JPH05273440A - Optical receptacle - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the productivity and operability of the optical receptacle corresponding to optical connectors in plural kind of shapes prescribed by the FDDI standards by an optical LAN system of the FDDI standards. CONSTITUTION:A couple of slide chips 5a and 5b which are associated with projections in a sheath body part 21 are mounted on the receptacle. Those slide switches 5a and 5b are moved to proper positions to form desired key structure, so the optical receptacle in the same structure is applicable to all kind of optical connectors. Thus, the structure where all kind of optical receptacles are standardized is obtained to improve its productivity. Further, a kind set on the optical receptacle can be known by viewing the arrangement of the key chips from outside.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to optical receptacles. More specifically, the present invention relates to the FDDI standard (Fiber Dis
distributed Data Interface: Optical LA by US ANSI
The present invention relates to a novel configuration of an optical receptacle used when connecting an optical connector attached to an end of an optical cable to an optical transceiver in a LAN system of N standard).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a FDDI standard LAN system, an optical fiber is used as a signal transmission medium, and an optical module attached to an end of an optical cable is used for an optical module for transmission or reception provided in each node. The transmission line and the node are connected by connecting the connector.

FIG. 3 is used in the above-mentioned application.
It is a figure which shows the typical structure of an optical receptacle.

As shown in the figure, an optical receptacle, which is one of the main optical module units in the FDDI standard, is a pair of optical modules 1a and 1a housed behind it.
b, which is configured integrally with b, and a bracket portion 22 for supporting the rear end of the optical modules 1a and 1b and for fixing the sheath body portion 21 to a substrate etc. It is equipped with. Here, each optical module 1
The a and 1b project the nose part at the tip into the inside of the sheath body part 21 of the optical receptacle 2.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the shape of an optical connector used for the optical receptacle having the above-mentioned structure and the connecting method thereof.

As shown in the figure, an optical connector 4 is attached to the end of an optical cable 3 containing a plurality of optical fibers. The optical connector 4 is a sheath body portion of the optical receptacle 2.
An insertion portion 41 having a shape complementary to the inside of 21, and an insertion portion 41
And a handle portion 42 integrally formed on the rear side of the. The tip of the optical fiber housed in the optical fiber cable 3 is held at the tip of the insertion portion 41 of the optical connector 4 via a ferrule or the like.

By inserting the tip of the optical connector 4 configured as described above into the sheath body portion 21 of the optical receptacle 4 from the front side, the optical fiber held by the optical connector 4 and
Optical modules 1a, 1b mounted on the optical receptacle 2
And can be connected together.

According to the FDDI standard, A
Four types of optical connectors defined as type, B type, M type, and S type are used. All of these optical connectors are used as a connection mechanism between the optical module and the optical fiber.
The functions on the LAN system are different from each other.

Therefore, in the connection mechanism used in the optical LAN of the FDDI standard, a key groove 43 parallel to the insertion direction is formed in the insertion portion 41 of the optical connector 4, and a shape to be fitted with the key groove 43 is formed. A rib-shaped protrusion 21 is provided inside the optical receptacle 2 and extends in parallel with the insertion direction of the optical connector to form a key structure so that the optical connector 4 can be connected only to a specific optical receptacle 2. There is.

FIGS. 5 (a) to 5 (d) are views showing the key structure as described above by the sectional shape of the sheath body portion 21 of the optical receptacle 2. As shown in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 5 (a) to 5 (d), A type and B type
Inside the sheath body portion 21 of the optical receptacle that fits into the optical connector of each of the M and M types, a thin rib-shaped protrusion having a shape complementary to the key groove formed in the optical connector of each type. twenty one
a, 21b, and 21m are formed at different positions. In addition, as shown in FIG. 5 (d), inside the sheath of the optical receptacle to be fitted with the S-type optical connector, a wide rib-shaped complementary to the insertion part of the S-type optical connector is formed. Projection 21
s is formed.

Only a specific type of optical connector can be inserted and connected to the optical receptacle configured as described above.

[0013]

However, the above-mentioned key structure has the optical receptacle corresponding to each type,
Each must be manufactured separately. That is, the protrusion is formed integrally with the optical receptacle inside the sheath body of the optical receptacle. Therefore, in order to manufacture each type of optical receptacle, it is necessary to change the setting of the manufacturing equipment. Further, since various types of optical receptacles must be handled in all aspects of quality control, inventory control, distribution control, etc., manufacturing cost and distribution cost increase. Further, even on the user side, there is a problem that the types of members are not compatible with each other and the inventory increases.

Further, the conventional optical receptacle has the following problems when it is actually used. That is, since the protrusion formed on the side of the optical receptacle is formed inside the sheath body, it is difficult to distinguish the optical receptacle from the outside. On the other hand, since the connection of the optical connector to the optical receptacle is actually performed on the back surface or the side surface of the device, it is difficult to identify the optical receptacle fitted to the optical connector to be connected. Moreover, not only is workability low, but if you try to insert an optical connector into the wrong type of optical receptacle,
It may also damage the optical connector or the optical receptacle.

As described above, the conventional optical receptacles corresponding to the key structure are low in productivity due to the large variety of products, the distribution management is troublesome, and the operability during use is not good at all.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art and to provide a novel optical receptacle having excellent productivity and operability.

[0017]

That is, according to the present invention,
For an optical connector of a plurality of types used in an FDDI standard optical LAN system and having differently shaped keyways defined in the standard, the optical connector having a protrusion having a shape complementary to the keyway An optical receptacle including a sheath body configured to be fitted with a pair of key chips that are independently movable at right angles to the insertion direction of the optical connector with respect to the sheath body, Is provided so as to move together with the key chip.

