JP2018017853A - Optical coupling member and optical connector having the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical coupling member capable of stably positioning an optical fiber inside of a holding member and an optical connector having the same.SOLUTION: An optical coupling member (10) has a cylindrical holder (11), a ball lens (12) stored in a storage part (14) formed in front of the holder and an optical fiber (13) inserted into a fiber holding part (15) formed in the rear of the storage part to be held. A plurality of concavities (16) are formed in a circumferential direction at intervals between the storage part and the fiber holding part on the outer peripheral surface of the holder. An inclined plane (16a) is provided on the inner surface of each concavity protruding to the inner diameter side of the holder as a contact surface contacting the front end face of the optical fiber. The contract surface is formed extending in a direction orthogonal to the insertion direction of the optical fiber.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical coupling member used when condensing light from a light emitting element and entering the optical fiber, or condensing light emitted from the optical fiber onto a light receiving element, and light provided with the same. Concerning connectors.

  The optical coupling member is used to propagate the light emitted from the light emitting element (light source) in the optical fiber and emit it into the air as necessary, or to enter the light propagating in the air into the optical fiber. Is done.

  In such an optical coupling member, for example, a structure is known in which a housing portion is formed in front of a cylindrical holder, a lens is housed in the housing portion, and an optical fiber is inserted behind the holder. Yes. Further, a depressed portion is provided between the housing portion and the holding portion that holds the optical fiber. The depressed portion projects toward the inner diameter side of the holder, and the front end surface of the optical fiber is positioned in contact with the projecting surface from which the depressed portion projects (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent No. 4866961

  Conventionally, the depressed portion protrudes in a substantially circular dot shape on the inner diameter side of the holder. For this reason, the protruding surface of the depressed portion with which the front end surface of the optical fiber abuts is a curved surface. Therefore, the contact area between the front end face of the optical fiber and the depressed portion is small. As a result, it may be difficult to position the optical fiber stably.

  For this reason, in such an optical coupling member, the structure which positions an optical fiber stably in a holder is requested | required.

  This invention is made in view of this point, and it aims at providing the optical coupling member which can position an optical fiber stably inside a holding member, and an optical connector provided with the same. To do.

  The optical coupling member of the present invention includes a cylindrical holding member, a lens housed in a housing portion formed in front of the holding member, and a fiber holding portion formed behind the housing portion of the holding member. An optical fiber inserted and held, and a plurality of depressed portions are provided between the housing portion and the fiber holding portion on the outer peripheral surface of the holding member at intervals in the circumferential direction. An abutting surface with which the front end surface of the optical fiber abuts is provided on the inner surface of the depressed portion protruding toward the inner diameter side of the holding member, and the abutting surface is in the insertion direction of the optical fiber. It is characterized by extending in a direction orthogonal to the above.

  Thus, according to the present invention, of the inner surface of the recessed portion that protrudes toward the inner diameter side of the holding member, the contact surface with which the optical fiber contacts is formed so as to extend in a direction orthogonal to the optical fiber insertion direction. Has been. Therefore, when the optical fiber is inserted into the holding member, the front end surface of the optical fiber is securely contacted with the contact surfaces of the plurality of depressions extending in the direction orthogonal to the insertion direction with a wide contact area. Can be touched. As described above, the optical fiber can be stably positioned inside the holding member.

  The said optical coupling member WHEREIN: The said contact surface can be set as the structure formed with the inclined surface inclined with respect to the front-end surface of the said optical fiber. As described above, by providing a plurality of recessed portions whose contact surfaces are inclined surfaces, the optical fiber can be appropriately centered inside the holding member, and optical axis deviation can be prevented.

  The said optical coupling member WHEREIN: The said contact surface can be set as the structure formed with the perpendicular | vertical surface parallel to the front-end surface of the said optical fiber. Thereby, the contact area of the contact surface of a depression part and the front-end surface of an optical fiber can be made wider. Therefore, when the optical fiber is inserted into the fiber holding portion, the front end surface of the optical fiber can be reliably stopped by the contact surface, and the positional accuracy in the optical fiber insertion direction can be further improved.

