JP3037049B2 - Array type optical connector - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical connector structure, and more particularly to an array type optical connector for connecting multi-core optical fibers at a time.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional array type optical connector is an MT (M
mechanically transferable)
Optical connectors and MPO (Mechanically Tr
Like the pushable optical connector, it has been developed to collectively connect two or four, eight, or other optical fibers in a tape shape. As an example of the structure of a conventional array type optical connector, 19
Paper C- presented at the 1992 IEICE Autumn Meeting
294 "Development of 2MPO connector" and the one described in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 63-162304, "Optical Fiber Cable Connection Device" will be described.

FIG. 7 shows an MPO optical connector. Generally, when connecting a multi-core optical fiber with a conventional array type optical connector, an optical connector having the same number of optical fiber holes as the number of optical fibers has been selected and used. Optical connector plug 3 in MPO optical connector shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 1 designates a structure in which a housing 33 is attached to a multi-core MT optical connector 32 and connected via an adapter 35.
In addition, since the guide pin 34 is fixed to one of the pair of optical connector plugs 31, the optical connector is classified into a male / female type.

The optical connector disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 63-162304 shown in FIG. 8 has a configuration in which a plurality of conventional MT optical connectors are arranged and connected collectively. Here, since the guide pin 41 is fixed to one of the pair of optical connector plugs 42, the optical connector is classified into a male / female type.

On the other hand, in the MT optical connector, as shown in FIG.
The guide pins 23 of the optical connectors are not fixed to the ferrules 21 of the respective optical connectors.
It was a structure that could be extracted from

[0006]

The use of the above-mentioned conventional array type optical connector has the following problems.

The MPO optical connector and the MT optical connector shown in FIG. 7 use ferrules having different numbers of cores such as 2-core, 4-core and 8-core according to the number of optical fibers to be connected. Because of its use, several types of ferrules had to be manufactured. Further, in the case of the MPO optical connector of FIG. 7 and the optical connector of FIG. 8, since the male / female type is distinguished depending on the presence or absence of the guide pin, there is a disadvantage that the male or female cannot be connected. Further, in the case of the optical connector shown in FIG. 8, since it is a screw fastening type, there is a disadvantage that a plug-in connection cannot be made on a back board such as a transmission device. Further, in the MT optical connector of FIG. 6, the guide pin comes off the ferrule of the optical connector,
There was a risk of disappearing.

[0008]

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An array type optical connector according to the present invention is provided.
A plurality of optical fibers each having a rectangular cross section and having a plurality of optical fibers arranged in an array in the longitudinal direction thereof, and having two guide holes at opposite outer ends of the parallel optical fibers; A stepped ferrule in which a first end face from which one end of the optical fiber is exposed projects from the second end face having the guide hole with a step of a certain size; and a first end face of the ferrule. A plurality of ferrule insertion rectangular holes slightly larger than the outer periphery and smaller than the maximum outer periphery of the rectangular shape of the ferrule including the second end face, and on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the plurality of rectangular holes. A plurality of pairs of guide pin holding portions having a thickness smaller than the step of the ferrule, an outer diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the guide hole, and both ends forming a tapered shape; Interval A plurality of pairs of guide pins held in the guide pin holding portions as being equal to the interval between the two guide holes of the ferrule, and when the ferrule is inserted from the rear part of the rectangular hole, the ferrule is positioned forward with respect to the ferrule. toward includes a first ferrule Pillow grayed composed of a plurality of composed has a spring the spring holding mechanism that imparts predetermined pressure, corresponding to a plurality of the rectangular hole in the first ferrule housing A first optical connector plug including at least one ferrule therein;
A plurality of ferrule insertion rectangular holes drilled in a shape slightly larger than the outer circumference of the first end face of the ferrule and smaller than the maximum outer circumference of the rectangular shape of the ferrule including the second end face; A plurality of pairs of guide pin holding portions having a thickness smaller than the step of the ferrule on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the rectangular hole, and an inner diameter slightly larger than an outer diameter of the guide pins in the guide pin holding portions; When a plurality of pairs of guide pin passage holes provided so that the distance between the two guide holes of the ferrule is equal to the distance between the two guide holes of the ferrule and the ferrule is inserted from the rear part of the rectangular hole A second ferrule housing comprising: a spring holding mechanism having a plurality of springs for applying a constant pressing force to the ferrule toward the front; A second optical connector plug having at least one ferrule built therein corresponding to the plurality of rectangular holes in the ferrule housing; the first optical connector plug and the second optical connector plug And are connected.

