JP2017026956A - Optical connector system, plug side optical connector and receptacle side optical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical connector that can be downsized.SOLUTION: An optical connector system comprises: a receptacle side optical connector 10 that has an openable/closable shutter 15 at an insertion port 14A; and a plug side optical connector 20 that opens the shutter at the insertion port to connect to the receptacle side optical connector. The plug side optical connector has an engagement part 22B with which the shutter is hooked. Upon connection of the receptacle side optical connector to the plug side optical connector, the shutter is opened so that an exterior surface upon closing directs toward a side of the plug side optical connector. Further, the shutter is hooked to the engagement part, which in turn the plug side optical connector is latched by the receptacle side optical connector.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical connector system, a plug-side optical connector, and a receptacle-side optical connector.

  Patent Document 1 describes an optical connector that includes a shutter mechanism and a latch mechanism. In Patent Document 1, the shutter mechanism is intended to prevent dust, and the latch mechanism latches the backplane connector device (reference numeral 26) and the daughter board connector apparatus (reference numeral 28), which are two optical connectors.

JP 2001-350058 A

  If the latch mechanism and the shutter mechanism are configured independently as in the optical connector described in Patent Document 1, the footprint of the optical connector becomes large, and it is difficult to reduce the size of the optical connector.

  An object of the present invention is to reduce the size of an optical connector.

  A main invention for achieving the above object includes: a receptacle-side optical connector having a shutter that can be opened and closed at an insertion slot; and a plug-side optical connector that opens the shutter of the insertion slot and connects to the receptacle-side optical connector. The plug-side optical connector has a latching portion on which the shutter is hooked, and when the receptacle-side optical connector and the plug-side optical connector are connected, the outer surface when closed is directed toward the plug-side optical connector. The plug-side optical connector is latched to the receptacle-side optical connector when the shutter is opened and the shutter is hooked on the locking portion.

  Other characteristics of the present invention will be made clear by the description and drawings described later.

  According to the present invention, the optical connector can be miniaturized.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an optical connector system 1 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the plug-side optical connector 20 as viewed from the front side. FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the plug-side optical connector 20. FIG. 4A to FIG. 4D are explanatory diagrams of a state when the connector is connected. FIG. 5A to FIG. 5D are explanatory views of the state when the connector is removed. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view when the connector is connected. FIG. 7A is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the upper shutter 15A and the locking portion 22B in the second embodiment. FIG. 7B is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the upper shutter 15A and the locking portion 22B in the third embodiment.

  At least the following matters will be apparent from the description and drawings described below.

  A receptacle-side optical connector having a shutter that can be opened and closed at an insertion port; and a plug-side optical connector that opens the shutter of the insertion port and connects to the receptacle-side optical connector. A locking portion that is hooked, and when the receptacle-side optical connector and the plug-side optical connector are connected, the shutter opens so that an outer surface when closed faces the plug-side optical connector, and the locking portion The optical connector system is characterized in that the plug-side optical connector is latched to the receptacle-side optical connector when the shutter is hooked. According to such an optical connector system, the optical connector can be downsized as compared with the case where the shutter mechanism and the latch mechanism are provided separately.

  The receptacle-side optical connector preferably has two double-spread shutters. Thereby, size reduction of a receptacle side optical connector can be achieved.

  It is desirable that one of the two shutters is formed with a shielding part for shielding a gap between the two shutters. As a result, the gap between the two shutters can be closed.

  A protrusion is formed on the shutter in which the shielding portion is formed, and when the plug-side optical connector is inserted into the insertion port, the plug-side optical connector comes into contact with the protrusion, When the shutter on which the protrusion is formed begins to open first and the plug-side optical connector is pulled out of the insertion port, the plug-side optical connector comes into contact with the protrusion, thereby forming the protrusion. It is desirable that the shutter is closed later. As a result, the shielding portion does not get in the way when the two shutters are opened and closed.

  The shutter is preferably biased in the closing direction. This makes it easier for the shutter to be caught by the locking portion, and prevents the shutter from coming off from the locking portion after latching.

  The plug-side optical connector includes an optical module having a ferrule, a housing that houses the optical module, and a slide member that is movable relative to the housing. The housing contacts the shutter and the shutter A release portion that releases the latched state by contacting the shutter that is hooked to the locking portion when the sliding member moves relative to the housing. It is desirable to have a part. Thereby, the latched state by the shutter can be released.

  It is desirable that the direction in which the slide member is moved relative to the housing to release the latched state and the direction in which the plug-side optical connector is removed from the receptacle-side optical connector are the same direction. This facilitates the work of removing the plug-side optical connector while releasing the latched state.

  The slide member has a cylindrical metal main body covering the outer periphery of the housing, and when viewed from the plug-side optical connector, the receptacle-side optical connector side is the front, and the opposite side is the rear, A front end of the main body is inserted into the insertion port, a part of the housing protrudes rearward of the main body, and the plug-side optical connector is rearward of the main body. It is desirable to have a metal member that covers a part of the protruding housing. Thereby, even after opening the shutter of the insertion opening and connecting the plug-side optical connector, leakage of electromagnetic waves can be suppressed.

