 to the front side of the pressing piece 43 is moved backward by the movable side optical connector 90 with respect to the receiving side optical connector 40. The engagement with the receiving side inner housing 44 can be released.

  In the receiving side internal housing 44, the forward movement restricting projection 24i (see FIG. 6) at the rear end thereof is moved to the receiving side outside by the backward movement of the movable side optical connector 90 after the elastic engagement protruding piece 92 is extracted to the front side of the pressing piece 43. It advances with respect to the receiving-side outer housing 41 while maintaining the coupling state with the movable-side optical connector 90 to a position where it contacts the rear end of the housing 41 from the rear side. Further advancement of the receiving side inner housing 44 is restricted by the advancing restricting projection 24 i coming into contact with the rear end of the receiving side outer housing 41.

  This optical connector 10B has an engagement protrusion of the elastic engagement protrusion 92 by the backward movement of the movable optical connector 90 after the advance restriction protrusion 24i of the reception side inner housing 44 comes into contact with the rear end of the reception side outer housing 41. The engagement release portion 94 of 94 can be moved along the recess inclined surface 45 a on the front side of the engagement recess 45. As a result, the optical connector 10B can extract the engagement protrusion 94 from the engagement recess 45 and release the engagement of the elastic engagement protrusion 92 with the receiving-side inner housing 44.

The movable-side optical connector 90 can be removed (removed) from the receiving-side optical connector 40 by the backward movement when the engagement of the elastic engagement protrusion 92 with the receiving-side inner housing 44 is released, as shown in FIG. It returns to the state shown in (a) and (b).
The receiving side inner housing 44 has the engaging claw 24h of the elastic engaging piece 24d at the same time or just before the forward restricting projection 24i (see FIG. 6) contacts the rear end of the receiving side outer housing 41. 41 is inserted into the engaging claw window hole 23g (see FIG. 6), and is disposed at the position of locking with respect to the receiving-side outer housing 41.

  The receiving-side outer housing 41 of the optical connector 10B does not have a portion for getting over the elastic engaging protrusion 92 when the elastic engaging protrusion 92 of the movable optical connector 90 is engaged with or disengaged from the receiving inner housing 44. . The receiving-side outer housing 41 and the elastic engagement protruding piece 92 of the optical connector 10B have a simple structure and are easy to manufacture compared to the receiving-side external housing 23 and the elastic engaging protruding piece 33c of the optical connector 10 described above. Therefore, cost reduction can be easily realized.

Further, the engagement protrusion 94 of the elastic engagement protrusion 92 may have a shape having an engagement release portion in which the protruding dimension from the elastic piece 93 decreases as it goes from the top to the rear side. a) The shape is not limited to the shape illustrated in FIG.
However, as illustrated in FIGS. 13A and 14A, the engagement protrusion 94 having a partial circular cross-sectional shape is inserted into and removed from the engagement recess 45 of the receiving-side inner housing 44. Engagement / disengagement with respect to the side inner housing 44 can be performed smoothly. For this reason, the optical connector 10B employing the engagement protrusion 94 of the illustrated example suppresses generation of vibration when the engagement protrusion 94 is engaged with and disengaged from the receiving-side inner housing 44, and the light in the live state in the optical connector 10B is suppressed. There is an advantage that optical fiber transmission is not affected (instantaneous interruption, etc.).

As the engagement protrusion 94, it is advantageous to employ a configuration having a disengagement portion having a partial circular cross section in terms of suppressing vibrations when engaging and disengaging the receiving side inner housing 44.
As illustrated in FIG. 14 (a), concave inclined surfaces 45a and 45b are formed on both front and rear sides via the central portion in the front-rear direction of the engaging concave 45 (particularly, the concave inclined surface 45a on the front side is formed). The configuration also effectively contributes to vibration suppression when the engaging protrusion 94 is engaged with or disengaged from the receiving side inner housing 44.

The movable optical connector 90 engaged with the elastic engagement protrusion 92 and fitted to the receiving optical connector 40 gives a displacement force to the movable optical connector 90 so that the elastic engagement protrusion 92 is retracted. Unless the engaging protrusion 94 of 92 is forcibly extracted from the engaging recess 45 of the receiving inner housing 44, the coupling with the receiving inner housing 44 is not released.
The optical connector 10B is, for example, a back of a printed board 60 in which a movable side optical connector 90 fitted to a receiving side optical connector 40 is attached to guide walls 52 and 53 of a plug-in unit 50 (see FIG. 1). It is also possible to employ a configuration in which a stopper mechanism capable of restricting and switching permission with respect to the plane 51 is provided. This stopper mechanism is also applicable to the optical connector 10 described with reference to FIG. 1 and the like, and the optical connector 10A described with reference to FIGS. 11 (a) and 11 (b).

Although the present invention has been described based on the best mode, the present invention is not limited to the above-described best mode, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.
For example, the specific configuration of the optical connector is not limited as long as it conforms to the technical idea of the present invention.

