JP5290713B2 - Bending connector structure and manufacturing method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a bending connector structure including a plurality of optical fibers arrayed with high accuracy and facilitating assembling, and to provide a method of manufacturing the same. <P>SOLUTION: A 90-degree bent connector structure 1 includes: a multi-core tape optical fiber 10 including a plurality of optical fibers 11 having 90-degree bent parts 11a; a V-grooved ferrule 20 having a plurality of V-grooves 21 in which the fiber end 11b of each optical fiber 11 is arranged; and a cover 30 mounted to an opening 22 of the ferrule 20 so that the fiber end 11b of each optical fiber 11 stored in the ferrule 20 is pressed to each V-groove 31 by an end face 30a. Space 40 between the cover 30 and the ferrule 20 is filled with resin 41. Each fiber end 11b is arranged with high accuracy by the accuracy of the V-groove 21, so that the work for assembling a second ferrule 50 to the ferrule 20 can be facilitated. The 90-degree bent part 11a is surrounded with resin 41 and held in the space 40, thereby the fiber end 11b is not broken. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a bending connector structure used for bending the light propagation direction to 90 degrees, for example, and a method for manufacturing the same.

  In an optical transmission system using an optical fiber, for example, in a data communication service (FTTH: Fiber To The Home) for home using an optical fiber, when the optical fiber is wired in a building of a user's house, the light propagation direction For example, a bent connector structure is required to bend at 90 degrees.

As such a bent connector structure, a plurality of optical fibers each having a 90-degree bent portion are accommodated in a connector-like container (ferrule), and the fiber ends of the plurality of optical fibers on the end side from the 90 bent portion are arranged. A connector that is inserted into a plurality of fiber holding holes formed in a ferrule to form a connector is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP 2003-315611 A

However, in the above prior art, since only the fiber ends of the plurality of optical fibers are held by the plurality of fiber holding holes of the ferrule, it is difficult to arrange the plurality of optical fibers with high accuracy and to assemble them. was there. Further, when the optical fiber is a silica-based fiber that is a glass optical fiber, the bent portion may be broken during assembly.
The present invention has been made in view of such conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a bent connector structure in which a plurality of optical fibers are arranged with high accuracy and easy to assemble, and a method for manufacturing the same. is there.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a bending connector structure according to the invention described in claim 1 includes an optical fiber array including a plurality of optical fibers each having a bending portion, and ends of the plurality of optical fibers from the bending portion. A grooved ferrule having a plurality of positioning grooves and openings for arranging the fiber end portions on the side of the section, and the fiber end portions of the plurality of optical fibers housed in the grooved ferrule as the plurality of positioning grooves And a lid mounted on the opening so as to be pressed by the end face, and a resin is filled in a space between the lid and the grooved ferrule.

  According to this configuration, the space between the lid and the grooved ferrule in a state in which the fiber end on the end side from the bent portion of the plurality of optical fibers is pressed against the positioning groove of the grooved ferrule by the end surface of the lid. Is filled with resin. For this reason, the fiber end portions of the plurality of optical fibers are arranged with high accuracy with the accuracy of the positioning grooves and protrude from the grooved ferrule. Therefore, it is possible to realize a bent connector structure in which a plurality of optical fibers are arranged with high accuracy and easy to assemble.

The bent connector structure according to the invention of claim 2 further includes a second ferrule having a plurality of fiber holding holes that respectively hold the fiber end portions of the plurality of optical fibers, and the second ferrule includes It is fixed to a ferrule with a groove.
According to this configuration, the fiber ends of the plurality of optical fibers are arranged with high accuracy in the positioning groove and protrude from the grooved ferrule, so that the fiber ends of the plurality of optical fibers are connected to the second ferrule. The operation of assembling the second ferrule to the grooved ferrule so as to be inserted through the plurality of fiber holding holes is facilitated.

  Further, when the fiber end portions of the plurality of optical fibers are respectively inserted into the plurality of fiber holding holes of the second ferrule, the bent portions of the plurality of optical fibers are resin in the space between the grooved ferrule and the lid. Since it is surrounded and held, the fiber end portion is not broken. Furthermore, the fiber end portions of the plurality of optical fibers are arranged with high accuracy with the accuracy of the positioning grooves, and also with high accuracy with the accuracy of the plurality of fiber holding holes. A bent connector structure suitable for the required single mode fiber can be realized.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the bent connector structure, an inlet for filling a resin in a space between the lid and the grooved ferrule is provided in at least one of the grooved ferrule and the lid. It is formed, and the space is filled with resin from the inlet. According to this configuration, the resin can be injected into the space from the injection port formed in at least one of the grooved ferrule and the lid after mounting the lid on the opening of the grooved ferrule. It is possible to realize a bent connector structure that is easy to do.