  The said optical coupling member WHEREIN: It is preferable that the outer surface peripheral part of the said depression part is formed in the rectangular shape. According to this configuration, the contact surface of the depressed portion with the optical fiber can be easily and appropriately extended in a direction orthogonal to the optical fiber insertion direction.

  An optical connector according to the present invention includes the optical coupling member described above. According to the present invention, the positional accuracy of the optical fiber inside the holding member can be improved, and the optical axis accuracy can be improved. Therefore, an optical connector with high reliability of optical communication with the device can be obtained.

  According to the present invention, the optical fiber can be stably positioned inside the holding member.

1A is a plan view of the optical coupling member according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a side view of the optical coupling member according to the first embodiment of the present invention. These are sectional drawings in the AA line shown in Drawing 1A. It is a partial expanded sectional view of FIG. 1C. FIG. 3A is a plan view of the optical coupling member according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3B is a side view of the optical coupling member according to the second embodiment of the present invention. These are sectional drawings in the BB line shown in Drawing 3A. 4A is a plan view of the optical coupling member according to the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4B is a side view of the optical coupling member according to the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC shown in FIG. 4A. It is an example of the tool used when forming a depression part. It is an example of the tool used when forming a depression part. It is explanatory drawing which shows one process of forming a depression part in a holder using a tool, and shows a mode that a depression part is especially formed in the cross-sectional position of the holder in the EE line | wire shown to FIG. 1A. It is sectional drawing which shows typically the optical connector provided with the optical coupling member in this Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1A is a plan view of the optical coupling member 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a side view of the optical coupling member 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 1C is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA shown in FIG. 1A. FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged sectional view of FIG. 1C.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the optical coupling member 10 includes a holder 11 as a holding member having a generally cylindrical shape, a ball lens 12 held on the front end side of the holder 11, and the holder 11. And an optical fiber 13 inserted and supported from the rear end side. The ball lens 12 is shown in FIG. 1C and FIG.

  The Y1-Y2 direction described in the figure indicates the extending direction of the holder 11. The X direction is a direction orthogonal to the Y1-Y2 direction, and particularly refers to one direction in the plan view shown in FIG. 1A. The Z direction is a direction perpendicular to the Y1-Y2 direction and the X direction, and particularly refers to one direction in the cross-sectional views of FIG. 1C and FIG.

  In the following description, the terms “front”, “front end”, “rear”, and “rear end” are used. “Front” and “front end” indicate the Y1 direction of the holder 11, specifically, the side that accommodates the ball lens 12. Further, “rear” and “rear end” refer to the Y2 direction of the holder 11 on the opposite side of “front” and “rear end”.

  Hereinafter, each member which comprises the optical coupling member 10 is demonstrated.

<Holder>
The holder 11 is made of, for example, a metal material. In particular, from the viewpoints of rust prevention, workability, and surface roughness, the holder 11 is preferably formed of stainless steel or nickel (including an alloy).

  As shown in FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B, etc., the holder 11 has a substantially cylindrical shape extending along the Y1-Y2 direction. Therefore, the holder 11 is a metal tube having a predetermined thickness having a hole penetrating in the Y1-Y2 direction. Hereinafter, the term “inner surface” refers to a wall surface around a hole (through hole).

  As shown in FIG. 1C and FIG. 2, a hollow housing portion 14 is formed on the front side (Y1 side) of the holder 11 with an opening 14b on the front end side. As shown in each drawing of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the front end outer peripheral surface 14 c of the housing portion 14 is formed to be inclined so that the thickness gradually decreases toward the opening portion 14 b of the housing portion 14. ing. The front end outer peripheral surface 14c can function as a guide surface when the optical coupling member 10 is incorporated in a case constituting an optical connector.

  The inner surface (inner diameter surface) 14a of the accommodating portion 14 is formed with a size that allows the entire ball lens 12 to be accommodated therein, and the ball lens 12 can be press-fitted.

  As shown in FIG. 1C and FIG. 2, a hollow fiber holding portion 15 is formed behind the housing portion 14 (Y2 side). The inner surface (inner diameter surface) 15 a of the fiber holding portion 15 forms a through hole slightly larger than the outer diameter of the optical fiber 13, and this through hole is an insertion hole 15 b on the rear end side of the fiber holding portion 15. To communicate.

