JP3690575B2 - Multiple optical fiber tape with two-dimensional array of multiple optical connectors - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention includes a two-dimensional array optical connector in which, for example, two optical fiber tapes are overlapped without being joined to each other, and an appropriate portion in the length direction is fastened by a retaining member, and a two-dimensional array optical connector is provided at the tip, for example. about the multiple optical fiber tape.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As an optical fiber tape with an optical connector to be connected to an optical device or the like, as shown in FIG. 7, for example, two optical fiber tapes 1 are overlapped without being joined to each other, and an appropriate portion in the length direction is secured by a retaining member 2 The optical fiber holes 4a are arranged in a two-dimensional array at the tip of the optical fiber tape 3 as shown in FIG. 3, which is common to the conventional example and the present invention. A provided ferrule 4 made of plastic or the like is attached and terminated to form a double optical fiber tape with a two-dimensional array optical connector (multiple optical fiber tape with a two-dimensional array optical connector) 5.
The ferrule 4 includes a pin hole 4b for fitting an alignment pin, and a flange 4c. The ferrule 4 is an optical connector 6. The optical connector 6 has an optical fiber hole in a two-dimensional array. Except this, it is an optical connector of a pin fitting alignment system corresponding to the JIS C 5981 F12 type multi-core optical fiber connector, and is usually called an MT optical connector.
[0003]
The retaining member 2 is a molded product of rubber or plastic (elastomer). Conventionally, as shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 8, the retaining member 2 having optical fiber tape insertion holes 2a arranged vertically is used. Thus, the two optical fiber tapes 1 arranged above and below the double optical fiber tape 3 are arranged vertically and held together.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
This type of optical fiber tape 5 with an optical connector is, for example, one in which UV strands are arranged in a multi-core arrangement and coated with UV, and is used with a length of about 1 meter, for example, as shown in FIG. Units, optical switches, and other optical devices 7 are connected. If the optical fiber tape 3 is bent when the optical devices are stored or optical connectors are connected, they are overlapped without being joined to each other. The difference between the inner and outer rings of the bent portion of the two optical fiber tapes 1 (difference in the arc length between the optical fiber tape (outer ring) outside the bent portion and the inner optical fiber tape (inner ring)) As shown in FIG. 9, there is a possibility that a bend (or kink) 8 is generated in the optical fiber tape 1. The allowable radius of curvature of the optical fiber is generally 30 cm. However, even if it is within the range of the allowable curvature radius as a whole, the curvature radius of the bent portion of the seat may be smaller than the allowable curvature radius. If the bending of the optical fiber exceeds the allowable radius of curvature, a so-called bending loss in which light energy escapes from the core to the cladding may occur, and surface flaws may grow and shorten the life. In addition, when such a seat bend is generated near the base of the optical connector 6, the effect seems to appear greatly.
[0005]
The present invention has been made to eliminate the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks, and when bending occurs in the multiple optical fiber tape portion in which the intermediate portion is held by the holding member, the seat caused by the inner and outer ring differences of each optical fiber tape is provided. and an object thereof to provide Hisage multiple optical fiber tape with a two-dimensional array optical connector never bent down occurs.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention that solves the above-described problems is achieved by stacking a plurality of optical fiber tapes without bonding them to each other, and attaching each of the multiple optical fiber tapes to the end of the multiple optical fiber tape that is secured by a retaining member at an appropriate position in the length direction. Multiple optical fiber tape with a two-dimensional array optical connector that has a configuration in which a ferrule having a two-dimensional array of optical fiber holes corresponding to an optical fiber is attached , and the end opposite to the ferrule is connected to an optical component or optical device Because
The holding member holds the optical fiber tapes in the intermediate portion of the multiplexed optical fiber tape in an arrangement shifted from each other in the tape width direction.
[0007]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, the retaining member according to the first aspect is characterized in that the optical fiber tapes in the intermediate portion of the multiplexed optical fiber tape are retained in an arrangement in which the optical fiber tapes are arranged in the tape width direction on the same plane.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a multiple optical fiber tape 15 with a two-dimensional array optical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is an enlarged view of a main part of the multiple optical fiber tape 15 with a two-dimensional array optical connector in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 (a) is a side view, and FIG. 2 (b) is a plan view. As shown in these drawings, the multiple optical fiber tape 15 with a two-dimensionally arranged optical connector of the embodiment is a case where there are two optical fiber tapes 1 and these two optical fiber tapes 1 are stacked without being joined to each other. In addition, the intermediate portion is fastened with a fastening member 12 to form a double optical fiber tape (multiple optical fiber tape) 13, and an optical fiber hole 4a is two-dimensionally arranged at the tip of the double optical fiber tape 13 as shown in FIG. The ferrule 4 made of plastic or the like provided in step 1 is attached and terminated to form a double optical fiber tape with a two-dimensional array optical connector (hereinafter abbreviated as a double optical fiber tape with an optical connector) 15.
