JPH023967B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (a) Technical Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multi-core optical connector for connecting multi-core optical fibers made up of a plurality of optical fibers.

(b) Background of the technology In recent years, optical communication that uses optical fiber cables to transmit large amounts of information has been put into practical use.In order to increase the amount of information that can be transmitted, multi-core optical fibers made up of multiple optical fibers have been developed. Cable is used. When using such a multi-core optical fiber cable, it is necessary to use a multi-core optical connector at the connection portion of the optical fiber. Since a multi-core optical connector for multi-core optical fibers connects opposing optical fibers by butting each other, highly accurate positioning is required so that each optical fiber can accurately face each other.

(c) Prior art and its problems In order to achieve such high-precision positioning, conventional multi-core optical connectors connect the two plugs P ₁ and P ₂ with a cylindrical guide as shown in Figure 1. Insert the plug P 1 into the guide frame 1 through the openings at both ends of the frame ₁ .
and P ₂ and the optical fibers F _{1 ,} F _{2 .} . . and F ₄ ′, F ₃ ′ . . . in the plugs P ₁ , P 2 face each other. That is, optical fibers F ₁ , F ₂ ...
are fitted into the guide grooves G ₁ , G _{2 .} . . formed in the guide substrate 2 for aligning the optical fibers F ₁ , F ₂ . This constitutes the plugs P ₁ and P ₂ .

In such a structure, in order to ensure that the optical fibers F ₁ and F ₄ ′ at both ends of the plugs P ₁ and P ₂ and the optical fibers F ₄ and F ₁ ′ can accurately oppose each other, the left end optical fiber F ₁ It is necessary to make the dimension l ₁ between the right end optical fiber F 4 and the side wall ₄ and the dimension l ₁ ' between the right end optical fiber F 4 and the side wall 5 almost the same dimension. However, with current processing technology, the dimensional accuracy of these two locations cannot be achieved using optical fiber.
It is extremely difficult to match the dimensional accuracy of F ₁ , F ₂ . In particular, plugs P ₁ , P ₂
The total width L and the dimension between each guide groove G ₁ , G ₂ ... L ₂ ...
Since this also affects the light coupling characteristics, it is extremely difficult in terms of machining to make the dimensions l ₁ and l ₁ ' at both ends the same while ensuring the accuracy of these dimensions.

(d) Purpose of the Invention The present invention solves these problems in conventional multi-core optical connectors, and allows the dimensions of each part to be determined easily and with high precision, so that corresponding optical fibers can be accurately connected to each other. The purpose is to be able to face each other.

(e) Structure of the Invention In order to achieve this object, according to the present invention, a plug in which a plurality of optical fibers are fitted and fixed in corresponding guide grooves is installed in a guide frame member. In a multi-core optical connector, in which optical fibers are inserted through openings at both ends and are connected to each other by abutting each other inside, the guide substrate is formed with a plurality of guide grooves into which each optical fiber is fitted, and the guide board has a constant thickness. The dimensions between the side wall on one side and the guide groove at the end of the side wall are finished with the required dimensional accuracy, and the dimensions between the other side wall and the guide groove at the end of the side wall are as described above. Two such guide boards are placed so that the side wall surfaces finished to the required dimensions are located on both sides of each other, and the guide grooves face each other. The above-mentioned plug is constructed by fitting and fixing optical fibers into guide grooves that overlap and face each other.

