JP2014134746A - Connection structure of connector, the connector, and transceiver - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connection structure in which a fitted state of connectors is canceled when tensile force of a prescribed level or greater is applied, and of which the configuration is simple.SOLUTION: In a female connector 30, a protrusion 32 is formed, and in a male connector 10, a groove 12 is formed. By inserting the male connector 10 into the female connector 30, the protrusion 32 enters the groove 12, and the separation of the connectors is prevented by interference between a protrusion-side contact wall 33 formed in the protrusion 32 and a groove-side contact wall 13 formed in the groove 12. The protrusion-side contact wall 33 and the groove-side contact wall 13 are inclined at a substantially equal angle and the angle is inclined with respect to a direction vertical to an inserting/retracting direction of the connector. When force of a prescribed level or greater is applied in a direction of separating the connectors from each other, at least the protrusion 32 is deformed, so that the male connector 10 is separated from the female connector 30.

Description

  The present invention relates to a connection structure for connectors for connecting optical cables or optical cables and devices.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a configuration in which in-vehicle devices are connected by an optical cable (a cable generated by covering an optical fiber) instead of an electric wire, and signals are transmitted and received by optical communication has attracted attention. By performing optical communication, it is possible to increase the transmission speed as compared with communication using conventional electric wires. In addition, since optical communication is hardly affected by electromagnetic noise, signals can be transmitted and received stably.

  The in-vehicle device and the optical cable are connected to each other by a device-side connector and a cable-side connector. The optical cables are connected to each other by a male connector and a female connector. Here, when an external force is applied to the optical cable, the optical cable may be disconnected or the connector may be damaged without releasing the fitting state of these connectors.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a connector having a knob. This connector has a configuration in which the connector is not released unless the knob is moved. Therefore, the connector of patent document 1 can prevent the fitting state of a connector being cancelled | released arbitrarily, when external force is applied to an optical cable (optical cord). However, Patent Document 1 does not assume that an external force is applied to the extent that the optical cable is disconnected, and does not describe a configuration in which the connector is released when the force exceeds a predetermined level.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a lock release mechanism configured to allow a plug to be removed from a connector when a predetermined force or more is applied. The locking member of the unlocking mechanism has a pair of locking arm pieces, and a locking claw portion and a protruding portion are provided on each locking arm piece. This protrusion gives a rotational moment in the unlocking direction to the locking arm piece when the locking member moves to the drawing side.

JP-A-63-239407 JP 2006-195227 A

  However, since the lock release mechanism of Patent Document 2 has a complicated configuration, it can be considered that the component cost and the assembly cost are increased.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its main purpose is to provide a connection structure that is simple in configuration while the connector is released when a predetermined pulling force is applied. There is to do.

Means and effects for solving the problems

  The problems to be solved by the present invention are as described above. Next, means for solving the problems and the effects thereof will be described.

  According to the 1st viewpoint of this invention, the following structures are provided in the connection structure of the male connector and female connector which connect an optical cable. That is, in this connection structure, one of the male connector and the female connector is formed with a protrusion, and the other is formed with a groove. By inserting the male connector into the female connector, the protruding portion enters the groove portion, and the connector is caused by interference between the protruding portion side contact wall formed at the protruding portion and the groove portion side contact wall formed at the groove portion. To prevent separation. The protrusion-side contact wall and the groove-side contact wall are inclined at substantially the same angle, and the angle is inclined with respect to a direction perpendicular to the connector insertion / removal direction. When a predetermined force or more is applied in a direction in which the connectors are separated from each other, at least the protruding portion is deformed, so that the male connector is separated from the female connector.

  Thereby, for example, even when an unexpected pulling force (external force) is applied to the optical cable, the male connector is separated from the female connector, so that the connector or the optical cable can be prevented from being damaged. In addition, since this function is realized with a simple configuration, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  In the connector connection structure, it is preferable that a first cut portion is formed in the projecting portion so as to divide at least a part of the projecting portion perpendicularly to the insertion / removal direction.

