JP2020024268A - Optical connector ferrule and method for manufacturing optical connector ferrule - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an optical connector ferrule capable of reducing angular deviation of an optical fiber holding hole on an end surface where optical connection is performed and provide a method for manufacturing an optical connector ferrule.SOLUTION: An optical connector ferrule as an example comprises a first portion 10 positioned on the opposite side to a mating connector and a second portion 20 positioned on the mating connector side. The first portion 10 has a recess recessed in a connection direction D1 and the second portion 20 has a projection engaging with the recess. An optical fiber holding hole 2 penetrates the first portion 10 and the second portion 20 in the connection direction D1. The optical fiber holding hole 2 includes a first hole portion 12 positioned at the first portion 10 and a second hole portion 21 positioned at the second portion 20. A second angle θ2, which is an angle formed by a center axis A2 of the second hole portion 21 and the connection direction D1, is smaller than a first angle θ1 which is an angle formed by a center axis A1 of the first hole portion 12 and the connection direction D1.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical connector ferrule and a method for manufacturing an optical connector ferrule.

  Patent Literature 1 describes a ferrule in which a plurality of optical fiber cores are juxtaposed and provided at a connection end of an optical fiber ribbon coated with an outer cover. The ferrule includes a resin block. A fiber insertion port into which an optical fiber is inserted is formed on the rear end surface of the block body, and a fiber insertion space communicating with the fiber insertion port is formed inside the block body. A plurality of fiber insertion holes are formed on the front side of the fiber insertion space. Each of the plurality of fiber insertion holes penetrates from the fiber insertion space to the connection end surface of the block along the front-rear direction. Windows are provided on both the front and back surfaces of the block body. By providing windows on both the front surface and the back surface, the state of contraction on the front surface side and the back surface side is substantially the same during molding of the block body, thereby suppressing bending deformation of the block body.

  Patent Literature 2 describes an optical connector including an inner housing portion and a rear housing portion, and a method for manufacturing the optical connector. A plate for positioning the optical connector is attached to the inner housing part. The plate is provided with a plurality of first holes for holding the inserted optical fiber and a plurality of second holes for holding the inserted positioning pin, and both the first hole and the second hole penetrate the plate. I have. In this optical connector, high precision positioning is achieved by attaching the plate to the internal housing.

JP-A-2002-333549 JP-A-11-72650

  In optical connection in a multi-core optical connector, when light is spatially coupled using a beam expanding lens formed on the bottom surface of a concave portion, it is possible to suppress a problem that connection quality is degraded due to dust attached to a lens or the like. However, the optical connection method using an expanded beam is susceptible to an angle shift. Further, in the case of a resin ferrule, the optical fiber holding hole may bend when the molding shrinks. For example, even if the error in the position of the optical fiber holding hole at the front end of the ferrule is small, the optical fiber holding hole may be inclined inside the ferrule. When the optical coupling is performed using the expanded beam as described above, if the optical fiber holding hole is inclined at the end face where the optical connection is made, the posture of the optical fiber near the end face is inclined, so that the coupling loss tends to increase. Therefore, it is required to suppress the deviation of the angle of the optical fiber holding hole at the end face for optical connection.

  An object of one aspect of the present invention is to provide an optical connector ferrule capable of suppressing a shift in the angle of an optical fiber holding hole at an end face for optical connection, and a method of manufacturing the optical connector ferrule.

  An optical connector ferrule according to one aspect of the present invention has an optical connector having a plurality of optical fiber holding holes for optically connecting a mating connector along a connection direction and holding each of a plurality of optical fibers along a connection direction. A ferrule, comprising: a first portion located on a side opposite to a mating connector in a connection direction; and a second portion located on a mating connector side in the connection direction. The second portion has a convex portion that engages with the concave portion, and the optical fiber holding hole penetrates the first portion and the second portion in the connection direction, and holds the optical fiber holding hole. The hole includes a first hole located at the first portion and a second hole located at the second portion, and the angle formed between the central axis of the second hole and the connection direction. Is the angle between the central axis of the first hole and the connection direction. Smaller than the first angle that.