  A plug-side optical connector that opens a shutter at the insertion port of the receptacle-side optical connector and connects to the receptacle-side optical connector, and has a locking portion on which the shutter is hooked, and is closed when connected to the receptacle-side optical connector. It is desirable that the shutter opened so that the outer surface at the time faces the side of the plug-side optical connector is latched to the receptacle-side optical connector by being caught by the locking portion. Thereby, size reduction of a plug side optical connector can be achieved.

  An openable and closable shutter provided at the insertion port, so that when the plug-side optical connector is connected by opening the shutter of the insertion port, the outer surface when closed is directed toward the plug-side optical connector It is desirable that the plug-side optical connector is latched by opening the shutter and hooking the shutter on the engaging portion of the plug-side optical connector. Thereby, size reduction of a receptacle side optical connector can be achieved.

=== First Embodiment ===
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an optical connector system 1 according to the first embodiment. The optical connector system 1 includes a receptacle-side optical connector 10 and a plug-side optical connector 20.

  In the following description, each direction is defined as shown in FIG. That is, the optical connector attachment / detachment direction is “front-rear direction”, the counterpart optical connector side is “front”, and the opposite side is “rear”. Also, the direction in which the plurality of ferrules (receptacle ferrule 11A or plug ferrule 21A) are arranged is “left-right direction”, the right side when viewing the front side from the rear side is “right”, and the opposite side is “left”. . A direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction and the left-right direction is referred to as “up-down direction”.

<Configuration of Receptacle Side Optical Connector 10>
In the illustrated example, the receptacle-side optical connector 10 is a female optical connector, but may be a male optical connector. The male and female of the receptacle-side optical connector 10 may be male and female opposite to the plug-side optical connector 20. The receptacle-side optical connector 10 is a front panel connector attached to the front panel 3 here, but may be a backplane connector.

  The receptacle-side optical connector 10 includes a plurality of optical modules 11, an adapter housing 12, and a fixing portion 13.

  The optical module 11 is a module attached to the end of an optical fiber (here, an optical fiber tape). The optical module 11 includes a receptacle-side ferrule 11A, a pin clamp 11B, a spring 11C, and a spring push 11D. The receptacle-side ferrule 11A is a member that holds the end of the optical fiber, and here is an MT type optical connector (F12 type optical connector established in JIS C5981; MT: Mechanically Transferable). The flange portion of the receptacle-side ferrule 11 </ b> A protrudes outward from the outer peripheral surface of the main body, and comes into contact with the protruding portion formed on the inner wall of the adapter housing 12. The receptacle-side ferrule 11A is accommodated in the adapter housing 12 so as to be retractable while being pressed forward. Specifically, when the projection of the spring push 11D is hooked into the hole of the adapter housing 12 and the optical module 11 is attached to the adapter housing 12, the spring 11C is compressed and deformed between the pin clamp 11B and the spring push 11D. The receptacle-side ferrule 11A is pressed forward through the pin clamp 11B by the elastic force of the spring 11C.

  The adapter housing 12 is a member for attaching the optical module 11 to the fixed portion 13. The adapter housing 12 has a module mounting portion 12A for mounting the optical module 11. In the present embodiment, the adapter housing 12 has a plurality of module mounting portions 12A, and a plurality of optical modules 11 can be mounted side by side in the left-right direction. When the optical module 11 is mounted on the module mounting portion 12A, the end surface of the receptacle-side ferrule 11A protrudes from the front end surface of the module mounting portion 12A to the front side (not shown in FIG. 1; see FIG. 4A). . Moreover, the adapter housing 12 has an attachment portion 12B for attaching itself to the fixing portion 13 (not shown in FIG. 1; see FIG. 4A).

  The fixing portion 13 is a member for fixing the receptacle-side optical connector 10 to the front panel 3 or the like. The fixed portion 13 includes a frame body 14 and a shutter 15 (upper shutter 15A and lower shutter 15B). The fixing portion 13 is a metal member, and the frame body 14 and the shutter 15 are also made of metal.

  The frame body 14 is a frame-like member having an insertion opening 14A formed inside. The insertion port 14A is an opening for inserting the plug-side optical connector 20 (however, in FIG. 1, the insertion port 14A is closed by the shutter 15). The insertion opening 14A is a rectangular opening that is long in the left-right direction. An adapter housing 12 is attached to the rear side of the frame body 14. On the outside of the frame body 14, a fixing base 14B for fixing the fixing portion 13 to the front panel 3 and a screwing portion 14C for screwing the plug-side optical connector 20 are provided. The screwing portion 14C is for ensuring connector connection, and can be omitted.

  On both the left and right sides of the insertion opening 14A of the frame body 14, a receptacle side guide portion 14D and a shutter holding portion 14E are formed. The receptacle-side guide portion 14D is a portion for guiding the plug-side optical connector 20 in the front-rear direction, and is a groove-shaped portion along the front-rear direction. The shutter holding portion 14E is a portion that contacts the shutter 15 biased by a spring (not shown). The receptacle-side guide portion 14D is configured to be recessed with respect to the shutter holding portion 14E, and the protrusion 152 of the shutter 15 is disposed in the recessed portion.

