JPH0545539A - Optical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate the labor of providing a guide pin additionally and to miniaturize a housing by providing one connector with housing guide part and the other connector with a guide frame which guides the housing guide part. CONSTITUTION:This optical connector consists of one connector (PA connector) 1 which has an optical connector element 15 in the housing 3 and the other connector (BP connector) 35 which has an optical connector element 43 in the housing 40 and the PA connector 1 and BP connector 35 are coupled freely detachably. They the four corners of the housing 3 are separated and extended to form housing guide part 13 on the PA connector 1 and the BP connector 35 is provided with the guide frame 45 which guides the housing guide parts 13. The housing guide part 13 has a tapered surface 14 outwardly and is formed projecting from the optical connector element 15 and the BP connector 35 is provided with a space 42 for storing the housing guide part 13.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical fiber connector which enables connection and disconnection of optical fibers, and more particularly to a structure of a high density plug-in optical connector mounted in a device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional optical connector, a second connector 50 (hereinafter, the second connector is referred to as a BP connector) shown in FIG. 7 and a first connector 60 (which is detachably fitted and coupled thereto) Hereinafter, an optical connector including a first connector is referred to as a PA connector) is known.

The BP connector 50 is mounted so as to be loosely fitted to the backboard 53, and the backside structure 51 and the frontside structure 52 are sandwiched by the backboard 53.
And a plurality of second optical connector elements 54
Is mounted in the corresponding hole 56 of the back surface side structure 51, and the back board 53 is sandwiched by the screws 57 provided at both ends of the back surface side structure 51 in the longitudinal direction.
It has a structure to be fixed to 2. The outermost hole 56 on the extension line in the longitudinal direction of the hole 56 of the back surface side structure 51.
Metal guide pins 55 for guiding the BP connector 50 and the PA connector 60 to be fitted to appropriate positions are provided on both sides outside the screw 57 and inside the screw 57.
1, and the tip end side of the guide pin 55 protrudes from the guide frame 58 of the front side constituent body 52 when the back side constituent body 51 and the front side constituent body 52 are fixed by the screw 57. Has been formed.

The second optical connector element 54 accommodates the ferrule 66 in a phone tie 65, and the tip of the adapter 65 connects the back side constituent body 51 and the front side constituent body 52 with the screw 5.
The structure is such that when it is fixed at 7, the end surface of the guide frame 58 of the front structure 52 is located at substantially the same position as the end surface.

The PA connector 60 has a structure in which a first optical connector element 62 is mounted in an element insertion hole 63. The first optical connector element 62 is provided with an alignment sleeve 70 in an inner housing 68 and reaches an intermediate position. This is a structure in which a ferrule is inserted and arranged, and the inner housing 68 is constantly pressed outward (upper side in the figure) by a spring. Then, the guide pin 55 of the BP connector 50.
A guide hole 64 is provided corresponding to each.

[0006]

However, in the case where the optical connector element is made to have a large number of cores and the housing is downsized while having a function equivalent to that of the conventional example,
According to the conventional example, when the BP connector and the PA connector are fitted together, guide pins arranged on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the BP connector and corresponding guide hole of the PA connector are required, so that they are housed in the connector. The number of optical connector elements that can be formed is reduced accordingly, and if the number of optical connector elements is increased, the BP connector and P
There is a problem that the longitudinal dimension of the A connector becomes large. There is also a problem that an extra manufacturing process for attaching the guide pin is required.

The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and it is possible to minimize the housing by omitting the work of separately providing a guide pin, and even if the connector of the conventional size is used, an optical connector element can be provided. The purpose is to be able to store more than before.

[0008]

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a first connector having a plurality of first optical connector elements in a housing, and a plurality of second connectors in the housing. An optical connector comprising a second connector having an optical connector element, wherein the first connector and the second connector are detachably fitted and coupled, and the first connector is A housing guide portion is formed by separating and extending four corners of the housing on the fitting coupling side, and a guide frame for guiding the housing guide portion is provided on the fitting coupling side of the second connector. It is an optical connector, and the housing guide portion has a tapered surface toward the outside and is formed so as to protrude from the first optical connector element,
The optical connector is characterized in that a storage space for storing a housing guide portion is provided in the four corners on the fitting and coupling side of the second connector.