[0010]

Next, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

1A and 1B show an embodiment of a ferrule according to the present invention. FIG. 1A is a front view, FIG . 1B is a longitudinal sectional view, and FIG.
1 shows a first embodiment of the invention, in which a ferrule is
(A) is a plan view showing an example of connection by using a housing.
(B) is a longitudinal sectional view, and FIG. 3 is a connection of the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 shows an array type optical connector of the present invention.
Each when incorporated as a plug-in optical connector
(A) including a partial cross section is a plan view, and (b) is a side view.
You.

The ferrule 2 of this embodiment shown in FIG. 1 incorporates a plurality of optical fibers 1 having a rectangular cross section and arranged in an array in the longitudinal direction so as to be arranged in a line near the center. On both outer sides of the row of optical fibers 1
Two guide pin holes 4 are provided, one for each. In order to connect such ferrules 2, ferrule housings 7A and 7B shown in FIG. 2 as a first embodiment are used. Further, at the tip of the ferrule 2, there is provided a fixed step 3 for escape of a guide pin holding portion 9B used for the ferrule housings 7A and 7B, and the surface where one end of the optical fiber 1 is exposed is provided with a guide pin hole. 4 protrudes from a certain surface.

The guide pin holding section 9 in the first embodiment.
In B , guide pins 5 are provided at positions facing the guide pin holes 4 of the ferrule 2 so as to be divided into right and left.
The guide pin 5 is slightly thinner than the inner diameter of the guide pin hole 4 and both ends are tapered. The guide pin 5 in the ferrule housing 7A and the guide pin holding portion 9 B
The left and right sides are formed so as to be integral and straight, and are fixed in the guide pin holding portion 9B by means such as adhesion or press fitting.

[0014] The thickness of the ferrule housing 7A, 7B of the guide pin holding portion 9B is a step 3 in the ferrule 2
It is configured to be slightly smaller than the size of. Therefore, 1
A pair of ferrules 2 are connected to ferrule housings 7A, 7
When connected with B has a structure in which the ferrule 2 mutually butted together always contact. Thereby, a PC (physical contact) connection is realized.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , the ferrule housings 7A and 7B of the array type optical connector according to the first embodiment have a plurality of rectangular holes 10 for accommodating a plurality of ferrules 2 and corresponding holes. A plurality of pairs of guide pins 5 or a plurality of pairs of guide pin passage holes 11 are provided, and the ferrule 2 can be attached or detached as needed. Each ferrule 2
For example, if a 4-core optical connector is required as shown in FIG. 1 and an 8-core optical connector is required, two 4-core ferrules are used, and a 10-core optical connector is required. Is a ferrule 2 built in ferrule housings 7A and 7B, such as using three 4-core ferrules.
By changing the number of, you can use them anytime and in any way. Furthermore, ferrule housing 7
A, the ferrule 2 is stably held in 7B, as shown in FIG. 2 to push forward the ferrule 2 at a constant pressure, the spring 8 ferrule housing 7A, a rear portion of the spring holding mechanism 12 in 7B Is provided. Due to this pressing force, when the ferrule housings 7A and 7B are not connected to each other, the tip of the ferrule 2 is configured to protrude slightly from the front surfaces of the ferrule housings 7A and 7B. Such a ferrule housing 7A, 7B
, The PC connection as described above can be realized.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4 , the optical connector according to the above-described embodiment has ferrule housings 7A and 7A.
B is incorporated as a plug-in type, and can be used as the back-board-side plug-in optical connector 13 and the panel-side plug-in optical connector 14, so that plug-in connection with the back board 16 can be made at the rear of the printed board 15. It is possible.

[0017]

As described above, according to the array type optical connector of the present invention, the following various effects can be obtained.