  A method for manufacturing an optical connector according to one aspect of the present invention is a method for manufacturing an optical connector ferrule described above, wherein a first step of injection-molding a first portion, and after injection-molding the first portion, A second step of injection molding the second part.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the deviation of the angle of the optical fiber holding hole in the end surface which performs optical connection can be suppressed.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an optical connector ferrule according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a front end of the optical connector ferrule of FIG. FIG. 3 is a sectional view schematically showing an optical fiber holding hole of the optical connector ferrule of FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the optical connector ferrule of FIG. 1 as viewed from the opposite side to FIG. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a concave portion and a convex portion of the optical connector ferrule of FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a method of manufacturing the optical connector ferrule of FIG. FIG. 7 is a view showing a resin filling space and pins in an exemplary mold used in the manufacturing method of FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically illustrating a continuation of the exemplary manufacturing method in FIG. 6. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an exemplary resin filling space and pins in the manufacturing method of FIG. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a modified optical connector ferrule. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a modified optical connector ferrule different from FIG.

[Description of Embodiment of the Present Invention]
First, the contents of the embodiment of the present invention will be listed and described. An optical connector ferrule according to one embodiment is an optical connector ferrule having a plurality of optical fiber holding holes for optically connecting a mating connector along a connection direction and holding each of a plurality of optical fibers along a connection direction. A first portion located on the side opposite to the mating connector in the connection direction; and a second portion located on the side of the mating connector in the connection direction. The first portion is recessed in the connection direction. The second part has a convex part which engages with the concave part, the optical fiber holding hole penetrates the first part and the second part in the connection direction, and the optical fiber holding hole has , A first hole located in the first portion, and a second hole located in the second portion, which is an angle formed between the central axis of the second hole and the connection direction. The second angle is an angle between the central axis of the first hole and the connection direction. Smaller than the first angle.

  An optical connector ferrule according to one embodiment includes a first portion located on a side opposite to a mating connector, and a second portion located on a mating connector side, and the optical fiber holding hole has a first portion. And the second part penetrates in the connection direction. The optical fiber holding hole includes a first hole and a second hole, and the second angle between the central axis of the second hole and the connection direction is the central axis of the first hole. Is smaller than the first angle between the first direction and the connection direction. Therefore, the second angle of the second hole located on the mating connector side is smaller than the first angle of the first hole located on the side opposite to the mating connector. Therefore, since the angle deviation of the second hole portion opened at the end face for optical connection with the mating connector is small, the angle deviation of the optical fiber holding hole at the end face for optical connection can be suppressed. As a result, the inclination of the attitude of the optical fiber near the end face can be suppressed, so that the inclination of the angle of the beam emitted from the end face can be suppressed and the coupling loss can be reduced. The first portion has a concave portion that is depressed in the connection direction, and the second portion has a convex portion that engages with the concave portion. Therefore, the first portion and the second portion can be firmly fixed to each other, so that the first portion or the second portion can be more reliably prevented from falling off.

  The thickness of the second portion in the connection direction may be 500 μm or more and 4000 μm or less. In this case, when the thickness of the second portion in the connection direction is 500 μm or more, the second portion can be easily manufactured. In addition, since the thickness of the second portion in the connection direction is 4000 μm or less, the bending of the second hole formed inside the second portion can be more reliably suppressed.

  Also, the second angle may be smaller than 0.2 °. In this case, since the inclination of the second hole located on the mating connector side is smaller than 0.2 °, the inclination of the beam emitted from the end face can be reduced more reliably.

  The recess has a first extension extending in a direction intersecting the connection direction on the bottom side of the recess, and a second extension extending in a direction intersecting the connection direction on the top side of the projection. It may have an extension. In this case, since the concave portion has the first extended portion on the bottom side and the convex portion engaging with the concave portion has the second extended portion on the top side, the engagement of the convex portion with the concave portion is further strengthened. Can be. As a result, falling off of the first portion or the second portion can be suppressed more reliably.

  Further, an upper surface having a window hole that allows each of the plurality of optical fibers held in each of the plurality of optical fiber holding holes to be visible, and a lower surface facing in a direction opposite to the upper surface, the concave portion and the convex portion, It may be formed on the lower surface. In this case, the concave portion and the convex portion can be formed on the surface opposite to the window hole.