  The bending connector structure according to the invention of claim 4 is characterized in that the bent portion is a 90-degree bent portion. According to this configuration, since the fiber ends on the end side from the bent portions of the plurality of optical fibers are arranged with high accuracy with the positioning groove accuracy, and protrude vertically from the grooved ferrule, The operation of assembling the second ferrule into the grooved ferrule is further facilitated so that the fiber end portion of the optical fiber is inserted through the plurality of fiber holding holes of the second ferrule.

  The bending connector structure according to the invention described in claim 5 is characterized in that the positioning groove 21 is a V-groove. According to this configuration, the fiber end portions of the plurality of optical fibers are in contact at three points, that is, one contact point with the end face of the lid and two contact points of the V groove that is the positioning groove of the grooved ferrule. Thus, the fiber ends of the plurality of optical fibers are arranged with high accuracy with the accuracy of the V-groove.

  The bent connector structure according to the invention of claim 6 is characterized in that each of the plurality of fiber holding holes of the second ferrule has a tapered hole at a fiber insertion side end. According to this configuration, since the plurality of fiber holding holes of the second ferrule have the tapered holes at the end portions on the fiber insertion side, the fibers of the plurality of optical fibers arranged with high accuracy with the positioning groove accuracy. Each of the plurality of fiber holding holes can be easily inserted without breaking the end portion.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bending connector structure manufacturing method comprising: an optical fiber array including a plurality of optical fibers each having a bending portion; and a fiber end of the plurality of optical fibers on an end side of the bending portion. A grooved ferrule having a plurality of positioning grooves and openings for arranging the portions, and a lid attached to the opening, and accommodating the plurality of optical fibers in the grooved ferrule, Attaching the lid to the opening so that the fiber ends of the plurality of optical fibers housed in the grooved ferrule are pressed against the plurality of positioning grooves at the end face; and the grooved ferrule and the groove Injecting resin into a space between the lid and the grooved ferrule from an inlet formed in at least one of the lids.

  According to this configuration, the space between the lid and the grooved ferrule in a state in which the fiber end on the end side from the bent portion of the plurality of optical fibers is pressed against the positioning groove of the grooved ferrule by the end surface of the lid. Since the resin is filled in the fiber ends, the fiber end portions of the plurality of optical fibers are arranged with high accuracy with the positioning groove accuracy and protrude from the grooved ferrule. Therefore, it is possible to realize a bent connector structure in which a plurality of optical fibers are arranged with high accuracy and easy to assemble.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bending connector structure manufacturing method comprising: an optical fiber array including a plurality of optical fibers each having a bending portion; and a fiber end of the plurality of optical fibers closer to the end portion than the bending portion. A grooved ferrule having a plurality of positioning grooves and openings for arranging the portions, a lid attached to the opening, and a second ferrule having a plurality of fiber holding holes, and the plurality of light A step of accommodating a fiber in the grooved ferrule; and opening the lid so as to press the fiber end portions of the plurality of optical fibers accommodated in the grooved ferrule against the plurality of positioning grooves at an end surface. A resin is introduced into a space between the lid and the grooved ferrule from an inlet formed in at least one of the grooved ferrule and the lid. Injecting, the fiber ends of the plurality of optical fibers protruding from the grooved ferrules are respectively inserted into the plurality of fiber holding holes of the second ferrule, and the second ferrules are grooved Fixing to a ferrule.

  According to this configuration, the fiber ends on the end side with respect to the bent portions of the plurality of optical fibers are arranged with high accuracy with the positioning groove and protrude from the grooved ferrule. The operation of assembling the second ferrule to the grooved ferrule is facilitated so that the portions are respectively inserted into the plurality of fiber holding holes of the second ferrule. Further, when the fiber end portions of the plurality of optical fibers are respectively inserted into the plurality of fiber holding holes of the second ferrule, the fiber end portions are not broken. Furthermore, the fiber end portions of the plurality of optical fibers are arranged with high accuracy with the accuracy of the positioning grooves, and also with high accuracy with the accuracy of the plurality of fiber holding holes. A bent connector structure suitable for the required single mode fiber can be realized.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to realize a bent connector structure in which a plurality of optical fibers are arranged with high accuracy and easy to assemble.

