JP3160322B2 - Optical connector structure - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a high-density plug-in optical connector structure used for mounting a terminal device of an optical communication network such as a public communication line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In this type of conventional optical connector structure, as shown in FIG. 36, a male optical connector 81 attached to a board (substrate) 80 and a female optical connector 81 attached to a board (substrate) 82. A male optical connector 81 includes a housing 84 and a housing 8.
4 includes an optical terminal (connection plug) 85 mounted in a terminal mounting hole (not shown). The female optical connector 83 includes a front housing 86 and a back housing 8.
7, a board 82 is interposed between the front housing 86 and the back housing 87, and the back housing 87 and the front housing 86 are fastened with bolts 88. A terminal (connection plug) 90 is mounted. Optical terminal 85
As shown in FIG. 37, the ferrule 92 and the spring 93 are inserted into the plug frame 91, the spring 93 is compressed, and the front end of the spring 93 is pressed against the flange 96 of the holder 95 of the ferrule 92. The front edge of the flange 96 is connected to the step 94 on the inner surface of the plug frame 91.
And the ferrule 92 is fixed. 38, the ferrule 98 and the spring 99 are inserted into the plug frame 97, and the stop ring 100 is inserted into the rear of the plug frame 97, as shown in FIG. The front end of the spring 99 is pressed against the flange 104 of the holder 103 of the ferrule 98, and the front edge of the flange 104 is connected to the plug frame 97. The ferrule 98 is fixed to the step 105 on the inner surface of the ferrule 98.

Then, the male optical connector 81 is inserted into the front housing 86 of the female optical connector 83 to connect the two optical terminals 85 and 90 together.

[0004]

However, in the conventional example, the female optical connector 83 has a front housing 86 and a back housing 87, and the optical terminal 90 is mounted in the terminal mounting hole 89 of the back housing 87. The coupling of the female and male optical connectors 83, 81 is simply
The male optical connector 81 is inserted into the front housing 86 of the female optical connector 83 to couple the two optical terminals 85 and 90. When mounting the female and male optical connectors 83 and 81 on a unit, The springs 93 and 99 are compressed in the two optical terminals 85 and 90 by the abutment of the ferrules 92 and 98, and the compression reaction force acts on the board 82, thereby bending the board 82 and absorbing the variation in the axial direction. As a result, there is a problem that the abutment between the optical terminals 85 and 90 is hindered and the transmission performance is reduced.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to absorb variations in the axial direction when mounting the female and male optical connectors to a unit by moving the internal housing. It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical connector structure capable of improving the transmission performance by performing good abutment of connection plugs.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a method for connecting one optical connector to another optical connector.
And these one and the other optical connectors
Optical connector structure that abuts each other's connecting plugs
, The other optical connector has a guide recess on the inner surface side.
And an outer housing having a lock portion in the guide recess.
And a lock piece portion provided with a locking projection and a large number of
Inner housing with connecting plug and outer housing
Insert the inner housing into the
Insert the lock piece into the guide recess and lock projection locks
And lock the inner housing to the outer housing.
Locking means, one optical connector and the other optical connector.
When connecting to the
Press to release the lock projection from the lock.
Move the inner housing in the axial direction of the outer housing
And a lock release means as described above .

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical connector structure according to the first aspect, wherein guide grooves are formed on the left and right sides of the outer housing, and guide portions are formed on the left and right sides of the inner housing. The inner housing is inserted into the outer housing by inserting the guide portion of the inner housing into the guide groove of the outer housing.