  Further, the first portion and the second portion may be made of the same resin material. In this case, since the linear expansion coefficients of the first portion and the second portion are the same as each other, the first portion or the second portion can be more reliably prevented from falling off, and the first portion and the second portion can be prevented from falling off. Can be more firmly integrated with each other.

  The first part may be an MT ferrule. In this case, since the first portion can be manufactured by a method similar to the existing method, it is possible to easily manufacture the optical connector ferrule.

  The method for manufacturing an optical connector ferrule according to one embodiment is a method for manufacturing an optical connector ferrule described above, wherein a first step of injection-molding a first portion and a first step after injection-molding the first portion are performed. A second step of injection molding the second part.

  In the method for manufacturing an optical connector ferrule according to one embodiment, the second step of injection-molding the second portion located on the mating connector side is performed after the first portion is injection-molded. As described above, by performing the injection molding of the second portion separately from the injection molding of the first portion, it is possible to more reliably suppress the bending of the second hole formed inside the second portion. Can be.

  Further, in the first step and the second step, injection molding is performed in a state in which a pin forming an optical fiber holding hole is exposed in a filling space filled with a resin constituting the optical connector ferrule, and a second step is performed. The length of the pin exposed to the filling space in may be shorter than the length of the pin exposed to the filling space in the first step. In this case, since the length of the pin forming the second hole is shorter than the length of the pin forming the first hole, the bending of the second hole can be suppressed more reliably.

[Details of the embodiment of the present invention]
Hereinafter, specific examples of the optical connector ferrule and the method for manufacturing the optical connector ferrule according to the embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the following specific examples, but is set forth in the appended claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the scope equivalent to the appended claims. In the description of the drawings, the same or corresponding elements have the same reference characters allotted, and redundant description will not be repeated. In addition, the drawings may be partially simplified or exaggerated in order to facilitate understanding, and dimensions and angles are not limited to those described in the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an optical connector ferrule 1 according to an example of the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the optical connector ferrule 1 is optically connected to, for example, a mating connector C along a connection direction D1. The optical connector ferrule 1 includes a first portion 10 located on the side opposite to the mating connector C, and a second portion 20 located on the mating connector C side. The first portion 10 and the second portion 20 are integrated, and are made of, for example, the same material. For example, the boundary portion X between the first portion 10 and the second portion 20 may be a line having a thickness that cannot be visually recognized, or may be a line that can be visually recognized.

  The first part 10 is, for example, an MT ferrule. In this specification, “MT ferrule” indicates a ferrule that collectively optically connects a plurality of optical fibers, and includes a ferrule having some irregularities. The first portion 10 is made of, for example, resin such as polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) containing glass, and the main component of the material of the first portion 10 is PPS. The second portion 20 is made of, for example, the same resin material as the first portion 10.

  In the following, for convenience of description, the directions may be defined as “before” and “after”, and the description may be made. In the connection direction D1, the direction in which the second portion 20 is viewed from the first portion 10 is the front, and the opposite direction is the rear. Note that these directions are for convenience of explanation, and do not limit the scope of the present invention.

  The first portion 10 includes an end surface 11a provided at one end in the connection direction D1 and facing the second portion 20, a rear end surface 11b located at the other end in the connection direction D1, and a side surface extending along the connection direction D1. 11c, an upper surface 11d, and a lower surface 11e. On the upper surface 11d, there is formed a window hole 11g that allows the optical fiber F provided inside the first portion 10 to be viewed. The window hole 11g is a hole for introducing an adhesive for fixing the optical fiber F to the first portion 10 into the first portion 10. Therefore, when the adhesive is introduced into the first portion 10 from the window hole 11g in a state where the optical fiber F is disposed inside the first portion 10, the optical fiber F Is fixedly adhered.

  The first portion 10 includes a plurality of first holes 12 (see FIG. 3) for holding the optical fiber F and a pair of guide holes into which guide pins for positioning with the mating connector C are inserted. Have. The second portion 20 has a second hole 21 into which the optical fiber F is inserted, and a pair of guide holes 22. The first hole 12 and the guide hole of the first portion 10 communicate with the second hole 21 and the guide hole 22 in the connection direction D1, respectively. It is provided on the opposite side of each mating connector C.

