JPH0694941A - Optical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a multicore optical connector of the metallic-tube-coated optical fiber having high positioning precision, easy to assemble and which is completely sealed. CONSTITUTION:This connector is formed by the ferrules 3 and 4 provided with the guide members 7 and 8 for aligning the two-dimensionally arranged optical fibers 2, the hole for housing positioning pins 3c and 4c and the positioning pins 3c and 4c housed from the opposite side of the optical fiber end face. The guide members 7 and 8 are furnished with the pressing parts 7a and 8a for pressing the pins 3c and 4c housed from the opposite side of the optical fiber end face, and the frame is sealed by an O ring and a rubber plug.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multicore optical connector for a metal tube coated optical fiber, and more particularly to a multicore optical connector for a metal tube coated optical fiber used in an engine room of an automobile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional example of a multi-core optical connector is shown in FIG.
The positioning pins 32 and 33 are inserted from the end surface side of the optical fiber and fixed by the adhesive 31. The tape optical fiber 30 is inserted and fixed in the ferrules 34 and 35. The positioning pins 32 and 33 are inserted into the fitting holes 36 and 37 and positioned.

[0003]

In the conventional multi-fiber optical connector for a metal tube coated optical fiber, the positioning accuracy is not sufficient, the assemblability is poor, and the sealing property of the connecting portion is insufficient. There is a problem. It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical connector that can solve these conventional problems.

[0004]

To solve the above problems, the present invention provides an optical connector having the following configuration. That is, there are provided a guide member for aligning two-dimensionally arranged optical fibers in one row, a hole for accommodating a positioning pin from the optical fiber end face side, and a positioning pin accommodated from the opposite side of the optical fiber end face. It consists of a ferrule.

Further, the guide member has a pressing portion for pressing the positioning pin accommodated from the side opposite to the end face of the optical fiber. Furthermore, the frame is sealed by an O-ring and a rubber plug.

[0006]

Since the positioning pin accommodated from the opposite side of the optical fiber end face is pressed by the pressing portion of the guide member, the man-hours for fixing the positioning pin with the adhesive can be omitted, and the positioning pin and the positioning pin can be positioned with the adhesive. Since it is not necessary to make a gap in the hole into which the pin is inserted, the positional accuracy in the axial direction can be improved.

Further, since the frame is sealed by the O-ring and the rubber stopper, invasion of water, oil, etc. from the outside is prevented. Further, since it has a guide member for aligning the two-dimensionally arranged optical fibers in one row, it can be easily assembled.

[0008]

1 and 2 show one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1
FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a state in which a 4-core round optical connector to which four optical fibers are connected is fitted. The optical fibers 2 are covered with a metal tube 2a, and two optical fibers are arranged in two rows two-dimensionally on the optical fiber side of the optical connector. The metal tube 2a is a metal tube 1 for fixing the optical fiber to the frames 5 and 6.
It is fixed by crimping by 6.

The guide members 7 and 8 are provided with holes 7c and 8c so that when the two rows of optical fibers are inserted from the end faces 7b and 8b, the holes 7c and 8c are aligned in one row, and the optical fibers 2 are projected from the metal tube 2a. Are arranged in a row by the guide members 7 and 8 and are accommodated in the holes 3a and 4a of the ferrules 3 and 4,
Fixed. The ferrules 3 and 4 are springs 19 and 20 to each other.
It is pressed by a constant pressure. Also, the frame 5,
O-rings 11, 12 and 13 are attached to the joints 6a of 6 and the optical fiber fixing sleeves 9 and 10, and rubber stoppers are attached between the metal tube 2a and the optical fiber fixing sleeves 9 and 10. It has a sealed structure.

The optical fiber fixing sleeves 9 and 10 are provided with claws 9a and 10a so that they can be engaged with the grooves 6a and 5a of the frame with one touch.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the state in which the ferrules 3 and 4 of FIG. 1 are combined. The positioning pin 3c is inserted into the hole 3f from the side 3e opposite to the end face of the optical fiber. It is inserted into the hole 4f from the opposite side 4e of the fiber end surface.

Further, each of the ferrules 3 and 4 has
The holes 3d and 4d are vacant, the positioning pins 4c and 3c are fitted into the holes 3d and 4d, and are held by the pressing portions 7a and 8a of the guide member.
c and 3c are structured so that they do not come out backward even if they are fitted together. Further, the positioning pins 3c and 4c are provided with the locking portions 3c1 and
It is equipped with 4c1 and has a structure that does not come out forward.

[0012]

In the past, since the positioning pin was fixed by the adhesive, it was necessary to make a gap between the positioning pin and the hole into which the positioning pin is inserted. However, the present invention eliminates this need, and the positional accuracy in the axial direction is eliminated. The optical connector can be made high, and a highly accurate optical connector can be realized.

In addition, an optical fiber arranged two-dimensionally is
Since the guide members are arranged in rows, the number of assembling steps can be reduced and a low cost optical connector can be realized. Furthermore, since the O-ring and the rubber stopper have a completely sealed structure, it is possible to provide an optical connector that can be used even in an environment with water or oil such as an automobile engine room.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a partially enlarged sectional view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a conventional structure.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Optical connector 2 ... Optical fiber 2a ... Metal tube 3, 4 ... Ferrule 3a, 4a ... Optical fiber accommodation hole 3b, 4b ... Optical fiber end surface side 3c, 4c ... Positioning pin 3d, 4d ... Positioning pin fitting hole 3e, 4e ... Opposite side of optical fiber end face 3f, 4f ... Hole for accommodating positioning pin 5, 6 ... Frame 5a, 6a ... Groove 7, 8 ... Guide member 7a, 8a ... Retaining portion 7b, 8b ... Guide member end face 9 10 ... Optical fiber fixing sleeve 9a, 10a ... Claws 11, 12, 13 ... O-ring 14, 15 ... Rubber plug 16 ... Metal tube 17, 18 ... Rubber hood 19, 20, 21 ... Spring 22, 23 ... Rib 24 ... Connection sleeve

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A pair of ferrules (3, 3) having holes (3a, 4a) for accommodating a plurality of optical fibers (2).
4) is an optical connector housed in a frame (5, 6), a guide member (7, 8) for aligning the two-dimensionally arranged optical fibers (2) in one row, and an optical fiber end face side ( 3b, 4b) to positioning pin (3c, 4c)
Holes (3d, 4d) for accommodating and positioning pins (3c, 3c,
4c) and a ferrule (3, 4) having at least holes (3f, 4f) for accommodating the positioning pins (3c, 4c). 2. The holding member (7) for holding the positioning pins (3c, 4c) accommodated from the opposite side (3e, 4e) of the end face of the optical fiber to the guide member (7, 8).
7. A multi-fiber optical connector according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a, 8a). 3. The positioning pin (3c, 4c) is a locking portion (3c1, 3c1, 4c) for locking in the hole (3f, 4f).
4c1) is provided. Claim 1
Item 6. The multi-core optical connector according to item 2 or item 3. 4. The optical fiber (2) is a metal tube (2).
The multi-fiber optical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which is a metal tube-coated optical fiber (2) coated with a). 5. O-rings (11, 12, 13) at the joint (6a) between the frame (5) and the frame (6) and at the joint between the frame (5) and the fiber fixing sleeve (9, 10).
A rubber stopper (14, 15) is provided between the metal tube (2a) and the fiber fixing sleeve (9, 10), and any one of claims 1 to 4 is provided. The multi-fiber optical connector described in Crab.