  As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the holder 11 is provided with a plurality of depressed portions 16 by pressing with a tool from the outer peripheral surface thereof. These depressed portions 16 are formed between the accommodating portion 14 and the fiber holding portion 15 at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface of the holder 11. The “circumferential direction” refers to a position along the outer periphery around the central axis of the holder 11. As will be described in detail later, the depressed portion 16 is used at least for positioning in the insertion direction (Y1-Y2 direction) of the optical fiber 13.

<Ball lens>
The ball lens 12 is made of, for example, a glass material and has a spherical shape. The ball lens 12 is press-fitted and accommodated in the accommodating portion 14. The ball lens 12 accommodated in the accommodating portion 14 is disposed so as to face the front end face 13 c of the optical fiber 13 held in the fiber holding portion 15. The ball lens 12 may be a plastic lens.

  The ball lens 12 accommodated in the accommodating portion 14 and the optical fiber 13 retained in the fiber retaining portion 15 are within the holder 11 by the depression 16 formed between the accommodating portion 14 and the fiber retaining portion 15. Without contacting at a predetermined interval in the Y1-Y2 direction.

  The ball lens 12 can be formed of a collimating lens that adjusts light incident from the optical fiber 13 to a parallel state.

<Optical fiber>
The optical fiber 13 includes, for example, a core 13a provided through the center thereof, and a clad 13b that covers the core 13a. The optical fiber 13 preferably further has a reinforcing layer that covers and reinforces the cladding 13b. However, the reinforcing layer is not shown. On the front end face 13c of the optical fiber 13 facing the ball lens 12, a core 13a and a clad 13b (including a reinforcing layer if a reinforcing layer is provided) are arranged on the same plane. That is, on the front end face 13c facing the ball lens 12, the core 13a and the clad 13b (including the reinforcing layer when the reinforcing layer is provided) are arranged together.

  The optical fiber 13 is inserted into the fiber holding portion 15 through the insertion hole 15b located at the rear end of the holder 11, and is fixed in a state where the front end surface 13c is disposed in the vicinity of the ball lens 12 so as to face the spherical surface. ing. As shown in FIGS. 1C and 2, a minute gap is provided between the optical fiber 13 and the inner surface 15 a of the fiber holding portion 15. This gap is filled with, for example, an adhesive. Yes. Therefore, the optical fiber 13 is bonded and fixed to the inner surface 15 a of the fiber holding portion 15. Note that the optical fiber 13 may be fixed by deforming a part of the holder 11.

  In the optical coupling member 10 according to the present embodiment, the optical fiber 13 is composed of, for example, a graded index (GI) optical fiber, and the refractive index continuously changes in a cross section perpendicular to the fiber axis. Has been. The core 13a and the clad 13b are made of, for example, an all-fluorine-substituted optical resin in which H of C—H bond is substituted with F. Thus, high-speed and large-capacity communication can be realized by configuring the optical fiber 13 with a perfluorinated optical resin and a GI-type optical fiber.

<Depression>
The depressed portion 16 formed between the accommodating portion 14 and the fiber holding portion 15 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, a plurality of depressed portions 16 are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the holder 11. The depressed portion 16 is provided by pressing the outer peripheral surface of the holder 11 toward the center of the inner diameter of the holder 11 using a tool. A specific example of the tool will be described later.

  As a result, the depressed portion 16 protrudes toward the inner diameter side of the holder 11 (the inner surface 14a side of the housing portion 14 and the inner surface 15a side of the fiber holding portion 15), and the surface of the protruding portion is used as the inner surface 16a of the depressed portion 16. (See FIG. 2).

As shown in FIG. 2, the inner surface 14a of the accommodating portion 14 and the inner surface 16a of the recessed portion 16 continuous with the inner surface 15a of the fiber holding portion 15 have a convex surface 16a ₁ and inclined surfaces 16a ₂ and 16a _3. Is done.

