JPH05224087A - Connecting structure of optical line - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the connecting structure for an optical line adequate for use in connecting an optical fiber and an optical communicating equipment, etc. CONSTITUTION:The connecting structure of the optical line constituted by joining an optical connector 11 having a ferrule 13 positioned and disposed with the end face of the optical fiber 12 and an optical adapter 15 having a sleeve 17 disposed with an optical surface 16 fitted to the ferrule 13 and optically coupled to the optical adapter 12 is disposed with the optical connector 11 on the outer periphery of the ferrule 13 and has a guard part 14 protecting the ferrule 13. In addition, the optical adapter 15 has a sleeve outside wall part 19 which is fitted integrally to the inner peripheral surface of the guard part 14 of the optical connector 11 and has integrally a sleeve 17. The receptacle parts which are heretofore required is dispensed with and the number of the parts is decreased.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical line connection structure, and is particularly suitable for connection between an optical fiber and, for example, an optical communication device or an optical fiber joint.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art High positional accuracy is required when connecting optical lines. Therefore, the connection is made by combining a cylindrical part having an optical fiber at the center called a ferrule and a part having a hollow inside called a sleeve called a sleeve.

By the way, since the ferrule and the sleeve are extremely high-precision parts, they are not as highly accurate as the ferrule sleeve in some cases, but the fitting of another part having a high accuracy is also required at the time of connection. It may have to be used to guide the ferrule into the sleeve or lock the connector. In particular, such a component is often indispensable for connecting optical lines of a plurality of cores.

A conventional example of the connection between the optical fiber and the optical link will be described. FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of an optical connector and an optical link according to a conventional method.

As shown in the figure, a conventional optical connector 01 has a ferrule 0 in which an optical fiber 02 is positioned and arranged.
3 is provided inside, and a guard part 04 for protecting the ferrule 03 is integrally provided. Further, one optical link 05 is fitted with the ferrule 03 and has an optical surface 0 inside.
6 is provided on the optical link main body 08, the sleeve 07 is protected, and the guard portion 04 of the optical connector 01 is integrally fitted to the receptacle portion 0.
9 is fixed to the optical link body 08. Reference numeral 010 indicates an optical element.

In the conventional method, the ferrule 03 is guided to the sleeve portion 07 by fitting the inner wall portion 09a of the receptacle portion 09 (adapter side) of the optical link 05 and the outer wall portion 04a of the guard portion 04 of the connector. ..

[0007]

However, this conventional method has a large number of parts as shown in FIG. Therefore, the precision of each component must be increased, which is a problem in terms of cost and manufacturing.

Further, considering the thickness of each component in order to give strength to each component, the optical link 05 and the water connector 01 are considered.
The size will increase in the vertical and front-back directions. Moreover, as shown in the figure, if the tip of the ferrule 03 is placed inside the guard in order to protect the ferrule 03, the position (optical surface 06) where the tip of the ferrule of the optical connector 01 comes to the optical link 05 comes out in front, This time, there is a problem that the size increases in the front-back direction.

Further, in order to make the guard 04 small to some extent, as shown in FIG. 6, the optical element 010 (which may be a pure light emitting or light receiving element or a circuit may be included, in the latter case, the size is large). If the size is large,
Since the optical element 010 and the optical surface 06 must be separated from each other, the lens system connecting the optical element 010 and the optical fiber 02 becomes special, which is also a problem in terms of cost and manufacturing.

In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide an optical line connection structure in which the above-mentioned disadvantages are eliminated by reducing the number of parts.

[0011]

An optical line connection structure according to the present invention which achieves the above object, includes an optical connector having a ferrule in which an end face of an optical fiber is positioned and arranged, and an optical fiber fitted with the ferrule. In a connection structure of an optical line formed by joining an optical adapter having a sleeve having an optical surface optically coupled with the optical connector, the optical connector has a guard portion arranged on the outer periphery of the ferrule to protect the ferrule, and The optical adapter is characterized in that the optical adapter has a sleeve outer wall portion which integrally fits the inner peripheral surface of the guard portion of the optical connector and integrally has the sleeve.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1A and 1B show an outline of an optical connector and an optical adapter according to this embodiment. FIG. 1A shows a state before the fitting and FIG. 1B shows a fitted state.