  The shutter 15 is a plate-like member for closing the insertion port 14A. It is possible to prevent dust by closing the insertion port 14A and to take countermeasures against electromagnetic interference (EMI) by making it metal. In the present embodiment, a metal shutter 15 is employed for EMI countermeasures, but a resin shutter 15 may be used for dust prevention purposes only. The shutter 15 also has a function as a latch mechanism for latching the plug-side optical connector 20 (described later). FIG. 1 shows a state in which the insertion port 14 </ b> A is closed by the shutter 15. In the shutter 15 at the time of closing, the front surface is an outer surface facing outward. When the connector is connected, the shutter 15 is opened so that the outer surface when closed is directed to the plug-side optical connector 20 (described later: see FIGS. 4C and 4D).

  In the present embodiment, the plug-side optical connector 20 has two double-spread shutters 15 (upper shutter 15A and lower shutter 15B). The two shutters 15 are configured to open up and down from the middle, and are configured to fall toward the back (rear side). Since the receptacle-side optical connector 10 has two double-spread type shutters 15, it is possible to reduce the distance between the shutter 15 and the receptacle-side ferrule 11A in the front-rear direction, and the receptacle-side optical connector 10 can be downsized. be able to. If a single shutter is configured as a single opening, the vertical dimension of the single shutter becomes longer. Therefore, if the distance between the shutter and the receptacle-side ferrule 11A is not wider than that of the present embodiment, The shutter comes into contact with the receptacle-side ferrule 11A.

  Each shutter 15 is rotatably supported by a rotation shaft 16 (not shown in FIG. 1, refer to FIG. 4A). The rotating shaft 16 of the shutter 15 is parallel to the left-right direction, and thereby the two shutters 15 open up and down. Since the rotation axis 16 of the shutter 15 is parallel to the left-right direction (the direction in which the receptacle-side ferrules 11A are arranged), the vertical dimension of the shutter 15 can be shortened, so that the receptacle-side optical connector 10 can be downsized. .

  Further, each shutter 15 is biased in a closing direction by a spring (not shown). Note that the force of the shutter 15 may be biased in the closing direction by using the weight of the shutter 15 instead of the spring. As shown in FIG. 1, before the connection with the plug-side optical connector 20, the two shutters 15 close the insertion port 14 </ b> A in contact with the shutter holding portion 14 </ b> E of the frame body 14. As will be described later, when the plug-side optical connector 20 is connected, the shutter 15 comes into contact with the plug-side optical connector 20 and falls to the rear side, so that the insertion port 14A is opened.

  The lower shutter 15B has a shielding part 151 (summing part: see FIG. 4B) for shielding a gap with the upper shutter 15A. The shielding part 151 is a part for suppressing leakage of electromagnetic waves from the gap with the upper shutter 15A, and is a part disposed on the rear side (back side) of the lower edge of the upper shutter 15A. The shielding part 151 is a part protruding upward from the upper edge of the lower shutter 15B, and is a part protruding upward from the lower edge of the upper shutter 15A.

  When the lower shutter 15B has the shielding part 151 (summing part) on the back side of the upper shutter 15A, when opening the two shutters 15, it is desirable to open the lower shutter 15B first. Further, when closing the two shutters 15, it is desirable to close the upper shutter 15A and then close the lower shutter 15B. In order to be able to open and close the two shutters 15 in this order, a protrusion 152 is formed on the front side of the lower shutter 15B. The function of the protrusion 152 will be described later.

<Configuration of plug-side optical connector 20>
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the plug-side optical connector 20 as viewed from the front side. FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the plug-side optical connector 20. Hereinafter, the plug-side optical connector 20 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The plug-side optical connector 20 is a male optical connector in the illustrated example, but may be a female optical connector. The male and female of the plug-side optical connector 20 may be male and female opposite to the receptacle-side optical connector 10. The plug-side optical connector 20 includes a plurality of optical modules 21, a housing 22, a rear cover 23, and a slide member 24.

  The optical module 21 includes a plug-side ferrule 21A, a pin clamp 21B, a spring 21C, and a spring push 21D. Since the optical module 21 has the same configuration as the optical module 11 of the receptacle-side optical connector 10, the description thereof is omitted here.

  The housing 22 is a member for attaching the optical module 21. The housing 22 has a module mounting portion 22A for mounting the optical module 21. In the present embodiment, the housing 22 includes a plurality of module mounting portions 22A, and a plurality of optical modules 21 can be mounted side by side in the left-right direction. When the optical module 21 is mounted on the module mounting portion 22A, the end surface of the plug-side ferrule 21A protrudes from the front end surface of the module mounting portion 22A to the front side (see FIG. 2).

  A locking portion 22 </ b> B is formed on the front side of the housing 22. As will be described later, the locking portion 22B serves as a portion where the receptacle-side shutter 15 is hooked when the connector is connected (see the right diagram in FIG. 4D). That is, the latch mechanism is constituted by the plug-side locking portion 22B and the receptacle-side shutter 15. The locking portion 22B is a portion protruding from the front side of the housing 22 to the outside in the vertical direction (up or down), and is formed as a ridge along the left-right direction. However, since the locking portion 22B only needs to be formed so that the shutter 15 is hooked, it may be formed in a groove shape instead of projecting, or left and right instead of being formed in a continuous ridge in the left-right direction. You may form as a convex part arrange | positioned discretely in the direction.

