JP6473669B2 - Optical connector and optical connector assembly - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical connector and an optical connector assembly.

  As the optical connector described above, for example, one described in Patent Document 1 has been proposed. The optical connector described above has a housing that accommodates a ferrule attached to an optical fiber terminal. When the optical connector is fitted to the counterpart optical connector, the ends of the optical fiber and the counterpart optical fiber are in contact with each other. Further, a spring for urging the ferrule toward the counterpart optical connector is housed in the housing, so that the optical fibers are well connected.

  However, in the optical connector described above, when the optical fiber is tensioned in the direction away from the counterpart optical connector after being fitted with the counterpart optical connector, it is only pressed by the repulsive force of the spring. The spring is bent, and a large gap is formed on the contact surface between the optical fiber tips. Due to the occurrence of the gap, there has been a problem that stable optical communication is not ensured, leading to various malfunctions of the device.

JP 2014-48408 A

  Then, this invention makes it a subject to provide the optical connector and optical connector assembly which can keep the connection of optical fiber tips stably and favorable.

  The invention according to claim 1 for solving the above-described problem includes a first housing for accommodating a first ferrule attached to a first optical fiber terminal, and a spacer attached to the first housing. When the second housing of the counterpart optical connector is fitted into the first housing, the first optical fiber and the second ferrule accommodated in the second housing are attached. In the optical connector in which the tips of the first and second optical fibers face each other, the spacer is locked to the first ferrule to restrict the movement of the first ferrule along the longitudinal direction of the first optical fiber. And a second restricting portion that engages with the second ferrule and restricts movement of the second ferrule along the longitudinal direction. It resides in that the optical connector.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the spacer includes a base portion that covers a side orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the first housing, and the first restricting portion and the second restricting portion are the base. The optical connector according to claim 1, wherein the optical connector is erected from a portion.

  The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that the spacer has a locking arm for locking to the first housing, and the locking arm is erected from the base portion. 2 in the optical connector.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a first housing and a second housing, which are fitted with each other and accommodate the first ferrule and the second ferrule attached to the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber terminal, respectively. And a spacer attached to the first housing, and when the first housing and the second housing are fitted, the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber are In the optical connector assembly in which the tips are opposed to each other, the spacer is locked to the first ferrule, and the first restriction that restricts the movement of the first ferrule along the longitudinal direction of the first optical fiber. And an optical connector having a second restricting portion that is engaged with the second ferrule and restricts movement of the second ferrule along the longitudinal direction. It resides in assembly.

  As described above, according to the first and fourth aspects of the invention, the front ends of the optical fibers can always keep a constant distance by collectively locking the first ferrule and the second ferrule by the spacer. Connection between the optical fiber tips can be kept stable and good.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the first restricting portion and the second restricting portion are integrally provided with a simple configuration simply by erecting the first restricting portion and the second restricting portion from the base portion. be able to.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the locking arm can be provided with a simple configuration simply by erecting the locking arm from the base portion.

It is a disassembled perspective view which shows one Embodiment of the optical connector assembly incorporating the optical connector of this invention. (A) is a cross-sectional view before inserting the ferrule into the male housing and female housing shown in FIG. 1, and (B) is a cross-sectional view after inserting the ferrule into the male housing and female housing. (A) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view before fitting of a male housing and a female housing, (B) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view after fitting of a male housing and a female housing. (A) is a perspective view when the spacer is temporarily locked to the female housing, (B) is a side view of (A), and (C) is a side view when the spacer is fully locked to the female housing. It is. (A) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view when the spacer is permanently locked to the female housing, and (B) is an enlarged view of the X part of (A).

  Hereinafter, an optical connector assembly and an optical connector according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The optical connector assembly 1 includes a female connector 2 as an optical connector and a male connector 3 as a counterpart optical connector.

  The female connector 2 includes a plastic optical fiber (POF) 21 as a first optical fiber, a ferrule 22 as a first ferrule attached to the tip of the POF 21, and a slit sleeve 23 attached to the tip of the ferrule 22. And a female housing 24 as a first housing for housing the ferrule 22, and a spacer 25 attached to the female housing 24.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the POF 21 includes a core wire 21A and a covering portion 21B that covers the core wire 21A. At the tip of the POF 21, the covering portion 21B is removed and the core wire 21A is exposed.