  Next, an embodiment of a 90-degree bending connector structure and a manufacturing method thereof embodying the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(One embodiment)
A 90-degree bent connector structure 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a 90-degree bent connector structure 1 according to an embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the 90-degree bent connector structure 1 shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a multi-core tape optical fiber as an optical fiber array including a plurality of optical fibers each having a 90-degree bent portion. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a ferrule with a V groove. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a second ferrule (ferrule having a connector end face) having a plurality of fiber holding holes, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. FIG. 7 is an explanatory view used for explaining the assembly work of the 90-degree bent connector structure, and FIG. 8 is an explanatory view used for explaining the assembly work performed after the assembly work shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which fiber ends of a plurality of optical fibers are positioned and held.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the 90-degree bent connector structure 1 includes a multi-core tape optical fiber 10 including a plurality of optical fibers 11 each having a 90-degree bent portion 11a, a V-grooved ferrule 20, and a lid. 30 and a second ferrule (ferrule having a connector end face) 50 having a plurality of fiber holding holes 51. Reference numeral “12” shown in FIG. 3 is a coating portion of the multi-fiber ribbon optical fiber 10.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the ferrule 20 with a V-groove includes a plurality of V-grooves 21 which are positioning grooves for arranging the fiber end portions 11 b on the end side from the 90-degree bent portions 11 a of the plurality of optical fibers 11 in a row, And an opening 22. The ferrule 20 with a V groove is a box-shaped container having a bottom wall portion 24, a vertical wall portion 25 on the back side, and left and right side wall portions 26 and 27, and an upper portion and a part of the peripheral wall portion are opened. . A plurality of V grooves, in this example, twelve V grooves 21 are formed on the inner wall surface of the vertical wall portion 25. The bottom wall portion 24 is formed with an injection port 23 for filling the resin. The plurality of V-grooves 21 extend in a direction perpendicular to the bottom wall portion 24.

  Moreover, in this ferrule 20 with a V-groove, the left and right side wall portions 26, 27 are narrow side wall portions 26a, 27a on the back side, and wide side wall portions 26b, 27b on the near side, have. The inner surfaces of the left and right side wall portions 54 and 55 of the second ferrule 50 shown in FIG. 5 can be fitted to the outer surfaces of the left and right side wall portions 26a and 27a having a narrow width. The V-grooved ferrule 20 having such a configuration is a molded body made of a material such as resin.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, the lid 30 includes a first engaging portion 31 having a narrow width and a first engaging portion 31 having a small width that fits to the inner surfaces of the narrow side walls 26 a and 27 a of the ferrule 20 with a V groove. It has the 2nd engaging part 32 with a wide width | variety fitted to the inner surface of the wide side wall part 26b, 27b, respectively. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lid 30 is mounted in the ferrule 20 with a V-groove so that the 90-degree bent portion 11 a and its front and rear portions are accommodated in the ferrule 20 with the V-groove. The fiber end portions 11b of the plurality of optical fibers 11 are pressed against the plurality of V grooves 21 by the end surfaces 30a. When the first engagement portion 31 of the lid 30 presses the fiber end portions 11b of the plurality of optical fibers 11 against the plurality of V-grooves 21 at the end face 30a, a part of the first engagement portion 31 is made of each optical fiber. The thickness of the second engaging portion 32 is smaller than the second engaging portion 32 so that the 90-degree bent portion 11a is not broken by hitting the 90-degree bent portion 11a (see FIG. 2). The lid body 30 having such a configuration is a molded body made of a material such as resin.

  As shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 8, the second ferrule 50 includes a plurality of (in this example, twelve) fiber holding holes 51 that respectively hold the fiber end portions 11 b of the plurality of optical fibers 10, and It has two guide pin holes 52 formed on the left and right of these fiber holding holes 51. In addition, in order to facilitate the insertion of the fiber end portions 11b of the plurality of optical fibers 10 into the fiber holding holes 51 at the fiber insertion side ends of the plurality of fiber holding holes 51 of the second ferrule 50, respectively. The taper holes 53 are respectively formed. A plurality of fiber guide grooves 56 are formed in the plurality of taper holes 53 in order to facilitate the insertion of the fiber end portions 11b of the plurality of optical fibers 10 into the plurality of taper holes 53, respectively. The second ferrule 50 having such a configuration is a molded body made of a material such as resin. In the 90-degree bent connector structure 1, as shown in FIG. 2, a resin 41 is filled in a space 40 between the lid 30 and the ferrule 20 with a V groove.

Next, a manufacturing method of the 90-degree bent connector structure 1 shown in FIG. 1 will be described.
(1) First, the 90-bending portion 11a and the front and rear portions of the plurality of optical fibers 11 shown in FIG. 3 are accommodated in the ferrule 20 with a V groove shown in FIG. 4 (see FIG. 7).

