JP3852834B2 - Ferrule for multi-fiber optical connector with tape core wire simple insertion function - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a ferrule for a multi-fiber optical connector with a tape core wire simple insertion function. More specifically, the present invention relates to a ferrule part for an optical connector that can connect and disconnect multi-core optical fiber ribbons in a lump.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Recently, MT connectors and MPO connectors, which are multi-fiber batch connection type optical connectors capable of high-density mounting, are used in places where optical fibers need to be connected and disconnected when an optical network is constructed.
An MT ferrule shown in FIG. 9 is used as a ferrule for a multi-fiber optical connector which is a key part of an MT connector or MPO connector.
FIG. 9 shows an example of a four-fiber optical connector ferrule.
[0003]
As shown in FIG. 9, the MT ferrule 1 includes four fiber holes 4 for inserting four bare fibers 3 exposed by removing the coating on the end of the multi-core optical fiber ribbon 2, and fiber holes. 4, a fiber guide hole 5 smoothly continuing, four fiber guide grooves 6 for assisting the insertion of the bare fiber 3 into the fiber guide hole 5, and the entire fiber guide groove 6 can be visually observed, and a multi-core optical fiber tape. Adhesive filling window 7 for applying an adhesive for adhering and fixing the core 2 to the MT ferrule 1, and a rubber boot capable of inserting the multi-core optical fiber ribbon 2 from the rear part of the MT ferrule and fitting the rubber boot 8 It consists of a hole 9.
[0004]
The role of the fiber guide groove 6 is to assist the operation of collectively inserting the plurality of bare fibers 3 having a diameter of 125 μm into the corresponding guide holes 5 having a diameter of 250 μm.
After inserting the multi-core optical fiber ribbon 2 into the MT ferrule 1, it is fixed with an adhesive, and as shown in FIG. 10, the ferrule end face is polished into a mirror surface to form a connection surface.
The connecting surfaces are fitted with a guide pin and a clamp spring in the case of an MT connector, and a housing and an adapter attached around the guide pin and the MT ferrule in the case of an MPO connector to function as an optical connector.
[0005]
A method of attaching the multi-core optical fiber ribbon 2 to the MT ferrule 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.
First, as shown in FIG. 11, the rubber boot 8 is fitted into the rubber boot hole 9, and the multi-core optical fiber ribbon 2 with the end coating removed and the bare fiber 3 exposed is passed through the rubber boot 8 to pass through the MT ferrule. Put in.
[0006]
Next, as shown in FIG. 12, the bare fiber 3 is placed in the corresponding fiber guide groove 6 while being visually observed from the adhesive filling window 7, and the fiber guide is moved along the fiber guide groove 6 as shown in FIG. The fiber hole 4 is inserted through the hole 5 and protruded from the end face of the MT ferrule.
In the operation of placing the bare fiber 3 correctly in the fiber guide groove 6, a special tool such as an enlargement louver or an optical fiber core wire insertion tool is used.
Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 10, the adhesive 11 is applied from the adhesive filling window 7, and the adhesive 11 is filled into the ferrule and the adhesive filling window 7, cured, and fixed.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the operation of placing the plurality of bare fibers 3 necessary for the conventional MT ferrule 1 in the corresponding fiber guide grooves 6 has the following problems.
The work of placing a plurality of thin and thin optical fibers of about 125 μm at a time into the corresponding fiber guide grooves 6 with a pitch of 250 μm at a time requires skillful techniques and a dedicated tool such as an optical fiber core wire insertion tool. It was affecting the high price of connector assembly due to the complexity and labor costs of skilled workers.
[0008]
Further, when performing the work of placing the bare fiber 3 in the fiber guide groove 6, it is necessary to provide an adhesive filling window 7 for visually observing the fiber guide groove 6, and the structural symmetry of the ferrule 1 is broken. The positional deviation amount of the fiber hole 4 is 0. The ferrule 1 is required to have a high dimensional accuracy of about several μm.
[0009]
The present invention improves the insertion workability of the multi-core optical fiber ribbon by taking an internal structure that does not require viewing of the fiber guide hole , and as a result, the structure of the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule has a multi-core optical fiber. The object is to be completely symmetrical with respect to the vertical and horizontal directions of the tape core, and to improve the moldability and optical characteristics of the connector.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Multi-fiber optical connector ferrule according to claim 1 of the present invention to achieve the above object, the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule for connection to collectively multi-core ribbon fiber, the multi-core fiber tape A fiber hole for inserting the bare fiber exposed by removing the sheath at the end of the core wire, a fiber guide hole that smoothly continues to the fiber hole and guides the bare fiber to the fiber hole, and continues to the fiber guide hole and and and a tape guide hole for guiding the insertion of the multi-core ribbon fiber to release the ferrule rear for an optical connector, the vertical width of the central portion of the tape guide hole, the end of the tape guide hole with wider than the vertical width, and along the multi-core ribbon fiber outer skin to said tape guide hole to guide the bare fiber into the fiber guide hole Characterized by inserting into the fiber holes by.