[0008]

According to this structure , the inner housing is provided in the outer housing.
Insert the housing and lock the inner housing
Into the guide recess, and the locking projection rides over the locking part.
With the inner housing locked to the outer housing
To connect one optical connector to the other optical connector
And part of this one optical connector pushes the locking projection
Release the engagement of the locking projection with the locking part
The outer housing moves in the axial direction of the outer housing.
You. In this way, the inner housing can be moved in the axial direction of the outer housing by a predetermined amount while the connection plug is mounted, and when the one optical connector is inserted into the other optical connector to bring the connection plugs into abutment, , Both connecting plugs and the inner housing can move. Thus, one and the other
The variation in the axial direction at the time of mounting the unit of the optical connector can be absorbed by the movement of the internal housing, the abutment of the connection plug can be performed well, and the transmission performance can be improved.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an optical connector structure according to the present invention. Optical connector structure according to the present invention, the other optical connector attached to the male side optical connector a and board d is one of the optical connector attached to the board c
And the female optical connector b.

The male optical connector a includes an insulating housing 1 as shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, and one surface of the insulating housing 1 is a board mounting side (lower surface portion 1b). The latter half is formed on the board contact surface 2, and positioning projections 3 are formed on the left and right of the board contact surface 2.
Insertion recesses 4a into which nuts for screwing are inserted are formed on the opposite surface, that is, on the left and right sides of the upper surface 1a.

A large number of connection plug mounting holes 5 are formed in the front part of the insulating housing 1 along the left-right direction (the longitudinal direction of the insulating housing 1). The connection plug mounting hole 5 is provided at the tip of the connection plug mounting hole 5.
A pair of lances 6 are provided vertically above and below, and a groove 8 is provided between the front half of the partition wall 7 between the connection plug mounting holes 5 and the upper and lower surfaces 1a and 1b of the insulating housing 1. The lance portion 6 is located between the partition walls 7 separated from the upper and lower surfaces 1a and 1b by the groove portions 8 ,
A sleeve holder locking piece 9 is formed at the front end of each partition 7, and opposing edges 9 a of the sleeve holder locking piece 9 are formed in an arc shape.

Upper and lower portions 1a and 1b of the insulating housing 1
A pair of left and right tongue pieces 10, 11 and 12 are formed at the front edge of the left and right tongue pieces 10, 11 and 12, respectively.
Projections 13 and 14 are formed on the front edge of the projections 13 at the outside thereof, and the outer ends of the projections 13 and 14 are formed as inclined edges 13b and 14b inclined outward. The inclined surface portion 10a in the front edge of the left and right and intermediate tongue 10, 11, 12 that slope outwardly, 11a, 12a is Yes formed, the front edge portion of the protruding portions 13, 14 inclined outwardly Inclined surface portions 13a and 14a are formed. In addition, the front edges of the front edges of the upper and lower surfaces 1a, 1b of the insulating housing 1 and the front edges of the portions 15, 16 located between the left and right and middle tongues 10, 11, 12 are inclined surfaces inclined inward. Fifteen
a and 16a are formed. And the parts 15, 16
The unlocking pressing portion (male side) is formed with the inclined surface portions 15a and 16a.
(A part of the optical connector a).

The left and right portions 1c, 1d of the insulating housing 1
Are formed with lock pieces 17, which are left and right edges 18a, 1b of the upper and lower faces 1a, 1b.
8b, a locking portion 19 is formed at the tip of the lock piece 17 so as to protrude inward. To the left and right edges 18a of the upper and lower surfaces 1a and 1b,
A stopper 20 that interferes with 18b is formed.

A connection plug 21 and a sleeve holder 22 are attached to the male optical connector a thus configured. That is, the connection plugs 21 are inserted into the connection plug mounting holes 5 of the male optical connector a from the rear thereof, and the engaging portions 23 of these connection plugs 21 (corresponding to the front stopper 58 in FIG. 32). The connection plug 21 is fixed by the engagement of the lance 6 in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 30 and 31, the sleeve holder 22 has two large and small flange portions 2 on its outer peripheral surface.
4 and 25, and both sides of these flange portions 24 and 25 are cut off. And these sleeve holders 2
Reference numeral 2 is attached to the front end of each connection plug mounting hole 5 of the male optical connector a, and the edge 9 a of the sleeve holder locking piece 9 is engaged between the flanges 24 and 25. The ferrule 26 of the connection plug 21 is inserted into the sleeve holder 22.

