JP4030940B2 - Optical connector and optical connector box - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical connector that enables simple assembly. In particular, the present invention relates to an optical connector for connecting an optical fiber, which can be assembled on site where an optical communication device is installed.

  With the spread of broadband communication services in recent years, optical communication systems have been introduced into access networks. In the access network, a small optical connector is required to place a large amount of optical fibers in a narrow space. In addition, an optical connector that can be easily attached to the end of the cut optical fiber by cutting the optical fiber in order to connect to the optical communication device has become necessary.

At the site where the optical communication equipment is installed, there are fusion splicing and mechanical splice to connect the optical fiber. In either case, the optical fiber is connected after removing the UV coating of the optical fiber. (For example, refer nonpatent literature 1.). This is because the method of gripping an optical fiber with a coating has a large eccentricity between the coating and the core, and it is difficult to align the cores. The optical fiber from which the coating was peeled off was transparent and difficult to see, and had a risk of causing damage to the skin due to the sharp tip. Moreover, expensive and special tools were used for these connections, and construction was possible only by skilled workers. Conventionally, optical connectors assembled with special tools have been developed. As conventional optical connectors, optical connectors that are brought into contact with each other so that the tips of optical fiber wires abut against each other have been developed (see, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).
Optical fiber construction technology, pp. 98-122, Optronics, published in December 2001 JP 2000-47061 A JP 2002-277682 A

  Any of the conventional optical connectors can be installed by cutting the optical fiber on site, but a special tool is required for assembly or it cannot be installed in a narrow place. was there.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an optical connector that can be easily connected without using a special tool and can connect an optical fiber with a UV coating without deteriorating transmission characteristics.

  In order to achieve the above object, the first invention of the present application includes an optical connector housing having an insertion port for inserting an optical fiber, and the optical fiber to be inserted at a predetermined position. A holding cylindrical tube, a pressing member that presses the distal end portion of the optical fiber strand to be inserted through the window formed in the cylindrical tube against the inner wall of the cylindrical tube, and when the button is released, the pressing member is An optical connector comprising: a pressing spring that presses against the inner wall of the cylindrical tube; and a button that reduces the repulsive force of the pressing spring when pressed and restores the original position by the repulsive force of the pressing spring when released.

  The first invention of the present application may include that the cylindrical tube has a tapered shape that narrows inward from the insertion side of the optical fiber to be inserted.

  The first invention of the present application may include that the cylindrical tube is made of glass, hard plastic, zirconia, stainless steel, or titanium.

  The first invention of the present application includes that the window portion has an opening ratio of 50% or less, preferably 25% or less in a cross section perpendicular to the insertion direction of the optical fiber to be inserted in the window portion. Sometimes.

  The first invention of the present application may include that the pressing spring also generates a pressing force for pressing the pressing member in the insertion direction of the optical fiber to be inserted when the button is opened.

  The first invention of the present application may include that the pressing member includes a V-groove formed on a surface of the pressing member that is pressed.

  In the first invention of the present application, the V groove of the pressing member has a depth at which a part of the inserted optical fiber protrudes from the pressing surface of the pressing member when the inserted optical fiber is pressed. It may be included.

  The first invention of the present application may include that the pressing member is made of silicon rubber or hard plastic.

  The first invention of the present application includes that the cylindrical tube includes a hole or a notch for inserting and extracting air and / or a refractive index matching agent at a position where the optical fiber to be inserted is locked. There is.

The first invention of the present application may further include an uncoated optical fiber having the same outer diameter as that of the optical fiber to be inserted in the inside of the cylindrical tube opposite to the insertion port of the optical fiber to be inserted. May be included.

  The first invention of the present application further includes that an optical fiber strand having the same outer diameter as the optical fiber strand to be inserted is further provided inside the cylindrical tube on the side opposite to the insertion port of the optical fiber strand to be inserted. May be.

  The first invention of the present application may include providing a sleeve into which a ferrule can be inserted on the end surface of the cylindrical tube opposite to the insertion port of the optical fiber strand to be inserted.

Application to the first invention, in the sleeve, also there may be included to comprise a ferrule having a be-connected fiber-optic uncoated.

The first invention of the present application may include a double-sided ferrule having an uncoated optical fiber on the side of the cylindrical tube in the sleeve, the ferrule being shorter than the sleeve.

  The first invention of the present application may include that the button and the insertion port are arranged on the same surface of the optical connector housing.