  Thereby, when a tensile force is applied to the optical cable, the protruding portion is easily deformed. Therefore, the angle of the protruding portion side contact wall can be made a steep angle (an angle close to a right angle).

  In the connector connection structure, it is preferable that the first cut portion is formed at a position closer to the protrusion-side contact wall than the center of the protrusion.

  Thereby, it is possible to further easily deform (prone to fall down) the protruding portion side contact wall.

  In the connector connection structure, it is preferable that a second cut portion is formed along the base side of the protruding portion side contact wall.

  Thereby, since the length of a protrusion part can be lengthened, a protrusion part can be made still easier to deform | transform (it is easy to fall down).

  The connector connection structure preferably has the following configuration. That is, an opening is formed in the protruding portion side contact wall. When a predetermined force or more is applied in a direction in which the connectors are separated from each other, the male connector is separated from the female connector by being deformed so that the protruding portion is turned up.

  As a result, when a tensile force is applied to the optical cable, the connector can be separated at a stretch, so that damage to the connector can be effectively prevented.

  According to the 2nd viewpoint of this invention, the connector as a male connector or a female connector which has the said connection structure is implement | achieved.

  Thereby, a connector (male connector or female connector) that is not damaged even if a tensile force exceeding a predetermined value is applied to the optical cable can be realized with a simple configuration.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, a transceiver having the above connection structure is realized.

  As a result, a transceiver that does not break even when a predetermined tensile force is applied to the optical cable can be realized with a simple configuration.

The external appearance perspective view which shows the connection structure of the connector which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. The cross-sectional perspective view which shows the connection structure of a connector. Sectional side view which shows a mode that a male connector and a female connector are connected. The cross-sectional side view which shows a mode when the tension | tensile_strength more than predetermined is applied to the optical cable. The figure which shows the modification of a projection part. The perspective view which shows the optical transceiver which is another embodiment.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 are an external perspective view and a cross-sectional perspective view showing a connector connection structure 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view showing a state in which a male connector and a female connector are connected. In the following description, the direction in which the connector is inserted and removed (axial direction of the cable) may be referred to as the “insertion and removal direction”.

  The male connector 10 and the female connector 30 are shown by FIG.1 and FIG.2. The male connector 10 and the female connector 30 are configured as optical connectors that connect optical cables. Hereinafter, details of the male connector 10 and the female connector 30 will be described.

  The male connector 10 is configured to be able to fix the optical cable 21 to which the boot 22 is attached. Further, the male connector 10 includes an engaging portion 11 for engaging with the female connector 30.

  The engaging portion 11 is a plate-like member formed so as to extend to the distal end side (female connector 30 side) of the male connector 10. The engaging part 11 is made of a member that can be elastically deformed by human power.

  The engaging portion 11 is formed with a rectangular through hole (groove portion 12). Of the four wall surfaces constituting the groove portion 12, the wall surface on the distal end side of the male connector 10 (see FIG. 3 and the like) is in contact with the protruding portion 32 on the female connector 30 side as will be described later. This is referred to as a side contact wall 13.

  The lock lever 14 is a plate-like member formed so as to extend from the groove portion 12 to the proximal end side of the male connector 10 (side away from the female connector 30). The lock lever 14 is configured to be positioned on the upper side of FIG. 3 as it goes to the proximal end side (so as to be away from the center of the male connector 10). By pressing the lock lever 14 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 3A, the engaging portion 11 (groove portion 12) can be positioned on the upper side in FIG.

  The female connector 30 is configured to be able to fix the optical cable 41 to which the boot 42 is attached. The female connector 30 includes an engaging portion 31 for engaging with the male connector 10.

  The engaging portion 31 is a member formed so as to extend from the central portion of the female connector 30 to the distal end side (male connector 10 side) of the female connector 30. The engaging part 31 is configured by a member that can be elastically deformed by human power.