  The optical connector is not limited to the configuration having the receiving side housing 21 (first housing) attached to the connector attaching wall 51 and the movable side housing 31 (second housing) attached to the printed board 60. For example, the first housing of the optical connector may be attached to a connector support member other than the connector attachment wall 51. The second housing may be attached to a second housing support member other than the printed board 60, for example, and is configured to be attached to and detached from the first housing by an operator directly without being attached to the support member. It may be.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10, 10A, 10B ... Optical connector, 20 ... Receiving side optical connector, 21 ... Receiving side housing (first housing), 22 ... First ferrule, 23 ... Outer housing, 24 ... Inner housing, 24n ... Engaging recess ( (Protruding claw housing space), 24o ... protruding claw, 30 ... movable side optical connector, 31 ... movable side housing (second housing), 31a ... base portion, 32 ... second ferrule, 33b ... insertion piece portion, 33c ... elastic member Joint projecting piece, 33i ... elastic piece part, 33j ... projecting piece part, 33k ... projecting claw, 33t ... engagement recess (engagement window hole), 40 ... receiving side optical connector, 41 ... external housing, 42 ... cut Notch part, 43 ... pressing piece, 44 ... inner housing, 45 ... engagement recess, 46 ... receiving side housing (first housing), 51 ... connector mounting wall, 90 ... movable side optical connector, 91 ... external housing , 92 ... elastic engagement projection piece, 93 ... resilient piece 94 ... engaging projection, 94 ... hook releaser, 95 ... movable-side housing (second housing).

Claims (7)

A first housing; a first ferrule incorporated in the first housing; a second housing detachably fitted to the first housing; and the second housing incorporated in the second housing. A second ferrule that is butt-connected to the first ferrule when fitted to
The first housing has an outer housing and an inner housing that is accommodated in the outer housing and can be unlocked with respect to the outer housing when fitted to the second housing;
The second housing has an elastic engagement protrusion that engages with the inner housing when mated with the inner housing;
The outer connector is an optical connector having a notch portion in which the elastic engagement protrusion of the second housing is accommodated when the second housing and the inner housing are fitted together. The elastic engagement projecting piece of the second housing protrudes laterally from an elastic piece portion extending from a base portion that accommodates the second ferrule, and from a tip portion of the elastic piece portion, and A projecting piece portion accommodated together with the elastic piece portion in the notch portion,
The cutout portion of the external housing extends from the front end of the external housing toward the rear side, and is formed so as to be able to receive the elastic piece portion of the elastic engagement protrusion, and the elastic piece portion An extended piece receiving portion that extends from the rear end of the receiving portion to the side thereof and is formed so as to be able to receive the extended piece portion of the elastic engagement protruding piece;
An overhanging inclined surface that increases the distance from the inner surface of the outer housing as it goes from the rear end to the front side is formed in the overhanging piece climbing portion located on the front side of the overhanging piece housing portion in the outer housing. The optical connector according to claim 1.   The second housing elastic engagement protrusion and the first housing inner housing are engaged with each other with one protrusion claw entering an engagement recess formed in the other, and the second housing. The optical connector according to claim 1, wherein the coupling state between the housing and the inner housing is maintained. (add to)
An engagement protrusion that engages with the inner housing in a releasable manner by entering an engagement recess formed in the inner housing of the first housing at the tip of the elastic engagement protrusion of the second housing. Protruding,
The outer housing of the first housing projects from the outer surface of the first housing so as to cover the rear end of the notch, and the elastic engaging protrusion of the engaging housing enters the engaging recess of the inner housing. Having a pressing piece that presses the distal end into the notch and maintains the engagement of the engagement protrusion with the inner housing;
The elastic engagement protrusion of the second housing has an elastic piece that extends from a base that accommodates the second ferrule, and the engagement protrusion that protrudes from the tip of the elastic piece. The engagement protrusion of the elastic engagement protrusion has an engagement release portion in which a protruding dimension from the elastic piece decreases as it goes from the top to the rear side,
The second housing is pushed into the first housing by inserting the engagement protrusion of the elastic engagement protrusion into the engagement recess located on the front side of the engagement protrusion holding piece. 2. The elastic engagement protrusion tip end portion, which is released from locking of the inner housing with respect to the outer housing and pushed into the outer housing together with the inner housing, can be inserted into the inner housing side of the pressing piece. The optical connector as described in. The first housing is attached to a connector mounting wall, and the second housing is attached to a printed board that is movable back and forth with respect to the connector mounting wall;
The second housing includes a base portion that accommodates the second ferrule, and an insertion protrusion that is inserted into an insertion protrusion accommodating space secured between the outer housing and the inner housing of the first housing. ,
The base portion has a rectangular cross-sectional outline perpendicular to the front-rear direction, and the cross-sectional longitudinal direction is attached to the print board in a direction parallel to the print board,
The insertion protrusions protrude from both ends of the base portion in the longitudinal direction of the cross section, and the elastic engagement protrusions protrude from central portions of the base portion in the longitudinal direction of the cross section at both ends in the lateral direction of the cross section. The optical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The inner housing of the first housing has an elastic engagement piece removably engaged with the outer housing,
The second housing is an engagement release piece that is inserted between the inner housing and the outer housing of the first housing to release the engagement of the elastic engagement piece with the outer housing of the first housing. The optical connector according to claim 5, wherein the disengagement piece portion protrudes from both ends of the base portion in the longitudinal direction of the cross section. The first ferrule and the second ferrule are MT ferrules,
The second ferrule is accommodated in the second housing with the spacing direction of the pair of guide pin holes aligned with the spacing direction of the elastic engagement pieces provided on both sides of the second housing,
The first ferrule is accommodated in the first housing with the interval direction of the pair of guide pin holes aligned with the interval direction of the notches provided on both sides of the first housing. The optical connector according to any one of the above.

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