[0009]

According to the present invention, the housing guide portion formed so as to protrude from the front end surface of the ferrule of the optical connector mounted on the PA connector ensures that the BP connector and the PA connector are always appropriate even if no separate guide pin is provided. It can be easily fitted and coupled to various positions. In addition, since the fitting length can be increased by the predetermined space portion extended to the rear end surface of the backboard of the housing guide portion provided to the BP connector, the BP can be fitted even if the fitting process has multiple stages. The height of the connector parts can be reduced. Further, by omitting the guide pin, the number of optical connector elements can be made larger than in the conventional case, and conversely, the outer diameter dimension of the BP connector can be reduced accordingly.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first connector 1 (hereinafter referred to as PA connector 1), and FIG. 2 is a second connector 35.
It is a perspective view (henceforth BP connector 35).

The PA connector 1 is attached to the package 54 with screws in through holes 4 provided at two positions at both ends of the package side housing 3 (hereinafter referred to as the PA housing 3) in the longitudinal direction. , The back board 53 is sandwiched between the front surface side structure body 38 and the back surface side structure body 37 to fix them, and the BP connector 35 is loosely fitted to the back board 53.
The front-side structure 38 is composed of an inner housing 39 and an outer housing 40, and the mounting on the package and the backboard is substantially the same as the conventional example except for the structure.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the PA connector 1 includes a PA housing 3 and a first optical connector element 1.
It is composed of 5 and.

The PA housing 3 is formed with a plurality of partition walls 6 in the longitudinal direction, and a plurality of compartments 7 formed by the partition walls 6 have a first optical connector element 15 (sleeve) into which a sleeve holder 18 is inserted. The holder 18 is included in the first optical connector element 15.), the sleeve holder 18 penetrates the compartment 7 and is projected and locked, and the tip of the sleeve holder 18 is a protruding portion of the frame 9. 1
The end surface of No. 1 is projected to almost the same position. The partition wall 6
A pair of arcuate projections 8 facing each other are formed on the front side of the sleeve holder 18 to engage and hold the sleeve holder 18.

The frame 9 is formed so as to cover the entire front surface of the plurality of compartments 7, and the projections 10 and 12 extending from the frame 9 are provided at four corners of both ends in the longitudinal direction. A central protrusion 11 is formed by extension. In addition, a notched taper portion 9a that is notched and tapers inward is provided between the protruding portions 10 and 12 and the central protruding portion 11, and the notched taper portion 9a is connected to the PA connector 1 and the BP. It has a function of releasing the internal lock portion 41 of the BP connector 35 when the connector 35 is fitted. After releasing the internal lock portion 41 of the BP connector 35, the internal housing 39 of the BP connector 35 and the P
The structure is such that it can move with the PA housing 3 of the A connector 1 fitted. Incidentally, when the inner housing 39 and the PA housing 3 are fitted to each other and can move, the end faces of the ferrules are in contact with each other and the joining is completed.

The protrusions 10 and 12 extend in the direction in which the PA connector 1 is fitted to form a housing guide portion 13. Then, the protruding portions 10, 11, 12 are provided with the tip portion 2 thereof.
3 to the same height, and a constant height from the front of the compartment 7,
For example, the first optical connector element 15 is protected by maintaining the same height as the sleeve holder 18.

As shown in FIG. 3, the housing guide portion 13 is on the extension line of the projecting portions 10 and 12 and has a tapered front end side, and an outer side surface has a tapered portion 14 having a tapered surface. Reference numeral 22 is parallel to the front end surface 23 of the frame 9, and the inner side surface is formed at a right angle to the front end surface 23 of the frame 9, and is formed so as to project from the front end surface of the first optical connector element 15. When the PA connector 1 and the BP connector 35 are fitted to each other, the guide frame 45 of the BP connector 35 is easily guided to the fitting and coupling position by the tapered portion 14.

The main lock portion 17 is formed outside both ends of the frame 9 of the PA connector 1 in the longitudinal direction, and the main lock portion 17 is fitted and coupled with the inner housing 39 of the BP connector 35 to be locked. is there.

The first optical connector element 15 includes a ferrule 16 and a sleeve holder 18 in which the ferrule 16 is inserted to an intermediate position, and is supported by the PA housing 3. And the sleeve holder 18
Is a holder 19 which holds a cylindrical split sleeve 20 for alignment in a vertical crack.
The structure is such that the ferrule 16 of the first optical connector element 15 is inserted up to the middle position.

The BP connector 35 has a second optical connector element 43 having a ferrule 44 as shown in FIG.
And a front surface side structure body 38 that holds the second optical connector element 43, and a back surface that is fixed to the front surface side structure body 38 by sandwiching the backboard 53 via the locking portion 49 of the front side structure body 38. It is configured with the side structure 37.

The front side structure 38 includes an inner housing 39.
And an outer housing 4 surrounding the inner housing 39
0, an inner lock portion 41 is formed on the inner side surface of the outer housing 40, and a predetermined space portion 42 is formed between the inner housing 39 and the inner side of the outer housing 40. The entire opening of the outer housing 40 forms the guide frame 45.

