JPH04182606A - Terminal structure of optical cable - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To release the restriction of the packaging number of optical connectors and to collectively connect them by arranging the optical connectors in an arrangement surface which is parallel with the longitudinal direction of an optical cable so as to make their optical axes orthogonal to the arranging surface. CONSTITUTION:An aligning member 14 is projectingly provided at the almost central part of a supporting member 15 and the arrangement surface 14a thereof is aligned with a flat surface including the central axis of the longitudinal direction of the optical cable 11. Besides, the connecting ends of the respective optical connectors 13 are arranged and fixed to the aligning member 14 so that they are aligned with the arrangement surface 14a and the optical axes come to perpendicular to the arrangement surface 14a. Thus, the packaging number of connectors 13 arranged in the arrangement surface 14a is not restricted. Besides, the respective connectors 13 are collectively connected by mutually aligning the arrangement surfaces 14a when the cable 11 is mutually connected.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] 〈Industrial use portion〉 The present invention relates to an optical fiber cable terminal structure.

<Prior art> An optical fiber connector (hereinafter referred to as an optical connector) for removably connecting optical fibers is provided in advance at the terminal portion of an optical fiber cable (hereinafter referred to as an optical cable). After the optical cables are installed, the optical cables are connected to each other by connecting the optical connectors to each other. There are two methods for arranging optical connectors at the terminals of conventional optical cables.

Here, the first conventional method is shown in FIGS. 6fa) and 6(b). As shown in both figures, in this method, a coated optical fiber 2 is drawn out from the terminal portion of an optical cable 1, and an optical connector is mounted on the end of the coated optical fiber 2. In the section of the conduit where such optical cables 1 are mainly laid, the diameter of the conductor is determined to be 75 mm, so in order to connect all the optical connectors 3 within this area, the position of each optical connector 3 must be adjusted. Shifting the optical cable 1 in stages in the longitudinal direction, El! ! (As shown in bl, the optical connectors 3 are connected to each other at different positions in the longitudinal direction.

Note that the figure also shows the optical cable terminal of the other party to be connected.

Further, a second conventional method is shown in FIG.

As shown in the figure, in this method, each optical connector 3 mounted on the optical fiber core wire pulled out from the end portion of the optical cable 1 is fixed to the alignment section 4. That is, the alignment section 4 has an end surface 4a orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the optical cable 1, and each optical connector 3 is fixed such that its connection end is arranged within the end surface 4a.

<Arm to be Solved by the Invention> However, with the first method described above (the installation of the optical connector 30 cable in the longitudinal direction requires precise adjustment of the position), the yield rate and work during manufacturing are reduced. In this case, each optical connector 3
Since it is necessary to connect each of them individually, it is extremely important to shorten the connection time.

On the other hand, in the second method, since each optical connector 3 arranged in the alignment part 4 can be connected all at once, it is possible to significantly shorten the time required to connect the optical cables 1 to each other. There is a problem that the number of optical connectors 3 that can be arranged is limited. That is, for example, the above-mentioned 75 ugliness
In order to keep the size of the terminal part within the limit value,
The number of optical connectors that can be mounted is approximately 25 or so. If this is converted into the number of optical fibers, it will be 200 since eight optical fibers can be connected with one optical connector 3. However, optical cables with up to 1000 fibers are currently in practical use, and increasing the number of fibers is being considered in the future, so this method is also not practical.

In view of these circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide an optical cable terminal structure in which the number of optical connectors to be mounted can be arbitrarily set without any restriction, and which can be connected all at once.

<H! ! Means for Solving the Problem> The optical cable terminal structure according to the present invention that achieves the above-mentioned object is capable of attaching and detaching optical fibers to each other. In an optical cable terminal structure in which an optical connector with a frequency of They are characterized in that they are arranged so that their optical axes are perpendicular to the arrangement plane.

<Function> According to the above configuration, the arrangement surface of the optical connectors is provided parallel to the longitudinal direction of the optical cable, and its size can be set arbitrarily, so that the number of optical connectors arranged within this arrangement surface can be reduced. is not restricted either. Furthermore, when connecting optical cables, each optical connector can be connected at once by aligning the array surfaces.

Example of implementation Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained based on examples.

FIG. 1 schematically shows an optical cable terminal structure according to an embodiment. In the figure, 11 is an optical cable, 12 is an optical fiber core, 13 is an optical connector mounted on each optical fiber core $12, and each optical connector 13 is arranged in an alignment member 14. The alignment member 14 has a rectangular shape, and the optical cable 11
The support member 15 has a cylindrical support member 15 provided at its end, and its arrangement surface 14 m is aligned with a plane including the central axis of the optical cable 11 in the longitudinal direction.

