JP5252735B2 - Multi-fiber optical connector manufacturing method and multi-fiber optical connector - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a multi-fiber optical connector and a multi-fiber optical connector.

A pin-fitting positioning type resin multi-fiber optical connector with guide pin holes on both sides of a plurality of side-by-side optical fiber holes is stipulated in JIS C 5981 (F12 type multi-fiber optical fiber connector) and is generally an MT optical connector. is called.
In this type of optical connector, if an air layer exists between connection end faces when the connector is connected, light loss due to Fresnel reflection occurs.
In order to reduce the optical loss of connector connection, there is a method of interposing a refractive index matching agent having the same refractive index as the optical fiber on the connector joining end surface between the connection end surfaces, but without using a refractive index matching agent. So-called PC contact (Phisical Contact) in which the end face of an optical fiber is brought into direct contact by PC polishing is widely performed.
In this case, there is usually a method of performing PC connection in which the optical fiber end faces are directly connected by polishing so that the optical fiber slightly protrudes from the end face of the optical connector.

  Further, as in the case of the optical connector 61 shown in FIG. 20, even when the joining end face is the oblique end face 62, the optical fiber is slightly polished from the end face of the optical connector so that the optical fiber without refractive index matching agent is polished. There is also a method of connection (FIG. 6 of Patent Document 1). 63 denotes an optical fiber hole, 64 denotes a guide pin hole, 12a denotes an optical fiber inserted and fixed in the optical fiber hole 63, 12 denotes an optical fiber ribbon made of a plurality of optical fiber strands, and 65 denotes a rubber boot.

JP 2002-006177 A JP 2005-181832 A

The conventional method using the refractive index matching agent is complicated because it is necessary to apply the refractive index matching agent every time the optical connector is detached.
On the other hand, the PC polishing that polishes the optical fiber slightly protruding from the end face of the optical connector requires skill, so it is not always easy to polish the end face with a certain quality, and it takes a lot of man-hours and the cost of the optical connector. Becomes a factor to increase.

In an optical connector having a connection end face as an oblique end face, as shown in FIG. 21, when a pressing force is applied by abutting the oblique end faces 62 of both optical connectors when the connectors are connected, a gap between the guide pin hole 64 and the guide pin 66 is obtained. Since there is a slight clearance, each optical connector 61 slides slightly as shown by an arrow (see FIG. 3 of Patent Document 2).
As described above, when a shift in the tilt direction occurs in the optical connectors that are abutted with each other, a shearing force may be applied to the abutted optical fibers and may be damaged. Therefore, it is desirable to enable connector connection with little optical loss without bringing optical fibers into contact with each other and without using a refractive index matching agent.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and can reduce light loss due to reflection without using a refractive index matching agent and without requiring skillful PC polishing. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for manufacturing a multi-fiber optical connector and a multi-fiber optical connector in which shearing force is applied to an optical fiber at the time of end-to-end connection, and there is no risk of chipping.

The method for manufacturing a multi-fiber optical connector according to the first aspect of the present invention that solves the above-mentioned problem is a method for manufacturing a multi-fiber optical connector made of resin of a pin fitting positioning system having guide pin holes on both sides of a plurality of optical fiber holes arranged side by side. A method of manufacturing a multi-fiber optical connector,
Resin-molding in advance a core component that has a plurality of side-by-side optical fiber holes penetrating toward the tip end surface of the core component and guide pin holes on both sides thereof and constitutes at least the connection end surface side portion of the optical connector,
The optical fiber hole forming part in the core part has its core part tip surface set back with respect to the core part tip surface of the guide pin hole forming part,
With the optical fiber inserted into the optical fiber hole of the core part, a light transmitting resin is applied to the core part, and at least the core part front end surface of the optical fiber hole forming part is the optical fiber except for the core part front end face of the guide pin hole forming part. It is characterized by over-molding so that the collimating lens is formed so as to cover the tip surface and to recede from the tip surface of the optical connector at the front position of the tip of the optical fiber.