[0011]
The ferrule for a multi-fiber optical connector according to claim 2 of the present invention that achieves the above object is characterized in that it has a symmetrical structure in the vertical and horizontal directions with respect to the inserted multi-fiber optical fiber ribbon. To do.
[0012]
The ferrule for a multi-fiber optical connector according to claim 3 of the present invention that achieves the above object has a fiber guide groove smoothly following each of the fiber guide holes on an upper surface and a lower surface of the tape guide hole. It is characterized by.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An example of an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example of the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule of the present invention.
Behind the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule 12, a boot equivalent portion 13 corresponding to a rubber boot of a conventional MT ferrule is integrally formed.
In the boot equivalent portion 13, a tape guide hole 14 that assists in inserting the multi-fiber optical fiber ribbon 2 continues to the inside of the ferrule, and continues smoothly from the middle to the fiber guide hole 15.
The fiber guide hole 15 continues smoothly to the fiber hole 16, and the fiber hole 16 is open to the end face 17 of the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule.
In the figure, 18 is a guide pin hole.
[0015]
The structure of the ferrule 12 for a multi-fiber optical connector is symmetrical with respect to the vertical direction and the left-right direction of the multi-fiber optical fiber ribbon 2 to be inserted because it is not necessary to visually observe the fiber guide hole 15 .
Figure 2 is a front view of an example seen behind or al of the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule of the present invention.
FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the multi-core optical fiber ribbon 2.
4A, 4B, 4C, 4D , and 4E show examples of the shape of the tape guide hole 14, respectively.
[0016]
The example shown in FIG. 4A has the simplest shape, and the width and length are the same as or slightly larger (for example, within 50 μm) than the width and length of the tape core sheath.
4B and 4C have fiber guide grooves 19 that smoothly follow the fiber guide holes 15 on the upper and lower surfaces of the tape guide hole 14, respectively.
The shape of the fiber guide groove 19 may be round as shown in FIG. 4 (b) or square as shown in FIG. 4 (c), but the lateral width is preferably larger than the fiber diameter. .
For example, when the arrangement of the optical fiber core wires is a multi-fiber optical fiber ribbon 2 with a pitch of 250 μm, the width of the fiber guide groove 19 is preferably 250 μm.
[0017]
The vertical width and the horizontal width of the tape guide hole 14 in the portion that can come into contact with the multi-core optical fiber ribbon 2 are the same as or slightly smaller than the thickness and the width of the outer shell of the multi-fiber optical fiber ribbon 2 to be inserted (within 50 μm). ) It's getting bigger.
Example of FIG. 4 (d), (e) is, FIG. 4 (a), compared with the tape guide hole 14 of (b), the vertical width of the central portion of the tape guide holes 14, both of the tape guide hole 14 0. From the vertical width of the edge. Are degrees wider as the number to several mm.
4 (b), (c), (d), and (e) reduce the bending of the mold for forming the tape guide hole 14 and reduce the influence on the molding dimensional accuracy of the optical connector ferrule 12. The purpose is that.
[0018]
FIGS. 5 to 6 show a process of inserting the multi-fiber optical fiber ribbon 2 with the end portion removed and the bare fiber 3 exposed to the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule 12 of the present invention. .
In FIGS. 5-6, FIG. (A), (b) is a view of the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule 12 and the multi-core optical fiber ribbon 2 from the top and the side, respectively.
The state shown in FIG. 5 is a state before the multi-fiber optical fiber ribbon 2 is inserted into the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule 12.
[0019]
The state shown in FIG. 6 is a state in the middle of inserting the multi-fiber optical fiber ribbon 2 into the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule 12.
In the state of FIG. 6, a part of the outer covering portion of the bare fiber 3 and the multi-core optical fiber ribbon 2 is located in the tape guide hole 14 of the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule 12.
FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the multi-core optical fiber ribbon 2 and the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule 12 in the state of FIG.
[0020]
As shown in FIG. 7, the vertical and horizontal widths of the tape guide hole 14 are the same as or slightly larger (within 50 μm) than the thickness and the horizontal width of the multi-fiber ribbon fiber 2, so that the multi-fiber ribbon fiber 2. The clearance between the outer sheath and the tape guide hole 14 is at most 50 μm in both the x and y directions, and the position of each bare fiber 3 is located on the fiber guide hole 15 so that the tape core wire 2 can be formed naturally. The bare fiber 3 can be inserted into the fiber guide hole 15 simply by being inserted into the tape guide hole 14.
[0021]
From the state of FIG. 7, the optical fiber ribbon 2 is inserted into the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule 12, and the bare fiber 3 passes through the fiber hole 16 as shown in FIGS. 8 (a) and 8 (b). The insertion is completed with the optical fiber connector protruding from the end face of the ferrule. The adhesive is filled in the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule 12 in advance before inserting the optical fiber ribbon 2.
The length of the bare fiber 3 to be exposed is desirably 2 mm or more shorter than the length of the tape guide hole 14.