The female optical connector b has an outer housing 27, an inner housing 41, and a rear housing 40. The rear housing 40 is connected to the outer housing 27 by a stop member 42 and a screw member 43. 41 is movably accommodated in the outer housing 27.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 10 to 19, the outer housing 27 has left and right side surfaces 27a and 27b and upper and lower surfaces 27c and 27d, and is a flat rectangular frame-like body with front and rear portions opened. Yes, left and right sides 27a, 27
b is cut off except for the rear part, and the left and right side parts 2
A stopper portion 28 extends between the upper and lower portions 27c and 27d in front of the portions 7a and 27b.
Projection portions 28a are formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the outer surface of 8.
Guide grooves 29 are formed on the left and right sides of the upper and lower surfaces 27c and 27d from the rear to the front. The upper and lower portions 27
The guide recesses 30 are located on the inner surfaces of the
Lock but Yes to form, on the front side of these guide recess 30
A locking projection 31 is formed.

[0018] Moreover, the lower surface portion 27c, the left and right rear edge of 27d Yes formed stop member engaging groove 32 of the plane T-shaped, upper, lower surface portion 27c, the leading edge of the 27d is An inwardly inclined surface 33 is formed.

FIGS. 20 to 29 show the internal housing 41. FIG. A plurality of connection plug mounting portions 34 are formed on the front portion of the inner housing 41 along the left-right direction. A pair of lances 35 are provided vertically inside each of these connection plug mounting portions 34. Also,
Guide portions 36 are formed on the left and right sides of the inner housing 41 on the front side, and lock pieces 37 are formed on the left and right sides of the upper and lower portions 41a, 41b of the inner housing 41 on the front side. It is. These lock pieces 3
7 has a spring property in a cantilever state. Lock piece 3
7 has an inclined surface 38a having an end surface inclined outward.
Are formed on the left and right sides of the locking projection 38. The protruding portions 39 are formed on the left and right sides of the locking projection 38, and the outer ends of these protruding portions 39 are inclined outwardly. It has been made to.

The rear housing 40 has left and right side portions 40a, 40b and upper and lower portions 40c, 40d as shown in FIGS. 1, 6, 8, and 9, and has a flat rectangular shape with front and rear portions opened. It is a frame-shaped body, and a large number of connection plug insertion portions 44 are formed on the rear surface thereof along the left-right direction.
Further, screw mounting holes 45 are provided on the left and right sides of the upper and lower surfaces 40c and 40d, and front portions of these screw mounting holes 45 are formed as stopper member insertion holes 46.

The inner housing 41 is inserted into the outer housing 27 from the rear thereof. In this case, the locking piece 37 of the inner housing 41 is inserted into the guide recess 30 of the outer housing 27 and the inner housing 41 is inserted into the outer housing 27. The right and left guide portions 36 of the lock member 37 are inserted into the guide grooves 29 of the outer housing 27, and the inner housing 41 is pressed firmly into the lock protrusions 38 of the lock piece portion 37.
Is made to pass over the locking projection 31 of the guide recess 30 so that the locking projection 38 is located along the guide recess 30 on the front side of the locking projection 31.

The stop member 42 is inserted into the stop member engaging groove 32 of the outer housing 27 having the inner housing 41 therein.
Is inserted into the hole 47 of the board d by pressing the T-shaped head 42a into the outer housing 27 and attaching the stopper member 42 to the outer housing 27. d, the rear housing 40 is arranged along the rear side, and the rear of the internal housing 41 is inserted into the rear housing 40,
2 is inserted into the fixing member insertion hole 46 of the screw mounting hole 45 of the rear housing 40, the screw member 43 is inserted into the screw mounting hole 45, and the screw member 43 is screwed into the screw hole 42 b of the fixing member 42. Then, by tightening the screw member 43, the rear housing 40 is attached to the outer housing 27, and at the same time, the female optical connector b is attached to the board d.