[0018]

In the optical receptacle according to the present invention, a pair of slide chips are attached to the sheath body portion of the optical receptacle, and the receptacles having the same structure can be used for all different types of optical connectors. ing.

That is, in the conventional optical receptacle, the protrusion having a shape that fits into the insertion portion of the optical connector is fixed inside the sheath body portion. Therefore, it has been necessary to manufacture optical receptacles having specific shapes for optical connectors having different shapes.

On the other hand, the optical receptacle according to the present invention is provided with a pair of slide tips in the sheath body which are slidable in the direction perpendicular to the inserting direction of the optical connector. The slide tip is formed integrally with the protrusion inside the sheath body, and the position of the protrusion is changed by sliding the slide tip. Therefore, by sliding this slide tip to an appropriate position,
The positions of the protrusions can easily correspond to the grooves formed in various optical connectors.

The optical receptacle thus constructed has
Since optical receptacles of the same structure can be used for different types of optical connectors, the productivity is high and the inventory management of products is easy.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to the drawings, but the following disclosure does not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

[0023]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the construction of a sheath portion of an optical receptacle according to the present invention. Incidentally, in the figure, common reference numerals are given to constituent elements common to FIG.

As shown in the figure, a pair of slide chips 5a and 5b are provided on the upper surface of the sheath body portion 21 of the optical receptacle.
Is equipped with. These slide chips 5a and 5b are
Each can be slid independently in the direction A in the figure.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a BB cross section in the optical receptacle shown in FIG. This figure also shows the cross section of the slide tip 5a at the same time.

As shown in the figure, the slide tip 5a
Is the operation part that is raised outside the sheath body part 21 of the optical receptacle.
51, a protrusion 55 that protrudes into the sheath body portion 21 immediately below the operating portion 51, and two pairs of flange portions 52 and 53 that support the operating portion 51 and the protruding portion 55 are integrally configured. .. Further, in the flange portion 53 located on the right side of the operation portion 51 in the drawing, a plurality of three holes 54a, 54b, 54c for positioning itself are formed.

On the other hand, the sheath 21 of the optical receptacle is formed with a groove 21x for defining the sliding direction when the slide chip 5a is slid, and at the same time, the slide chip 5a is formed.
A protrusion 21y for positioning a is formed. This protrusion 21y has holes 54a, 54b, 54 formed in the flange portion 53.
The slide chip 5a is configured to be fixed at a specific position by being fitted with any one of c.

The slide tip 5b has exactly the same structure as the slide tip 5a, and is attached to the sheath body portion 21 by the same method.

FIG. 3 shows a slide chip 5 as described above.
It is a figure for demonstrating the usage method of a, 5b. In the following description, the positions of the slide tips 5a, 5b when the holes 54a, 54b, 54c of the flange portion 53 of the slide tips 5a, 5b are fitted with the protrusions 21y of the sheath body portion 21, respectively, Describe as "position of a", "position of b", and "position of c".

As shown in the figure, when the slide chips 5a and 5b are both in the position a, the projections 55 of the slide chips 5a and 5b are both located on the left side, and therefore the sheath body at this time is The portion 21 fits only with an optical connector having an A-shaped key groove. Similarly, when both the slide chips 5a and 5b are in the positions b and c, the sheath body portion 21 fits only with the optical connector having the B-shaped or M-shaped key groove, respectively. In addition, slide tips 5a, 5
When either one of b is in the position of a and the other is in the position of c, only the optical connector having the S-shaped key groove is fitted to the sheath body portion 21.

Since the positions of the slide tips 5a and 5b in each of these modes can be visually observed from the outside of the sheath body portion 21, it is possible to easily determine which type the optical receptacle is set to. Furthermore, slide tip 5
It is preferable to describe the relationship between the positions of a and 5b and the applicable key specifications on the surface of the optical receptacle.

[0032]

As described above, the optical receptacle according to the present invention can be applied to the optical connectors having the same structure but different key specifications due to its unique structure.
Once the slide tip is set, it will only fit into an optical connector with a specific key specification.

Such an optical receptacle not only has high production efficiency for the manufacturer, but also significantly simplifies quality control and distribution control. Also, the compatibility of parts is improved and the user can easily handle the parts. Also,
Since the corresponding key specifications can be easily identified by the position of the slide tip, it is also advantageous in preventing incorrect connection.

By using the optical receptacle according to the present invention as described above, the introduction of the FDDI standard optical LAN system becomes inexpensive and the operation becomes easy.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a characteristic configuration of an optical receptacle according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing in detail the configuration of a slide chip in the optical receptacle shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a method of using the optical receptacle shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a general optical receptacle.

5 is a diagram showing a method of connecting the optical receptacle shown in FIG. 4 and an optical connector.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing key specifications in a receptacle conforming to the FDDI standard.

[Explanation of symbols]

1a, 1b ... Optical module, 2 ... Optical receptacle, 21 ... Sheath body, 21x
... Grooves, 21a, 21b, 21m, 21s, 21y ... Protrusions,
22 ... Bracket part, 3 ... Optical cable, 4 ... Optical connector, 5a, 5
b ... slide tip, 51 ... operating part,
52, 53 ... Flange, 54a, 54b, 54c
... Hole, 55 ... Projection

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. For a plurality of types of optical connectors used in an FDDI standard optical LAN system and provided with keyways having different shapes defined in the standard, a protrusion having a shape complementary to the keyways is provided. An optical receptacle including a sheath body configured to be fitted with the optical connector, comprising a pair of key chips that are independently movable at right angles to an insertion direction of the optical connector with respect to the sheath body. An optical receptacle, comprising: the protrusion configured to move together with the key chip. 2. The optical receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the slide tip is configured to be operable from the outside of the sheath body portion.