  A second invention of the present application is an optical connector box in which a plurality of optical connectors according to the first invention of the present application are installed such that the insertion port is on the outer surface side.

Each of these configurations can be combined as much as possible.
In the present specification, an optical fiber without a coating refers to an optical fiber that is composed of an optical fiber core and cladding and has no protective coating. The optical fiber refers to a fiber which covered the primary coating without the optical fiber of the coating. The double-cut ferrule is a ferrule whose both ends are polished so that another ferrule can be connected to both ends of the ferrule. An optical connector box refers to an apparatus that deploys a plurality of optical connectors and connects optical fibers.

The optical connector of the present invention can be easily assembled without using a special tool, and can ensure good connection characteristics.
In addition, since the present optical connector has a structure that can be installed in a narrow space, an optical connector box using the present optical connector can be miniaturized and mounted with high density.

(Embodiment 1)
The present embodiment is an optical connector for connecting optical fiber strands. Embodiments for carrying out the present invention are shown in FIGS. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the optical connector of the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a cylindrical tube applied to the optical connector of the present embodiment. 1 and 2, 10 is an optical connector, 12 is an optical connector housing, 14 is a cylindrical tube, 16 is a pressing member, 18 is a pressing spring, 20 is a button, 22 is an insertion port, and 24 is a guide for the cylindrical tube 14. , 26 is another insertion port, 144 is a window portion of the cylindrical tube 14, 146 is another insertion port of the cylindrical tube 14, and 148 is a hole portion of the cylindrical tube 14.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the optical connector 10 of the present embodiment is disposed in an optical connector housing having an insertion port 22 into which an optical fiber strand is inserted and an insertion port 22 of the optical connector housing 12. The distal end portion of the inserted optical fiber is pressed against the inner wall of the cylindrical tube 14 through the cylindrical tube 14 that holds the inserted optical fiber in a predetermined position and the window 144 formed in the cylindrical tube 14. When the pressing member 16 and the button 20 are released, the pressing spring 18 that presses the pressing member 16 against the inner wall of the cylindrical tube 14 with a repulsive force, and the repulsive force of the pressing spring 18 is reduced when the pressing member 16 is pressed. And a button 20 for restoring the original position by force. The insertion port of the cylindrical tube 14 and the other insertion port 146 serve as the insertion port 22 of the optical connector housing 12 and the other insertion port 26 of the optical connector housing 12, respectively.

In the optical connector 10 of the present embodiment, an uncoated optical fiber or an optical fiber having the same outer diameter as that of an optical fiber inserted from the insertion port 22 is inserted from the insertion port 26 and connected from the insertion port 22. By inserting and butting the optical fiber strands, the optical fiber strands or the optical fiber strands and the uncovered optical fiber are connected in the cylindrical tube 14. When inserting or matching, an optical fiber can be easily connected without using a special tool. A detailed connection method will be described in the next embodiment.

  In the optical connector of the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the shape of the guide 24 in the vicinity of the insertion port 22 is a tapered shape that narrows from the insertion side of the optical fiber to be inserted toward the inside. It is desirable. By using the tapered guide 24, the insertion of the optical fiber strand to be inserted from the insertion port 22 is facilitated.

The cylindrical tube 14 is preferably made of glass, hard plastic, zirconia, stainless steel, or titanium. These materials are difficult to transform the thermal expansion coefficient since it is relatively small, to stabilize the connection loss of the optical fiber to each other, or optical fiber and uncoated optical fiber to be connected. The cylindrical tube 14 is more preferably made of glass which is a transparent material. If a transparent material, it can be observed optical fiber to each other, or an optical fiber the state abutting the optical fiber without coating from the outside of the cylindrical tube 14. Among glasses, crystallized glass is particularly desirable from the viewpoint of mechanical properties.
As described above, the optical connector described in this embodiment can be easily assembled without using a special tool, and good connection characteristics can be ensured.