  (2) Next, in the state shown in FIG. 7, the lid body 30 so as to press the fiber end portions 11 b of the plurality of optical fibers 11 accommodated in the ferrule 20 with V grooves against the plurality of V grooves 21 with the end surfaces 30 a. Is attached to the opening 22 of the ferrule 20 with V groove (see FIGS. 2 and 8).

  (3) Next, resin 41 is injected into the space 40 between the lid 30 and the ferrule 20 with V groove from the injection port 23 (see FIG. 4) formed in the ferrule 20 with V groove. Cure (see FIG. 2). Thereby, the fiber end portions 11b of the plurality of optical fibers 11 are arranged with high accuracy with the accuracy of the plurality of V-grooves 21, and protrude vertically from the ferrule 20 with V-grooves (see FIG. 8). The resin 41 is, for example, an ultraviolet curable resin.

(4) Next, the fiber end portions 11b of the plurality of optical fibers 11 protruding from the ferrule 20 with the V-groove are respectively inserted into the plurality of fiber holding holes 51 of the second ferrule 50, and the second ferrule 50 is inserted into the V ferrule 50. The grooved ferrule 20 is fixed with an epoxy adhesive.
Thereby, the 90 degree | times bending connector structure 1 shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 is made.

(5) Next, the end face of the second ferrule 50 of the 90-degree bent connector structure 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and the fiber end portion 11b protruding from the V-grooved ferrule 20 of the plurality of optical fibers 11, Polishing is performed along the line AA in FIG. Thereby, the 90-degree bending connector structure 1 is completed. In this 90-degree bent connector structure 1, guide pins (not shown) are fitted into the two guide pin holes 52, respectively, and these two guide pins are connected to another multi-core ferrule connector (not shown). By fitting into the guide pin hole of the MT connector), it can be connected to another connector such as an MT connector.
According to the embodiment configured as described above, the following operational effects can be obtained.

  (1) Since the fiber end portions 11b of the plurality of optical fibers 11 are arranged with high accuracy with the accuracy of the plurality of V grooves 21 and protrude from the ferrule 20 with V grooves (see FIG. 8), the plurality of optical fibers 11 Assembling the second ferrule 50 to the ferrule 20 with the V groove is facilitated so that the fiber end portions 11b of the second ferrule 20 are respectively inserted into the plurality of fiber holding holes 51 of the second ferrule 20.

  (2) When the fiber end portions 11b of the plurality of optical fibers 11 are inserted through the plurality of fiber holding holes 51 of the second ferrule 50, the 90-degree bent portions 11a of the plurality of optical fibers 11 are formed into ferrules 20 with V grooves. Since the resin 40 is surrounded and held in the space 40 between the optical fiber 11 and the lid body 30 (see FIG. 2), the fiber end portion 11b of each optical fiber 11 is not broken.

  (3) The fiber ends 11b of the plurality of optical fibers 11 are arranged with high accuracy with the accuracy of the plurality of V-grooves 21 and with high accuracy with the accuracy of the plurality of fiber holding holes 51. In addition, it is possible to realize a bent connector structure suitable for a single mode fiber that requires a highly accurate arrangement.

  (4) Since the resin body 41 can be poured into the space 40 from the inlet 23 formed in the grooved ferrule 20 after mounting the lid 30 on the opening 22 of the grooved ferrule 20, assembly is easy. A bent connector structure can be realized.

  (5) As shown in FIG. 9, the fiber end portions 11 b of the plurality of optical fibers 11 have two contact points, that is, one contact point with the end surface 30 a of the lid 30 and each V groove 21 of the ferrule 20 with V grooves. Since it is positioned by contact at three points with the contact point, the fiber end portions 11b of the plurality of optical fibers 11 are arranged with high accuracy with the accuracy of the V groove 21.

  (6) It is possible to realize a bent 90 bent connector structure in which a plurality of optical fibers 11 are arranged with high accuracy and easy to assemble.

  (7) Since the plurality of fiber holding holes 51 of the second ferrule 50 each have the tapered holes 52 at the end portions on the fiber insertion side, the plurality of lights arranged with high accuracy with the accuracy of the plurality of V grooves 21. Each of the plurality of fiber holding holes 51 can be easily inserted without breaking the fiber end portion 11b of the fiber 11. In addition, this invention can also be changed and embodied as follows.