As shown in FIG. 2, the inner surface 16a of the depression 16 has an inclined surface 16a ₂ that is inclined at a predetermined angle θ ₁ with respect to a surface parallel to the front end surface 13c of the optical fiber 13 on the side in contact with the optical fiber 13. Is formed. The inclined surface 16 a ₂ is a contact surface that contacts the front end surface 13 c of the optical fiber 13. In addition, an inclined surface 16 a ₃ is formed on the inner surface 16 a of the depressed portion 16 on the side facing the ball lens 12.

  In the holder 11, a plurality of such recessed portions 16 are provided on the same circumference of the holder 11 at equal intervals (three in the present embodiment, two of which are visible in FIG. 2). It has been. Thus, by providing a plurality of depressions 16 on the same circumference at equal intervals, it becomes possible to perform positioning with higher accuracy. Here, although the number of the depressed portions 16 is not limited, the number of the depressed portions 16 is about two to five, and more preferably about three to five for more accurate positioning. It can be performed and is preferable.

As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the outer peripheral edge 16b of the depression 16 is formed in a rectangular shape. Here, the “outer peripheral edge” is an outline of the depressed portion 16 located on the outer peripheral surface of the holder 11. As shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, the outer peripheral edge 16b includes a front edge 16b ₁ , a rear edge 16b _2, and a pair of side edges 16b that connect the front edge 16b ₁ and the rear edge 16b _{2. 3} . 1A and, as shown in FIG. 1B, the front edge 16b ₁ and the rear edge 16b ₂ may extend in a direction (in FIG. 1A X direction, Z direction in FIG. 1B) perpendicular to the direction Y1-Y2 Formed out. Further, the side edge portion 16b ₃ is formed to extend in the Y1-Y2 direction. The corner between the front edge 16b ₁ and the side edge 16b ₃ and the corner between the rear edge 16b ₂ and the side edge 16b ₃ may be R-shaped. The “rectangular shape” includes those having corners having an R shape. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the length of the front edge 16b ₁ and the rear edge 16b ₂ is shorter than that of the side edge 16b ₃ , but the length of the front edge 16b ₁ and the rear edge 16b ₂ is longer. the dimensions, may be longer than the side edge 16b _3.

  The depressed portion 16 in which the outer peripheral edge portion 16b is formed in a rectangular shape can be formed using, for example, the tool 20 having the shape shown in FIG. 5A is a partial perspective view showing a tip portion of the tool 20, and FIG. 5B is a partial cross-sectional view taken along the line DD shown in FIG. 5A.

  As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the tool 20 includes a pair of flat surfaces 20a, a rectangular tip surface 20b, and inclined surfaces that connect the tip surface 20b and the flat surfaces 20a facing each other in the illustrated vertical direction. 20c, 20d and a side surface portion 20e connecting between the pair of flat surfaces 20a. The tool 20 is preferably formed of a metal having a higher hardness than the holder 11.

  FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing one process of forming the depressed portion 16 in the holder 11 using the tool 20, and in particular, the depressed portion 16 is formed at the cross-sectional position of the holder 11 along the line EE shown in FIG. 1A. Show the state.

  As shown in FIG. 7, three tools 20 shown in FIG. 5 are prepared, and the tools 20 are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface of the holder 11. Then, each tool 20 is pressed simultaneously from the outer peripheral surface of the holder 11 toward the center of the inner diameter. As a result, three recessed portions 16 having a rectangular outer surface peripheral edge portion 16 b can be formed on the outer peripheral surface of the holder 11 at equal intervals.

At this time, the outer peripheral surface of the holder 11 is pressed toward the center of the inner diameter by the front end surface 20b and the inclined surfaces 20c and 20d of the tool 20 shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, and is shown in FIG. Thus, the recessed portion 16 that protrudes on the inner diameter side of the holder 11 and has the inclined surface 16a ₂ that contacts the front end surface 13c of the optical fiber 13 and the inclined surface 16a ₃ that faces the ball lens 12 can be easily and appropriately formed. Can be formed.