(Embodiment 2)
The present embodiment is an optical connector that includes an optical fiber to be connected in advance. Embodiments for carrying out the present invention are shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 4, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a cylindrical tube applied to the optical connector of the present embodiment, FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the optical connector in a state where the button is pushed, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the optical connector in a state where the button is opened. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the cylindrical tube taken along line AA ′ in FIG. 4, that is, a cross section perpendicular to the insertion direction of the optical fiber to be inserted. 2, 3, 4, and 5, 10 is an optical connector, 12 is an optical connector housing, 14 is a holding member, 16 is a pressing member, 18 is a pressing spring, 20 is a button, 22 is an insertion port, 24 Is a guide of the cylindrical tube 14, 26 is another insertion port, 30 is an optical fiber without coating , 32 is an optical fiber to be connected, 34 is a refractive index matching agent, 144 is a window portion of the cylindrical tube 14, and 146 is a cylinder The other insertion port 148 of the tube 14 is a hole of the cylindrical tube 14.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the optical connector 10 of the present embodiment is disposed in an optical connector housing having an insertion port 22 into which an optical fiber is inserted and an insertion port 22 of the optical connector housing 12. The distal end portion of the inserted optical fiber is pressed against the inner wall of the cylindrical tube 14 through the cylindrical tube 14 that holds the inserted optical fiber in a predetermined position and the window 144 formed in the cylindrical tube 14. When the pressing member 16 and the button 20 are released, the pressing spring 18 presses the pressing member 16 against the inner wall of the cylindrical tube 14 with a repulsive force. And a button 20 for restoring the original position by force. Furthermore, an optical fiber without an outer coating having the same outer diameter as that of the optical fiber element to be inserted or an optical fiber element is provided inside the cylindrical tube 14 on the opposite side to the insertion port of the optical fiber element to be inserted. . The insertion port of the cylindrical tube 14 and the other insertion port 146 serve as the insertion port 22 of the optical connector housing 12 and the other insertion port 26 of the optical connector housing 12, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 2, it is desirable that the shape of the guide 24 near the insertion port 22 be a tapered shape that narrows inward from the insertion side of the optical fiber to be inserted. By using the tapered guide 24, the insertion of the optical fiber to be inserted is facilitated. Also, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the end face of the unconnected optical fiber 30 inserted from the opposite direction to the optical fiber 32 is placed at a position where the tip of the inserted optical fiber 32 is locked. If it arrange | positions, the connection of the optical fiber 30 without the coating | coated and the optical fiber strand 32 can be made favorable. At this time, the holding spring 18 is arranged so that the holding member 16 pushes the optical fiber 32 in the insertion direction of the optical fiber 32 by the repulsive force of the holding spring 18. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, when the button 20 is pushed in, a part of the holding spring 18 is curved, and as shown in FIG. When pressing the wire 32, the curved part of the pressing spring 20 extends, so that the pressing spring 18 can also generate a pressing force for pressing the pressing member 16 in the insertion direction of the optical fiber 32.

If the outer diameter of the uncoated optical fiber constituting the optical fiber 32 is changed from a normal 125 μm diameter to, for example, 80 μm, and the outer diameter of the optical fiber 32 is 125 μm by applying a protective coating, the diameter is 125 μm. These optical fiber strands 32 and the 125 μm-diameter uncoated optical fiber 30 can be abutted in the same cylindrical tube 14.

  In FIG. 5, the cylindrical tube 14 holds the inserted optical fiber 32 in a predetermined position. The cylindrical tube 14 has a window portion 144 for holding the optical fiber 32 inserted by the holding member 16. The pressing member 16 presses the distal end portion of the inserted optical fiber 32 against the inner wall of the cylindrical tube 14 through the window 144 formed in the cylindrical tube 14. Since the inserted optical fiber is held by the inner wall of the cylindrical tube 14, the coating of the optical fiber is not deformed, and accurate alignment with the connected optical fiber is possible. The window 144 of the cylindrical tube 14 has an aperture ratio of 50% or less, preferably 25% or less in a cross section perpendicular to the insertion direction of the optical fiber 32 to be inserted. The larger the aperture ratio, the easier the pressing member 16 presses the optical fiber 32. However, if the aperture ratio is 50% or less, the optical fiber 32 to be inserted does not protrude from the cylindrical tube 14, and the position where the pressing member 16 holds with high accuracy can be determined. If the aperture ratio is 25% or less, substantially equal pressure is applied to the covering of the inserted optical fiber 32, and the optical fiber constituting the optical fiber 32 can be held at the center.

  Here, the aperture ratio will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 5, the aperture ratio refers to the ratio of the angle at which the inner wall of the cylindrical tube 14 is opened as the window portion 144 with respect to the entire circumference. Since the optical fiber strand 32 to be inserted is held by the inner wall of the cylindrical tube 14, it is defined by the inner wall. When the outer wall of the cylindrical tube 14 is opened more than the inner wall, it becomes easier to press the optical fiber 32 inserted by the pressing member 16.