  The second part 20 is interposed between the first part 10 and the mating connector C. The thickness T of the second portion 20 in the connection direction D1 is, for example, not less than 500 μm and not more than 4000 μm. The second portion 20 includes an end surface 20a that contacts the mating connector C, a rear end surface 20b that faces the opposite side of the connection direction D1 of the end surface 20a, a side surface 20c that connects the end surface 20a and the rear end surface 20b to each other, and an upper surface 20d. And a lower surface 20e (see FIG. 4). The rear end face 20b and the end face 11a are in close contact with each other and integrated.

  The end face 20a has, for example, a rectangular shape extending in both the longitudinal direction D2 and the lateral direction D3. An opening of each second hole 21 and an opening of each guide hole 22 are formed in the end face 20a, and the second hole 21 and the guide hole 22 are in the end face 20a in a direction that is a longitudinal direction of the end face 20a. It is arranged along D2. For example, a pair of guide holes 22 arranged in the direction D2 are opened in the end surface 20a, and a plurality of second holes 21 are opened between the pair of guide holes 22.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of one second hole 21 of the second portion 20 cut by a plane extending in both the connection direction D1 and the direction D3. As shown in FIG. 2, the optical fiber F and the GRIN lens G are inserted into the second hole 21, and the optical fiber F and the GRIN lens G are inserted into the second portion 20 by the second hole 21. Will be retained. The distal end face G1 of the GRIN lens G is exposed at the opening of the second portion 20. For example, the optical fiber F is a single mode fiber. Each of the plurality of second holes 21 penetrates through the second portion 20 in the connection direction D1, and the direction in which the central axis A2 of the second hole 21 extends and the optical axis direction of the optical fiber F are, for example, , Both substantially coincide with the connection direction D1.

  FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the first hole 12 formed inside the first portion 10 and the second hole 21 formed inside the second portion 20. In FIG. 3, the bending angle of each hole is exaggerated. As shown in FIG. 3, the optical connector ferrule 1 includes a first hole 12 located inside the first portion 10 and a second hole 21 located inside the second portion 20. Including an optical fiber holding hole 2. The angle between the direction in which the central axis A1 of the first hole 12 extends and the connection direction D1 is the first angle θ1, and the angle between the direction in which the central axis A2 of the second hole 21 extends and the connection direction D1 is Assuming the second angle θ2, the second angle θ2 is smaller than the first angle θ1, for example, 0.0 ° or more and less than 0.2 °.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the optical connector ferrule 1 viewed from a side opposite to FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the first portion 10 and the second portion 20 have an engagement portion 30 that engages the first portion 10 and the second portion 20 with each other. The engaging portion 30 includes a concave portion 13 provided in the first portion 10 and depressed in the connection direction D1, and a convex portion 23 provided in the second portion 20 and engaged with the concave portion 13. The concave portion 13 and the convex portion 23 function as an anchor for preventing the first portion 10 or the second portion 20 from falling off.

  The concave portion 13 is formed on the lower surface 11 e of the first portion 10, and the convex portion 23 is formed on the lower surface 20 e of the second portion 20. The concave portion 13 and the convex portion 23 may have, for example, a thin linear shape that can be visually recognized, or may have a thin linear shape that is difficult to visually recognize. The optical connector ferrule 1 includes, for example, a plurality of engagement portions 30, and the plurality of engagement portions 30 may be arranged so as to be arranged in the direction D2. As an example, the plurality of engagement portions 30 are arranged at positions that are symmetric with respect to the center in the direction D2.

  FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the concave portion 13 and the convex portion 23. As shown in FIG. 5, the recess 13 has a plurality of first extending portions 13 a extending substantially parallel to each other along the connection direction D1 and a direction D2 intersecting the connection direction D1 on the bottom 13 e side of the recess 13. A first extension unit 13b for extension. The first extended portion 13b is opposite to a pair of first side portions 13c extending in the direction D2 from the rear end of the first extended portion 13a, and the first extended portion 13a of the first side portion 13c. A pair of second sides 13d extending rearward from the side ends and a bottom 13e extending in the direction D2 between the pair of second sides 13d.