The multi-fiber optical connector of the invention of claim 2 is a pin-fitting positioning type resin multi-fiber optical connector having guide pin holes on both sides of a plurality of side-by-side optical fiber holes,
Pre-resin-molded core components that have a plurality of side-by-side optical fiber holes penetrating toward the front end surface of the core components and guide pin holes on both sides thereof and constitute at least the connection end surface side portion of the optical connector;
With the optical fiber inserted into the optical fiber hole of the core component, the core component includes at least the core component front end surface of the optical fiber hole forming portion including the optical fiber front end surface except for the core component front end surface of the guide pin hole forming portion. A light-transmitting resin portion over-molded to cover
The optical fiber hole forming part in the core part has its core part tip surface set back with respect to the core part tip surface of the guide pin hole forming part,
A collimating lens is formed in a manner of retreating from the front end surface of the optical connector at a position in front of the front end of the optical fiber in the light transmissive resin portion.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the multi-fiber optical connector according to the second aspect, the core component is a recess in which the core component tip surface of the optical fiber hole forming portion is retreated with respect to the core component tip surface of the guide pin hole forming portion. The collimating lens is formed so as to recede from the front end face of the optical connector at the front position of the front end of the optical fiber in the light-transmitting resin portion over-molded in the receding recess.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the multi-fiber optical connector according to the second or third aspect, the core component includes a hollow portion for inserting the multi-fiber optical fiber covering portion that opens to the rear end side of the optical connector, and from the front wall surface of the hollow portion. A plurality of side-by-side optical fiber holes penetrating the tip end surface of the core component are provided, and a guide pin hole penetrating the entire optical connector is provided.

  A fifth aspect of the present invention provides the multi-core optical connector according to the second or third aspect, wherein the core component includes a hollow portion for inserting a multi-core optical fiber covering portion that opens to the rear end side of the optical connector, There is a recess opening on the upper surface between the core part front end surface and a hole center between the front wall surface of the hollow part and the recess, and between the front wall surface of the recess and the core part front end surface. Are provided with optical fiber holes on the same straight line and guide pin holes penetrating the entire optical connector.

  In the multi-fiber optical connector according to claim 2, the core component has a shape that constitutes only the connection end surface side portion of the optical connector, and the portion of the light-transmitting resin that is over-molded on the core component includes: The coated portion of the optical fiber is covered, and a guide pin hole that is continuous with the guide pin hole of the core component is formed.

The multi-fiber optical connector according to claim 1 or 2 (multi-fiber optical connector according to the manufacturing method of claim 1 or multi-fiber optical connector according to claim 2) is connected from the end face of one optical fiber. The light is collimated by one collimating lens, is incident on the opposite collimating lens, and is focused on the end face of the other optical fiber.
Since it is parallel light between the collimating lenses, light loss due to reflection is sufficiently small, and it is not necessary to interpose a refractive index matching agent.
Further, the connection end face remains the tip face of the over-molded light-transmitting resin, and there is no need for end polishing as well as PC polishing requiring skill.
Further, since the collimating lenses are formed so as to recede from the front end surface of the optical connector, the collimating lenses do not contact each other. Therefore, even when the connection end face is an oblique end face, no shearing force acts on the collimating lens at the time of butt connection, and naturally there is no possibility that the shearing force acts on the optical fiber to cause chipping.
Moreover, since the core component having the optical fiber hole and the guide pin hole constitutes at least the connection end surface side portion of the optical connector, if this core component is molded with high accuracy using a highly rigid resin material, positioning accuracy can be improved. A good optical connector is obtained.

  The structure as in claim 3 is suitable as a shape for allowing the light transmitting resin over-molded on the core part to form a connection end face having a collimating lens.

  According to the fourth or fifth aspect, since the portion of the core component that is molded with high rigidity with high rigidity resin occupies almost the entire portion related to the positioning accuracy in the optical connector main body, an optical connector with good positioning accuracy can be obtained. .

  According to the sixth aspect, since the core component constitutes only the connection end surface side portion of the optical connector of the optical connector, that is, the proportion of the core component requiring high-precision molding in the optical connector main body is reduced. The cost of the connector can be reduced.