  The ferrule 22 has a cylindrical main body 22A and an annular flange 22B protruding from the outer surface of the main body 22A. In the present embodiment, three ridges 22B are juxtaposed along the longitudinal direction Y1 of the POF 21. The collar portion 22B is provided in a substantially circular shape, and has a shape in which both sides of the POF 21 in the arrangement direction Y2 are notched. As shown in FIG. 2, a core wire 21 </ b> A at the tip of the POF 21 is passed through the ferrule 22 and fixed by an adhesive or the like. At this time, the front end surface of the ferrule 22 and the front end surface of the POF 21 are arranged on the same plane.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the slit sleeve 23 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and a slit 23A is formed along the longitudinal direction Y1. As shown in FIG. 2 and the like, the tip of the ferrule 22 is inserted into the slit sleeve 23. At this time, the front end surface of the slit sleeve 23 is disposed closer to the male connector 3 than the front surfaces of the ferrule 22 and the POF 21.

  As shown in FIG. 1, two ferrules 22 are accommodated in the female housing 24 in the present embodiment. The female housing 24 is provided with a male connector housing portion 24A for housing a male connector 3 described later and a ferrule housing portion 24B for housing a ferrule 22 along the longitudinal direction Y1. As shown in FIG. 2 and the like, a partition wall 24C that partitions each other is provided between the male connector housing portion 24A and the ferrule housing portion 24B.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the male connector housing portion 24 </ b> A is provided in a rectangular tube shape. The male connector housing portion 24A is formed with an insertion hole 24D into which a second restricting portion 25D of the spacer 25 described later is inserted into a wall portion on one side in the orthogonal direction Y3 orthogonal to both the longitudinal direction Y1 and the alignment direction Y2. Has been. The insertion hole 24D is provided long along the alignment direction Y2.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the male connector housing portion 24 </ b> A is provided with a locking projection 24 </ b> E that fits with a male housing 33 described later on the other wall portion in the orthogonal direction Y <b> 3. The locking protrusion 24E is provided at the end of the male connector 3 in the longitudinal direction Y1 in the male connector housing 24A.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the ferrule housing portion 24 </ b> B is provided in a rectangular tube shape in which a wall portion on one side in the orthogonal direction Y <b> 3 is opened. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ferrule housing portion 24 </ b> B is provided with a pair of locking arms 24 </ b> F that lock the ferrule 22 on the wall portions on both sides in the arrangement direction Y <b> 2 of the ferrule 22.

  Each of the pair of locking arms 24F extends in the longitudinal direction Y1, is configured to have a cantilever structure in which one end is fixed to the ferrule housing portion 24B and the other end is a free end, and is flexible in the arrangement direction Y2. Is provided. As shown in FIG. 2 and the like, a locking protrusion 24G that protrudes toward the inside of the ferrule housing portion 24B is provided at the free end of the locking arm 24F, and the locking protrusion 24G is locked to the flange portion 22B of the ferrule 22. To do.

  Moreover, as shown in FIG. 1 etc., the ferrule accommodating part 24B is provided with a pair of locking holes 24H that are locked to spacers 25 described later on the wall parts on both sides in the alignment direction Y2. Each of the pair of locking holes 24H is provided long along the orthogonal direction Y3. The locking hole 24H is provided closer to the male connector 3 than the pair of locking arms 24F.

  Further, in the ferrule housing part 24B, a pair of groove parts 24I are formed in the wall part on the other side in the orthogonal direction Y3 so that the other side in the orthogonal direction Y3 of the flange part 22B is slidably fitted along the longitudinal direction Y1. Each of the pair of grooves 24I is formed in a circular arc shape in cross section, extends along the longitudinal direction Y1, and is formed side by side in the alignment direction Y2.

  As shown in FIG. 2 and the like, the partition wall 24C is provided with a through hole 24J through which the ferrule 22 passes, and is provided with a cylindrical wall portion 24K standing from the periphery of the through hole 24J toward the male connector housing portion 24A. ing. A slit sleeve 23 attached to the tip of the ferrule 22 is fitted into the cylindrical wall portion 24K so as to be slidable along the longitudinal direction Y1.

  Next, the configuration of the male connector 3 will be described before the configuration of the spacer 25 is described. As shown in FIG. 1 and the like, the male connector 3 includes a POF 31 as a second optical fiber, a ferrule 32 as a second ferrule attached to the tip of the POF 31, and a second housing that houses the ferrule 32. And a male housing 33.

  The POF 31 includes a core wire 31A and a covering portion 31B that covers the core wire 31A, like the POF 21. At the tip of the POF 31, the covering portion 31B is removed and the core wire 31A is exposed.