  The convex portion 23 has a plurality of second extending portions 23a facing the first extending portion 13a of the concave portion 13 and a second portion extending in a direction D2 intersecting the connection direction D1 on the top portion 23e side of the convex portion 23. And an extended portion 23b. The second extended portion 23b has a third side 23c, a fourth side 23d, and a top 23e facing the first side 13c, the second side 13d, and the bottom 13e, respectively. For example, even if a force acts on the first portion 10 and the second portion 20 in a direction away from each other, the first side portion 13c and the third side portion 23c come into close contact with each other, so that the first portion The falling off of the 10 or the second part 20 is prevented.

  Next, an example of a method for manufacturing an optical connector ferrule according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. Hereinafter, for example, an example of a manufacturing method for manufacturing the optical connector ferrule 1 will be described. In the following manufacturing method, for example, the optical connector ferrule 1 is manufactured using a mold M having a first fixed portion M1, a second fixed portion M2, and a movable portion M3.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the first fixing portion M1 is located between the first base B1, the second base B2 having the concave portion R1, and the first base B1 and the second base B2. And a resin injection path B3. Each of the first base B1 and the second base B2 includes an angular pin P1 that projects obliquely toward the movable portion M3. The movable portion M3 includes a third base B4 having a concave portion R2 and a direction D4 in which the first fixed portion M1 and the movable portion M3 are provided on the fixed portions M1 and M2 of the third base B4 and face each other. And a pair of slide portions B5 that slide in a direction D5 intersecting with the first direction. Each slide portion B5 has a hole B6 into which an angular pin P1 or an angular pin P2 described later is inserted.

  First, the first part 10 is injection-molded using the first fixed part M1 and the movable part M3 (first step). For example, the movable portion M3 is opposed to the first fixed portion M1, and the first fixed portion M1 and the movable portion M3 (the first base B1, the resin injection path B3, the second base B2, A filling space S of the resin J1 forming the first portion 10 is formed in the space between B5 and the third base B4) by mold clamping. Then, the first portion 10 is formed by injecting the resin J1 into the filling space S from the resin injection path B3, curing the resin J1, and opening the mold.

  As schematically shown in FIG. 7, before the resin J1 is injected, the pin N forming the first hole 12 of the optical fiber holding hole 2 is passed through the filling space S. The first hole 12 is formed inside the first portion 10 by filling the resin J1 with the pin N passed through the filling space S.

  After the first portion 10 is molded, the second portion 20 is injection-molded as shown in FIG. 8 (second step). When the second part 20 is injection-molded, the second part 20 is molded using the second fixed part M2 and the movable part M3. The second fixing portion M2 includes a first base E1, a second base E2, and a resin injection path E3, similarly to the first fixing portion M1. However, the length of the angular pin P2 of the first base E1 is shorter than the length of the above-described angular pin P1, and the proximal end P21 of the angular pin P2 is closer to the direction D5 than the proximal end P11 of the angular pin P1. It is located on the part side. The outlet E31 of the resin injection path E3 is located closer to the end in the direction D5 than the outlet B31 of the resin injection path B3.

  Since the base end P21 of the angular pin P2 is located closer to the end in the direction D5 than the base end P11, when the angular pin P2 is inserted into the hole B6 of the slide B5, the slide B5 moves in the direction D5. It moves toward the end (the direction in which the filling space S expands). Since the outlet E31 of the resin injection path E3 is located closer to the end in the direction D5 than the outlet B31, the outlet E31 of the resin injection path E3 communicates with the expanded filling space S, and the second space is filled with the filling space S. The resin J2 forming the portion 20 can be injected.

  As described above, with the movable portion M3 facing the second fixed portion M2, the movable portion M3 is moved between the second fixed portion M2 and the movable portion M3 (the first base E1, the resin injection path E3, the second base E2, and the slide). A filling space S for molding the second portion 20 is formed in the portion B5, the first portion 10, and the third base B4) by mold clamping. Then, the resin J2 is injected into the filling space S from the resin injection path E3, the resin J2 is cured and the mold is opened, whereby the second portion 20 is injection-molded.