It is a perspective view of the core component which is the resin molded product of the halfway process step in the manufacturing method of the multi-fiber optical connector of one Example of this invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a stage where a multi-core optical fiber is inserted into the core component of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a multi-fiber optical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention obtained by over-molding a light-transmitting resin on the core component of FIG. 2. It is a top view of the core component of FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view (AA sectional drawing of FIG. 4) of FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of FIG. It is a principal part enlarged view of FIG. FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a main part in a state where the multi-fiber optical connectors of FIG. 7 are connected to each other. It is a figure explaining the case where the collimating lens formation part surface of a light transmissive resin is slightly retreated from the front end surface of the guide pin hole formation part of a core part, (a) is sectional drawing of a core part, (b) is light transmittance. It is sectional drawing of the multi-fiber optical connector which carried out over molding of resin. In the above multi-fiber optical connector, an embodiment in which a condensing lens is provided instead of a collimating lens is shown, and the multi-fiber optical connector of the embodiment is connected to a general multi-fiber optical connector. FIG. 10 is an enlarged view (corresponding to FIG. 9). The other Example of the multi-fiber optical connector of this invention is shown, and is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a core component. It is a perspective view of the multi-core optical connector of one Example of this invention manufactured using the core components of FIG. It is a perspective view of a core component, showing an embodiment where the core component constitutes only the connection end face side portion of the optical connector. FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a stage in which a multi-core optical fiber is inserted into the core component of FIG. 14. FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a multi-fiber optical connector obtained by over-molding a light-transmitting resin on the core component of FIG. 15. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the multi-fiber optical connector of FIG. 1 shows an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a multi-fiber optical connector having an oblique end surface, and is a longitudinal sectional view of the multi-fiber optical connector. The other Example which applied this invention to the multi-core optical connector of a diagonal end surface is shown, and is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a multi-core optical connector. It is a perspective view which shows the prior art example of the multi-fiber optical connector which has a diagonal end surface. It is a figure explaining the problem in the multi-fiber optical connector which has a diagonal end surface.

  Hereinafter, a method for manufacturing a multi-fiber optical connector and a multi-fiber optical connector embodying the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a core component 2 that is a resin-molded product at an intermediate process stage in a method for manufacturing a multi-fiber optical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the multi-fiber optical connector 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention obtained by over-molding the light-transmitting resin 3 on the core component 2 of FIG. FIG. The core component 2 and the light transmissive resin 3 over-molded thereon constitute an optical connector body 4.
This multi-fiber optical connector 1 (hereinafter simply referred to as an optical connector in some cases) is a resin-made multi-fiber optical connector of a pin fitting positioning system having guide pin holes on both sides of a plurality of side-by-side optical fiber holes. The structure corresponds to a JIS C 5981 F12 type multi-core optical fiber connector generally called an MT optical connector.
When the optical connector 1 is manufactured, as shown in FIG. 1, a core component 2 having a plurality of side-by-side optical fiber holes 7 penetrating toward the core component front end surface 6 and guide pin holes 8 on both sides thereof is previously resin. Mold. For example, PPS (polyphenylene sulfide), silicon resin, epoxy resin, or the like can be used as the resin material of the core component 2.
As shown in the plan view of FIG. 4 and the longitudinal sectional view of FIG. 5, the core component 2 shown in FIG. 4 is for inserting a multi-core optical fiber covering portion that opens to the rear end side of the optical connector (right side in FIGS. 4 and 5). The hollow portion 10 is provided, and a recess 11 that opens to the upper surface is provided between the front wall surface 10a of the hollow portion 10 and the core component front end surface 6, and the front wall surface 10a of the hollow portion 10 and the recess 11 Between the front wall surface 11a of the recess 11 and the core component front end surface 6, optical fiber holes 7 and 7 ′ having hole centers on the same straight line are provided. An optical fiber hole on the tip side of the core part is indicated by 7 and an optical fiber hole on the hollow part 10 side is indicated by 7 ′. A flange 9 is formed at the rear end of the core component 2.
A portion of the core component 2 where the optical fiber hole 7 is formed on the tip end side of the core component (referred to as an optical fiber hole forming portion 2a) is a tip surface of the guide pin hole forming portion 2b that forms the guide pin holes 8 on both sides of the core component 2. It is a recess that is further recessed in a step shape (referred to as a step-shaped recess 2c). Of the core component tip surface 6, the core component tip surface of the optical fiber hole forming portion 2a is indicated by 6a, and the core component tip surface of the guide pin hole forming portion 2b is indicated by 6b.
Further, the upper surface 2d and the lower surface 2e of the optical fiber hole forming portion 2a of the core component 2 are also recessed in a step shape from the upper surface of the guide pin hole forming portion 2b.