  Further, a protruding portion 32 that protrudes upward in FIG. 3 (the side away from the center of the female connector 30) is formed on the distal end side of the engaging portion 31. In addition, since the wall surface by the side of the base end of the female connector 30 among the protrusion parts 32 contacts the groove part side contact wall 13, it is called the protrusion part side contact wall 33 below.

  Next, a configuration for fitting the male connector 10 and the female connector 30 will be described in detail.

  The operator can position the groove 12 slightly upward by pressing the lock lever 14 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. In this state, by bringing the male connector 10 closer to the female connector 30, the slope of the tip of the engaging portion 11, the slope of the tip of the protrusion 32 (the surface opposite to the protrusion-side contact wall 33), Touch. Further, when the male connector 10 is further pushed in, the engaging portion 11 and the protruding portion 32 are elastically deformed, and the protruding portion 32 enters the groove portion 12 (see FIGS. 3B and 3C). At this time, the optical cable 21 and the optical cable 41 are configured to be connected.

  As shown in FIGS. 3B and 3C, the groove-side contact wall 13 and the protrusion-side contact wall 33 are in contact with each other in a state where the protrusion 32 is in the groove 12. Therefore, even when the optical cable 21 or the like is pulled with a relatively weak force, the connector is not released from the fitting state.

  However, as described above, when a tensile force greater than a predetermined value is applied to the optical cable 21 or the like, if the connector is not released, a large force is applied to the optical cable 21 or the male connector 10 or the like, and the optical cable 21 or the male connector 10 is applied. May be damaged.

  In this respect, in the present embodiment, this problem is solved with a simple configuration by devising the shapes of the groove 12 and the protrusion 32. This will be specifically described below. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view showing a state where a predetermined or higher tensile force is applied to the optical cable. In addition, FIG.4 (b) is the figure which expanded the chain line circle | round | yen of Fig.4 (a).

  Hereinafter, as shown in FIG. 4A, a case where the connectors are pulled with a predetermined force or more in a direction in which the connectors are separated (separation direction) will be considered. Even if the male connector 10 side is pulled in the separating direction or the female connector 30 side is pulled in the separating direction, the protruding portion 32 receives the same force.

  Specifically, when the female connector 30 side is pulled in the separation direction, the protruding portion 32 presses the groove-side contact wall 13 by the pulling force F1 (see FIG. 4B). The pulling force F1 can be decomposed into a vertical pressing force F2 that presses the groove-side contact wall 13 vertically and a resistance force F3 that resists the frictional force F4.

  Here, the protrusion 32 receives a force in the opposite direction of F2 due to the reaction of the vertical pressing force F2. Thereby, the protrusion 32 is elastically deformed, and the angle θ (angle formed with the insertion / removal direction) is reduced (see the right side of FIG. 4B). Along with this, the frictional force F4 and the resistance force F3 increase. When the resistance force F3 exceeds the static frictional force, the protruding portion 32 is detached from the groove portion 12, so that the male connector 10 and the female connector 30 are separated from each other. When a tensile force is applied to the male connector 10 side instead of the female connector 30 side, the protrusion 32 receives a force in the direction opposite to the vertical pressing force F2 directly from the groove side contact wall 13.

  In order to appropriately generate the resistance force F3, it is only necessary to satisfy that the angle θ is smaller than 90 ° and that the angles of the groove-side contact wall 13 and the protrusion-side contact wall 33 are substantially equal. In the present embodiment, such a simple configuration realizes a configuration in which the connector is disconnected when a predetermined or higher tensile force is applied.

  Next, a modification of the above embodiment will be described. FIG. 5 is a modified example showing another shape of the protruding portion 32. The protruding portion 32 may have any shape other than that of the above-described embodiment as long as it is configured to be deformed by receiving a force from the groove-side contact wall 13 when a tensile force is applied.