The inner housing 39 is formed with a plurality of partition walls 46 in the longitudinal direction, and the inner housing 39 is engaged with the outer housing 40 on the outer side thereof.
The second optical connector element 43 is provided in the plurality of compartments 47 formed by the partition wall 46.
Is housed, and the tip of a ferrule 44 provided at the tip of the second optical connector element 43 is fitted and held so as to project from the front surface 48 of the inner housing.

The outer housing 40 substantially covers the ferrule 44 projecting from the front surface 48 of the inner housing 39 by the frame of the outer housing 40, and the rear end side of the outer housing 40 fixes the back surface side structure 37 with the back board 53 interposed therebetween. Stop 4
9 are provided at four places.

Internal lock portion 41 of internal housing 39
Are provided at positions corresponding to the cutout portions provided in the frame 9 of the PA connector 1. Then, the internal lock portion 4
1 temporarily holds the inner housing 39 so that the inner housing 39 does not move with respect to the outer housing 40, and after the PA connector 1 and the inner housing 39 are fitted, the inner housing 39 moves in the outer housing 40 in the fitting direction. On the other hand, it is released so that it can move freely within a certain width. The predetermined space portion 42 of the BP connector 35 has a structure for receiving the projecting portions 10 and 12 and the central projecting portion 11 of the frame 9 of the PA connector 1, and the housing of the PA connector 1 is provided at four corners of the predetermined space portion 42. Guide the guide section 13,
It receives the protrusions 10, 11, 12.

Next, the PA connector 1 and the BP connector 35
The process of fitting and will be described. First, PA connector 1
Is an inclined surface 45a at both longitudinal ends of the guide frame 45 of the outer housing 40 of the BP connector 35, and the PA connector 1
Is slidably contacted with the taper portion 14 of the housing guide portion 13 and guided in the longitudinal direction, and the outer taper portion 14 a of the housing guide portion 13 and the guide frame 4 of the outer housing 40.
5 is slidably in contact with the inclined surface 45d of the predetermined space 42 and is guided laterally with respect to the longitudinal direction, and the alignment of the outer housing 40 of the BP connector 35 and the PA connector 1 is completed (FIGS. 5 and 6). reference).

Further, when the PA connector is further advanced, the taper portion 14 of the housing guide portion 13 is moved to the inner housing 3
The inner housing 39 is aligned in the longitudinal direction by slidingly contacting the guide protrusion 39a of 9 (see FIG. 6). The lateral alignment of the inner housing 39 is performed by the inner side surface of the housing guide portion 13 slidingly contacting the outer side surface of the inner housing 39.

After the above-mentioned alignment is completed, the tip of the sleeve holder 18 of the PA connector 1 and the ferrule 44 of the BP connector are close to and face each other. The tip of the ferrule 44 has a cylindrical shape with a thin recess on the tip side, and the inner diameter of the tip of the sleeve holder 18 has a conical shape with a widened tip, so that the ferrule 44 slides when mating from each other. Aligned side-by-side for proper mating.

In the above state, when the PA connector 1 is further inserted, the ferrule 44 is inserted into the split sleeve 20 provided in the sleeve holder 18, and the release protrusion 17b of the main lock portion 17 is inserted into the outer housing. 40
The main lock portion 17 rides on the riding portion 45b of the vehicle while flexing, and is removed when the insertion proceeds as it is
While sliding on c, the main lock portion 17 returns from the original state, that is, the main lock portion 17 returns from the bent state, and at the same time, the main lock portion 17 is coupled and locked with the locking projection 39b of the inner housing 39. In this locked state, the tip of the notched taper portion 9a of the PA housing 3 is located above the internal lock portion 41 of the internal housing 39, and the BP connector 3
The tip of the ferrule 44 on the fifth side is joined to the tip of the ferrule 16 of the first optical connector element 15 on the PA connector 1 side in the split sleeve 20 of the sleeve holder 18 on the PA connector 1 side.

When the PA connector 1 is further pushed in the above state, the tip of the notched taper portion 9a of the PA housing 3 enters between the tip surface of the inner lock portion 41 of the inner housing 39 and the side surface of the outer housing 40. Then, the lock between the inner lock portion 41 and the lock portion of the outer housing is released. Further, when the inner lock portion 41 is released, the locking between the outer housing 40 and the inner housing 39 is released, and the inner housing 39 and the PA connector 1 can move in the insertion direction by a certain width in a fitted state. It has become.