Next, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 6, the core component 2 in a state where an optical fiber tape (multi-fiber optical fiber) 13 composed of a plurality of single-core optical fibers 12 is covered with a rubber boot 14. The optical fiber (bare fiber) 12a is passed through the optical fiber hole 7 ′ on the hollow part 10 side and the optical fiber hole 7 on the tip side of the core part. In this case, the tip surface of the optical fiber 12a may be slightly protruded (for example, 0.1 mm) from the core component tip surface 6a of the optical fiber hole forming portion 2a.
Next, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, the core component 2 in the optical fiber inserted state of FIGS. 2 and 6 is over-molded with the light-transmitting resin 3, so that the core component 2 and the light-transmitting resin 3 are overmolded. An optical connector body 4 is formed. In this case, as shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 in which the main part is enlarged, the light-transmitting resin 3 is covered so as to cover the core component front end surface 6a of the optical fiber hole forming portion 2a including the optical fiber front end surface. Then, over-molding is performed so that the collimating lens 3a is formed in a manner of retreating from the front end surface of the optical connector at the front position of the front end of the optical fiber. Thereby, the optical connector 1 in which the collimating lens 3a is formed facing the optical fiber 12a embedded in the over-molded light-transmitting resin 3 is obtained.

It is preferable to form a fine concavo-convex structure for suppressing reflection on the surface of the collimating lens 3a. This fine concavo-convex structure is a surface structure having periodic concavo-convex shorter than the wavelength of light, and is also called a sub-wavelength grating, and has an extremely high antireflection effect. This fine concavo-convex structure can be formed at the time of over-molding the light-transmitting resin by using a mold having fine undulations on the surface.
In this embodiment, the tip surface (that is, the collimating lens forming portion surface) 3c of the portion (that is, the light transmitting resin front end portion) 3b that covers the core component tip surface of the optical fiber hole forming portion 2a in the light transmitting resin 3 is guided. It protrudes slightly forward from the front end surface 6b of the pin hole forming portion 2b, and therefore the collimating lens forming portion surface 3c is the front end surface of the optical connector. The collimating lens 3a is formed in a recess 3d provided on the collimating lens forming surface 3c.
The light transmissive resin 3 is filled in the front surface portion (stepped recess 2c), the upper surface portion 2d, the lower surface portion 2e, and the recess 11 of the optical fiber hole forming portion 2a in the core component 2. The light transmitting resin (light transmitting resin front end portion) 3b of the front surface portion (stepped recess) 2c of the optical fiber hole forming portion 2a is recessed through the light transmitting resin of the upper surface portion 6d and the lower surface portion 6e. Since it is integrated with the 11 light transmissive resin, it is firmly and integrally bonded so as not to be peeled off from the core component 2.
As the light transmissive resin, a resin having a refractive index close to that of the core of the optical fiber is used. For example, PC (polycarbonate), ZEONEX (amorphous cycloolefin polymer: registered trademark), Ultem natural (polyetherimide: registered trademark), PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate), modified polyolefin, and the like can be used.
These light transmissive resins can be injection molded.
The guide pin hole 8 penetrates the entire core component 2 and therefore penetrates the entire optical connector 1.
In this case, the mold for over-molding the light-transmitting resin 3 may have a simple shape because the core part 2 itself constitutes a part of the mold. However, it has an inner surface that matches the surface shape of the collimating lens 3a.