  As schematically shown in FIG. 9, after the molding of the first part 10 and before the injection of the resin J2, the filling space S where the first part 10 is provided has the second space of the optical fiber holding hole 2. The pin N forming the hole 21 is passed therethrough. The second portion 20 is formed by filling the resin J2 with the pin N passed through the filling space S in which the first portion 10 is provided as described above.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, the length L2 of the pin N exposed to the filling space S during the injection molding of the second part 20 is different from the length of the pin N exposed to the filling space S during the injection molding of the first part 10. It is shorter than the length L1 of N. The length L2 corresponds to the thickness T of the second portion 20, and the length L1 corresponds to the length of the first portion 10 in the connection direction D1. Since the length L2 is shorter than the length L1, that is, the thickness T is shorter than the length of the connection direction D1 of the first portion 10, the length of the second hole 21 is shortened and the connection direction D1 is reduced. Of the second hole 21 (bend in a direction other than the connection direction D1) can be suppressed.

  Further, the pin N forming the second hole 21 and the pin N forming the first hole 12 of the first portion 10 are the same as each other. At the time of molding the second portion 20, the same slide portion B5 is used. Therefore, the accuracy of the first hole 12 and the second hole 21 can be improved.

  Next, an operation effect obtained from the optical connector ferrule 1 according to the embodiment and the method for manufacturing the optical connector ferrule 1 will be described. The optical connector ferrule 1 includes a first portion 10 located on the side opposite to the mating connector C, and a second portion 20 located on the mating connector C side. The portion 10 and the second portion 20 penetrate in the connection direction D1.

  The optical fiber holding hole 2 includes a first hole 12 and a second hole 21, and a second angle θ2 which is an angle formed between the central axis A2 of the second hole 21 and the connection direction D1. Is smaller than a first angle θ1 which is an angle formed between the central axis A1 of the first hole 12 and the connection direction D1. Therefore, the second angle θ2 of the second hole 21 located on the mating connector C side is smaller than the first angle θ1 of the first hole 12 located on the opposite side of the mating connector C. Therefore, since the angle deviation of the second hole 21 opening in the end face 20a for optical connection with the mating connector C is small, the angle deviation of the optical fiber holding hole 2 in the end face 20a for optical connection is suppressed. Can be.

  As a result, the inclination of the posture of the GRIN lens G near the end face 20a can be suppressed, so that the inclination of the angle of the beam emitted from the end face 20a can be suppressed and the coupling loss can be reduced. Further, the first portion 10 has a concave portion 13 which is depressed in the connection direction D1, and the second portion 20 has a convex portion 23 which engages with the concave portion 13. Therefore, the first part 10 and the second part 20 can be firmly fixed to each other, so that the first part 10 or the second part 20 can be more reliably prevented from falling off.

  The thickness T of the second portion 20 in the connection direction D1 is 500 μm or more and 4000 μm or less. Therefore, when the thickness T of the second portion 20 in the connection direction D1 is 500 μm or more, the second portion 20 can be easily manufactured. Further, since the thickness T of the second portion 20 in the connection direction D1 is 4000 μm or less, the bending of the second hole 21 formed inside the second portion 20 can be suppressed more reliably. .

  Further, the second angle θ2 is smaller than 0.2 °. Therefore, since the inclination of the second hole 21 located on the side of the mating connector C is smaller than 0.2 °, the inclination of the beam emitted from the end face 20a can be reduced more reliably.

  The recess 13 has a first extension 13b extending in a direction D2 intersecting the connection direction D1 on the bottom 13e side of the recess 13 and the projection 23 has a connection direction D1 on the top 23e side of the projection 23. And a second extending portion 23b extending in a direction D2 intersecting with. Therefore, the concave portion 13 has the first extended portion 13b on the bottom portion 13e side, and the convex portion 23 engaging with the concave portion 13 has the second extended portion 23b on the top portion 23e side. The engagement can be further strengthened. As a result, the first portion 10 or the second portion 20 can be more reliably prevented from falling off.

  The optical connector ferrule 1 has an upper surface 11d having a window hole 11g that allows each of the plurality of optical fibers F held in each of the plurality of optical fiber holding holes 2 to be visually recognized, and a lower surface facing the opposite direction to the upper surface 11d. 11e, and the concave portion 13 and the convex portion 23 are formed on the lower surface 11e. In this case, the concave portion 13 and the convex portion 23 can be formed on the surface opposite to the window hole 11g.