As shown in FIG. 7, each inclined surface 16 a ₂ as a contact surface with which the optical fiber 13 abuts is formed to extend in a direction orthogonal to the Y1-Y2 direction that is the insertion direction of the optical fiber 13. The Here, the “direction orthogonal to the Y1-Y2 direction” refers to a direction in the XZ plane shown in FIG. In the form shown in FIG. 7, of the three depressed portions 16, the inclined surface 16 a ₂ formed on the inner surface of one depressed portion 16 is formed to extend in the X direction, and the remaining two depressed portions 16 are formed. inclined surfaces 16a ₂ formed on the inner surface, respectively from the Z direction in the X direction, are formed inclined a predetermined angle.

In FIG. 7, the inclined surface 16 a ₂ that contacts the optical fiber 13 has been described, but the inclined surface 16 a ₃ that faces the ball lens 12 also has the insertion direction of the optical fiber 13, as in the inclined surface 16 a _2. It is formed extending in a direction orthogonal to the Y1-Y2 direction.

In this embodiment, by inserting the optical fiber 13 from the insertion hole 15b into the fiber holding section 15, the front end surface 13c of the optical fiber 13, to abut against the inclined surfaces 16a ₂ formed on the inner surface 16a of the recess 16 . At this time, the inclined surface 16a ₂ is formed to extend in a direction orthogonal to the Y1-Y2 direction, which is the insertion direction of the optical fiber 13. Therefore, the front end surface 13c of the optical fiber 13 is not the inclined surface 16a ₂ two-point contact can be at least line contact. Therefore, the contact area with the front end surface 13 c of the optical fiber 13 can be increased as compared with the configuration in which the depressed portion protrudes in a substantially circular dot shape on the inner diameter side of the holder 11.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to increase the contact area between the inclined surface 16a ₂ as a contact surface with which the optical fiber 13 contacts and the front end surface 13c of the optical fiber 13. Therefore, when the optical fiber 13 is inserted into the holder 11, the inclined surfaces 16a ₂ of the plurality of depressions 16 extending the front end surface 13c of the optical fiber 13 in a direction orthogonal to the insertion direction (Y1-Y2). It is possible to reliably contact the (contact surface) with a wide contact area. As described above, the optical fiber 13 can be stably positioned inside the holder 11.

  Further, by providing a plurality of depressions 16 along the circumferential direction of the holder 11, the optical fiber 13 can be positioned at a plurality of locations inside the holder 11. At this time, it is necessary to form each depressed portion 16 with high positional accuracy along the circumferential direction of the holder 11. However, in the conventional configuration in which the depressed portion protrudes in a substantially circular dot shape on the inner diameter side of the holder 11, each pin (tool) used for forming the depressed portion is displaced with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the holder. May occur.

  On the other hand, the tool 20 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape shown in FIG. 5 can restrict movement variation to be smaller when the depressed portion 16 is formed in the holder 11 than a tapered pin having a circular cross section. In addition, since the outer peripheral surface of the curved holder 11 is pressed by the substantially rectangular parallelepiped tool 20, compared with the case where a tapered pin having a circular cross section is used, the outer surface of the holder 11 is pressed. Can be prevented from slipping. Thereby, in this Embodiment, each depression part 16 can be formed with sufficient position accuracy along the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface of the holder 11. As described above, the optical fiber 13 can be positioned more stably in the holder 11.

Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 2, part optical fiber 13 contacts the inclined surface 16a ₂ is a part of the cladding 13b. For this reason, the depression 16 does not prevent the light from traveling from the front end surface 13c of the optical fiber 13 to the ball lens 12, and the propagation efficiency of light from the optical fiber 13 to the ball lens 12 can be maintained at a high level.

Further, the inner surface 16a of the front end surface 13c and the recess 16 abutting the optical fiber 13, since inclined is an inclined surface 16a _2, the front end surface 13c of the optical fiber 13 is centered while in contact with the inclined surface 16a ₂ . Therefore, the center of the ball lens 12 accommodated in the accommodating portion 14 can be accurately positioned on the central axis O ₁ (center of the core 13a) of the optical fiber 13 retained in the fiber retaining portion 15. Thereby, the optical axis shift of the ball lens 12 and the optical fiber 13 can be prevented appropriately, and the light utilization efficiency can be effectively increased. Here, “light utilization efficiency” refers to the ratio of the amount of light emitted from the optical coupling member 10 to the amount of light emitted from a light source (not shown).