When the optical connectors 1 are brought into contact with each other, as shown in FIG. 9, the light emitted from the end face of the optical fiber 12a of the optical connector 1 on one side (the right side in the figure) becomes parallel light by the collimator lens 3a, Is incident on the collimating lens 3a of the other optical connector 1 (left side in the figure), and is focused on the end face (end face of the core) of the other optical fiber.
Since the collimated lenses 3a and 3a are parallel light, even if there is an air layer between them, the light loss due to reflection is sufficiently small, and it is not necessary to interpose a refractive index matching agent. In addition, when a fine concavo-convex structure is formed on the surface of the collimating lens 3a, further antireflection is achieved.
Further, the connection end face remains the tip face of the over-molded light-transmitting resin, and there is no need for end polishing as well as PC polishing requiring skill.
Further, since the collimating lens 3a is formed so as to recede from the front end surface of the optical connector (in this embodiment, the collimating lens forming portion surface 3c of the light transmitting resin 3), the collimating lenses 3a do not contact each other. .
Therefore, even when the connection end face is an oblique end face, no shearing force acts on the collimating lens at the time of butt connection, and naturally there is no possibility that the shearing force acts on the optical fiber to cause chipping.
Further, since the optical fiber holes 7 and 7 'and the guide pin hole 8 are formed in the core part 12, if the core part 12 is molded with high accuracy using a highly rigid resin material, light with good positioning accuracy is obtained. A connector is obtained.
In this way, without using a refractive index matching agent, PC polishing that requires skill is of course not required for end surface polishing, light loss due to reflection can be reduced, and even when an inclined end surface is used, matching is performed. A multi-fiber optical connector in which shearing force acts on the optical fiber at the time of connection and there is no fear of chipping can be obtained.
In FIG. 9, the tip surfaces (collimating lens forming surface 3c) of the two optical connectors 1 are brought into contact with each other for connector connection. However, even if the tip surfaces are slightly separated, optical connection without loss due to reflection is achieved. Is possible.
The collimating lens forming surface 3c of the light transmissive resin 3 in this embodiment slightly protrudes from the tip surface 6b of the guide pin hole forming portion 2b of the core component 2 as shown in FIGS. It may be flush with the tip surface 6b of the guide pin hole forming portion 2b or may be retracted.
When retracting, as shown in FIG. 10A, the stepped recess 2c of the optical fiber hole forming portion 2a of the core part 2 is made deeper than the above-described embodiment (see FIG. 5). When the light-transmitting resin 3 is over-molded, the collimating lens 3a is made to recede from the tip surface 6b of the guide pin hole forming portion 2b of the core component 2 as shown in FIG. In this case, it is not necessary to provide the recess 3d of the above-described embodiment in the portion where the collimating lens 3a is formed. When the connector is connected, the guide pin hole forming portions 2b of the core component 2 are in contact with each other, and the portion of the light transmissive resin 3 is not in contact.

Like the core part 2 of the embodiment, the configuration in which the tip surface of the optical fiber hole forming portion 2a is a stepped recess recess 2c that is stepped back from the tip surface of the guide pin hole forming portion 2b on both sides thereof. The light-transmitting resin 3 over-molded on the core component is suitable as a shape for forming the collimating lens 3a in front of the optical fiber hole forming portion 2a.
Further, in the optical connector 1 of the embodiment, the portion of the core component 2 that is molded with high accuracy with a highly rigid resin occupies almost the entire portion related to the positioning accuracy in the optical connector main body 4, so that the optical connector with good positioning accuracy. Is obtained.

FIG. 11 shows a main part of a multi-fiber optical connector 1A according to another embodiment of the present invention. This multi-fiber optical connector 1A is obtained by forming a condensing lens 3A in place of the collimating lens 3a formed on the light-transmitting resin 3 in the multi-fiber optical connector 1 of FIGS. The other parts are the same as those of the multi-fiber optical connector 1 shown in FIGS.
The multi-fiber optical connector 1A can be used when connecting to a general multi-fiber optical connector 50 as shown in the figure. The general multi-fiber optical connector 50 refers to a standard multi-fiber optical connector of a pin fitting positioning system defined by JIS C 5981 (F12 type multi-fiber optical fiber connector).
The light emitted from the end face of the optical fiber 12a of the multi-fiber optical connector 1A is collected by the condensing lens 3A as shown in the figure, and the end face (core) of the optical fiber 50a of the general multi-core optical connector 50 facing the core. Focus on the end face. Therefore, light loss due to reflection is sufficiently small, and it is not necessary to interpose a refractive index matching agent. Other effects are the same as those of the above-described embodiment in the case of the collimating lens.