  The pressing member 16 presses the distal end portion of the inserted optical fiber 32 toward the inner wall of the cylindrical tube 14. It is desirable that the pressing member 16 has a V-groove formed on the surface to be pressed, and the optical fiber 32 is suppressed by the V-groove. The contact area with the optical fiber strand 32 can be increased by the V groove of the pressing member 16, and the pushing force of the restraining spring 18 can be effectively transmitted to the optical fiber strand 32. The depth of the V-groove of the pressing member 16 is desirably such that when the inserted optical fiber 32 is pressed, a part of the optical fiber 32 protrudes from the pressing surface of the pressing member 16. This is because it is not necessary to process the window portion of the cylindrical tube 14 in accordance with the size of the pressing member 16.

  The holding member 16 is preferably made of silicon rubber or hard plastic. This is because it functions as a buffer material in contact with the optical fiber strand 32.

Next, the operation of the optical connector will be described. When the button 20 is pushed in, the repulsive force of the pressing spring 18 is reduced, and the pressing member 16 is separated from the window portion 144 of the cylindrical tube 14 (FIG. 3). In this state, the optical fiber 32 is inserted from the insertion port 22. The inserted optical fiber 32 is guided to the inside of the cylindrical tube 14 by the tapered guide 24 of the insertion port 22, and the end face of the optical fiber 32 is pressed against the connected optical fiber 30 having no coating . When the button 20 is released in this state, the pressing spring 18 presses the pressing member 16 toward the inner wall of the cylindrical tube 14 by a repulsive force (FIG. 4). At the same time, the holding member 16 is pushed in the direction in which the optical fiber 32 is inserted. The distal end portion of the optical fiber 32 is pressed in the direction of the inner wall of the cylindrical tube 14, and at the same time, is pushed into the connected optical fiber 30 without coating, so that the optical fiber 32 and the optical fiber 30 without coating are optically coupled. Enable connection.

It is desirable to provide a hole 148 for inserting and extracting air and / or the refractive index matching agent 34 at a position where the optical fiber 32 to be inserted is locked. As shown in FIG. 4, when the optical fiber 32 is inserted, if the hole 148 is provided, the air trapped between the uncovered optical fiber 30 and the optical fiber 32 is discharged to the outside. Therefore, the optical fiber 30 without coating and the optical fiber 32 can be easily adhered. In order to reduce the connection loss, the uncoated optical fiber 30 and the optical fiber 32 may be connected via a refractive index matching agent. A hole 148 capable of discharging the overflowing refractive index matching agent 34 when the refractive index matching agent 34 adhering to the end face of the uncoated optical fiber 30 or the end face of the optical fiber 32 overflows is useful. become.

As a method of fixing the uncoated optical fiber 30 to the cylindrical tube 14, the uncoated optical fiber 30 is inserted from the side opposite to the insertion direction of the optical fiber 32, and the tip of the uncoated optical fiber 30 is the optical fiber. position for locking the strands 32, for example, when it came to the position of the hole 148, by or tighten the optical fiber 30 with no coating or, or adhesively bonded, the uncoated optical fiber 30 tip Can be fixed in place. Or by inserting a temporary optical fiber from the insertion port 22, the position for locking the tip of the provisional optical fiber, for example, by temporarily fixed state to the position of the hole 148, uncoated optical fiber 30 was inserted from the insertion direction opposite to the provisional optical fiber, when the tip of the uncoated optical fiber 30 is abutted against the optical fiber of the temporary, secure the optical fiber 30 with no adhesive coated or by or crimping of the optical fiber 30 with no coating, it can be fixed without the optical fiber 30 leading end of the coating in place. After fixing the uncovered optical fiber 30, the provisional optical fiber is pulled out.

  In the present embodiment, the shape of the presser spring 18 has been shown as an example as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, but is not limited to this example. Any shape can be used as long as the pressing member can be pressed toward the inner wall of the cylindrical tube 14 by the repulsive force when the button is released, and the button can be restored by the repulsive force of the pressing spring when the button is opened. Furthermore, the shape may be any shape that also generates a pushing force for pushing in the insertion direction of the optical fiber strand into which the pressing member is inserted when the button is opened.

  In the present embodiment, the example of the shape of the button 20 is shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, but is not limited to this example. Any shape that reduces the repulsive force of the presser spring when pushed in and restores the original position by the repulsive force of the presser spring when released is acceptable.