Although the predetermined angle θ ₁ of the inclined surface 16a ₂ is not particularly limited, the positional accuracy of the optical fiber 13 in the insertion direction (Y1-Y2) decreases as the predetermined angle θ ₁ increases, that is, the inclination becomes gentler. It becomes easy. That is, since the optical fiber 13 is a soft material, if the inclined surface 16a ₂ is a very gentle inclined surface, the inclined surface 16a ₂ does not function properly as a stopper for inserting the optical fiber 13, and the optical fiber 13 The position in the insertion direction (Y1-Y2) tends to vary. The predetermined angle theta ₁ is specifically formed by 20 ° or less. Thereby, the position accuracy with respect to the Y1-Y2 direction of the core 13a and the clad 13b (and the reinforcing layer if there is a reinforcing layer) constituting the optical fiber 13 can be kept high.

Although not limited to particular also for a given angle theta ₂ of the inclined surfaces 16a ₃ facing the ball lens 12, the predetermined angle theta ₂ is set to, for example, 45 ° or less. In this embodiment, the predetermined angle theta ₁ of the inclined surface _16a 2, 16a _3, the theta _2, according to the shape of the inclined surfaces _16a 2, 16a ₃ opposite to the side of the ball lens 12 and the optical fiber 13, different from each Either the size adjustment or the same size adjustment may be used. In order to adjust the inclination angles of the inclined surfaces 16a ₂ and 16a ₃ to different sizes, the inclination angles of the inclined surfaces 20c and 20d of the tool 20 shown in FIG. 5 may be changed accordingly.

Ball lens 12, also in contact with the inclined surface 16a ₃ of the recess 16 may be either be not in contact. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the ball lens 12 is not in contact with the inclined surface 16 a ₃ of the depressed portion 16. Inclined surfaces 16a ₃ of the recess 16, the ball lens 12 is more a restricting surface that can not be retracted, may not be used as a positioning unit for Y1-Y2 direction of the ball lens 12. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the ball lens 12 is spaced from the inclined surface 16a ₃ of the depressed portion 16, but this prevents the ball lens 12 from being damaged by the edge of the inclined surface 16a _3. Absent. Further, when the ball lens 12 is in contact with the inclined surface 16a _3, so that the ball lens 12 is hardly damaged, the allowable range of the predetermined angle theta ₂ is larger than the predetermined angle theta _1. If the predetermined angle θ ₂ is increased, the ball lens 12 can come into surface contact with the inclined surface 16a ₃ and is less likely to be damaged.

  In this Embodiment, the space | interval of the Y1-Y2 direction between the ball lens 12 and the optical fiber 13 is about 50-200 micrometers, for example.

<Another embodiment>
The optical coupling member in another embodiment is demonstrated using FIG.3 and FIG.4. In addition, in each figure, since the structure of the holder 11 except the ball lens 12, the optical fiber 13, and the depression part is as having demonstrated in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, please refer the description part of FIG. 1, FIG.

  3A is a plan view of the optical coupling member 10 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3B is a side view of the optical coupling member 10 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 3C is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB shown in FIG. 3A.

  As shown in FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, the outer peripheral surface of the holder 11 is formed with a recessed portion 17 having a rectangular outer peripheral edge portion 17 b. A plurality of depressions 17 are formed at equal intervals along the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface of the holder 11. In FIG. 3, three recessed portions 17 are formed along the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface of the holder 11.

As shown in FIG. 3C, among the inner surface of the recess 17, the contact surface between the front end face 13c of the optical fiber 13 is formed in the vertical plane 17a _2. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3C, the front end surface 13c of the optical fiber 13, in surface contact with the vertical surface 17a _2. For this reason, the contact area between the contact surface (vertical surface 17a ₂ ) of the depressed portion 17 and the front end surface 13c of the optical fiber 13 can be increased. Therefore, when the optical fiber 13 is inserted into the fiber holding portion 15, the front end surface 13c of the optical fiber 13 can be reliably stopped by the contact surface (vertical surface 17a ₂ ), and the insertion direction of the optical fiber 13 (Y1-Y2) ) Position accuracy can be further improved.