The inner housing 39 and the PA connector 1
When and are fitted and moved by a certain width to enter the innermost position, the rear end surface 40a of the outer housing 40 and the front end surface 22 of the housing guide portion 13 of the PA housing 3 are in the same position. There is. However, at this time, the housing guide portion 13 has a shape in which the interference area is cut out so that the locking portion 49 of the outer housing 40 and the housing guide portion 13 do not interfere with each other.

That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the BP connector 3
When it is desired to lower the height (see “L” in FIG. 4) when the 5 is mounted, the four corners of the housing guide portion 13 are separated and projected, and the mating side BP connector 35 has a storage space 40b.
By providing the, the fitting length can be made large in the fitting direction. Conversely speaking, the storage space 40b for guiding the housing guide portion 13 to the BP connector 35 is 4
By providing it at the back of the corner, there is a space inside the four corners of the BP connector 35 with respect to the longitudinal direction, and a reinforcing body 40c and a locking portion 49 can be added to the rear end surface 40a of the BP connector 35. Is.

The back side structure 37 is provided with a plurality of fitting portions for loosely fitting and aligning the second optical connector element 43, and screw portions 25 for fixing the external housing 40 at the four corners. It is provided.

[0032]

The present invention having the structure as described above has the following effects. That is, since it is not necessary to separately provide a guide pin as in the conventional case, even if the housing has the same size as that of the conventional case, the number of optical connector elements to be mounted can be increased, and the manufacturing process for mounting the guide pin is eliminated, so that it is low in cost. It can be priced. The housing guide portion provided instead of the guide pin is provided so as to project on the extension line of the frame of the housing, so that the number of parts can be reduced and the structure can be simplified. When the housing is fitted, the housing guide portions can be extended to the rear end surface of the second connector by the storage spaces provided at the four corners of the second connector. Since the joint length can be increased, the height of the second connector in the fitting direction can be lowered to maintain the stable fitting state even when the size is reduced. Therefore, the practical value of the present invention is great.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a PA connector of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a BP connector of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part centering on a housing guide part of the PA connector of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view including a virtual view in which a PA connector is fully inserted into a BP connector of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a PA connector of the present invention immediately before being fitted to an outer housing of a BP connector.

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the PA connector of the present invention when it is arranged in the outer housing.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a conventional BP connector and PA connector.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 1st connector (PA connector) 3 Package side housing (PA housing) 4 Through hole 6 Partition 7 Chamber 7 Projection 9 Frame 9a Notch taper part 10 Projection part 11 Central projection part 11a Central taper part 12 Projection part 13 Housing Guide part 14 Taper part 14a Outer taper part 15 First optical connector element 16 Ferrule 17 Main lock part 17a Outer tip part 17b Release protrusion 18 Sleeve holder 19 Holder 20 Split sleeve 21 Tip 22 Tip face 35 Second connector (BP connector) ) 37 Back side structure 38 Front side structure 39 Inner housing 39a Guide protrusion 39b Locking protrusion 40 Outer housing 40a Outer housing rear end face 40b Storage space 40c Reinforcement body 41 Internal lock portion 42 Predetermined space portion 43 Second optical connector Remento 44 ferrule 45 guide frame 45a inclined surface 45b riding portion 45c removed riding portion 46 partition wall 47 the compartment 48 front 49 engaging portion 53 backboard 54 Package

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Ryo Nagase 1-1-6 Uchisaiwai-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Nihon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Kazunori Kanayama 1-1-6 Uchisai-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Nihon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Yasuhiro Ando 1-1-6, Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Nihon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Tatsuomi Matsumoto 5-5-23, Osaki, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo No. Hirose Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Takashi Nishiyama 5-5-23 Osaki, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Hirose Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Toshiaki Nakano 6-18-12 Meguro-honmachi, Meguro-ku, Tokyo Honda Communication Industry Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hiromasa Okamura 6-18-12 Megurohonmachi, Meguro-ku, Tokyo Honda Communication Industry Co., Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A first connector having a plurality of first optical connector elements in a housing, and a second connector having a plurality of second optical connector elements in a housing, wherein: An optical connector having a structure in which a first connector and the second connector are detachably fitted and coupled, wherein the first connector is a housing in which four corners of the housing on the fitting and coupling side are separated and extended. An optical connector, characterized in that a guide frame is formed, and a guide frame for guiding the housing guide part is provided on the fitting and coupling side of the second connector. 2. The optical connector according to claim 1, wherein the housing guide portion has a taper surface toward the outside and is formed so as to protrude from the first optical connector element. 3. The optical connector according to claim 1, wherein a storage space for housing the housing guide portion is provided at the inner side of the four corners of the second connector on the fitting and coupling side.