In this embodiment, an example of the uncoated optical fiber 30 is shown as the optical fiber to be connected. However, if the optical fiber strand has the same outer diameter as the optical fiber strand 32, the uncoated optical fiber 30 is used instead. The present invention can be applied to this optical connector.

As described above, the optical connector described in this embodiment can be easily assembled without using a special tool, and good connection characteristics can be ensured.
(Embodiment 3)
This embodiment is an optical connector that uses a cylindrical tube having a shape different from that of the optical connector described in the above embodiments. Embodiments for carrying out the present invention are shown in FIGS. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the optical connector of the present embodiment, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a cylindrical tube applied to the optical connector of the present embodiment. 6 and 7, 10 is an optical connector, 12 is an optical connector housing, 14 is a cylindrical tube, 16 is a pressing member, 18 is a pressing spring, 20 is a button, 22 is an insertion port, and 24 is a guide for the cylindrical tube 14. , 26 is another insertion port, 36 is a sleeve, 144 is a window portion of the cylindrical tube 14, and 149 is a notch portion of the cylindrical tube 14.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the optical connector 10 according to the present embodiment is disposed in the optical connector housing 12 having the insertion port 22 into which the optical fiber is inserted and the insertion port 22 of the optical connector housing 12. The distal end portion of the inserted optical fiber is pressed against the inner wall of the cylindrical tube 14 through the cylindrical tube 14 that holds the inserted optical fiber in a predetermined position and the window 144 formed in the cylindrical tube 14. When the pressing member 16 and the button 20 are released, the pressing spring 18 that presses the pressing member 16 against the inner wall of the cylindrical tube 14 with a repulsive force, and the repulsive force of the pressing spring 18 is reduced when the pressing member 16 is pressed. And a button 20 for restoring the original position by force. Further, a sleeve 36 into which a ferrule can be inserted is provided on the end face of the cylindrical tube 14 opposite to the insertion port 22 of the optical fiber strand to be inserted. The insertion port of the cylindrical tube 14 becomes the insertion port 22 of the optical connector housing 12, and the insertion port of the sleeve 36 becomes the other insertion port 26 of the optical connector housing 12.

In the optical connector 10 of the present embodiment, a ferrule having an uncovered optical fiber in the insertion port 26 is disposed in advance, and an optical fiber wire connected from the insertion port 22 of the optical connector housing 12 is inserted and butted together. Thus, the optical fiber and the uncoated optical fiber in the ferrule are connected in the cylindrical tube 14. When inserting or butting, an optical fiber can be easily connected without using a special tool. A detailed connection method will be described in the next embodiment.

  In the optical connector of this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the shape of the guide 24 in the vicinity of the insertion port 22 is tapered so as to narrow from the insertion side of the optical fiber to be inserted toward the inside. Is desirable. By using the tapered guide 24, the insertion of the optical fiber to be inserted is facilitated.

The cylindrical tube 14 is preferably made of glass, hard plastic, zirconia, stainless steel, or titanium. Since these materials are difficult to deform and have a relatively small expansion rate, the connection loss between the connecting optical fiber and the uncovered optical fiber in the ferrule is stabilized. The cylindrical tube 14 is more preferably made of glass which is a transparent material. If it is a transparent material, the butt | matching state of an optical fiber strand and the optical fiber with no coating | coated in a ferrule can be observed from the outside. In particular, crystallized glass is desirable from the viewpoint of mechanical properties.
As described above, the optical connector described in this embodiment can be easily assembled without using a special tool, and good connection characteristics can be ensured.