[0022]
As described above, according to the present invention, in the multi-core optical connector ferrule 12 capable of connecting and disconnecting the multi-core optical fiber ribbon 2 in a lump, the outer sheath of the tape is aligned with the tape guide hole 14. Thus, the bare fiber 3 is guided in the fiber guide hole 15 and can be inserted into the fiber hole 16, and the structure is a target structure in the vertical and horizontal directions.
Therefore, according to the present invention, the workability of inserting the bare fiber 3 into the ferrule 12 for a multi-fiber optical connector is improved, and the ferrule structure is completely symmetrical vertically and horizontally, so that the ferrule moldability is improved and the optical Ferrules with good mechanical properties can be manufactured.
[0023]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, the structure of the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule of the present invention improves the workability of inserting a bare fiber into the fiber hole of the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule, can simplify the optical connector creation, The structure of the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule is completely symmetrical with respect to the vertical and horizontal directions of the multi-fiber optical fiber ribbon, improving the dimensional accuracy characteristics when molding multi-fiber connector ferrules and improving the optical characteristics of the optical connector. It is possible to improve the yield rate in the manufacturing process of the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a multi-fiber optical connector ferrule of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a front view of the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule of the present invention as viewed from the tape guide hole side.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a multi-fiber (4-fiber) fiber tape core wire.
FIG. 4A is an end view showing an example of the shape of a tape guide hole of the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule of the present invention, and FIG. 4B is a tape guide of the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule of the present invention. FIG. 4 (c) is an end view showing an example of the shape of the hole, FIG. 4 (c) is an end view showing an example of the shape of the tape guide hole of the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 4E is an end view showing an example of the shape of the tape guide hole of the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule of the present invention.
FIG. 5 (a) is a top view before a multi-fiber optical fiber ribbon is inserted into the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule of the present invention, and FIG. 5 (b) is a view of the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule of the present invention. It is a side view before inserting a multi-fiber optical fiber ribbon.
FIG. 6 (a) is a top view in the middle of inserting a multi-fiber optical fiber ribbon into the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule of the present invention, and FIG. 6 (b) is a multi-fiber optical connector ferrule of the present invention. It is a side view in the middle of inserting a core optical fiber tape core wire.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the middle of inserting a multi-fiber optical fiber ribbon into the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule of the present invention.
8A is a top view of a multi-fiber optical connector ferrule of the present invention with a multi-fiber optical fiber ribbon inserted therein, and FIG. 8B is a multi-fiber optical connector ferrule of the present invention. It is a side view of the state which inserted the multi-core optical fiber ribbon.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a conventional MT ferrule, rubber boot, and multi-core optical fiber ribbon.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a conventional MT connector plug.
11 (a) is a top view of a conventional MT ferrule before inserting a multi-fiber ribbon cable, and FIG. 11 (b) is a diagram of inserting a multi-fiber ribbon cable into a conventional MT ferrule. It is a side view before doing.
12 (a) is a top view in the middle of inserting a multi-core optical fiber ribbon into a conventional MT ferrule, and FIG. 12 (b) is a multi-fiber optical fiber ribbon inserted into a conventional MT ferrule. It is a side view on the way.
FIG. 13 (a) is a top view of a state in which a multi-fiber ribbon cable is inserted into a conventional MT ferrule, and FIG. 13 (b) is a diagram of a multi-fiber ribbon cable inserted into a conventional MT ferrule. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 MT ferrule 2 Multi-fiber optical fiber ribbon 3 Bare fiber 4 Fiber hole 5 Fiber guide hole 6 Fiber guide groove 7 Adhesive filling window 8 Rubber boot 9 Rubber boot hole 10 MT ferrule end face 11 Adhesive 12 Multi-fiber optical connector ferrule 13 Boot Corresponding portion 14 Tape guide hole 15 Fiber guide hole 16 Fiber hole 17 Multi-fiber optical connector ferrule end face 18 Guide pin hole 19 Fiber guide groove

Claims (3)

In a multi-fiber optical connector ferrule for connecting multi-fiber optical fiber ribbons in a lump,
And the fiber holes for inserting the bare fiber exposed by removing a coating of the multi-core ribbon fiber end,
A fiber guide hole that smoothly leads to the fiber hole and guides the bare fiber to the fiber hole;
And a tape guide hole for guiding the insertion of the multi-core ribbon fiber which opens continuously and the ferrule rear for optical connector to the fiber guide hole,
The vertical width of the central portion of the tape guide hole is wider than the vertical width of the end of the tape guide hole,
A ferrule for a multi-fiber optical connector, wherein the multi-fiber optical fiber ribbon core wire is inserted into the fiber hole by guiding the bare fiber along the tape guide hole and guiding the bare fiber into the fiber guide hole. The multi against core ribbon fiber, multi-fiber optical connector ferrule of claim 1, wherein each of the vertically and horizontally a symmetrical structure to be inserted. The ferrule for a multi-fiber optical connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a fiber guide groove that smoothly follows each of the fiber guide holes is provided on an upper surface and a lower surface of the tape guide hole.

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