JP4098013B2 - Optical connector and optical connector connector - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical connector and an optical connector connection body, and, for example, an optical connector and an optical connector that can be used for a positioning method using guide pins such as an MT type optical connector (MT) established in JIS C 5981 It is related to the connection body.
[0002]
[Prior art]
FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing a conventional MT type optical connector.
As is well known, MT type optical connector that is enacted JIS C 5981 is precisely positioned by the positioning mechanism of the pin coupling method, which is butt connected, as shown in FIG. 3, the positioning guide pins Has a pair of guide pin holes to be inserted and fitted, and an optical fiber hole (fine hole) opened in the joint end surface between the guide pin holes. For example, a guide pin 4 protruded from the joining end face 1 of one optical connector 2 is inserted and fitted into a guide pin hole 5 of the other optical connector 3 to join the joining end faces 1, 1 of the optical connectors 2, 3. By abutting each other, the optical fibers (bare fibers) 6 precisely positioned on the joining end surfaces 1 of the optical connectors 2 and 3 are butt-connected by the optical fiber holes. Thereby, the optical fibers 6 and 7 (optical fiber tape core wire in FIG. 3 ) terminated so as to be connectable by the optical connectors 2 and 3 can be connected.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, as shown in FIG. 4 , in the butt connection of the optical connectors 2 and 3 of such an MT type optical connector, if foreign matter such as dust or dust adheres to these joining end faces 1, Therefore, it is common to perform wiping and cleaning using a cotton swab impregnated with alcohol, a tape-type cleaner, or the like.
[0004]
However, the foreign matter 20 attached to the periphery of the guide pin 4 protruded from the optical connector 2 has a problem that the guide pin 4 becomes an obstacle, and it is difficult to completely clean and remove, and workability is poor. Further, the foreign matter remaining around the guide pin 4 is sandwiched between the joining end faces 1 and 1 of the optical connectors 2 and 3, which may cause an increase in loss. There were problems such as difficulty in matching.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and can provide an optical connector and an optical connector connection body that can solve problems such as an increase in loss due to foreign matter on a joining end surface and can reliably ensure a good connection state. Let it be an issue.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The optical connector according to claim 1 has a joining end face for butt connection, and a pair of guide pins into which a guide pin for positioning with an optical connector on the other end of the butt connection is inserted and fitted into the joining end face. In an optical connector in which a hole and an optical fiber hole formed between the pair of guide pin holes are opened, the optical fiber hole is formed on the joining end face, and a joining region that forms a plane, and the joining A curved surface is formed from the region toward the rear end of the optical connector around the region, and a flank for foreign matter attached to the periphery of the guide pin is formed, and the guide pin holes on both sides of the joint region are formed on the flank. It is characterized in that it is opened.
The optical connector according to claim 2 is characterized in that the flank surface is a curved surface, and the curved surface is formed all around the joining region forming a flat surface.
The connection body of the optical connector according to claim 3 is a connection body of the optical connector using the optical connector according to claim 1 or 2, and after the connection of these optical connectors, between the joining end faces of both optical connectors, It is characterized in that at least a part of the guide pin spanned between both optical connectors is exposed.
[0007]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention will be described in detail below.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of the optical connector of the present invention.
The optical connector of this embodiment has a structure similar to the MT type optical connector established in JIS C 5981, and the joining method is the same as that of the above-described conventional MT type optical connector.
[0008]
In the optical connector of this embodiment, a joining region 31 in which an optical fiber hole (not shown) is formed on the joining end surfaces 38 of the optical connectors 32 and 33, and the flange 40 of the optical connectors 32 and 33 from the joining region 31. A flank face (joint end face 38) having a curved surface toward the rear end portion 40a is formed, and guide pin holes 35 and 35 are opened in the flank face.
In the optical connector of the present invention, the joining region 31 is the front surface, and the rear end portion 40a of the collar portion 40 is the rear surface.
[0009]
Even if the flank is formed only in the vicinity of the guide pin holes 35 and 35 on the joint end surface 38, as shown in FIG. 2, the outer peripheral portion of the joint end surface 38 of the optical connectors 32 and 33, except for the joint region 31. All portions may be formed as curved surfaces. The flank is formed from the joining region 31 to the boundary line 38 a between the joining end face 38 and the flat portion 39.
Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 2 (b), the optical connector 32 and 33, similarly to the MT type optical connector that is enacted JIS C 5981, the long side direction of the length _{L 1} of the joining end face 38 is 6.4mm When the length L ₂ in the short side direction is an optical connector of 2.5 mm, the long side length l ₁ of the joining region 31 is 2.9 mm or more, and the short side length l ₂ of the joining region 31 is 0. 675 mm or more. The optical connectors 32 and 33 are optical connectors (so-called Mini-MT type optical connectors, etc.) in which the length L ₁ in the long side direction of the joining end surface 38 is 4.4 mm and the length L ₂ in the short side direction is 2.5 mm. ), The long side length l ₁ of the bonding region 31 is 0.9 mm or more, and the short side length l ₂ of the bonding region 31 is 0.675 mm or more.