(Embodiment 4)
The present embodiment is an optical connector that connects an optical fiber to a connected optical fiber without a coating in a ferrule. Embodiments for carrying out the present invention are shown in FIGS. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a cylindrical tube applied to the optical connector of the present embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the optical connector in a state where a button is pushed. 7 and 8, 10 is an optical connector, 12 is an optical connector housing, 14 is a holding member, 16 is a pressing member, 18 is a pressing spring, 20 is a button, 22 is an insertion port, and 24 is a guide for the cylindrical tube 14. , 26 is another insertion port, 30 is an uncoated optical fiber , 32 is an optical fiber to be connected, 34 is an index matching agent, 36 is a sleeve, 38 is a ferrule having an uncoated optical fiber 42, 144 A window portion 149 of the cylindrical tube 14 is a cutout portion of the cylindrical tube 14.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the optical connector 10 according to the present embodiment is disposed in the optical connector housing 12 having the insertion port 22 into which the optical fiber is inserted and the insertion port 22 of the optical connector housing 12. The distal end of the inserted optical fiber is pressed against the inner wall of the cylindrical tube 14 through the cylindrical tube 14 that holds the inserted optical fiber in a predetermined position and the window 144 formed in the cylindrical tube 14. When the pressing member 16 and the button 20 are released, the pressing spring 18 presses the pressing member 16 against the inner wall of the cylindrical tube 14 with a repulsive force. And a button 20 for restoring the original position by force. Furthermore, a sleeve 36 into which a ferrule can be inserted and an optical fiber 42 to be connected without covering in the sleeve 36 are provided on the end surface of the cylindrical tube 14 opposite to the insertion port 22 of the optical fiber strand to be inserted. And a ferrule 38. The insertion port of the cylindrical tube 14 becomes the insertion port 22 of the optical connector housing 12, and the insertion port of the sleeve 36 becomes the other insertion port 26 of the optical connector housing 12.

  As shown in FIG. 7, it is desirable that the shape of the guide 24 in the vicinity of the insertion port 22 be a tapered shape that narrows from the insertion side of the optical fiber 32 to be inserted toward the inside. The tapered guide 24 facilitates the insertion of the optical fiber 32 to be inserted. In addition, as shown in FIG. 8, when the tip of the ferrule 38 is arranged so that the tip of the inserted optical fiber 32 can be locked at a predetermined position, the connection with the optical fiber 32 is improved. Can do. At this time, the holding spring 18 is arranged so that the holding member 16 pushes the optical fiber 32 in the insertion direction of the optical fiber 32 by the repulsive force of the holding spring 18. When the button is pushed in, the pressing spring 18 is partially curved as in FIG. 3, and when the button 20 is released, the pressing member 16 is connected to the optical fiber 32 as in FIG. When the pressure spring 20 is pressed, the curved portion of the pressure spring 20 extends, so that the pressure spring 18 can also generate a pressing force for pressing the pressure member 16 in the insertion direction of the optical fiber 32.

  The pressing member 16 presses the distal end portion of the inserted optical fiber 32 toward the inner wall of the cylindrical tube 14. It is desirable that the pressing member 16 has a V-groove formed on the surface to be pressed, and the optical fiber 32 is suppressed by the V-groove. The contact groove can be increased by the V groove of the pressing member 16 and the pushing force of the holding spring 18 can be effectively transmitted to the optical fiber 32. The depth of the V-groove of the pressing member 16 is desirably such that when the inserted optical fiber 32 is pressed, a part of the optical fiber 32 protrudes from the pressing surface of the pressing member 16. This is because it is not necessary to process the window portion of the cylindrical tube 14 in accordance with the size of the pressing member 16.

  The holding member 16 is preferably made of silicon rubber or hard plastic. This is because it functions as a buffer material in contact with the optical fiber strand 32.

It is desirable to provide a notch 149 for inserting and extracting air and / or the refractive index matching agent 34 at a position where the optical fiber 32 to be inserted is locked, that is, at the end opposite to the insertion port of the cylindrical tube 14. . As shown in FIG. 8, when the optical fiber 32 is inserted, if a notch 149 is provided, the air trapped between the uncovered optical fiber 30 and the optical fiber 32 is discharged to the outside. Thus, the optical fiber 42 without coating in the ferrule and the optical fiber 32 can be easily adhered. Furthermore, in order to reduce the connection loss, the uncoated optical fiber 42 and the optical fiber 32 may be connected via the refractive index matching agent 34. When the refractive index matching agent 34 adhered to the end face of the ferrule 38 or the end face of the optical fiber strand 32 overflows, the notch 149 for discharging the overflowing refractive index matching agent 34 becomes useful.

As a method of fixing the sleeve 36 to the cylindrical tube 14, a temporary optical fiber strand is inserted from the insertion port 22, and the provisional optical fiber strand is temporarily fixed at a position where the tip is locked, and there is no coating. The sleeve 36 into which the ferrule 38 having the optical fiber 42 is inserted is positioned so that the connection loss between the temporary optical fiber and the uncovered optical fiber 42 is minimized. The tip of the optical fiber 42 without coating can be fixed at a predetermined position by being fixed or caulking with. After the sleeve 36 is fixed, the temporary optical fiber is pulled out. Alternatively, the outer diameter of the sleeve 36 is matched with the outer diameter of the cylindrical tube 14, and the sleeve 36 is fixed or caulked with an adhesive while being abutted on the same V-groove, whereby the tip of the optical fiber 42 without coating is obtained. Can be fixed in place.