As shown in FIG. 1, the optical connector 11 has a ferrule 13 which is a cylindrical component in which an optical fiber 12 is positioned and arranged, and a guard portion 14 which protects the ferrule 13 integrally formed. It has.

One optical adapter 15 is the ferrule 1 described above.
Cylindrical sleeve 1 fitted with 3 and having an optical surface 16 inside
7 is integrally formed with the adapter body 18 and covers the outer circumference of the sleeve 17 of the adapter body.
Reference numeral 9 denotes an inner wall surface 14a of the guard portion 14 of the optical connector 11.
Can be freely fitted. In the figure, 20 indicates a lead pin of the optical link.

In the above structure, as shown in FIG. 1B, the inner wall portion 14a of the guard portion 14 is the outer wall portion 1 of the optical adapter 15.
Since the ferrule 13 is guided to the inside of the sleeve 17 by fitting with 9, the conventional receptacle component is unnecessary,
The number of parts is reduced. Therefore, the precision required for each component can be smaller than before, which is advantageous in terms of cost and manufacturing together with the reduction in the number of components, and the vertical size is also reduced. Since it is advantageous in terms of size in this way, the position of the optical surface can be freely set and the size in the front-rear direction is also reduced.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, when the optical link 21 is manufactured, the optical element 22 can be disposed in the vicinity of the optical surface 16, so that the optical element 22 and the optical surface 16 come close to each other, and the lens The system is also more advantageous than before in terms of cost and manufacturing. Incidentally, reference numeral 23 in the drawing denotes a stud pin.

In particular, an optical link of a type manufactured by integrally plastic-molding an optical link package together with a circuit, an optical element, and a sleeve component is advantageous in terms of cost and the number of components.

Now, let us consider the trouble caused when the product is scratched or soiled. In this structure, the outer wall of the optical link is important in terms of dimensions, and scratches or stains on the outer wall may result in poor fitting. However, the optical link is more built into the system equipment, and troubles of this kind can be avoided by paying attention to the manufacturing at the time of the installation. On the other hand, the conventional product does not require such precautions when incorporating system equipment, but after the system equipment is installed, installed, and operated, the external surface of the optical connector plays an important role, so the user must always handle it. You must be careful. The reason is that in the system equipment, the optical connector is frequently attached and detached in some cases. However, in the connection structure according to the present invention, since the inner wall of the optical connector is important, such caution is unnecessary,
There are merits in operating system equipment.

In the conventional method, a metallic receptacle is often used to electromagnetically separate the inside and the outside of the system equipment with a shield. On the other hand, since the connection structure does not have a receptacle, there is a demerit that it is more difficult to shield the inside and outside of the system device as compared with the conventional one. However, this can be easily prevented by shielding the optical connector (shielding with a dummy cap when the optical connector is not inserted).

In such a system device, since the optical connector is passed through while the optical connector is attached and detached, dust may enter through the opening due to static electricity. In this case, the conventional connector has a structure in which the dust easily collects inside the receptacle of the optical link near the opening, but the present invention has an advantage that the dust is hard to collect because there is no receptacle.

Next, another embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 is a side view of the optical connector and the optical adapter, FIG. 4 is a bottom view thereof, and FIG. 5 is a front view thereof.

As shown in these drawings, the optical connector 3
Reference numeral 1 denotes a ferrule 33 in which an optical fiber 32 is disposed, and a guard portion 34 for protecting the ferrule 33, which is integral with the ferrule 33.
The fitting means 3 so that the tip of the ferrule 33 faces the outside.
A part 34b of the guard portion is detachable by 4a. The optical connector 31 is a two-core optical connector. In this case, the part 34b of the guard can be easily removed for convenient maintenance such as cleaning and inspection of the optical connector.

