JPH0358084B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Technical Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical connector, and more particularly to an optical connector that efficiently connects polarization-controlled optical fibers and the like.

Prior Art and Problems Figure 1 is a diagram for explaining a conventional optical connector. In the figure, 1 and 1' are optical fiber cables, 2 and 2' are optical fibers, and 3 and 3' are optical fiber cables. Ferrule for aligning and fixing fibers, 4
Reference numerals 5 and 5' respectively indicate the alignment sleeve member and the fastening screws (cap nuts) for fixing the ferrule to the alignment sleeve member.

As shown in the figure, this optical connector includes a ferrule 3, which aligns and fixes optical fibers 2 and 2', respectively.
3' are inserted into the alignment sleeve member 4 so that their optical fiber end faces abut against each other, and are removably fixed by cap nuts 5, 5'.

Conventionally, such optical connectors have had a mechanism to prevent rotation of the ferrule, but it has been difficult to determine and fix the mutual rotational positions of the optical fibers. For this reason, connecting polarization-controlled optical fibers, which have recently come into use, requires alignment of the optical fibers in the rotational direction, making it difficult to use with conventional optical connectors. There is.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an optical connector in which the rotational position of an optical fiber can be easily adjusted.

Structure of the Invention According to the present invention, the object is to provide a pair of ferrules each having a fixed polarization optical fiber aligned and fixed on a central axis, and supporting the ferrules so that the end faces of the fixed polarization optical fiber face each other. An optical connector comprising an alignment sleeve member for removably fixing ferrules, wherein the same-diameter portions of a pair of ferrules are inserted into a common inner diameter of the alignment sleeve, and an elastic member such as a spring moves the ferrules in the direction of their abutting surfaces. One ferrule is provided with a rotation adjustment knob for rotating it with respect to the other ferrule while the ferrule is pressed and fixed, and when the knob is rotated, the pair of constant polarization optical fibers are rotated on the same axis and polarized. This is accomplished by providing a polarization-constant optical fiber connector that is capable of optical coupling with matched wavefront directions.

Examples of the invention Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the polarization-controlled optical fiber connector according to the present invention, in which a is an exploded cross-sectional view;
b shows an assembled sectional view.

As shown in Fig. a, this embodiment includes a pair of ferrules 12 and 13 in which optical fiber cables 10, 10' and their optical fibers 11, 11' are aligned and fixed on the central axis, and the ferrules are supported and aligned and fixed in a detachable manner. sleeve 14 and fastening screw (cap nut) 1
5, 15', a spring 17 for pressing one ferrule 13, washers 16, 16', and a knob 18 for rotation adjustment.
3 of the same diameter are inserted, their end surfaces are butted against each other, and one ferrule 12 is fitted with a cap nut 15.
The other ferrule 13 is fastened with a cap nut 15' via a washer 16, a spring 17 that presses the ferrules in the abutting direction, and a washer 16'.

In this embodiment configured as described above, one ferrule 13 is urged by the spring 17 so as to be pressed toward the other ferrule 12, so that their end surfaces are in close contact with each other. The position of the ferrule 13 in the rotational direction can be adjusted within the sleeve 14 by rotating a rotation adjustment knob 18. Therefore, it is used for connecting polarized optical fibers that require rotational position adjustment between the fibers.
It becomes easy to match the planes of polarization.

Incidentally, if an adjustment knob 18 is provided at the rear end of the rotationally adjustable ferrule 13 as shown in FIG. 2, the adjustment will be made easier.

Effects of the Invention As described above in detail, the constant polarization optical fiber connector of the present invention has a structure in which the rotation can be adjusted while the ferrule is connected, thereby making it possible to easily adjust the rotation of the optical fiber. This is particularly effective if a polarization-controlled optical fiber is used for the connection.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a conventional optical connector, and FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a polarization-constant optical fiber connector according to the present invention. In the drawing, 10 and 10' are optical fiber cables, 11 and 11' are optical fibers, 12 and 13 are ferrules, 14 is a sleeve, 15 and 15' are fastening screws (cap nuts), 16 and 16' are washers, and 17 18 indicates a spring, and 18 indicates an adjustment knob.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A pair of ferrules each having a fixed polarization optical fiber aligned and fixed on a central axis, supporting the ferrules so that the end faces of the fixed polarization optical fibers face each other, and fixing the ferrule detachably. an optical connector comprising an alignment sleeve member, in which the same-diameter portions of the pair of ferrules are inserted into the common inner diameter of the alignment sleeve and are pressed and fixed in the direction of their abutting surfaces by an elastic member such as a spring; One ferrule is provided with a rotation adjustment knob for rotating it relative to the other ferrule, and by rotation of the knob, the pair of constant polarization optical fibers are rotated on the same axis, so that the directions of the planes of polarization are made to coincide. A constant polarization optical fiber connector that enables optical coupling.