A connection plug 48 is attached to the female optical connector b configured as described above. That is, as shown in FIGS. 32 to 34, the connection plug 48 includes a knob 50 made of a synthetic resin, a plug frame 51, a stop ring 52, a ferrule 53, and a spring 54. A pair of openings 55, a pair of finger hooks 56, and a pair of windows 57 are formed from the front to the rear, and the plug frame 51 has a pair of front stoppers 58 and a pair of rears from the front to the rear. A stopper 59 and a pair of engagement holes 60 are formed.
The stop ring 52 is made of metal, and has a pair of engagement projections 61 and a stopper 62 formed from the front side to the rear side. The ferrule 53 is held by a holder 63, and a flange 64 is formed on the holder 63. An optical cable (not shown) is connected to the ferrule 53.

Then, the ferrule 53 and the spring 54 are inserted into the plug frame 51, and the stop ring 52 is inserted into the rear portion of the plug frame 51, and the engagement protrusion 61 of the stop ring 52 is inserted into the engagement hole 60. The spring 54 is engaged to compress the spring 54, and the front end of the spring 54 is pressed against the flange 64 of the holder 63 of the ferrule 53, and the front edge of the flange 64 abuts against the step 51 a on the inner surface of the plug frame 51. The ferrule 53 is fixed. A swaged sleeve 66 is provided at the rear of the stop ring 52.
The optical cable is fixed to the stop ring 52 side by caulking the rear portion of the caulking sleeve 66 with a caulking member 67.

Then, the optical fiber cable is covered with the holder 68 from the caulking sleeve 66 to the optical cable. A knob 50 is put on the plug frame 51, and a front stopper 58 of the plug frame 51 is inserted into an opening 55 of the knob 50.
And the rear stopper 59 are inserted. When the rear stopper 59 is in contact with the rear edge 55 a of the opening 55, there is a gap between the front stopper 58 and the front edge 55 b of the opening 55. There is a gap h, and the knob 50 for this gap h can move back and forth.

The connection plugs 48 constructed as described above are inserted into the respective connection plug insertion portions 44 of the rear housing 40 from behind, and inserted into the connection plug mounting portions 34 of the internal housing 41. The lance 35 is engaged with the opening 55 of the knob 50, and the connection plug 48 is attached to the female optical connector b. In addition,
The connection plug 21 has the same configuration as the connection plug 48 except that the knob 50 is removed.

Next, the connection between the female and male optical connectors b and a will be described.

The tongue pieces 10, 11, 12 of the male optical connector a
Are inserted between the outer housing 27 and the inner housing 41 of the female optical connector b.
When the male optical connector a is pushed in along the outer front edge of the outer housing 27, the ferrule 53 of the connection plug 48 is inserted into the sleeve holder 22 so that the ferrules 53 and 26 Collides. At this time, the projections 20 on both sides of the locking portion 19 at the tip of the left and right locking pieces 17 of the male optical connector a are connected to the external housing 2.
7, after engaging with the protrusion 28a of the stopper 28 on the left and right stoppers 28, the engaging portion 1
9 is locked to the surface 36a. Further, by pushing in the male side optical connector a, the left and right and middle tongue pieces 1 are inserted.
The inclined surfaces 15a, 16a which incline inside the front edges of the portions 15, 16 located between 0, 11, 12 are inclined to the outside of the projection 39 of the locking projection 38 of the lock piece 37 of the inner housing 41. 35, the locking piece 37 is displaced inward as shown in FIG. 35, and the locking projection 38 of the locking projection 31 of the outer housing 27 is displaced inward.
Is released to allow the inner housing 41 to move, and the locking projection 38 elastically abuts the lower side of the locking projection 31 beyond the locking projection 31. In this state, the fixing of the inner housing 41 to the outer housing 27 is released, and the inner housing 41 can move in the axial direction together with the connection plug 48.