  The first portion 10 and the second portion 20 are made of the same resin material. Therefore, since the linear expansion coefficients of the first portion 10 and the second portion 20 are the same as each other, it is possible to more reliably prevent the first portion 10 or the second portion 20 from falling off, and to reduce the first portion. The 10 and the second part 20 can be more firmly integrated with each other.

  The first part 10 is an MT ferrule. Therefore, the first portion 10 can be manufactured by a method similar to the existing method, so that the optical connector ferrule 1 can be easily manufactured.

  In the method for manufacturing the optical connector ferrule 1 according to the present embodiment, the second step of injection molding the second portion 20 located on the mating connector C side is performed after the first portion 10 is injection molded. By performing the injection molding of the second portion 20 separately from the injection molding of the first portion 10, the bending of the second hole 21 formed inside the second portion 20 can be more reliably suppressed. Can be.

  In the first step and the second step, injection molding is performed with the pins N forming the optical fiber holding holes 2 exposed in the filling space S filled with the resins J1 and J2 constituting the optical connector ferrule 1. The length L2 of the pin N exposed to the filling space S in the second step is shorter than the length L1 of the pin N exposed to the filling space S in the first step. Therefore, since the length L2 of the pin N forming the second hole 21 is shorter than the length L1 of the pin N forming the first hole 12, the bending of the second hole 21 is more reliably performed. Can be suppressed.

  Next, optical connector ferrules 31 and 61 according to a modified example will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11. Hereinafter, description overlapping with the above-described embodiment will be appropriately omitted. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the optical connector ferrules 31 and 61 are different from the above-described embodiment in the shape, size, number and arrangement of the concave and convex portions.

  The optical connector ferrule 31 includes a first portion 40 and a second portion 50, and a concave portion 43 and a convex portion 53 are formed on a lower surface 41 e of the first portion 40 and a lower surface 51 e of the second portion 50. . For example, the concave portion 43 and the convex portion 53 are provided in a region including the center in the direction D2. The concave portion 43 is concave in a rectangular shape in the connection direction D1, and the convex portion 53 protrudes in the concave portion 43 in a rectangular shape. The anchor portion 44 of the first portion 40 is provided inside the convex portion 53 of the second portion 50. Therefore, even if a force is applied to the second portion 50 toward the front side (the side of the mating connector C), the protrusion 53 is caught by the anchor portion 44, so that the second portion 50 is prevented from falling off. For example, the anchor portion 44 is separated from the concave portion 43 and has a rectangular shape.

  The optical connector ferrule 61 includes a first portion 70 and a second portion 80, and a concave portion 73 and a convex portion 83 are formed on a lower surface 71 e of the first portion 70 and a lower surface 81 e of the second portion 80. . For example, the concave portion 73 and the convex portion 83 are arranged so as to be aligned along the direction D2. The concave portion 73 has a first extended portion 73a extending substantially parallel to each other along the connection direction D1, and a first extended portion 73b extending on the bottom 73e side of the concave portion 73. The first extension portion 73b extends, for example, in an arc shape.

  The convex portion 83 has a plurality of second extending portions 83a facing the first extending portion 73a of the concave portion 73 and a second portion extending in a direction D2 intersecting the connection direction D1 on the top portion 83e side of the convex portion 83. And an extended portion 83b. The second extended portion 83b has the same arc shape as the first extended portion 73b.

  As described above, in the optical connector ferrules 31, 61, the first portions 40, 70 have the concave portions 43, 73 depressed in the connection direction D1, and the second portions 50, 80 are the convex portions engaging with the concave portions 43, 73. 53,83. Therefore, the first portion 40, 70 and the second portion 50, 80 can be firmly fixed to each other, so that the first portion 40, 70 or the second portion 50, 80 is more reliably prevented from falling off. be able to.

  Although the optical connector ferrule and the example of the method of manufacturing the optical connector ferrule have been described above, all aspects, advantages and features described in the present specification are not necessarily achieved by any one specific embodiment or example. It is readily understood by those skilled in the art that In fact, various examples have been described and shown herein, but it is clear that the configuration, arrangement, etc. can be changed in the various examples.