In the core component 2 of the above-described embodiment, the hollow portion 10 for inserting the multi-core optical fiber covering portion is separated from the optical fiber hole 7 on the distal end side of the core component by the wall portion (portion where the optical fiber hole 7 ′ is formed). However, as in the core part 2 ′ shown in FIG. 12, the optical fiber hole 7 on the tip side of the core part is formed directly from the front wall surface 10a ′ of the hollow part 10 ′ for inserting the multi-core optical fiber covering part. It may be. In the illustrated example, the hollow portion 10 ′ for inserting the multi-fiber optical fiber covering portion has a portion on the front wall surface 10a ′ side opened to the upper surface side (the upper surface opening portion is indicated by 10b ′). Portions common to the core component 2 in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 13, the optical fiber 12 is inserted into the core component 2 ′, and the optically transparent resin 3 ′ is covered so as to cover the core component tip surface of the optical fiber hole forming portion including the optical fiber tip surface. Then, over-molding is performed so that the collimating lens 3a is formed in a manner of retreating from the front end surface of the optical connector at the front position of the front end of the optical fiber. 4 'is an optical connector body, and 14 is a rubber boot.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a core part 22 that is a resin molded product at an intermediate process stage in a method for manufacturing a multi-fiber optical connector according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 15 is an optical fiber tape core wire in the core part 22 of FIG. (Multi-fiber optical fiber) 13 is a perspective view at the stage of insertion, FIG. 16 is a multi-fiber optical connector of another embodiment of the present invention obtained by over-molding a light-transmitting resin 23 on the core component 22 of FIG. FIG. 17 is a perspective view of FIG. 21, and FIG. The core component 22 and the light transmissive resin 23 over-molded thereon constitute an optical connector body 24.
In this embodiment, the core component 22 has a shape that constitutes only the connection end face side portion (left side portion in FIG. 17) of the optical connector 21.
The core part 22 is formed with guide pin holes 28 penetrating the entire core part on both sides of a flat optical fiber hole forming portion 22a in which a plurality of side-by-side optical fiber holes 27 penetrating the entire core part are formed. The cylindrical guide pin hole forming portion 22b is provided.
The core component front end surface 26a of the optical fiber hole forming portion 22a is a recess (referred to as a stepped retreat recess 22c) that is stepped back from the core component front end surface 26b of the guide pin hole forming portion 22b.
Further, the height dimension of the guide pin hole forming portion 22b (the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion) is larger than the height dimension of the optical fiber hole forming portion 22a. Therefore, the upper surface 22d and the lower surface 22e of the optical fiber hole forming portion 22a are also guide pins. It is recessed with respect to the hole forming part 22b.

As shown in FIG. 15, the optical fiber hole 27 of the core component 22 is simply put in the state where the rubber boot 14 is put on the covering portion of the optical fiber tape (multi-fiber optical fiber) 13 composed of a plurality of single-core optical fibers 12. The optical fiber (bare fiber) 12a of the core optical fiber 12 is inserted and fixed with an adhesive.
In this case, the distal end surface of the optical fiber 12a may be slightly protruded from the core component distal end surface 26a of the optical fiber hole forming portion 22a.
Next, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the core component 22 in the optical fiber insertion state of FIG. 15 is coated with a light-transmitting resin 23, and the core component distal end surface 26 a of the optical fiber hole forming portion 22 a is replaced with the optical fiber distal end surface. It is over-molded so that the collimating lens 23a is formed in such a manner that the collimating lens 23a is formed so as to be covered and covered with the front position of the front end of the optical fiber. Thereby, the optical connector 21 in which the collimating lens 23a is formed facing the optical fiber 12a embedded in the over-molded light transmissive resin 23 is obtained. An optical connector body composed of the core component 22 and the light transmitting resin 23 is indicated by 24.
In this case, the mold for over-molding the light-transmitting resin 23 has a shape in which the inner surface of the cavity has the contour of the optical connector main body 24 and the guide pin hole continuing to the guide pin hole 28 of the core component 22 is light. It has a structure having a core for forming in the transparent resin portion, and further has an inner surface that matches the surface shape of the collimating lens 23a.
23b is a front end portion of the light transmitting resin 23 (a portion covering the front end surface 26b of the optical fiber hole forming portion 22a of the core part 22), and 23c is a surface of the collimating lens forming portion of the light transmitting resin 23 (front end portion of the light transmitting resin). Reference numeral 23b indicates a recess in which the collimating lens 3a is formed.
In this optical connector 21, since the core component 22 constitutes only the connection end face side portion of the optical connector 21, that is, the proportion of the core component requiring high-precision molding in the optical connector main body 24 is reduced. The cost can be reduced.
Moreover, since the shape of the core component 22 is a simple shape symmetrical in the vertical and horizontal directions, a highly accurate core component with little molding distortion can be easily obtained during resin molding.