  Similar to the ferrule 22, the ferrule 32 has a cylindrical main body 32A and an annular flange 32B protruding from the outer surface of the main body 32A. In the present embodiment, three collar portions 32B are provided so as to protrude along the longitudinal direction Y1. As shown in FIG. 2, a core wire 31 </ b> A at the tip of the POF 31 is passed through the ferrule 32 and fixed by an adhesive or the like. At this time, the end face of the ferrule 32 and the end face of the POF 31 are arranged on the same plane.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the male housing 33 has a distal end accommodating portion 33A that accommodates the distal end of the ferrule 32 and a rear end accommodating portion 33B that accommodates the rear end side of the flange portion 32B of the ferrule 32 in the longitudinal direction Y1. Are arranged side by side. As shown in FIG. 1, in the present embodiment, two ferrules 32 are accommodated in the male housing 33 similarly to the female housing 24. For this reason, two accommodation holes 33C for accommodating the two ferrules 32 are provided penetrating in the longitudinal direction Y1 in the distal end accommodation portion 33A and the rear end accommodation portion 33B.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, the distal end accommodating portion 33A is slidably fitted along the longitudinal direction Y1 in the male connector accommodating portion 24A described above, and the cylindrical wall portion 24K slides in the accommodating hole 33C. Fits freely. That is, the inner diameter of the accommodation hole 33C formed on the distal end side of the distal end accommodation portion 33A is substantially the same as or slightly larger than the outer diameter of the cylindrical wall portion 24K.

  The inner diameter of the accommodation hole 33C formed on the rear end side of the distal end accommodation portion 33A is smaller than that of the distal end side, and the main body portion 32A of the ferrule 32 is slidably fitted along the longitudinal direction Y1. That is, the inner diameter of the accommodation hole 33C formed on the rear end side of the distal end accommodation portion 33A is substantially the same as or slightly larger than the outer diameter of the main body portion 32A. Further, a locking projection 33E that locks with the locking projection 24E of the female connector 2 protrudes outward from the wall portion on the other side in the vertical direction Y3 of the tip housing portion 33A.

  As shown in FIG. 2 and the like, the rear end accommodating portion 33B is provided with a pair of locking arms 33F that are locked to the ferrule 32 on the walls on both sides of the alignment direction Y2. Each of the pair of locking arms 33F extends along the longitudinal direction Y1, and is configured in a cantilever structure in which one end is fixed to the rear end accommodating portion 33B and the other end is a free end, and can be arranged in the arrangement direction Y2. It is provided flexibly. The free end of the locking arm 33F is provided with a locking projection 33G protruding toward the inside of the rear end accommodating portion 33B, and the locking projection 33G is locked to the flange portion 32B of the ferrule 32. Further, as shown in FIG. 3 and the like, an insertion hole 33H into which a second restricting portion 25D of the spacer 25 described later is inserted is formed on one side in the vertical direction Y3 of the rear end accommodating portion 33B.

  Next, let us return to the configuration of the spacer 25 that constitutes the female connector 2. As shown in FIG. 1, the spacer 25 includes a substantially plate-like base portion 25A that covers one side of the female housing 24 in the orthogonal direction Y3, a partition wall 25B that is erected in the orthogonal direction Y3 from the base portion 25A, and a first restriction. 25C, 2nd control part 25D, and a pair of latching arm 25E are provided.

  The base portion 25A is provided so as to cover a wall portion on one side of the vertical direction Y3 of the male connector housing portion 24A and an opening provided on the one side of the vertical direction Y3 of the ferrule housing portion 24B. Further, in the base portion 25A, a pair of groove portions 25A1 in which one side in the orthogonal direction Y3 of the flange portion 22B is slidably fitted along the longitudinal direction Y1 is formed in a portion covering the opening of the ferrule housing portion 24B. Each of the pair of grooves 25A1 is formed in an arc shape in cross section, extends along the longitudinal direction Y1, and is formed side by side in the alignment direction Y2.

  The partition wall 25B is erected from between the pair of groove portions 25A1 and 25A1 and extends in the longitudinal direction Y1. The partition wall 25 </ b> B is a wall portion that partitions the ferrule housing portion 24 </ b> B into the number of ferrules 22. In this embodiment, one partition wall 25B is provided, the ferrule housing portion 24B is partitioned into two, and one ferrule 22 is housed in each of the spaces partitioned by the partition wall 25B.