(f) Embodiments of the invention Next, embodiments of the multi-core optical connector according to the invention will be described based on the drawings. Figure 2 shows a pair of plugs P ₁ ,
FIG. ₂ is a perspective view of P2. Both plugs P ₁ and P ₂ are
The guide substrates 6 and 6' that guide and hold the optical fibers F ₁ , F ₂ . . . have exactly the same configuration.
By stacking the other guide board 6' upside down on top of the one guide board 6, the plugs P ₁ ,
P ₂ is configured. The guide substrates 6, 6' are finished to have a first constant thickness t, and one side of the guide substrates 6, 6' is coated with the following as shown in FIG.
V-shaped guide grooves G ₁ , G ₂ . . . for positioning and fixing the optical fibers F ₁ , F _{2 .} . . are formed parallel to each other. The intervals between the guide grooves G ₁ , G _{2 .} . . are finished to a constant dimension l ₂ as in the conventional case. Second, the dimension l ₁ between the side wall 7 that serves as a reference on one side and the guide groove G ₁ on the side wall 7 side is set with high precision so as to be suitable for positioning the optical fibers F ₁ , F ₂ . It is finished. Further, the dimension d between the other side wall 8 and the guide groove G ₄ on the side wall 8 side is sufficiently smaller than the aforementioned dimension l ₁ and is finished roughly. In the case of the present invention, only one guide board 6 as shown in FIG. 3 is sufficient for forming the plugs P ₁ and P ₂ . Then, this guide board 6 is placed on the lower side as shown in FIG. 2, and the same guide board is turned over so that the guide grooves G ₁ , G ₂ . . . face downward to form an upper guide board 6'. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the V-shaped guide grooves of both guide boards 6 and 6' are formed into guide grooves G ₁ and G ₄ , G ₂ and G ₃ , and G ₃ .
A diamond-shaped guide groove is formed by G ₂ , G ₄ and G ₁ facing each other, and optical fibers F ₁ , F ₂ ... having a cylindrical cross section are fitted into this diamond-shaped guide groove and fixed with adhesive. be done.

With the plug configured in this way,
As explained in the second condition above, one side wall 7 serving as a reference and the guide groove G ₁ at the end on the side wall 7 side
for the dimension l ₁ between the other side wall 8 and said side wall 8
Since the dimension d between the guide grooves _G4 at the side ends is formed sufficiently small, when these plugs _P1 and _P2 are inserted into the guide frame 1 as shown in Fig. 1 from both openings, , the positions of both the plugs P ₁ and P ₂ in the width direction are regulated by the side wall 7 of the guide board 6 and the side wall 7 of the guide board 6'. As mentioned above, the dimension l ₁ from the guide groove G ₁ of the guide substrate 6 to the side wall 7
Also, since the dimension l ₁ from the guide groove G ₁ to the side wall 7 of the guide board 6' is exactly the same, there is no gap between the inner wall of the guide frame 1 and the left and right side walls 7, 7 of the plugs P ₁ and P _2. Assuming that there is no , then two plugs P ₁
When and P ₂ are brought together in the guide frame 1, the corresponding optical fibers F ₁ and F ₄ ′, F ₂ and F ₃ ′, F ₃ and F ₂ ′,
By having F ₄ and F ₁ ' accurately facing each other, optical coupling between the optical fibers is efficiently performed.

More specifically, as shown in Fig. 5, even if some dimensional tolerance occurs in the dimensions l ₂₁ , l ₂₂ , l ₂₃ between each guide groove G ₁ , G ₂ . The dimension L ₂ and the dimension l ₁ of the end portion finished with high precision as described above are the same on both the upper and lower sides even in the assembled state as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. Therefore, the optical fibers F ₁ , F ₂ ...F _o , F ₁ and F _o
This means that they are fixed at exactly the position of the dimension l ₁ from the end faces 7, 7, respectively. Furthermore, as is clear from FIG. 4, the second to n-1th optical fibers have a dimensional tolerance Δl ₂₁ - l ₂₁ -l _2o of each fiber interval.
Δl _2o falls within the tolerance range where they cancel each other out, and the distance between each optical fiber becomes constant.