First, the number of ferrules built in the ferrule housing can be determined as required.
There is an effect that a large number of optical fibers can be connected collectively. Also, anyone can change the number of built-in ferrules at any time, and can easily attach and remove them. Secondly, since the number of cores of the ferrule can be kept constant (for example, 4 cores, 8 cores, etc.), standardization of ferrule parts can be achieved. Third
In addition, since the ferrule is constantly pressed by the spring holding mechanism and a step is provided on the front surface of the ferrule, there is an effect that when the ferrules are connected to each other, the PC connection can be stably performed. Fourth, since the guide pin is fixed to the ferrule housing, there is no possibility that the guide pin will be lost, and the guide pin can be held accurately.
Tilt and play can be reduced. Fifth, since the plug-in type can be incorporated into the plug-in optical connector and used, there is an effect that plug-in connection can be made with the back board at the rear of the printed board.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1A is a front view and FIG. 1B is a longitudinal sectional view showing one embodiment of a ferrule according to the present invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show a first embodiment of an array type optical connector according to the present invention, in which a ferrule is connected by a ferrule housing, wherein FIG. 2A is a plan view and FIG.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing the first embodiment of the array type optical connector according to the present invention at the time of connection.

4A and 4B show an example in which the array type optical connector of the present invention is incorporated as a plug-in optical connector. FIG. 4A is a plan view including a partial cross section, and FIG. 4B is a side view including a partial cross section.

5A and 5B show a conventional example of an MT optical connector, wherein FIG. 5A is a plan view including a partial cross section, FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 5A, and FIG. It is a side view which shows the example at the time of it.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an example of a conventional MPO optical connector.

7A is a longitudinal sectional view showing an example in which a plurality of conventional MT optical connectors are arranged, and FIG. 7B is a front view.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Optical fiber 2 Ferrule 3 Step 4 Guide pin hole 5 Guide pin 7A Ferrule housing 7B Ferrule housing 8 Spring 9B Guide pin holding part 10 Rectangular hole 11 Guide pin passage hole 12 Spring holding mechanism 13 Backboard side plug-in optical connector 14 Panel Side plug-in optical connector 15 Printed board 16 Backboard

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-4-86608 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G02B 6/38

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An array having a rectangular cross section and extending in a longitudinal direction thereof.
A plurality of optical fibers arranged in parallel,
For two guides facing each other at the outer ends of the optical fiber
Having a hole, and exposing one end of the plurality of optical fibers.
The first end face is more constant than the second end face having the guide hole.
A stepped ferrule with a step of size; front
Slightly larger than the outer periphery of the first end face of the ferrule and
A rectangular shape of the ferrule including the second end face;
Insertion of multiple ferrules drilled smaller than the outer circumference
Rectangular holes and the two longitudinal sides of the plurality of rectangular holes
Has a thickness smaller than the step of the ferrule.
A plurality of pairs of guide pin holding portions and the guide holes
Has an outer diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of
And the distance between the two ferrules is two
The guide pin holding part is
A plurality of pairs of held guide pins and the ferrule are
When inserted from the back of the rectangular hole,
Springs that apply a certain pressing force forward
And a spring holding mechanism having
This first ferrule housing has a rule housing.
At least one corresponding to the plurality of rectangular holes in the ring.
First optical connector plug incorporating the ferrule
And; slightly larger than the outer periphery of the first end face of the ferrule
A rectangular shape of the ferrule that is sharp and includes the second end face
Ferrules drilled smaller than the maximum perimeter
Rectangular holes for inserting the
Meat on the side that is smaller than the step of the ferrule
A plurality of pairs of guide pin holding portions having a thickness;
Inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the guide pin in the pin holding part
And the distance between them is two before the ferrule
Of multiple pairs of holes that are
A guide pin passage hole and the ferrule are
When inserted from the rear, forward to the ferrule
Do not have multiple springs that apply a constant pressing force toward
Second ferrule how comprising a spring holding mechanism
And provided in the second ferrule housing.
At least one said fer corresponding to a number of said rectangular holes
And a second optical connector plug with a built-in
The first optical connector plug and the second optical connector
The plug is configured to be connected to a power plug.
Array type optical connector.