  The first restricting portion 25C is engaged with the ferrule 22 and restricts the movement of the ferrule 22 along the longitudinal direction Y1. The first restricting portion 25C is provided so as to protrude from the partition wall 25B and the groove portion 25A1, and when the spacer 25 is locked at the main locking position as shown in FIG. 5, the longitudinal direction Y1 of the three flange portions 22B. Are inserted between the two on the male connector 3 side and locked to the two flange portions 22B.

  The second restricting portion 25D is engaged with a ferrule 32 housed in a male connector 3 described later, and restricts the movement of the ferrule 32 along the longitudinal direction Y1. As shown in FIG. 1, the second restricting portion 25 </ b> D is configured by a wall portion extending in the alignment direction Y <b> 2, and both ends of the tip alignment direction Y <b> 2 are cut out in an arc shape. When the spacer 25 is locked at the main locking position as shown in FIG. 5, the second restricting portion 25 </ b> D is inserted between two of the three flange portions on the female connector 2 side in the longitudinal direction Y <b> 1. The two hooks 32B are locked.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a pair of locking arms 25E are provided side by side along the alignment direction Y2. Each of the pair of locking arms 25E extends along the vertical direction Y3, and has a cantilever structure in which one end is fixed to the base portion 25A and the other end is a free end, and is flexible in the arrangement direction Y2. Is provided.

  The locking arm 25E is provided with a temporary locking portion 25F, a temporary / main locking portion 25G, and a main locking portion 25H arranged in this order from the tip toward the base portion 25A. The temporary locking portion 25F, the temporary / final locking portion 25G, and the final locking portion 25H are provided so as to protrude into the ferrule housing portion 24B.

  Next, the fitting procedure of the optical connector assembly 1 described above will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 2A, the core wires 21A and 31A at the tips of the POFs 21 and 31 are inserted into the ferrules 22 and 32, and the slit sleeve 23 is put over the ferrule 22. 4B, the temporary locking portion 25F of the spacer 25 is inserted into the locking hole 24H, and the temporary / final locking portion 25G is connected to the end of the female housing 24 on one side in the vertical direction Y3. The spacer 25 is positioned at the temporary locking position. In this temporary locking position, even if the ferrules 22 and 32 are inserted into the female housing 24 and the male housing 33, the first and second restricting portions 25C and 25D and the flange portions 22B and 32B do not interfere with each other, and the ferrule 22 , 32 can be inserted into the female housings 24, 33.

  Next, the ferrule 22 is accommodated in the female housing 24. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 2A, the ferrule 22 is slid and inserted along the groove portion 24I (FIG. 1) of the female housing 24 toward the male connector 3 in the longitudinal direction Y1. As a result, the slit sleeve 23 at the tip of the ferrule 22 is inserted and fitted into the cylindrical wall portion 24 </ b> K provided in the female housing 24.

  Further, when the ferrule 22 is slid and the collar portion 22B provided on the ferrule 22 reaches the locking projection 24G, the locking arm 24F is bent outward in the alignment direction Y2. When the locking projection 24G gets over the flange 22B, the locking projection 24G is locked between two of the three flanges 22B on the male connector 3 side.

  Further, the ferrule 32 is accommodated in the male housing 33. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 2A, the ferrule 32 is slid and inserted into the housing hole 33C of the male housing 33 toward the female connector 2 in the longitudinal direction Y1. Thereby, the tip of the ferrule 32 is accommodated in the tip accommodating portion 33 </ b> A provided in the male housing 33.

  Further, when the ferrule 32 is slid and the collar portion 32B provided on the ferrule 32 reaches the locking projection 33G, the locking arm 33F is bent outward in the alignment direction Y2. When the locking projection 33G gets over the flange 32B, the locking projection 33G is locked between two of the three flanges 32B on the female connector 2 side, as shown in FIG.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3A, at the position where the ferrule 32 is locked to the locking projection 33G of the male housing 33, between the two of the three flange portions 32B on the female connector 2 side and the male housing 33. The insertion holes 33H are arranged side by side along the vertical direction Y3.

  Next, the female housing 24 and the male housing 33 are fitted. First, the tip housing portion 33 </ b> A of the male housing 33 is inserted into the male connector housing portion 24 </ b> A of the female housing 24. When the male housing 33 is slid to the female housing 24 side in the longitudinal direction Y1, the cylindrical wall portion 24K of the female housing 24 is inserted into the accommodation hole 33C provided in the distal end accommodation portion 33A.