The plugs P ₁ and P ₂ of the present invention are constructed by using a guide frame as shown in FIG. 6, compared to the case of using an integrated guide frame as shown in FIG.
The corresponding optical fibers P ₁ and P ₂ can be accurately and easily opposed to each other. That is, a base frame is provided in which the bottom surface 9 and one side surface 10 are finished at right angles with high precision, and a movable holding plate 11 is provided at a position facing the bottom surface 9, and a movable presser plate 11 is provided at a position facing the side surface 10. A holding plate 12 is provided respectively. Then, an outer frame 13 and a presser plate 11 as shown by chain lines are provided.
A compression spring is interposed between the outer frame 13 and the presser plate 12 to generate spring pressure in the directions of arrows a ₁ and a ₂ .

When two plugs P ₁ and P ₂ as shown in Fig. 2 are inserted into such a guide frame from the left and right openings,
Both plugs P ₁ and P ₂ are pressed between the bottom surface 9 and the movable holding plate 13 by spring pressure in the direction of arrow _a1 . Further, in both plugs P ₁ and P ₂ , the side surfaces 7, 7 of the lower guide board 6 are pressed against the side surfaces 10 of the base frame by the spring pressure in the direction of arrow _a2 , and the side surfaces 7, 7 of the upper guide board 6' are pressed against the side surfaces 10 of the base frame. 7
are pressed against a movable holding plate 12, respectively. Therefore, the two plugs P ₁ and P ₂ are connected to the left and right sides 7,
7, the optical fibers F ₁ , F ₂
...F ₄ ′, F ₃ ′... are positioned facing each other with high precision.

(g) Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, the guide substrate in which the plurality of guide grooves into which each optical fiber is fitted is formed to have a constant thickness, and the side wall on one side of the guide substrate and the side wall The dimension between the guide groove at the end of the side wall is finished with the required dimensional accuracy, and the dimension between the other side wall and the guide groove at the end of the side wall side is finished to be shorter than the above required dimension. , stack two such guide substrates facing each other so that the side wall surfaces finished to the required dimensions are located on both sides of each other, and the guide grooves face each other, and optical fibers are inserted into the guide grooves facing each other. The above-mentioned plug is constructed by fitting and fixing. Therefore, both plugs P ₁ and P ₂ can be provided with a reference side wall, and the dimensions from this reference side wall to the guide groove at the end can be easily and precisely made to be the same dimension. This allows the optical fibers connected to each other to be accurately opposed to each other. Furthermore, since only one type of guide board is required as parts, it is highly suitable for mass production.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional multi-core optical connector.
Figure 2 and subsequent figures show embodiments of the present invention.
The figure is a perspective view of the plug part of the multi-core optical connector, Figure 3 is a perspective view of one of the guide boards, and Figure 4 is an enlarged front view of the state in which the optical fiber is sandwiched between two guide boards. 5 is a perspective view showing the dimensional relationship between each guide groove, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the guide frame. In the figure, P ₁ and P ₂ are plugs, F ₁ , F ₂ ...F ₁ ′,
F ₂ ′... is an optical fiber, G ₁ , G ₂ ... is a guide groove, l ₁
is the dimension between the reference side wall and the guide groove at the end, l ₂ , l ₃ ...
is the dimension between each guide groove, 6, 6' is the guide board,
7 is a side wall serving as a reference.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plug in which a plurality of optical fibers are fixedly fitted into corresponding guide grooves is inserted into a guide frame member through openings at both ends, and abutted against each other inside. In a multi-core optical connector in which optical fibers are connected to each other in a state in which the guide board is formed with a plurality of guide grooves into which each optical fiber is fitted, the guide board is formed to have a constant thickness, and has a side wall on one side and a side wall on the other side. The dimension between the guide groove at the end of the side wall is finished with the required dimensional accuracy, and the dimension between the other side wall and the guide groove at the end of the side wall is finished shorter than the above required dimension, Two such guide substrates are placed one on top of the other so that the side wall surfaces finished to the required dimensions are located on both sides of each other, and the guide grooves face each other, and the optical fibers are inserted into the guide grooves facing each other. A multi-core optical connector, characterized in that the plug is configured by being fitted and fixed.