  In the 90-degree bending connector structure 1 according to the above embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the present invention can be applied to a 90-bending connector structure 1 </ b> A that does not use the second ferrule 50. According to the 90-bending connector structure 1A having such a configuration, the lid body 30 in a state where the fiber end portions 11b of the plurality of optical fibers 11A are pressed against the V-groove 21 of the ferrule 20 with the V-groove by the end face 30a of the lid body 30. The resin 41 is filled in the space 40 between the V-grooved ferrule 20. For this reason, the fiber end portions 11b of the plurality of optical fibers 11A are arranged with high accuracy with the accuracy of the V groove 21 and protrude from the ferrule 20 with the V groove. Therefore, it is possible to realize a bent connector structure in which a plurality of optical fibers are arranged with high accuracy and easy to assemble. In the 90-bend connector structure 1A, the multi-mode fiber has a larger diameter than the single-mode fiber and does not require strict positioning accuracy as in the case of the single-mode fiber. realizable.

  In the above embodiment, the injection port (injection port 23) for filling the resin is formed in the ferrule 20 with the V groove, but the injection port is provided in at least one of the ferrule 20 with the V groove and the lid 30. It only has to be formed.

  In the above-described embodiment, the 90-degree bent connector structure using the multi-fiber tape optical fiber 10 including the plurality of optical fibers 11 each having the 90-degree bent portion 11a has been described as an example, but at an angle other than 90 degrees. The present invention is also applicable to a bent connector structure having a configuration using a plurality of optical fibers each having a bent portion.

The perspective view which shows the 90 degree | times bending connector structure which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. The longitudinal cross-sectional view of the 90 degree | times bending connector structure shown in FIG. The perspective view which shows the multi-core tape optical fiber containing the some optical fiber which each has a 90 degree | times bending part. The perspective view which shows the ferrule with a V groove. The perspective view which shows the 2nd ferrule which has a some fiber holding hole. Sectional drawing along the BB line of FIG. Explanatory drawing used for description of assembly work of a 90-degree bending connector structure. Explanatory drawing used for description of the assembly work performed after the assembly work shown in FIG. Sectional drawing which shows a mode that the fiber edge part of a some optical fiber is positioned and hold | maintained. The perspective view which shows another example of a 90 degree | times bending connector structure. The longitudinal cross-sectional view of the 90 degree | times bending connector structure shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,1A ... 90 degree bending connector structure 10 ... Multi-core tape optical fiber (optical fiber array)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11, 11A ... Optical fiber 11a ... 90 degree bending part 11b ... Fiber end part 20 ... Ferrule with V groove 21 ... V groove 22 ... Opening part 30 ... Cover body 30a ... End face 40 ... Space 41 ... Resin 50 ... Second ferrule 51 ... Fiber holding hole 53 ... Tapered hole

Claims (6)

An optical fiber array including a plurality of optical fibers each having a bent portion;
A grooved ferrule having a plurality of positioning grooves and openings for arranging the fiber ends of the plurality of optical fibers closer to the end than the bent portions;
A lid attached to the opening so as to press the fiber end portions of the plurality of optical fibers accommodated in the grooved ferrule to the plurality of positioning grooves at an end surface; and
The space between the lid and the grooved ferrule is filled with resin,
Bending characterized by further comprising a second ferrule having a plurality of fiber holding holes for respectively holding the fiber end portions of the plurality of optical fibers, wherein the second ferrule is fixed to the grooved ferrule. Connector structure. At least one of the grooved ferrule and the lid is formed with an inlet for filling the space between the lid and the grooved ferrule with resin, and resin is introduced into the space from the inlet. The bending connector structure according to claim 1 , wherein the bending connector structure is filled. The bent connector structure according to claim 1 , wherein the bent portion is a 90-degree bent portion. The bending connector structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the positioning groove (21) is a V-groove. 2. The bending connector structure according to claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of fiber holding holes of the second ferrule has a tapered hole at an end portion on a fiber insertion side. An optical fiber array including a plurality of optical fibers each having a bending portion, and a grooved ferrule having a plurality of positioning grooves and openings for arranging fiber ends of the plurality of optical fibers closer to the end than the bending portion. And a lid attached to the opening, and a second ferrule having a plurality of fiber holding holes,
Accommodating the plurality of optical fibers in the grooved ferrule;
Attaching the lid to the opening so as to press the fiber end portions of the plurality of optical fibers housed in the grooved ferrules against the plurality of positioning grooves at an end surface;
Injecting resin into a space between the lid and the grooved ferrule from an inlet formed in at least one of the grooved ferrule and the lid; and
Inserting the fiber end portions of the plurality of optical fibers protruding from the grooved ferrule into the plurality of fiber holding holes of the second ferrule, and fixing the second ferrule to the grooved ferrule. A method for producing a bent connector structure, comprising:

Images