The locking means is provided in the outer housing 2.
7, the inner housing 41 is inserted into the housing.
The locking piece 37 of the ring 41 is inserted into the guide recess 30 and
The locking projection 38 of the locking piece 37 is
Over the lock projection 31 which is the locking part
The projection 38 is inserted into the guide recess 30 on the front side of the lock projection 31.
The inner housing 41 to the outer housing 27
And the unlocking means is a male side light.
When the connector a is connected to the female optical connector b, the male optical connector is
A portion located between the tongue pieces 10, 11, 12 provided on the
15, 16, that is, the locking protrusion is
Pressing the protrusion 38, the locking projection 38 of the locking projection 38
31 to release the inner housing 41 from the outer housing.
The jig 27 is moved in the axial direction.

According to the above embodiment, the inner housing 4
1 can move a predetermined amount in the axial direction of the outer housing 27 with the connection plug 48 attached,
When the male optical connector a is inserted into the female optical connector b and the connection plugs 48 and 21 are brought into abutment, both connection plugs 4
8, 21 and the inner housing 41 can move. In this way, the variation in the axial direction when mounting the female and male optical connectors b and a in the unit can be absorbed by the movement of the internal housing 41 , and the abutment of the connection plugs 48 and 21 is performed favorably. Transmission performance can be improved.

Guide grooves 29 are formed on the left and right sides of the outer housing 27, and the guide portions 3 are formed on the left and right sides of the inner housing 41.
6, the guide portion 36 of the inner housing 41 is inserted into the guide groove 29 of the outer housing 27, and the inner housing 41 is inserted into the outer housing 27, so that the inner housing 41 moves smoothly. The internal housing 41 moves without tilting to move the female and male optical connectors b,
The variation in the axial direction at the time of mounting the unit a can be absorbed, the abutment of the connection plugs 48 and 21 can be performed more favorably, and the transmission performance can be improved.

[0032]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention,
According to insert the inner housing inside the outer housing
Insert the lock piece of this inner housing into the guide recess
Then, the lock projections get over the lock part and
With one of the optical connectors locked to the external housing.
When the optical connector is connected to the other optical connector,
A part of the connector pushes the locking projection and this locking
Disengage the projection from the lock and release the inner housing.
It moves in the axial direction of the housing. in this way,
The inner housing can be moved by a predetermined amount in the axial direction of the outer housing with the connection plug attached .
When the optical connector is inserted into the other optical connector to abut the connection plugs, both the connection plugs and the inner housing can move. As described above, the variation in the axial direction when the unit of the one and the other optical connectors is mounted can be absorbed by the movement of the inner housing, and the connection plug can be satisfactorily abutted to improve the transmission performance. it can.

[0033] According to the invention of claim 2, according to claim 1 of the present invention.
In the optical connector structure described above, guide grooves are formed on the left and right sides of the outer housing, guide portions are formed on the left and right sides of the inner housing, and the left and right guide portions of the inner housing are inserted into the guide grooves of the outer housing to be inserted into the outer housing. Since the inner housing is inserted and the inner and outer housings are assembled, the movement of the inner housing becomes smooth, and the inner housing moves without tilting to move the one and the other optical connectors in the axial direction when the unit is mounted. Variations can be absorbed, and abutment of the connection plugs can be performed better, so that transmission performance can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an optical connector structure according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a male optical connector in the optical connector structure according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a housing structure of the male-side optical connector.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the housing structure of the male-side optical connector.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a housing structure of the male-side optical connector.

FIG. 6 is a partially sectional plan view of a female optical connector in the optical connector structure according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a front view of a housing structure of the female optical connector.

FIG. 8 is a rear view of a housing structure of the female optical connector.

FIG. 9 is a side view of a housing structure of the female optical connector.