  As described above, the optical connector described in this embodiment can be easily assembled without using a special tool, and good connection characteristics can be ensured.

(Embodiment 5)
The present embodiment is an optical connector provided with a double-cut ferrule having an uncoated optical fiber in advance. An embodiment for carrying out the present invention is shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the optical connector in a state where the button is pushed. In FIG. 9, 10 is an optical connector, 12 is an optical connector housing, 14 is a holding member, 16 is a pressing member, 18 is a pressing spring, 20 is a button, 22 is an insertion port, 24 is a guide for the cylindrical tube 14, and 26 is Other insertion ports, 30 is an uncoated optical fiber , 32 is an optical fiber to be connected, 34 is a refractive index matching agent, 36 is a sleeve, 37 is a double-cut ferrule, and 40 is a double-cut ferrule 37 with no coating. An optical fiber , 144 is a window portion of the cylindrical tube 14, and 149 is a notch portion of the cylindrical tube 14.

As shown in FIG. 9, the optical connector 10 of the present embodiment includes a sleeve 36, accommodates a double-cut ferrule 37 having an uncoated optical fiber 40 on one side of the sleeve 36, and A space capable of accommodating a ferrule having an unconnected optical fiber to be connected is provided on the other side of the interior. When the end face of the double-cut ferrule 37 inserted from the opposite direction to the optical fiber strand 32 to be inserted is disposed at a position facing the optical fiber strand to be inserted, the optical fiber 40 to be inserted and the uncovered optical fiber 40 are disposed. Can be connected well. Since the ferrule having the unconnected optical fiber to be connected can be inserted from the other side of the sleeve 36, the connected side can be connected by arbitrarily inserting and removing the optical connector having the ferrule. .

As described above, the optical connector described in this embodiment can be easily assembled without using a special tool, and good connection characteristics can be ensured. Further, by providing a double-cut ferrule having an uncoated optical fiber , the connected side can be connected by arbitrarily inserting and removing an optical connector having a ferrule.

(Embodiment 6)
The present embodiment is an optical connector box in which a plurality of optical connectors described in the above-described embodiments are arranged. Embodiments for carrying out the present invention are shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, 10 is an optical connector, 12 is an optical connector housing, 20 is a button, 22 is an insertion port, 24 is a guide for the cylindrical tube 14, and 44 is an optical connector box.

  FIG. 10 shows the outer shape of the optical connector applied to the optical connector box of the present invention as viewed from the insertion port. The button 20 and the insertion port 22 are disposed on the same surface of the optical connector housing 12. FIG. 11 shows an optical connector box in which a plurality of such optical connectors 10 are installed so that the buttons 20 and the insertion ports 22 are on the outer surface side.

  The optical connector shown in FIG. 10 has a button 20 arranged on the same surface as the optical fiber strand insertion port 22, and connects the optical fiber strand by operating the button from the outside of the optical connector housing without touching the inside of the optical connector. Because of the possible configuration, even if a plurality of optical connectors 10 are juxtaposed as shown in FIG. 11, there is no problem in the operability of the optical connector 10, and the optical connector box 44 can be miniaturized and mounted with high density. .

  In the example of FIG. 11, the optical connectors 10 are arranged in one row, but the arrangement is not restricted to such an arrangement. Further, the optical connector 10 may be disposed on a plurality of surfaces of the optical connector box 44.

  The optical connector and the optical connector box of the present invention are not only applied to optical communication devices such as optical network devices and optical fiber connection devices, but also devices for connecting optical fibers such as connection of home appliances, wiring in vehicles, wiring in aircrafts, etc. It can also be applied to.