The ferrule 4 includes a pin hole 4b for inserting an alignment pin, and a flange 4c. The ferrule 4 has an optical connector having a two-dimensional optical fiber array, not a one-dimensional (one horizontal), that is, a two-dimensional. The optical connector 16 is an optical connector of the pin fitting alignment method corresponding to the F12 type multi-core optical fiber connector of JIS C 5981 except that the optical fiber array is two-dimensional. In this case, it is usually called an MT optical connector. Although illustration is omitted, a rubber boot for protection is fitted in the vicinity of the ferrule 4 mouth portion of the optical fiber tape 1.
[0011]
In the present invention, the plurality of optical fiber tape insertion holes provided in the retaining member are shifted in the tape width direction. However, in the retaining member 12 of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12a is arranged side by side in the tape width direction. Therefore, the two optical fiber tapes 1 in the middle portion of the double optical fiber tape 13 are held in an arrangement in the tape width direction.
The retaining member 12 is a molded product of rubber or plastic (elastomer), and before the ferrule 4 is attached, the two optical fiber tapes 1 of the double optical fiber tape 13 are inserted in advance into the optical fiber tape insertion hole 12a. The ferrule 1 is attached to the tip of the double optical fiber tape 13 and terminated. The term “terminated” as used herein means that after bonding the optical fiber tape 1 to the ferrule 4, the front end surface of the ferrule 1 is polished to obtain a connector joining end surface without connection loss. The optical fiber tape insertion hole 12a of the retaining member 12 is slightly larger than the cross-sectional shape of the optical fiber tape 1 and remains in the middle portion between the two optical fiber tapes 1 by frictional force.
[0012]
The double optical fiber tape 13 in the optical fiber connector-equipped double optical fiber tape 15 is bent by the double optical fiber tape 13 because the two optical fiber tapes 1 are held in the holding member 12 while being shifted in the tape width direction. When this occurs, the two optical fiber tapes 1 do not form inner and outer rings, and the bending of the inner optical fiber tape 1 against the outer optical fiber tape 1 prevents the bending operation. Therefore, the bending of the seat does not occur.
That is, in the same manner as in FIG. 9 described in the conventional example, the optical fiber-attached double optical fiber tape 15 was routed when the optical device 7 connected with the optical connector-attached optical fiber tape 15 was stored or when the optical connector was connected. At this time, even if the optical fiber connector-equipped double optical fiber tape 15 is bent, there is no possibility that the seat bend 8 as shown in FIG. 9 is generated.
[0013]
In the above embodiment, the two optical fiber tapes 1 are horizontally aligned and retained. As shown in FIG. 5 (a), the two optical fiber tape insertion holes 12a are shifted laterally with a gap therebetween. Using the holding member 12A provided with a step on the top and bottom, the two optical fiber tapes 1 may be shifted laterally and held at the same time with a step on the top and bottom. In this case as well, when bent, the optical fiber tape 1 on the inner side of the bending strikes the outer optical fiber tape 1 and the bending operation is not hindered, so that the bending of the seat can be avoided.
[0014]
Further, as shown in FIG. 5 (b), by using a retaining member 12B in which two optical fiber tape insertion holes 12a are provided so as to be shifted laterally so as to partially overlap each other with a step difference in the vertical direction, The optical fiber tape 1 of the book may be held laterally while being partially overlapped. Even in this case, it is still possible for the optical fiber tape 1 on the inner side of the bending to bend along the outer optical fiber tape 1, and it is possible to avoid bending the seat.
[0015]
Further, the retaining members 12, 12A, 12B of the above embodiment have a structure having a closed optical fiber tape insertion hole 12a. Therefore, the optical fiber tape 1 is attached to the retaining members 12, 12A, 12B before the ferrule 4 is attached. Although it is necessary to pass through the optical fiber tape insertion hole 12a, a slit 12b leading from the outer surface to the optical fiber tape insertion hole 12a may be provided as in the retaining member 12C shown in FIG. According to this configuration, the holding member 12 can be accommodated in the optical fiber tape insertion hole 12a from the side by opening the slit 12b. Therefore, the ferrule 4 is attached to the optical fiber tape 1 and then attached to the optical fiber tape 1. Can be retrofitted.
[0016]
In each of the above-described embodiments, the example in which the vicinity of the central portion of the multiplex optical fiber tape is retained has been described. However, the position to be retained is arbitrary. For example, the vicinity of the optical connector or the vicinity of the optical device may be retained. In the embodiment, an example in which one place is retained has been described, but a plurality of places may be retained by a plurality of retaining members.