The multi-fiber optical connector 31 shown in FIG. 18 is an embodiment when applied to a multi-fiber optical connector whose connection end face is an oblique end face.
In this figure, the structure of the core part 32 is the same as the core part 2 'shown in FIGS. The optically transparent resin 33 is over-molded with the optical fiber 12 a inserted into the core part 32.
In this case, an oblique end surface 33c is formed on the front end portion (the portion covering the core component tip surface 36a of the optical fiber hole forming portion 32a of the core component 32) 33b, and the oblique end surface. A collimating lens 33a is formed at a position forward of the tip of the optical fiber 12a at 33c so as to recede from the oblique end face (tip face of the optical connector) 33c. The core part 32 and the light transmissive resin portion 33 constitute an optical connector body 34.

As described with reference to FIG. 21, in the optical connector having the connection end face as the oblique end face, when the connector is connected and the oblique end faces of both optical connectors are brought into contact with each other and a pressing force is applied, there is a clearance between the guide pin hole and the guide pin. In some cases, a shearing force acts on the optical fibers that are abutted to each other and may be damaged.
However, in the optical connector 31 having the oblique end surface as described above, since the collimating lens 33a is formed in such a manner that the collimating lens 33a recedes from the front end surface 33c of the optical connector, the collimating lenses 33a do not contact each other. No shear force acts on the collimating lens 33a at the time of connection, and naturally there is no possibility that the shear force acts on the optical fiber 12a to cause chipping.
In addition, the same effects as those of the optical connectors of the above-described embodiments can be obtained.

The multi-fiber optical connector 41 shown in FIG. 19 is an embodiment applied to a multi-fiber optical connector whose connection end face is an oblique end face, but the optical fiber hole formation of the core part 32 in the core part 32 of FIG. The core part front end surface itself of the portion 32a is inclined. That is, the light transmitting resin 43 is over-molded so that the core component tip surface 46a of the optical fiber hole forming portion 42a of the core component 42 is an inclined surface and an end surface parallel to the tip inclined surface 46a is formed. Then, the oblique end surface 43c is formed on the light transmissive resin front end portion 43b. A collimating lens 43a is formed on the oblique end surface 43c. The core component 42 and the light transmissive resin portion 43 constitute an optical connector main body 44.
Also in this optical connector 41, the same effect as the optical connector 31 of FIG. 18 is acquired.

1, 1 ', 21, 31, 41 Optical connector (multi-fiber optical connector)
2, 2 ', 22, 32, 42 Core parts 2a, 22a, 32a, 42a Optical fiber hole forming portions 2b, 22b Guide pin hole forming portions 2c, 22c Stepped recess (retract recess)
2d, 22d Upper surface 2e (of optical fiber hole forming portion) 22e, Lower surface 3, 3 ', 23, 33, 43 (optical fiber hole forming portion) Light transmitting resin 3a, 23a, 33a, 43a Collimating lens 3A Condensing Lenses 3b, 23b, 33b, and 43b Light-transmitting resin front end portions 3c, 23c, 33c, and 43c Collimating lens forming portion surface (optical connector tip surface)
3d, 23d Recess 4, 4 ', 24, 34, 44 Optical connector body 6, 26 Core component tip surface 6a, 26a, 36a, 46a Core component tip surface 6b, 26b Guide pin hole forming portion of optical fiber hole forming portion Core component front end surfaces 7 and 27 Optical fiber hole 7 'Optical fiber hole 8 and 28 Guide pin hole 9 Cavity 10 and 10' (for inserting a multi-core optical fiber coating) Hollow portions 10a and 10a ' ) Front wall surface 10b 'Upper surface opening portion 11 Recess 11a (Recessed) Front wall surface 12 Single-core optical fiber (fiber optic strand)
12a Optical fiber (bare fiber)
13 Optical fiber ribbon (multi-fiber optical fiber)
14 Rubber boot 50 General multi-fiber optical connector 50a Optical fiber