It is sectional drawing of the optical connector of this Embodiment. It is a perspective view of the cylindrical tube applied to the optical connector of this Embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the optical connector of the state which pushed in the button. It is sectional drawing of the optical connector of the state which open | released the button. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the cylindrical tube taken along line A-A ′ in FIG. It is sectional drawing of the optical connector of this Embodiment. It is a perspective view of the cylindrical tube applied to the optical connector of this Embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the optical connector of the state which pushed in the button. It is sectional drawing of the optical connector of the state which pushed in the button. It is the external shape seen from the insertion port of the optical connector applied to the optical connector box of this invention. This is an optical connector box in which a plurality of optical connectors according to the present invention are installed such that buttons and insertion openings are on the outer surface side.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Optical connector 12 Optical connector housing | casing 14 Cylindrical tube 16 Pressing member 18 Pressing spring 20 Button 22 Insertion port 24 Guide 26 Other insertion port 30 Optical fiber 32 with no coating Covering optical fiber 34 Refractive index matching agent 36 Sleeve 37 Both ends ferrule 38 Ferrule 40 Uncoated optical fiber 42 Uncoated optical fiber 44 Connector box

Claims (9)

An optical connector housing having an insertion port for inserting an optical fiber;
A cylindrical tube disposed at the insertion port and holding the optical fiber to be inserted in a predetermined position;
A pressing member that presses the distal end portion of the optical fiber to be inserted through the window portion formed in the cylindrical tube against the inner wall of the cylindrical tube;
A pressing spring that presses the pressing member against the inner wall of the cylindrical tube with a repulsive force when the button is released;
The button that reduces the repulsive force of the presser spring when pressed, and restores the original position by the repulsive force of the presser spring when released;
With
The pressing member, the optical connector you characterized in that it comprises the pressing V grooves formed on the surface on the side which holds the member. The V groove of the pressing member has a depth such that when the inserted optical fiber is pressed, a part of the inserted optical fiber is protruded from the pressing surface of the pressing member. The optical connector according to claim 1 . An optical connector housing having an insertion port for inserting an optical fiber;
A cylindrical tube disposed at the insertion port and holding the optical fiber to be inserted in a predetermined position;
A pressing member that presses the distal end portion of the optical fiber to be inserted through the window portion formed in the cylindrical tube against the inner wall of the cylindrical tube;
A pressing spring that presses the pressing member against the inner wall of the cylindrical tube with a repulsive force when the button is released;
The button that reduces the repulsive force of the presser spring when pressed, and restores the original position by the repulsive force of the presser spring when released;
With
The pressing member, the optical connector you characterized in that it is made of silicon rubber or hard plastic. An optical connector housing having an insertion port for inserting an optical fiber;
A cylindrical tube disposed at the insertion port and holding the optical fiber to be inserted in a predetermined position;
A pressing member that presses the distal end portion of the optical fiber to be inserted through the window portion formed in the cylindrical tube against the inner wall of the cylindrical tube;
A pressing spring that presses the pressing member against the inner wall of the cylindrical tube with a repulsive force when the button is released;
The button that reduces the repulsive force of the presser spring when pressed, and restores the original position by the repulsive force of the presser spring when released;
With
The cylindrical tube is in a position to lock the optical fiber to the insert, the optical connector you further comprising a hole or cutout portion for inserting and removing the air and / or refractive index matching agent. An optical connector housing having an insertion port for inserting an optical fiber;
A cylindrical tube disposed at the insertion port and holding the optical fiber to be inserted in a predetermined position;
A pressing member that presses the distal end portion of the optical fiber to be inserted through the window portion formed in the cylindrical tube against the inner wall of the cylindrical tube;
A pressing spring that presses the pressing member against the inner wall of the cylindrical tube with a repulsive force when the button is released;
The button that reduces the repulsive force of the presser spring when pressed, and restores the original position by the repulsive force of the presser spring when released;
With
The insert on the end surface of the insertion port and opposite the mouth of the optical fiber, optical connector characterized in that it comprises an insertion sleeve ferrule of said cylindrical tube. In the sleeve, the optical connector according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises a ferrule having a be-connected fiber-optic uncoated. On the side of the cylindrical tube in the sleeve, a ferrule double pole having a free fiber-optic coatings, optical connector according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises a shorter ferrule than the sleeve. An optical connector housing having an insertion port for inserting an optical fiber;
A cylindrical tube disposed at the insertion port and holding the optical fiber to be inserted in a predetermined position;
A pressing member that presses the distal end portion of the optical fiber to be inserted through the window portion formed in the cylindrical tube against the inner wall of the cylindrical tube;
A pressing spring that presses the pressing member against the inner wall of the cylindrical tube with a repulsive force when the button is released;
The button that reduces the repulsive force of the presser spring when pressed, and restores the original position by the repulsive force of the presser spring when released;
With
The optical connector the buttons and the insertion port, characterized in that it is arranged on the same surface of the optical connector housing. The insertion opening is one of the optical connector box of the optical connectors plurality placed according to 8 from claim 1 so that the outer surface side.

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