  For example, in the above description, the example in which the optical connector ferrule 1 is manufactured using the mold M including the first fixed portion M1, the second fixed portion M2, and the movable portion M3 has been described. The optical connector ferrule 1 may be manufactured using a mold having the above configuration. That is, the configuration of the mold can be appropriately changed. Thus, all modifications and variations which come within the spirit and scope of the claimed subject matter are claimed.

1, 31, 61: Optical connector ferrule, 2: Optical fiber holding hole, 10, 40, 70: First portion, 11a: End face, 11b: Rear end face, 11c: Side face, 11d: Top face, 11e, 41e, 71e ... lower surface, 11g ... window hole, 12 ... first hole, 13, 43, 73 ... recess, 13a, 73a ... first extension, 13b, 73b ... first extension, 13c ... first Side, 13d: second side, 13e, 73e: bottom, 20, 50, 80: second part, 20a: end face, 20b: rear end, 20c: side, 20d: top, 20e, 51e, 81e ... lower surface, 21 ... second hole, 22 ... guide hole, 23, 53, 83 ... convex part, 23a, 83a ... second extending part, 23b, 83b ... second expanding part, 23c ... third , 23d: fourth side, 23e, 83e: top, 30: engaging part 44: anchor part, A1, A2: central axis, B1: first base, B2: second base, B3: resin injection path, B4: third base, B5: slide part, B6: hole, B31: Outlet, C: mating connector, D1: connection direction, D2, D3, D4, D5 direction, E1: first base, E2: second base, E3: resin injection path, E31: outlet, F: light Fiber, G: GRIN lens, G1: tip surface, J1, J2: resin, M: mold, M1: first fixed portion, M2: second fixed portion, M3: movable portion, N: pin, P1, P2: angular pin, P11, P21: base end portion, R1, R2: concave portion, S: filling space, X: boundary portion, θ1: first angle, θ2: second angle.

Claims (9)

An optical connector ferrule having a plurality of optical fiber holding holes for optically connecting a mating connector along a connection direction and holding each of a plurality of optical fibers along the connection direction,
A first portion located on the opposite side of the mating connector in the connection direction, and a second portion located on the mating connector side in the connection direction;
The first portion has a concave portion that is depressed in the connection direction,
The second portion has a convex portion that engages with the concave portion,
The optical fiber holding hole penetrates the first portion and the second portion in the connection direction,
The optical fiber holding hole includes a first hole located at the first portion, and a second hole located at the second portion.
The second angle, which is an angle between the central axis of the second hole and the connection direction, is larger than the first angle, which is the angle between the central axis of the first hole and the connection direction. small,
Optical connector ferrule. A thickness of the second portion in the connection direction is 500 μm or more and 4000 μm or less;
The optical connector ferrule according to claim 1. The second angle is less than 0.2 °;
The optical connector ferrule according to claim 1. The recess has a first extension portion extending in a direction intersecting the connection direction on a bottom side of the recess,
The projection has a second extension that extends in a direction intersecting the connection direction on the top side of the projection.
The optical connector ferrule according to claim 1. An upper surface having a window hole that allows each of the plurality of optical fibers held in each of the plurality of optical fiber holding holes to be visible, and a lower surface facing in a direction opposite to the upper surface,
The concave portion and the convex portion are formed on the lower surface,
The optical connector ferrule according to claim 1. The first portion and the second portion are made of the same resin material,
The optical connector ferrule according to claim 1. The first part is an MT ferrule;
The optical connector ferrule according to claim 1. It is a manufacturing method of the optical connector ferrule according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
A first step of injection molding the first part;
A second step of injection molding the second part after injection molding the first part;
A method for manufacturing an optical connector ferrule comprising: In the first step and the second step, injection molding is performed in a state where a pin forming the optical fiber holding hole is exposed in a filling space filled with a resin constituting the optical connector ferrule,
The length of the pin exposed to the filling space in the second step is shorter than the length of the pin exposed to the filling space in the first step.
A method for manufacturing the optical connector ferrule according to claim 8.

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