JPH0580220A - Fiber protecting member for optical fiber parts - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the damage and breakage of optical fibers by tensile or bending force when optical fiber parts of an optical coupler, an optical multiplexer/demultiplexer, etc., each composed of optical fibers or coated optical fibers are combined with an optical connector or other optical parts. CONSTITUTION:A first recess 11 for housing each of optical fiber parts 2, second and third recesses 12, 13 and circular projections 14, 15 for housing optical fibers 3 in a wound state, connecting grooves 16, 17 and guide grooves 18, 19 for guiding the optical fibers 3 are formed in a base 1 made of an elastic material. The projections 14, 15 have a larger radius than the allowable bending radius of the optical fibers 3.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fiber protection member for an optical fiber component, and more particularly to a fiber protection member for an optical fiber component such as an optical fiber coupler composed of an optical fiber having a strand or core structure.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Optical fiber parts such as fused optical couplers and optical multiplexers / demultiplexers, which are composed of optical fibers having a strand or core structure, are easier to manufacture than those having a cable structure. Since it is small and easy to mount in a package, it is expected to be used in large quantities in the future.

In an optical fiber component using an optical fiber having a conventional strand or core structure, as shown in FIG. 2, the portion of the optical fiber taken out from the main body of the optical fiber component 2 is protected by a rubber tube or a shrink tube. By covering the member 5, damage to the optical fiber 3 due to bending is mitigated.

[0004]

However, this conventional fiber protection member for an optical fiber component is weak against pulling and bending of the fiber, and when the optical connector or the end member of another optical component is assembled, it is pulled by the fiber. When a force or a bending force is applied, there is a drawback that the optical fiber is broken or damaged.

That is, it is necessary to pay close attention to handle the conventional protection member for the wires and the core wire, and the yield when processing other parts is lower than that of the optical fiber part having the cable structure. There is.

[0006]

A protective member for an optical fiber component according to the present invention is a base made of an elastic material for a fiber protective member for an optical fiber component composed of an optical fiber having a strand or core structure. A first concave portion for accommodating the optical fiber component main body and second and third concave portions for accommodating the optical fiber are provided on both sides of the first concave portion at the center of the second and third concave portions, respectively. A circular convex portion whose radius is equal to or larger than the allowable bending radius of the optical fiber, and
A groove connecting the first, second, and third recesses is provided, and a guide groove for the optical fiber is provided from the second and third recesses toward the outside of the base.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.
Drawing (A) is a perspective outline drawing of a protection member, drawing (B) is a plan view showing a state where optical fiber parts are housed in the protection member of drawing (A), and drawing (C) is a drawing (B) FIG. 3 is a perspective outline view showing a state in which the lid is covered on the item of FIG.

In FIG. 1A, a table 1 is provided with a first recess 11 for accommodating an optical fiber component, a second recess 12 and a third recess 13 for accommodating an extra length of the optical fiber. . Further, circular convex portions 14 and 15 each having a radius equal to or larger than the allowable bending radius of the optical fiber 3 are provided in the second and third concave portions 12 and 13, and the first, second, and third concave portions are provided. Grooves 16 and 17 for connecting the recesses 11, 12, and 13 are provided. Further, guide grooves 18 and 19 are provided for taking out the optical fiber 3 from the second and third recesses 12 and 13.

The state where the optical fiber component 2 is housed in the base 1 of the diagram (A) is shown in the diagram (B). The optical fiber 3 of the optical fiber component 2 is wound around the convex portions 14 and 15, respectively, and then taken out from the guide grooves 18 and 19. In the present invention, as shown in the diagram (B), since the optical fiber 3 is wound around the convex portions 14 and 15, when a tensile force acts on the optical fiber 3, the force is applied to the convex portions 14 and 15. It works in the tightening direction, and hardly acts on the fiber take-out portion 21 of the optical fiber component 2. In addition, the convex portion 14,
Since 15 is made of a material having elasticity, the force applied to the optical fiber 3 is relaxed, and since the radius is not less than the allowable bending radius of the optical fiber, the optical fiber is not damaged.

In order to prevent the optical fiber 3 and the component body 2 from protruding from the protective member, cover the table 1 with the lid 6 and fix it with the band 4 as shown in FIG. good.

In order to manufacture the base 1 of the protection member, there is a molding method using a plastic material having elasticity, for example, a silicone resin.

[0013]

As described above, according to the present invention, the optical fiber is protected by winding the optical fiber around the circular convex portion which has elasticity and whose radius is not less than the allowable bending radius of the optical fiber. Therefore, when an optical connector or another optical component is assembled with an optical fiber component having a bare wire or a core wire structure, the optical fiber is not damaged or broken.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, which is a partial diagram (A).
Is a perspective outline drawing of the protective member, and FIG.
Drawing (C) is a perspective outline view showing a state in which the lid is put on the drawing (B).

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a conventional protection member.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Protective member base 2 Optical fiber component 3 Optical fiber 4 Band 5 Conventional protective member 6 Lid 11, 12, 13 Recesses 14 and 15 provided in the unit 1 Convex part 16 and 17 provided in the concavity Connecting groove of recessed part 18, 19 Guide groove for taking out optical fiber

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A fiber protection member for an optical fiber component composed of an optical fiber having a strand or core structure, wherein the optical fiber component main body is housed in the center of a base made of an elastic material. A recess and second and third recesses for accommodating the optical fiber are provided on both sides of the first recess, and the radius of each of the second and third recesses is not less than the allowable bending radius of the optical fiber. Providing a circular convex part, and
A groove for connecting the first, second, and third recesses is provided, and a guide groove for the optical fiber is further provided from the second and third recesses toward the outside of the base. A fiber protection member for a characteristic optical fiber component.