  4A is a plan view of the optical coupling member 10 according to the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4B is a side view of the optical coupling member 10 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. 4C is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC shown in FIG. 4A.

  As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, a recessed portion 18 having a rectangular outer peripheral edge portion 18 b is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the holder 11. A plurality of depressions 18 are formed at equal intervals along the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface of the holder 11. In FIG. 4, three recessed portions 18 are formed along the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface of the holder 11.

As shown in FIG. 4C, the inner surface structure of the recess 18, the inner surface structure of the recess 17 shown in FIG. 3C, a reverse, i.e., as shown in FIG. 4C, the vertical surface 18a ₃ of the recess 18 It is formed on the side facing the ball lens 12. Further, as shown in FIG. 4C, the contact surface between the front end face 13c of the optical fiber 13, as in FIG. 2, it is formed as inclined surfaces 18a _2. Therefore, in FIG. 4C, the front end surface 13 c of the optical fiber 13 abuts on the inclined surface 18 a _2, and the front end surface 13 c of the optical fiber 13 can be appropriately centered inside the holder 11.

  The depressions 17 and 18 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 can be formed using the tool 21 shown in FIG. 6A is a partial perspective view showing a tip portion of the tool 21, and FIG. 6B is a partial cross-sectional view taken along the line FF shown in FIG. 6A.

  As shown in FIG. 6, unlike the tool 20 of FIG. 5, the tool 21 is provided with only one inclined surface 21c, and the surface facing the inclined surface 21c is formed by a flat surface 21a. The shape of the tool 21 shown in FIG. 6 is similar to the shape obtained by dividing the tool 20 shown in FIG. The three tools 21 shown in FIG. 6 are used, and each tool 21 is simultaneously pressed from the outer peripheral surface of the holder 11 toward the center of the inner diameter. At this time, by pressing the inclined surface 21c of the tool 21 toward the Y1 side (front end side) of the holder 11 and pressing the flat surface 21a of the tool 21 toward the Y2 side (rear end side) of the holder 11, 3 can be formed. Alternatively, the inclined surface 21c of the tool 21 is directed toward the Y2 side (rear end side) of the holder 11, and the flat surface 21a of the tool 21 is pressed toward the Y1 side (front end side) against the holder 11, 4 can be formed.

  Further, on the inner surface of the depression, both the contact surface that contacts the front end surface 13c of the optical fiber 13 and the facing surface that faces the ball lens 12 may be vertical surfaces.

<Optical connector>
Next, the optical connector 100 using the optical coupling member 10 of the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an optical connector 100 provided with the optical coupling member 10 in the present embodiment. In FIG. 8, the optical coupling member 10 shown in FIG. 2 is representatively used.

  As shown in FIG. 8, in the optical connector 100 to which the optical coupling member 10 according to the present invention is connected, the semiconductor laser chip 101 is disposed on the mount base 103 of the case 102 and on the optical axis of the semiconductor laser chip 101. A semiconductor laser unit 105 having an optical lens 104 disposed therein is provided. The optical connector 100 also includes an adapter 108 having an opening 106 attached to the side surface 102 a of the case 102 and holding the holder 11 of the optical coupling member 10 inserted from the insertion port 107.

  In the semiconductor laser unit 105, laser light emitted from the semiconductor laser chip 101 is converted into parallel light by the optical lens 104 and guided to the opening 106. The parallel light from the optical lens 104 is collected by the ball lens 12 of the optical coupling member 10 and enters the optical fiber 13. Then, the incident light propagates through the optical fiber 13.

  In the optical connector 100 according to the present embodiment, when the optical coupling member 10 is inserted to a predetermined position of the adapter 108, the optical lens 104 and the ball lens 12 are aligned, and the laser from the semiconductor laser chip 101 is detected. It is designed so that light can enter the optical fiber 13 appropriately.