Each optical connector 13 has its connection end at the array surface 14m.
The optical fiber cores 112 are arranged and fixed on the alignment member 14 so that they are flush with each other and their leading axes are perpendicular to the arrangement surface 14a, and each optical fiber core $112 is appropriately assembled at a predetermined bending radius so as not to cause optical fiber loss. has been done. Further, on the back side of the alignment member 14, a semi-cylindrical terminal cover 16 which covers the arranged optical connectors 13 and the optical fiber cores s12 connected to these optical connectors 13 and has approximately the same diameter as the optical cable 11 is provided. is provided.

In this embodiment, the rectangular optical connectors 13 are arranged in a square shape with respect to the rectangular alignment member 14, but depending on the method of assembling the optical fiber cores 12, as shown in FIG. , the sides of each optical connector 13 may be arranged at an angle with respect to the side of the alignment member 14.

In order to connect optical cables having such optical cable terminal structures, opposing optical cable terminals having the same structure are opposed to each other at predetermined positions as shown in FIG.
The optical connectors 13 may be fitted together by aligning the optical connectors 4a, and then the optical cable ends may be fixed together using a fastening member (not shown). Note that the symbols in the figure are the same as those in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 schematically shows an optical cable terminal structure according to another embodiment. As shown in the figure, in this embodiment;
4 and the terminal cover 16 are attached to a support member 15A which is stretchable in the longitudinal direction of the optical cable 11 and bendable in the same direction: a direction inclined in this direction. Therefore, the alignment member 14 is movable in the longitudinal direction of the optical cable 11, and its alignment surface 14a is small (and is rotatable within a plane that includes this surface).

When connecting optical cable terminals having such a structure, even if both optical cables are in a somewhat twisted position, the alignment member 14 is moved and rotated.This makes it easy to align the alignment surfaces 14a and connect them all at once. Be able to do that.

Further, FIG. 5 schematically shows an optical cable terminal structure according to still another embodiment. As shown in the figure, in this embodiment, a support member 15B that supports the alignment member 14 and the terminal cover 16 is detachably provided on the optical cable 11).
Ru. Note that the figure shows a state in which the support member 15B is removed from the optical cable 11, and 12 indicates an optical fiber core.

Therefore, when laying an optical cable having such a terminal structure in a conduit, the alignment member 14 and the terminal cover 16 must be removed from the end of the optical cable 11 and housed in a towing end cover (not shown) before laying. This simplifies the installation work.

In the optical cable terminals according to the embodiments described above, the optical connectors 13 are arranged in an arrangement member 14 having an arrangement surface 14a parallel to the longitudinal direction of the optical cable 11, and the length of the arrangement member 14 is set arbitrarily. Therefore, the limitation on the number of optical fiber connectors 13 to be mounted due to the conduit dimensions, that is, the radial dimensions of the optical cable 14, is eliminated. By the way, 40
Even when the structure of the present invention is applied to the terminal portion of an optical cable that has approximately 0.00 fibers installed, the terminal length is approximately 2.5 mm.
Since it is considered to be cIll+, it should be recognized that an extremely small connecting part can be realized.

<Effects of the Invention> As explained above, the optical cable terminal structure of the present invention (in which optical connectors are arranged in an arrangement plane parallel to the longitudinal direction of the optical cables such that the optical axes of the optical connectors are orthogonal to the arrangement plane) This eliminates the conventional restriction on the number of optical cables installed at the cable terminal, and also allows all optical connectors to be connected at once, making it compact, efficient, and easy to handle. be.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an optical cable terminal structure according to one embodiment, FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an optical cable terminal structure according to another embodiment, FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the connection state of the optical cable, 4 and 5 are schematic diagrams showing optical cable terminal structures according to other embodiments, respectively, and FIGS. 6 and 7 are explanatory diagrams, respectively, showing optical fiber terminal structures according to the prior art. In the drawing, 11 is an optical cable, 121 is an optical fiber core, 13 is an optical connector, 14 is an alignment member, 14a is an arrangement surface, 15. 15A and 15B are supporting members, and 16 (f is a terminal cover).

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) In an optical cable terminal structure in which multiple optical connectors for removably connecting optical fibers are mounted on the terminal,
An alignment member having an alignment surface parallel to the longitudinal direction of the optical cable and holding the optical connector is provided at the end of the optical cable,
An optical cable terminal structure characterized in that the optical connectors are arranged in the arrangement plane so that their optical axes are perpendicular to the arrangement plane. (2) The optical cable terminal structure according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement surface is rotatable within a plane including the arrangement surface and movable in the longitudinal direction of the optical cable. (3) The optical cable terminal structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the arrangement surface is removably provided at the end of the optical cable.