  In the present embodiment, the housing 22 is made of resin. Since the upper surface of the housing 22 and the locking portion 22B come into contact with the metal shutter 15 and are easily worn, a metal reinforcing member 222 is attached to the front side of the housing 22 to suppress wear. The outer surface of the locking portion 22B is covered with a metal reinforcing member 222 (see the right figure in FIG. 4D).

  The front portion of the housing 22 protrudes from the main body portion 24A of the slide member 24 to the front side, and a slide restraining portion 22C (see FIG. 2) is formed on the upper surface (and the lower surface) of the front portion of the housing 22. The slide holding portion 22 </ b> C is a portion that comes into contact with the slide member 24 biased by the spring 25. The slide holding portion 22 </ b> C is a portion that protrudes outward in the vertical direction from the upper and lower surfaces of the housing 22.

  The rear portion of the housing 22 protrudes rearward from the main body portion 24A of the slide member 24. On the upper surface (and lower surface) of the rear portion of the housing 22, a convex portion 22D protruding outward (upward or downward) in the vertical direction is formed. Has been. The housing 22 is fixed to the rear cover 23 by the convex portion 22 </ b> D engaging with the concave groove 231 of the rear cover 23. In other words, the convex portion 22 </ b> D functions as an attachment portion for attaching the housing 22 to the rear cover 23.

  A metal cover 221 is attached to the rear portion of the housing 22. The metal cover 221 is a metal member that covers the rear side of the module mounting portion 22 </ b> A of the housing 22. The metal cover 221 covers the rear portion of the housing 22 protruding rearward from the slide member 24 and has a function of suppressing leakage of electromagnetic waves to the outside (rear side).

  The rear cover 23 is a member that protects an optical fiber (optical fiber tape) that extends rearward from the optical module 21. The rear cover 23 includes an upper cover 23A and a lower cover 23B that are divided into upper and lower parts. On the front inner surfaces of the upper cover 23A and the lower cover 23B, a concave groove 231 is formed along the left-right direction. The housing 22 is fixed to the rear cover 23 by being sandwiched between the upper cover 23 </ b> A and the lower cover 23 </ b> B in a state where the convex portion 22 </ b> D of the housing 22 is engaged with the concave groove 231.

  On the front end face of the rear cover 23, there is a spring contact portion that contacts the spring 25. The rear cover 23 presses the slide member 24 forward via a spring 25.

  The slide member 24 is a member that can slide in the front-rear direction with respect to the housing 22. The slide member 24 is in contact with the slide holding portion 22 </ b> C of the housing 22 while being urged forward by the spring 25. The slide member 24 is movable rearward with respect to the housing 22 (and the rear cover 23) by the length that can be compressed by the spring 25. When the operator pulls the slide member 24 rearward when removing the plug-side optical connector 20 from the receptacle-side optical connector 10, the slide member 24 slides rearward with respect to the housing 22. The slide member 24 is disposed so as to be able to retract in a state where it is pressed forward between the housing 22 (slide restraining portion 22C) and the rear cover.

The slide member 24 includes a main body portion 24A, a flange portion 24B, and a protruding portion 24C.
The main body 24A is a rectangular tube portion having a rectangular cross section. The rectangular tubular main body 24 </ b> A covers the outer periphery of the central portion of the housing 22. The front part of the housing 22 protrudes in front of the main body part 24A, and the rear part of the housing 22 protrudes in rear of the main body part 24A.
The collar portion 24B is a portion protruding outward from the outer peripheral surface of the main body portion 24A. The flange portion 24 </ b> B has a spring contact portion that contacts the spring 25. A compressed spring 25 is disposed between the flange 24B and the rear cover 23. The collar portion 24B is a portion where the operator pulls the slide member 24 rearward when the plug-side optical connector 20 is removed.

  The protruding portion 24C is a portion protruding forward from the main body portion 24A. The protruding portion 24C protrudes to the front side of the front end (guide pin in this case) of the optical module 21 and the front end surface of the housing 22, and the receptacle before the optical module 21 and the housing 22 are inserted into the receptacle-side optical connector 10. It has a function of making contact with the shutter 15 of the side optical connector 10 and pushing the shutter 15 open. For this reason, the maximum vertical dimension of the protrusion 24C is smaller than the vertical dimension of the receptacle-side insertion opening 14A. Thereby, it is possible to insert the protrusion 24C into the insertion port 14A and push the two shutters 15 open. The maximum vertical dimension of the protruding portion 24 </ b> C is larger than the vertical dimension of the housing 22. As a result, the two shutters 15 can be opened larger than the vertical dimension of the housing 22.

  A pair of protrusions 24 </ b> C are disposed on the left and right outer sides of the housing 22. The pair of protrusions 24C are arranged so as to sandwich the housing 22 and the plurality of optical modules 21 from the left and right. For this reason, the space | interval of the left-right direction of a pair of protrusion part 24C is larger than the dimension of the left-right direction of the housing 22. FIG. Further, the distance between the pair of protrusions 24 </ b> C in the left-right direction is smaller than the dimension in the left-right direction of the insertion port 14 </ b> A on the receptacle side and smaller than the dimension in the left-right direction of the shutter 15. Thus, the pair of protrusions 24C can be inserted into the insertion port 14A, and the pair of protrusions 24C can be brought into contact with the left and right edges of the shutter 15 to push the shutter 15 open.