  For example, as shown to Fig.5 (a), the 1st cut part 51 and the 2nd cut part 52 may be formed. The 1st notch part 51 is formed so that the protrusion part 32 may be divided | segmented perpendicularly | vertically to the insertion / extraction direction. Specifically, the width direction of the first cut portion 51 matches the width direction of the protruding portion 32, and the depth direction of the first cut portion 51 matches the protruding direction of the protruding portion 32. Further, the depth of the first cut portion 51 is formed to be equal to or deeper than the height of the protruding portion 32.

  Further, the first cut portion 51 is formed closer to the protruding portion side contact wall 33 than the center of the protruding portion 32. The center of the protrusion 32 may be the center of the base of the protrusion 32 (lower side in FIG. 5) or the center of the tip side of the protrusion 32 (upper side in FIG. 5). good.

  Moreover, the 2nd cut part 52 is formed in the protrusion part 32 shown to Fig.5 (a) so that the base side of the protrusion part side contact wall 33 may be followed. The second cut portion 52 is formed in parallel with the first cut portion 51.

  With the above configuration, when the “force caused by the reaction of the vertical pressing force F <b> 2” described with reference to FIG. 4B is applied to the protruding portion side contact wall 33, the protruding portion 32 can be easily deformed.

  Next, the protrusion part 32 shown in FIG.5 (b) is demonstrated. The protrusion 32 has an opening 53 formed on the base side of the protrusion-side contact wall 33. The opening 53 has a small opening area on the side close to the protrusion-side contact wall 33 and increases as the distance from the protrusion-side contact wall 33 increases.

  With this configuration, when the “force due to the reaction of the vertical pressing force F2” is applied to the protruding portion side contact wall 33, the protruding portion 32 is deformed (as indicated by an arrow in FIG. 5B), The connectors can be separated.

  Next, another embodiment will be described. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a transceiver 60 according to another embodiment.

  In the above embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to a connector that connects optical cables is described. However, the present invention can also be applied to a transceiver that connects an optical cable and a device (for example, an in-vehicle device). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the transceiver 60 includes a cable side connector 61 and a device side connector 62.

  The cable side connector 61 is configured to fix the optical cable 21. The device-side connector 62 can be fitted by the cable-side connector 61 and the connection structure 1 described above, and can be attached to the board of the in-vehicle device. The device-side connector 62 includes a light receiving element and a light emitting element. The light receiving element is a photodiode or the like, and converts an optical signal incident via an optical cable into an electrical signal. The light emitting element is a light emitting diode or the like, and converts an electrical signal received from an in-vehicle device into an optical signal. The optical signal converted by the light emitting diode is transmitted to other in-vehicle devices or the like via the optical cable.

  As a result, the transceiver 60 having a configuration in which the cable-side connector 61 and the device-side connector 62 are separated from each other can be realized even when an external force exceeding a predetermined value is applied to the optical cable.

  As described above, in the connection structure 1 of the present embodiment, of the male connector 10 and the female connector 30, the female connector 30 has the protruding portion 32, and the male connector 10 has the groove portion 12. . By inserting the male connector 10 into the female connector 30, the protrusion 32 enters the groove 12, and interference between the protrusion-side contact wall 33 formed on the protrusion 32 and the groove-side contact wall 13 formed on the groove 12. This prevents the connector from being separated. The protrusion side contact wall 33 and the groove side contact wall 13 are inclined at substantially the same angle, and the angle is inclined with respect to a direction perpendicular to the connector insertion / removal direction. When a predetermined force or more is applied in a direction in which the connectors are separated from each other, the male connector 10 is separated from the female connector 30 by deforming at least the protruding portion 32.

  Thereby, for example, even when an unexpected pulling force (external force) is applied to the optical cable, the male connector 10 is separated from the female connector 30, so that the connector or the optical cables 21 and 41 can be prevented from being damaged. In addition, since this function is realized with a simple configuration, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  Further, in the connector connection structure 1 of the present embodiment, the protruding portion 32 is formed with a first cut portion 51 so as to divide at least a part of the protruding portion 32 perpendicularly to the insertion / removal direction.