On the other hand, the optical link 35 is the ferrule 33.
A cylindrical sleeve 3 that fits with and has an optical surface 36 inside
7 is formed integrally with the link main body 38, and groove portions 40, 40 for locking are formed on the left and right side surfaces of the sleeve outer wall portion 39 that covers the outer periphery of the sleeve 37. This groove 4
0 is engaged with the claw portion 42 of the engaging means 41 provided in the guard portion 34 of the optical connector 31, so that the optical connector 3
The fitting of 1 and the optical link 35 is ensured. The optical link 35 is provided on the lower surface of the guard portion 34 of the optical connector 31.
A notch portion 44 for inserting the stud pin 43 provided in is formed. In the figure, 45 is a lead pin,
Reference numerals 46 respectively denote optical elements.

Since the optical link 35 has a PIN arrangement in one row in the horizontal direction, no pin notch is provided, but one in the front-back direction is provided.
Notches may be provided on the optical connector side also in the case of a row or multiple row PIN arrangement. If the notch is located near the ferrule, it is not necessary to remove the guard, but in that case, care must be taken in handling so as not to damage the ferrule. Although the inner wall of a part of the side surface of the optical connector is provided with a claw for locking the connector, a claw may be provided inside the side surface separately from the side surface. Since the claws are inside, it is possible to make the structure hard to be damaged by handling.

In the present embodiment, the ferrule and the sleeve have a circular cross section, but the present invention is not limited to this and the ferrule and the sleeve may have a rectangular cross section as long as they fit together. It may be.

[0026]

As described above with reference to the embodiments, according to the present invention, since the inner wall of the guard fits with the outer wall of the optical link and the ferrule is guided to the sleeve, the receptacle parts are not required and the number of parts is reduced. Decrease. Therefore, the accuracy required for each part can be smaller than before, which is advantageous in terms of cost and manufacturing together with the phenomenon of the number of parts.
Also, the size in the vertical direction becomes smaller. As a result, it is advantageous in terms of size, the position of the optical surface can be freely set, the size in the front-rear direction is also reduced, and the optical element and the optical surface can be made close to each other. More advantageous. In particular, the present invention is cost-effective in the type of optical link manufactured by integrally molding the package of the optical link together with the circuit, the optical element, and the sleeve component.
It is advantageous in terms of the number of parts.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a connection structure of an optical line according to the present embodiment, FIG. 1 (A) shows a non-fitted state, and FIG. 1 (B) shows a fitted state.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an optical connector and an optical link according to another embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of an optical connector and an optical link according to another embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of an optical connector and an optical link.

FIG. 5 is a front view of an optical connector and an optical link.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of an optical connector and an adapter according to a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11,31 Optical connector 12,32 Optical fiber 13,33 Ferrule 14,34 Guard part 15,35 Optical adapter (optical link) 16,36 Optical surface 17,37 Sleeve 18,38 Adapter body (link body) 19,39 Sleeve Outer wall 20,45 Lead pin 22,46 Optical element

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An optical connector having a ferrule in which an end face of an optical fiber is positioned and arranged, and an optical adapter having a sleeve provided with an optical surface that is fitted to the ferrule and optically couples with the optical fiber. In a connection structure for optical lines, the optical connector has a guard portion arranged on the outer periphery of a ferrule to protect the ferrule, and the optical adapter is fitted integrally with an inner peripheral surface of the guard portion of the optical connector and An optical line connection structure having a sleeve outer wall portion integrally having a sleeve. 2. The optical line connection structure according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the optical fibers are provided. 3. The optical line connection structure according to claim 1, wherein a photoelectric conversion member is integrally provided on a part of the optical adapter. 4. The optical line connection structure according to claim 1, wherein the optical connector and the optical adapter have locking means. 5. The optical line connection structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a part of a guard portion of the optical connector is detachable.