  A plug-side guide portion 24D is formed on the outer side of the protruding portion 24C in the left-right direction. The plug-side guide portion 24D is a portion for guiding the plug-side optical connector 20 in the front-rear direction along the receptacle-side guide portion 14D, and is a portion protruding outward in the left-right direction along the front-rear direction.

  The plug-side guide portion 24D protrudes further to the front side than the protruding portion 24C. Accordingly, when the connector is connected, the plug-side guide portion 24D comes into contact with the shutter 15 before the protruding portion 24C comes into contact with the shutter 15. For this reason, the plug side guide portion 24D has a function of pushing the shutter 15 open, like the protruding portion 24C. In other words, the plug-side guide portion 24D is also a part of the protruding portion 24C. If the plug-side guide 24D moves away from the shutter 15 when the connector is removed, the shutter 15 is closed. The plug-side guide portion 24D comes into contact with the projection portion 152 of the shutter 15 (see below: FIG. 4B).

  The projecting portion 24C has release portions 241 formed on the upper and lower sides. The release unit 241 is a part for releasing the latched state by the shutter 15 and has an inclined surface. The inclined surface is formed so as to spread outward in the vertical direction toward the front side. The release portion 241 is disposed on the outer side in the left-right direction with respect to the locking portion 22 </ b> B of the housing 22. Further, the release portion 241 is disposed in front of the locking portion 22B of the housing 22 in a normal state. However, when the slide member 24 moves to the rear side with respect to the housing 22, the release portion 241 moves to the position of the locking portion 22B. In the normal state, the locking portion 22B of the housing 22 protrudes outward in the vertical direction from the protruding portion 24C (described later: see the right side of FIG. 5A), but is released when the slide member 24 moves rearward with respect to the housing 22. The inclined surface of the portion 241 is positioned on the outer side in the vertical direction with respect to the locking portion 22B (described later: see FIG. 5B).

  The slide member 24 further has a fixing screw 24E. The fixing screw 24 </ b> E is a so-called long screw and is a member that screws the frame body 14 of the receptacle-side optical connector 10. The fixing screw 24E is for ensuring connector connection and can be omitted.

<State when connector is connected>
FIG. 4A to FIG. 4D are explanatory diagrams of a state when the connector is connected. On the right side of FIG. 4B, an enlarged view of the vicinity of the shielding portion 151 and the protrusion 152 of the lower shutter 15C is shown. 4C and 4D are enlarged views of the lower edge of the upper shutter 15A and the vicinity of the locking portion 22B.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, the operator holds the plug-side optical connector 20 and inserts the end of the plug-side optical connector 20 into the insertion port 14 </ b> A of the receptacle-side optical connector 10. At this time, the operator inserts the plug-side optical connector 20 into the insertion port 14A while aligning the position with respect to the receptacle-side optical connector 10 by guiding the plug-side guide portion 24D to the receptacle-side guide portion 14D.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, since the plug-side guide portion 24D is the most projecting portion, the plug-side optical connector 20 is inserted into the insertion port 14A while guiding the plug-side guide portion 24D to the receptacle-side guide portion 14D. Then, the plug-side guide portion 24D comes into contact with the shutter 15. Since the lower shutter 15B has the protrusion 152, the plug side guide 24D contacts the lower shutter 15B before contacting the upper shutter 15A. As a result, the lower shutter 15B having the shield 151 is opened first, and then the upper shutter 15A is opened. For this reason, when the upper shutter 15A is opened, the shielding portion 151 of the lower shutter 15B is not disturbed.

  When the plug-side optical connector 20 is further inserted from the state shown in FIG. 4B, the plug-side guide portion 24D pushes and opens the shutter 15, and then the projecting portion 24C comes into contact with the shutter 15, and the projecting portion 24C opens the shutter 15. It will push open. Since the protruding portion 24C (and the plug-side guide portion 24D) protrudes to the front side of the front end (here, a guide pin) of the optical module 21 of the plug-side optical connector 20 and the front end surface of the housing 22, the shutter 15 protrudes. After being pushed open by 24C, the optical module 21 and the housing 22 are inserted into the insertion port 14A.

  As illustrated in FIG. 4C, the shutter 15 is opened by being brought into contact with the protruding portion 24 </ b> C and falling back (rear side). The shutter 15 is opened so that the outer surface when closed is directed toward the plug-side optical connector 20. In other words, the inner surface when the shutter is closed faces the opposite side of the plug-side optical connector 20 when the shutter 15 is opened.