FIG. 10 is a front view of an external housing of the female optical connector.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.

FIG. 12 is a rear view of the outer housing.

FIG. 13 is a side view of the outer housing.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along the line B-B of FIG.

FIG. 15 is a partial cross-sectional view along the line CC in FIG. 10;

FIG. 16 is a partial cross-sectional view along the line DD in FIG. 10;

FIG. 17 is an enlarged view of a portion shown in FIG. 11E.

FIG. 18 is a sectional view taken along the line 11F-F of FIG. 11;

FIG. 19 is a sectional view taken along the line G-G in FIG. 11;

FIG. 20 is a front view of the internal housing of the female optical connector.

FIG. 21 is a partially broken plan view of the inner housing.

FIG. 22 is a rear view of the inner housing.

FIG. 23 is a view as seen from the direction of the arrow in FIG. 21H.

24 is a view as seen from the direction of the arrow in FIG. 21I.

FIG. 25 is a sectional view taken along the line JJ of FIG. 20;

FIG. 26 is a sectional view taken along the line KK of FIG. 20;

FIG. 27 is a sectional view taken along the line L-L in FIG. 20;

FIG. 28 is a view as seen from the direction of the arrow in FIG. 20M.

FIG. 29 is a view as seen from the direction of arrows in FIG. 28N.

FIG. 30 is a front view of a sleeve holder.

FIG. 31 is a partially sectional plan view of the sleeve holder.

FIG. 32 is a partially sectional side view of a connection plug.

FIG. 33 is a plan view of the connection plug.

FIG. 34 is a front view of the connection plug.

FIG. 35 is an explanatory diagram of displacement of the lock piece due to collision between the housing of the male optical connector and the lock piece of the female optical connector.

FIG. 36 is a perspective view of a conventional optical connector structure.

FIG. 37 is a partially sectional side view of an optical terminal (connection plug) used in the optical connector structure.

FIG. 38 is a partially sectional side view of an optical terminal (connection plug) used in the optical connector structure.

[Explanation of symbols]

 a Male optical connector b Female optical connector 27 External housing 29 Guide groove 36 Guide part 41 Internal housing

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Ryo Nagase, Inventor Ryo Nagase 1-1-6, Uchisaiwai-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Kazunori Kanayama 1-1-6, Uchisaiwai-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Japan Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Yasuhiro Ando 1-1-6 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Keiichi Yasuda 1-16-1 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Shuji Arima 5-5-23 Osaki, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Hirose Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Tateomi Matsumoto 5-5-23, Osaki, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Hirose Electric (72) Inventor Takashi Nishiyama 5-5-23 Osaki, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Hirose Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Toshiaki Nakano Meguro, Tokyo (72) Inventor Hiromasa Okamura 6-18-18 Meguro-Honcho, Meguro-ku, Tokyo Honda Communication Industry Co., Ltd. (58) Investigated field (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G02B 6/38

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] An optical connector is connected to another optical connector.
Insert one and the other optical connector
Optical connector structure that abuts connecting plugs
The other optical connector has a guide recess on the inner surface side and a lock portion in the guide recess.
Provided with an external housing and a lock piece provided with a locking projection,
An inner housing having a connection plug, and inserting the inner housing into the outer housing;
Then, the lock piece of the inner housing is
Into the lock part, and the locking projections ride over the lock part
Lock the inner housing to the outer housing
Locking means, and coupling between the one optical connector and the other optical connector
Occasionally, the lock projection may be part of the one optical connector.
Push to release the engagement of the locking projection with the locking portion.
By removing the inner housing from the axial direction of the outer housing.
An optical connector structure, comprising: a lock release means configured to move in a direction . 2. A guide groove is formed on the left and right sides of the outer housing, a guide portion is formed on the left and right sides of the inner housing, and the guide portion of the inner housing is inserted into the guide groove of the outer housing to insert the inner housing into the outer housing. The optical connector structure according to claim 1.