[0017]
Moreover, although each embodiment demonstrated the case of the double optical fiber tape which consists of the two optical fiber tapes 1, it is applicable also to the case of the multiplexed optical fiber tape which piled up the three or more optical fiber tapes 1. FIG. . In this case, the ferrule 4 is provided with the optical fiber holes 4a in a two-dimensional array with the number of stages corresponding to the number of the optical fibers of the optical fiber tape 1 that are stacked three or more.
[0018]
In the embodiment, the ferrule attached to the tip has the same structure as a ferrule for a so-called MT optical connector using a pin fitting alignment method, but the ferrule structure itself is not limited to this and is arbitrary. In short, any ferrule having a two-dimensional array of optical fiber holes corresponding to the optical fibers of a plurality of stacked optical fiber tapes may be used.
Further, the number of the optical fiber tapes 1 can be any number of two or more.
[0019]
The material of the retaining member is preferably a flexible material such as rubber or plastic (elastomer), but is not limited to this, and other materials may be used.
Further, the outer shape of the retaining member of the present invention is not limited to a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape as shown in the illustrated example, but is arbitrary. Further, the structure for holding the optical fiber tape is not limited to the structure in which the optical fiber tape hole (including both with and without the slit) is provided as in the embodiment. In short, any structure that can hold a plurality of optical fiber tapes while shifting the positions in the tape width direction may be used.
[0021]
【The invention's effect】
According to the multiplex optical fiber tape with a two-dimensionally arranged optical connector of the present invention, multiple portions of the overlapped optical fiber tapes in the length direction are held by being shifted from each other in the tape width direction by a holding member. Since the optical fiber tape is configured, when bending occurs in the multiple optical fiber tape, there is no difference between the inner and outer rings between the optical fiber tapes, and there is a bend in the inner optical fiber tape. Can be prevented.
[0022]
When the optical fiber tapes are held in an arrangement in which the optical fiber tapes are arranged on the same plane in the tape width direction by the holding member as in claim 2, the restriction on the bending operation of the inner optical fiber tape is the least, and the optical fiber tape It is effective in preventing the occurrence of bending of the seat.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a multiple optical fiber tape with a two-dimensional array optical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is an enlarged view of a main part of the multiple optical fiber tape with a two-dimensionally arranged optical connector in FIG. 1, in which (a) is a side view and (b) is a plan view.
FIG. 3 is a view of a two-dimensional array optical connector portion common to the present invention and the conventional example. FIG. 3 (a) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. FIG. 7 (b) is a view as seen from the direction of the arrow B in FIG. 2 (a) (or FIG. 7 (a)).
4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line DD of FIG.
FIGS. 5A and 5B are cross-sectional views corresponding to FIG. 4, showing different embodiments of the retaining member portion of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing still another embodiment of the retaining member according to the present invention.
FIGS. 7A and 7B are enlarged views of a main part of a conventional multiple optical fiber tape with a two-dimensional array optical connector, where FIG. 7A is a side view and FIG. 7B is a plan view.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a problem of a conventional multiple optical fiber tape with a two-dimensional array optical connector.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Optical fiber tape 4 Ferrule 4a Optical fiber hole 6 Two-dimensional array optical connector 8 Seat bend 12 Holding member 12a Optical fiber tape insertion hole 12b Slit 13 Double optical fiber tape (Multiple optical fiber tape)
15 Duplex optical fiber tape with two-dimensional array optical connector (Multiple optical fiber tape with two-dimensional array optical connector)
16 Two-dimensional optical connector

Claims (2)

A two-dimensional array corresponding to each optical fiber of the multiplex optical fiber tape is placed at the tip of the multiplex optical fiber tape which is overlapped without being bonded to each other and is secured at an appropriate position in the length direction by a holding member. It has a configuration in which a ferrule having an optical fiber hole is attached, and a multi-optical fiber tape with a two-dimensional array optical connector to which an end opposite to the ferrule is connected to an optical component or an optical device ,
2. A multiplex optical fiber tape with a two-dimensionally arranged multiplex optical connector, wherein the suspending member holds the optical fiber tapes in the middle part of the multiplex optical fiber tape in an arrangement shifted from each other in the tape width direction.   2. The two-dimensional array optical connector with a two-dimensional array according to claim 1, wherein the holding member holds the optical fiber tapes in the middle portion of the multiplexed optical fiber tape in an arrangement in which the optical fiber tapes are arranged in the tape width direction on the same plane. Multiple optical fiber tape.

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