  As shown in FIG. 4C, when the operator inserts the plug-side optical connector 20 to the back, the ferrule end faces are brought into contact with each other while the guide pins of the plug-side ferrule 21A are fitted into the guide holes of the receptacle-side ferrule 11A. At this time, the springs 11C and 21C of the optical modules 10 and 20 that have pressed the ferrules 11A and 21A (the receptacle-side ferrule 11A and the plug-side ferrule 21A) forward are compressed, and the ferrules 11A and 21A are slightly retracted. When the plug-side optical connector 20 is inserted all the way, the plug-side guide portion 24D and the protruding portion 24C are located on the front side of the end portion of the shutter 15. Since each shutter 15 is biased in a closing direction by a spring (not shown), the lower edge of the upper shutter 15A is the upper surface of the housing 22 (specifically, the upper surface of the reinforcing member 222) as shown in the right figure of FIG. 4C. The upper edge of the lower shutter 15B is in contact with the lower surface of the housing 22 (specifically, the lower surface of the reinforcing member 222). At this stage, as shown in the right view of FIG. 4C, the locking portion 22 </ b> B of the housing 22 is located slightly in front of the end portion of the shutter 15.

  After the plug-side optical connector 20 is inserted all the way as shown in FIG. 4C, the operator finishes the insertion work and releases his hand from the plug-side optical connector 20. Since the springs 11C and 21C of the optical modules 10 and 20 are compressed in the state shown in FIG. 4C, when the operator releases the hand from the plug-side optical connector 20, the compressed springs 11C and 21C are shown in FIG. 4D. The plug-side optical connector 20 is slightly retracted with respect to the receptacle-side optical connector 10 in response to this force. At this time, as shown in FIG. 4D, the upper locking portion 22B of the housing 22 is hooked on the lower edge of the upper shutter 15A, and the lower locking portion 22B of the housing 22 is hooked on the upper edge of the lower shutter 15B. As a result, the plug-side optical connector 20 is latched to the receptacle-side optical connector 10. That is, the plug-side optical connector 20 cannot be removed from the receptacle-side optical connector 10 from the state shown in FIG. 4D. Since each shutter 15 is biased in a closing direction by a spring (not shown), the end portion of the shutter 15 is easily caught by the locking portion 22B of the housing 22 at the time of latching. Is difficult to come off from the locking portion 22B.

  Note that the edge of the end of the shutter 15 rubs the surface of the housing 22 when the state shown in FIG. 4C is changed to the state shown in FIG. 4D. Further, when the state shown in FIG. 4D is reached, the edge of the end portion of the shutter 15 abuts against the locking portion 22B. In the present embodiment, since the shutter 15 is made of metal, the surface of the housing 22 and the locking portion 22B are easily worn by the edge of the shutter 15, so that a metal reinforcing member 222 is arranged to suppress wear. .

  Finally, the fixing screw 24E of the slide member 24 of the plug side optical connector 20 is screwed to the screw fastening portion 14C of the receptacle side optical connector 10. Thereby, the plug-side optical connector 20 is firmly fixed to the receptacle-side optical connector 10, and the connector connection is ensured. At this stage, since the plug-side optical connector 20 is latched by the receptacle-side optical connector 10 (see FIG. 4D), the operation of the fixing screw 24E of the plug-side optical connector 20 is easy.

  According to the optical connector system 1 of the present embodiment, the receptacle-side optical connector 10 has the shutter 15 that can be opened and closed at the insertion port 14A, and the plug-side optical connector 20 opens the shutter 15 of the insertion port 14A. The receptacle-side optical connector 10 is connected. And in this embodiment, the plug side optical connector 20 has the latching | locking part 22B where the shutter 15 is hooked, and when the connector 15 is connected, the plug 15 optical connector 20 is hooked by the latching part 22B. It is latched by the receptacle-side optical connector 10 (see the right figure in FIG. 4D). Thereby, since the plug-side optical connector 20 can be latched using the shutter 15, the receptacle-side optical connector 10 and the plug-side optical connector 20 can be compared with the case where the shutter mechanism and the latch mechanism are provided separately. Miniaturization can be achieved.

<When the connector is removed>
FIG. 5A to FIG. 5D are explanatory views of the state when the connector is removed. An enlarged view of the vicinity of the lower edge of the upper shutter 15A and the locking portion 22B is shown on the right side of FIGS. 5A and 5B. On the right side of FIG. 5D, an enlarged view of the vicinity of the shielding portion 151 and the protrusion 152 of the lower shutter 15C is shown. When the connector is removed, the operator removes the fixing screw 24E of the plug-side optical connector 20 from the screw fastening portion 14C of the receptacle-side optical connector 10 in advance.

  In the state shown in FIG. 5A, the upper locking portion 22B of the housing 22 is hooked on the end of the upper shutter 15A, and the lower locking portion 22B of the housing 22 is hooked on the end of the lower shutter 15B. The optical connector 20 is latched by the receptacle-side optical connector 10 (that is, the same state as FIG. 4D). At this stage, the release portion 241 of the slide member 24 is disposed in front of the locking portion 22B of the housing 22. From such a state, the operator pulls the slide member 24 to the rear side (front side as viewed from the operator) in order to pull out the plug-side optical connector 20 from the receptacle-side optical connector 10.

  As shown in FIG. 5B, when the operator pulls the slide member 24 to the rear side (front side as viewed from the operator), the slide member 24 moves rearward with respect to the housing 22. Thereby, the release part 241 of the slide member 24 moves to the rear side and moves to the position of the locking part 22B. At this time, the end of the shutter 15 that has been caught by the locking portion 22B comes into contact with the release portion 241, the release portion 241 moves to the rear side, and the shutter 15 is pushed up, so that the end portion of the shutter 15 and the housing 22 The latched state with the locking portion 22B is released. When the latched state is released, the plug-side optical connector 20 is slightly retracted with respect to the receptacle-side optical connector 10 under the force of the compressed springs 11C, 21C.