  Thereby, when the tensile force is applied to the optical cables 21 and 41, the protrusion 32 is easily deformed. Therefore, the angle of the projecting portion side contact wall 33 can be a steep angle (an angle close to a right angle).

  Further, in the connector connection structure 1 of the present embodiment, the first cut portion 51 is formed at a position closer to the protruding portion side contact wall 33 than the center of the protruding portion 32.

  Thereby, the protrusion part side contact wall 33 can be made still easier to deform | transform (it is easy to fall down).

  Further, in the connector connection structure 1 of the present embodiment, the second cut portion 52 is formed along the base side of the protruding portion side contact wall 33.

  Thereby, since the length of the protrusion part 32 can be lengthened, the protrusion part 32 can be further deformed easily (it is easy to fall down).

  Further, in the connector connection structure 1 of the present embodiment, an opening 53 is formed in the protruding portion side contact wall 33. When a predetermined force or more is applied in a direction in which the connectors are separated from each other, the male connector 10 is separated from the female connector 30 by being deformed so that the protruding portion 32 is turned up.

  Accordingly, when a tensile force is applied to the optical cables 21 and 41, the connectors can be separated at a stretch, so that the connector can be effectively prevented from being damaged.

  The preferred embodiments and modifications of the present invention have been described above, but the above configuration can be modified as follows, for example.

  In the above, the male connector 10 includes the groove portion 12 and the female connector 30 includes the protruding portion 32. However, the male connector 10 includes the protruding portion 32 and the female connector 30 includes the groove portion 12. . Similarly, any of the cable-side connector 61 and the device-side connector 62 may include the groove portion 12.

  In the above, the lock lever 14 is provided in the male connector 10, but it may be provided in the female connector 30.

  The shape of the groove part 12 and the protrusion part 32 is not restricted to the shape shown above, It can change suitably. For example, the groove 12 may not be penetrating, and the protrusion 32 may protrude toward the inside of the connector (the lower side in FIG. 3).

1 Connection structure 10 Male connector (connector)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Engagement part 12 Groove part 13 Groove part side contact wall 14 Lock lever 21 Optical cable 22 Boot 30 Female connector (connector)
31 engaging portion 32 projecting portion 33 projecting portion side contact wall 41 optical cable 42 boot 51 first cut portion 52 second cut portion 53 opening portion

Claims (7)

In the connection structure between the male connector and female connector for connecting the optical cable,
Of the male connector and the female connector, one has a protrusion and the other has a groove.
By inserting the male connector into the female connector, the protruding portion enters the groove portion, and the connector is caused by interference between the protruding portion side contact wall formed at the protruding portion and the groove portion side contact wall formed at the groove portion. To prevent separation,
The protruding portion side contact wall and the groove portion side contact wall are inclined at substantially the same angle, and the angle is inclined with respect to a direction perpendicular to the connector insertion / removal direction,
The connector connection structure characterized in that when the predetermined force or more is applied in a direction in which the connectors are separated from each other, the male connector is separated from the female connector by deforming at least the protruding portion. The connector connection structure according to claim 1,
The connector connection structure according to claim 1, wherein a first cut portion is formed in the projecting portion so as to divide at least a part of the projecting portion perpendicularly to the insertion / removal direction. The connector connection structure according to claim 2,
The connector connection structure, wherein the first cut portion is formed at a position closer to the protruding portion side contact wall than the center of the protruding portion. The connector connection structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The connector connection structure, wherein a second cut portion is formed along the base side of the protruding portion side contact wall. The connector connection structure according to claim 1,
An opening is formed in the protruding portion side contact wall,
The connector connection structure characterized in that when the predetermined force or more is applied in a direction in which the connectors are separated from each other, the male connector is separated from the female connector by being deformed so that the protruding portion is turned up.   The connector as a male connector or a female connector which comprises the connection structure of the connector as described in any one of Claim 1-5.   A transceiver comprising the connector connection structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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