[0010]
In this way, by forming the joining region 31 in a size within the above range, the bare fibers 36a of the optical fibers 36 and 37 that are precisely positioned in the joining region 31 of the optical connectors 32 and 33 and the tips thereof are exposed. , 37a are connected by butt connection of the optical connectors 32, 33.
[0011]
The curvature when the peripheral portions of the guide pin holes 35 and 35 in the joining end surfaces 38 of the optical connectors 32 and 33 or the entire outer peripheral portion of the joining region 31 of the joining end surfaces 38 of the optical connectors 32 and 33 are formed in a curved surface is particularly limited. It is not a thing and can be set arbitrarily.
[0012]
In order to form the flank, the following method can be exemplified. First, the bonding region is polished to form a polished surface that can be connected to a PC. Next, when the surroundings of the optical connectors 32 and 33 are selectively polished while adjusting the angle of the optical connectors 32 and 33 with respect to the polishing machine, a flat joining region 31 and a surrounding relief surface are formed. .
[0013]
1 and FIG. 2, in the joint end faces 38 of both the optical connectors 32 and 33, the joint area 31 and the flank that forms a curved surface from the joint area 31 toward the rear end portions 40 a of the optical connectors 32 and 33. (Joint end face 38) is formed and the guide pin holes 35, 35 are opened to the flank face. In the optical connector of the present invention, one joint end face of the optical connectors 32, 33 is used. 38 may be formed with a relief surface.
When flank surfaces are formed on the joint end surfaces 38 of both the optical connectors 32 and 33, the length d in the front-rear direction of the optical connectors 32 and 33 from the joint region 31 to the boundary line 38a between the joint end surface 38 and the flat surface portion 39. _{No. 1} is preferably 10 μm or more in view of the size of foreign matters such as dust and dust adhering to the periphery of the guide pin 34 is usually about 10 to 20 μm.
When a relief surface is formed on one joining end face 38 of the optical connectors 32, 33, the length d in the front-rear direction of the optical connectors 32, 33 from the joining region 31 to the boundary line 38 a between the joining end face 38 and the flat portion 39. ₁ is preferably 20 μm or more.
[0014]
In the optical connector of this embodiment, at one or both joining end faces 38 of the optical connectors 32 and 33, the joining region 31 and a curved surface from the joining region 31 toward the rear end portion 40a of the optical connectors 32 and 33 are curved. 1 and the guide pin holes 35 and 35 are opened to the flank. As shown in FIG. 1, foreign matter 50 such as dust and dust remains around the guide pin 34. However, the optical connectors 32 and 33 can be easily butt-connected without a gap in the joining region 31 (the connected body is a connected body). Therefore, the connection loss of the optical fibers 36 and 37 does not increase. A part of the guide pin 34 is exposed between the pair of connected optical connectors 32 and 33 (specifically, between the flank faces) (here, the entire circumference of the guide pin located between the optical connectors is exposed). Therefore, dust and dust around the guide pins 34 can be easily removed by cleaning not only before cleaning but also after connection. As described above, since the periphery of the guide pin 34 can be cleaned even after the connection, the dust or the like that has already adhered and accumulated around the guide pin holes 35 and 35 and the guide pin 34 at the time of work such as disconnection It is possible to reduce the problem that dust gets entangled with the guide pin 34 or enters the guide pin holes 35 and 35.
[0015]
The number of optical fiber holes formed in the optical connector of the present invention may be one or more.
[0016]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the optical connector or the connector of the optical connector of the present invention, even if foreign matter such as dust or dust remains around the guide pin, the optical connector can be easily connected without any gap at the joining end surface. Butt connection can be made.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of an optical connector of the present invention.
2A and 2B are schematic views showing a first embodiment of the optical connector of the present invention, in which FIG. 2A is a front view, FIG. 2B is a plan view showing a tip portion of the optical connector, and FIG. c) is a side view.
FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing a conventional MT type optical connector.
FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view showing a conventional MT type optical connector.
[Explanation of symbols]
31 ... Joining end face, 32, 33 ... Optical connector, 34 ... Guide pin, 35 ... Guide pin hole, 36, 37 ... Optical fiber, 38 ... Tip, 39 ... - plane portion, 40 ... flange portion, 40a ... rear end, 5 0 ... foreign matter.

Claims (3)

A pair of end faces (38) for butt connection, into which the guide pins (34) for positioning with the mating optical connector (32, 33) are inserted and fitted. In the optical connector in which the guide pin hole (35) and the optical fiber hole formed between the pair of guide pin holes are opened,
The optical fiber hole is formed in the joining end face and forms a flat joining area (31), and a curved surface is formed from the joining area toward the rear end (40) of the optical connector around the joining area. And a guide pin hole on both sides of the joining region is opened in the relief surface.   2. The optical connector according to claim 1, wherein the flank is a curved surface, and the curved surface is formed all around the joining area forming a flat surface. An optical connector connection body using the optical connector according to claim 1 or 2,
After connecting these optical connectors, at least a part of the guide pins spanned between the optical connectors are exposed between the joining end faces of the optical connectors.

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