  As shown in FIG. 5C, even after the latched state is released, the operator pulls the slide member 24 to the rear side (front side as viewed from the operator) in order to pull out the plug side optical connector 20 from the receptacle side optical connector 10. Continue pulling. After the shutter 15 is pushed up along the inclined surface of the release portion 241, the protrusion 24C and the plug-side guide portion 24D are gradually extracted as the protrusion 24C of the plug-side optical connector 20 is gradually pulled out from the insertion port 14A. It will close gradually while touching.

  As shown in FIG. 5D, after the protruding portion 24 </ b> C is separated from the shutter 15, the plug-side guide portion 24 </ b> D is separated from the shutter 15. Since the lower shutter 15B has the protrusion 152, the plug-side guide 24D is separated from the lower shutter 15B after being separated from the upper shutter 15A. For this reason, the upper shutter 15A is closed first, and then the lower shutter 15B having the shielding part 151 (summing part) is closed. Thereby, when the upper shutter 15A is closed, the shielding part 151 of the lower shutter 15B is not disturbed. If the lower shutter 15B is closed before the upper shutter 15A, the upper shutter 15A interferes with the shielding portion 151 of the lower shutter 15B, and the upper shutter 15A cannot be completely closed. In the embodiment, since the protrusion 152 is provided on the lower shutter 15B having the shielding part 151, the two shutters 15 can be closed in order, and the two shutters 15 can be normally closed.

  According to the present embodiment, the plug-side optical connector 20 includes the housing 22 having the locking portion 22 </ b> B and the slide member 24 that is movable with respect to the housing 22. The slide member 24 has a release portion 241 that comes into contact with the shutter 15 that is hooked on the locking portion 22B when the slide member 24 moves rearward with respect to the housing 22 to release the latched state. Thereby, the latch state using the shutter 15 can be released, and the plug-side optical connector 20 can be removed.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the direction in which the slide member 24 is moved to release the latched state and the direction in which the plug-side optical connector 20 is removed from the receptacle-side optical connector 10 are the same direction. As a result, the operator can perform both the release of the latched state and the removal of the plug-side optical connector 20 only by pulling the slide member 24 to the rear side. Work becomes easy.

<EMI countermeasures>
The front panel 3 (see FIG. 1) to which the receptacle-side optical connector 10 is attached is usually made of metal. In the present embodiment, the frame body 14 and the shutter 15 of the receptacle-side optical connector 10 are made of metal. Since the shutter 15 is closed before connection with the plug-side optical connector 20, in this state (the state shown in FIG. 1), the front surface of the panel including the insertion port 14A is covered with a metal member. For this reason, leakage of electromagnetic waves from the receptacle-side optical connector 10 before connection can be suppressed.

  On the other hand, since the shutter 15 is opened when the connector is connected, electromagnetic waves may leak from the opened shutter 15. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, as described below, a metal member is disposed on the plug-side optical connector 20 to suppress leakage of electromagnetic waves when the connector is connected.

  FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view when the connector is connected. In the drawing, metal parts are indicated by thick lines. The housing 22 and the rear cover 23 of the plug-side optical connector 20 are made of resin.

The slide member 24 of the plug-side optical connector 20 has a cylindrical main body 24 </ b> A that covers the outer periphery of the housing 22. The slide member 24 including the main body portion 24A is a metal member. When the connector is connected, the front end of the metal main body 24A is inserted into the insertion port 14A of the receptacle-side optical connector 10. Thereby, the leakage of electromagnetic waves from the outside of the main body 24A can be suppressed when the connector is connected.
Further, a part of the housing 22 protrudes from the rear side of the main body 24A of the slide member 24 (see FIG. 2), and in this embodiment, the metal cover 221 covers this part (the rear part of the housing 22). ing. Thereby, the leakage of electromagnetic waves from the inside of the main body 24A can be suppressed when the connector is connected.

=== Another Embodiment ===
In 1st Embodiment, the latching | locking part 22B is a site | part which protruded in the up-down direction outer side from the upper surface or lower surface of the housing 22, and was formed as the protruding item | line along the left-right direction. However, the locking portion 22B is not limited to the protruding shape, and may be a concave shape.
FIG. 7A is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the upper shutter 15A and the locking portion 22B in the second embodiment. The locking portion 22B of the second embodiment is formed in a concave shape on the upper surface (and the lower surface) of the housing 22, and is formed as a groove along the left-right direction. Also in the second embodiment, the shutter 15 is hooked on the locking portion 22B when the connector is connected.

In the first embodiment, the end of the shutter 15 (for example, the lower edge of the upper shutter 15A) is hooked on the locking portion 22B. However, the portion of the shutter 15 that is caught by the locking portion 22B is not limited to the end portion.
FIG. 7B is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the upper shutter 15A and the locking portion 22B in the third embodiment. In the third embodiment, a concave groove is formed on the front surface side of the shutter 15, and this groove is hooked on the locking portion 22B.