  When further inserted, the distal end portion of the ferrule 32 accommodated in the distal end accommodating portion 33A is inserted into the slit sleeve 23 in the cylindrical wall portion 24K. Further, when the locking projection 33E of the male connector 3 reaches the locking projection 24E of the female connector 2, a part of the male connector housing portion 24A of the female housing 24 bends. When the locking projection 24E gets over the locking projection 33E, the locking projection 24E and the locking projection 33E are locked as shown in FIG.

  At this time, between the two flanges 32B on the female connector 2 side, the insertion hole 33H of the male housing 33, and the insertion hole 24D of the female housing 24 are arranged side by side along the vertical direction Y3.

  Next, as shown in FIGS. 4B and 4C, the spacer 25 is slid toward the other side in the vertical direction Y3. As a result, the temporary / final locking portion 25G of the spacer 25 is inserted into the locking hole 24H, and the main locking portion 25H is locked to the end of one side of the female housing 24 in the vertical direction Y3. Positioning at the final locking position completes the fitting.

  Thus, when the spacer 25 is slid from the temporary locking position to the final locking position, as shown in FIG. 5, the first restricting portion 25C is the male connector 3 of the three flange portions 22B of the ferrule 22. Locked between the two on the side. Further, the second restricting portion 25D is locked between two of the three flange portions 32B of the ferrule 32 on the female connector 2 side through the insertion holes 24D and 33H. At this locking position, the end faces of the POFs 21 and 31 inserted at the tips of the ferrules 22 and 32 are connected to face each other.

  According to the above-mentioned embodiment, even if the POFs 21 and 31 are pulled by collectively locking the ferrule 22 and the ferrule 32 with the spacer 25, the tips of the POFs 21 and 31 can always keep a constant distance. For this reason, the connection between the ends of the POF 21 and POF 31 can be kept stable and good.

  In addition, according to the above-described embodiment, the first restricting portion 25C and the second restricting portion can be configured with a simple configuration only by erecting the first restricting portion 25C and the second restricting portion 25D from the base portion 25A. 25D can be provided.

  Further, according to the above-described embodiment, the locking arm 25E can be provided with a simple configuration simply by erecting the locking arm 25E from the base portion 25A.

  According to the above-described embodiment, the spacer 25 is locked to the female housing 24 at both the temporary locking position and the main locking position. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The spacer 25 may be provided so as to be locked to the female housing 24 only at the main locking position.

  Moreover, according to embodiment mentioned above, although the spacer 25 was latched by the female housing 24, it is not restricted to this. The spacer 25 may be locked to both the female housing 24 and the male housing 33, or may be locked only to the male housing 33.

  Further, the above-described embodiments are merely representative forms of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the embodiments. That is, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

1 Optical connector assembly 2 Female connector (optical connector)
3 Male connector (mating optical connector)
21 POF (first optical fiber)
22 Ferrule (first ferrule)
24 Female housing (first housing)
25 Spacer 25A Base part 25C First restricting part 25D Second restricting part 25E Locking arm 31 POF (second optical fiber)
32 Ferrule (second ferrule)
33 Male housing (second housing)
Y1 Longitudinal direction

Claims (4)

A first housing for accommodating a first ferrule attached to the first optical fiber terminal; and a spacer attached to the first housing, wherein the second housing has a second optical connector. In the optical connector in which the tips of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber to which the second ferrule accommodated in the second housing is attached face each other,
The spacer is engaged with the first ferrule and a first restricting portion that restricts movement of the first ferrule along the longitudinal direction of the first optical fiber, and the second ferrule. And a second restricting portion for restricting movement of the second ferrule along the longitudinal direction. The spacer has a base portion that covers a side perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the first housing,
The optical connector according to claim 1, wherein the first restricting portion and the second restricting portion are erected from the base portion. The spacer has a locking arm that locks to the first housing;
The optical connector according to claim 2, wherein the locking arm is erected from the base portion. A first housing and a second housing, which are fitted to each other and accommodate a first ferrule and a second ferrule attached to the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber terminal, respectively; And a spacer attached to the housing. When the first housing and the second housing are fitted together, the optical connector assembly in which tips of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber face each other In
The spacer is engaged with the first ferrule and a first restricting portion that restricts movement of the first ferrule along the longitudinal direction of the first optical fiber, and the second ferrule. An optical connector assembly comprising: a second restricting portion that stops and restricts movement of the second ferrule along the longitudinal direction.

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