Claims (6)

A method of manufacturing a multi-fiber optical connector for manufacturing a multi-fiber optical connector made of a resin of a pin fitting positioning method having guide pin holes on both sides of a plurality of side-by-side optical fiber holes,
Resin-molding in advance a core component that has a plurality of side-by-side optical fiber holes penetrating toward the tip end surface of the core component and guide pin holes on both sides thereof and constitutes at least the connection end surface side portion of the optical connector,
The optical fiber hole forming part in the core part is a recess whose core part front end surface is recessed with respect to the core part front end surface of the guide pin hole forming part,
With the optical fiber inserted into the optical fiber hole of the core part, a light transmitting resin is applied to the core part, and at least the core part front end surface of the optical fiber hole forming part is the optical fiber except for the core part front end face of the guide pin hole forming part. Manufacturing of a multi-fiber optical connector characterized by over-molding so that a collimating lens is formed so as to cover the front end surface and to recede from the front end surface of the optical connector at a position in front of the front end of the optical fiber. Method. A pin-fitting positioning type resin multi-fiber optical connector having guide pin holes on both sides of a plurality of side-by-side optical fiber holes,
Pre-resin-molded core components that have a plurality of side-by-side optical fiber holes penetrating toward the front end surface of the core components and guide pin holes on both sides thereof and constitute at least the connection end surface side portion of the optical connector;
With the optical fiber inserted into the optical fiber hole of the core component, the core component includes at least the core component distal end surface of the optical fiber hole forming portion including the optical fiber distal end surface except for the core component distal end surface of the guide pin hole forming portion. A transparent resin part over-molded to cover,
The optical fiber hole forming part in the core part is a recess whose core part front end surface is recessed with respect to the core part front end surface of the guide pin hole forming part,
The multi-fiber optical connector is characterized in that a collimating lens is formed in a manner of retreating from the optical connector front end surface at a position in front of the optical fiber front end in the light transmitting resin portion.   The core component has a recess in which the tip end surface of the core part of the optical fiber hole forming portion is retracted with respect to the tip end surface of the core component of the guide pin hole forming portion. 3. The multi-fiber optical connector according to claim 2, wherein a collimating lens is formed in a manner of retreating from the front end surface of the optical connector at a position in front of the front end of the optical fiber in the conductive resin portion.   The core component includes a hollow portion for inserting a multi-core optical fiber covering portion that opens to the rear end side of the optical connector, and includes a plurality of side-by-side optical fiber holes that penetrate from the front wall surface of the hollow portion to the front end surface of the core component. 4. The multi-fiber optical connector according to claim 2, further comprising a guide pin hole penetrating the entire optical connector.   The core component includes a hollow portion for insertion of a multi-core optical fiber covering portion that opens to the rear end side of the optical connector, and has a recess that opens to the upper surface between the front wall surface of the hollow portion and the front end surface of the core component. An optical fiber hole having a hole center on the same straight line between the front wall surface of the hollow portion and the recess, and between the front wall surface of the recess and the core component front end surface. 4. The multi-fiber optical connector according to claim 2, further comprising a guide pin hole penetrating therethrough.   The core component has a shape that constitutes only the connection end face side portion of the optical connector, and the coated portion of the optical fiber is covered with the light-transmitting resin portion over-molded on the core component, and the core component 3. The multi-fiber optical connector according to claim 2, wherein a guide pin hole is formed continuously with the guide pin hole.

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