  Also in the second and third embodiments described above, the plug-side optical connector 20 is latched to the receptacle-side optical connector 10 by the shutter 15 being hooked on the locking portion 22B. Thereby, since the plug-side optical connector 20 can be latched using the shutter 15, the receptacle-side optical connector 10 and the plug-side optical connector 20 can be compared with the case where the shutter mechanism and the latch mechanism are provided separately. Miniaturization can be achieved.

=== Others ===
The above-described embodiments are for facilitating the understanding of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention. The present invention can be modified and improved without departing from the gist thereof, and it goes without saying that the present invention includes equivalents thereof.

<About shutter 15>
The shutter 15 described above is configured such that the shutter 15 tilts toward the back (rear side) about the fixed rotation shaft 16 as an axis. However, the shutter 15 may be configured to open when the rotating shaft 16 moves when the connector is connected. Specifically, as the plug-side optical connector 20 is inserted, the rotary shaft 16 slides forward, and the shutter 15 is opened so that the outer surface of the shutter 15 when closed is directed toward the plug-side optical connector 20. It is preferable that the shutter 15 is hooked on the locking portion 22B.

1 optical connector system, 3 front panel,
10 receptacle side optical connector, 11 optical module,
11A receptacle ferrule, 11B pink lamp,
11C spring, 11D spring push,
12 adapter housing, 12A module mounting part, 12B mounting part,
13 fixing part, 14 frame,
14A insertion slot, 14B fixing base, 14C screwing part,
14D receptacle side guide, 14E shutter hold down,
15 shutter, 15A upper shutter, 15B lower shutter,
151 shielding part, 152 protrusion part, 16 rotation axis,
20 plug side optical connector, 21 optical module,
21A Plug side ferrule, 21B Pink lamp,
21C spring, 21D spring push,
22 housing, 22A module mounting part, 221 metal cover,
22B locking part, 222 reinforcing member,
22C Slide holding part, 22D Convex part (attachment part),
23 rear cover, 23A upper cover, 23B lower cover, 231 concave groove,
24 slide member, 24A body part,
24B collar, 24C protrusion,
24D plug side guide, 24E fixing screw,
241 release part, 25 spring

Claims (10)

A receptacle-side optical connector having a shutter that can be opened and closed at the insertion port;
A plug-side optical connector that opens the shutter of the insertion port and connects to the receptacle-side optical connector;
The plug-side optical connector has a locking portion on which the shutter is hooked,
When the receptacle-side optical connector and the plug-side optical connector are connected, the shutter opens so that the outer surface at the time of closing faces the plug-side optical connector, and the shutter is hooked on the locking portion, The optical connector system, wherein the plug-side optical connector is latched by the receptacle-side optical connector. The optical connector system according to claim 1,
The receptacle-side optical connector has two double-spread type shutters. The optical connector system according to claim 2,
An optical connector system, wherein one of the two shutters is provided with a shielding portion for shielding a gap between the two shutters. The optical connector system according to claim 3,
A protrusion is formed on the shutter where the shielding portion is formed,
When the plug-side optical connector is inserted into the insertion port, the plug-side optical connector comes into contact with the protrusion, so that the shutter formed with the protrusion starts to open first,
When the plug-side optical connector is removed from the insertion port, the plug-side optical connector comes into contact with the projection, and the shutter formed with the projection is closed later. . The optical connector system according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The optical connector system is characterized in that the shutter is biased in a closing direction. An optical connector system according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The plug-side optical connector includes an optical module having a ferrule, a housing that houses the optical module, and a slide member that is movable with respect to the housing.
The housing includes a protrusion that contacts the shutter and pushes the shutter open, and the locking portion.
The optical connector system according to claim 1, wherein the slide member has a release portion that releases the latched state by contacting the shutter that is hooked on the locking portion when the slide member moves relative to the housing. The optical connector system according to claim 6,
The optical connector is characterized in that the direction in which the slide member is moved relative to the housing to release the latched state is the same as the direction in which the plug-side optical connector is removed from the receptacle-side optical connector. system. The optical connector system according to claim 6 or 7,
The slide member has a cylindrical metal main body covering the outer periphery of the housing,
When the front side of the receptacle-side optical connector is viewed from the plug-side optical connector and the rear side is the rear, the front end of the main body is inserted into the insertion port,
A part of the housing protrudes behind the main body,
The plug-side optical connector has a metal member that covers a part of the housing protruding rearward from the main body. A plug-side optical connector that opens a shutter of the insertion port of the receptacle-side optical connector and connects to the receptacle-side optical connector,
A locking portion on which the shutter is hooked;
At the time of connection with the receptacle-side optical connector, the shutter that is opened so that the outer surface when closed faces the plug-side optical connector side is latched by the receptacle-side optical connector by being caught by the locking portion. Plug side optical connector characterized by Has a shutter that can be opened and closed provided in the insertion slot,
When the plug-side optical connector is connected by opening the shutter of the insertion port, the shutter is opened so that the outer surface when closed is directed to the plug-side optical connector, and the plug-side optical connector is locked. A receptacle-side optical connector, wherein the plug-side optical connector is latched by hooking the shutter to a portion.

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