  According to the optical connector 100 of the present embodiment, the positional accuracy of the optical fiber 13 inside the holder 11 can be improved, and the optical axis accuracy can be improved. Therefore, the optical connector 100 with high reliability of optical communication with the device can be obtained.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, It can change and implement variously. In the above-described embodiment, the size, shape, and the like illustrated in the accompanying drawings are not limited to this, and can be appropriately changed within a range in which the effect of the present invention is exhibited. In addition, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the object of the present invention.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the case where the lens included in the optical coupling member 10 is configured by the ball lens 12 is described. However, the lens applied to the optical coupling member 10 is not limited to the ball lens 12 and can be appropriately changed. For example, an arbitrary lens such as a convex lens or a concave lens can be applied on the premise that light propagating appropriately between the devices can be coupled.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the entire ball lens 12 may be in a position retracted from the opening 14 b of the housing portion 14, or as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the front end portion of the ball lens 12 is It may coincide with the opening 14b of the housing part 14. Thereby, the ball lens 12 can be protected appropriately. However, the ball lens 12 can be protected more appropriately by retracting the entire ball lens 12 from the opening 14 b of the housing portion 14. Further, when the front end portion of the ball lens 12 is made to coincide with the opening portion 14 b of the housing portion 14, the ball lens 12 can be wiped off somewhat together with the protective effect of the ball lens 12. Adhering dust can be removed.

  Further, a part of the ball lens 12 may be held in a state of protruding from the housing portion 14. Thus, dust and dirt adhering to the surface of the protruding ball lens 12 can be easily removed by wiping or the like.

  In addition, the holder 11 is also cylindrical in shape, the housing part 14 is formed on the front side, the fiber holding part 15 is provided on the rear side of the housing part 14, and the holder 11 is recessed between the housing part 14 and the fiber holding part 15. If it is the structure which can form a part, the inner surface shape and outer periphery shape of the holder 11 will not be specifically limited.

  The configuration of the optical connector is not limited to the above configuration. For example, a magnet is arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the accommodating portion 14 constituting the optical coupling member 10 or a case accommodating the optical coupling member 10, and alignment with the counterpart device is performed using the magnet's adsorption force. It can also be set as the structure to perform.

  The optical connector in the present embodiment includes an electrical connector compatible with the USB (Universal Serial Bus) standard, an electrical connector compatible with the HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) standard (HDMI is a registered trademark), and a Thunderbolt (registered trademark). ) (Thunderbolt) standard electrical connector, Ethernet (Ethernet and Ethernet is a registered trademark) electrical connector and the like can be used. It can also be used as a connector with an integrated power feeding unit.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Optical coupling member 11 Holder 12 Ball lens 13 Optical fiber 13a Core 13b Cladding 13c Front end surface 14 Housing part 14a Inner surface 14a of opening part 15 Fiber holding part 15a Inner surface 16, 17 and 18 of fiber holding part Part 16a Inner surface 16a ₂ , 16a ₃ (indented part) inclined surface 16b, 17b, 18b Outer surface peripheral edge part 17a _2, 18a ₃ Vertical surface 20, 21 Tool 20c, 20d, 21c Inclined surface (of tool) DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Optical connector 101 Semiconductor laser chip 102 Case 103 Mount stand 104 Optical lens 105 Semiconductor laser unit 106 Opening part 107 Insertion slot 108 Adapter

Claims (5)

An optical fiber inserted and held in a cylindrical holding member, a lens housed in a housing portion formed in front of the holding member, and a fiber holding portion formed in the rear of the housing portion of the holding member And having
On the outer peripheral surface of the holding member, a plurality of depressed portions are provided between the housing portion and the fiber holding portion at intervals in the circumferential direction.
The inner surface of the depressed portion that protrudes toward the inner diameter side of the holding member is provided with a contact surface that contacts the front end surface of the optical fiber,
The abutment surface is formed to extend in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction of the optical fiber.   The optical coupling member according to claim 1, wherein the contact surface is formed as an inclined surface inclined with respect to a front end surface of the optical fiber.   The optical coupling member according to claim 1, wherein the contact surface is formed by a vertical surface parallel to a front end surface of the optical fiber.   The optical coupling member according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the outer peripheral edge portion of the depressed portion is formed in a rectangular shape. An optical connector comprising the optical coupling member according to claim 1.

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