JPH07117627B2 - Optical connector - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical connector for connecting optical cables to each other or an optical cable and a photoelectric conversion element, and more particularly to a positioning structure for an optical cable connector.

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 4 in the related art, when connecting the optical cable connector 1 and the mating connector 2, for example, a photoelectric converter, the ferrule 4 attached to the end of the optical cable 3 is projected from the front surface of the optical cable connector 1 for a long time, The ferrule 4 is elastically supported by a spring 5 so that the ferrule 4 can move back and forth in the axial direction.
Is inserted into the positioning hole 6 formed in the front surface of the mating connector, so that the photoelectric conversion element 7 provided in the positioning hole 6 is inserted.
The optical cable is centered and parallelized while facing it.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, the structure for inserting the ferrule into the positioning hole to achieve the above positioning requires a deep positioning hole 6 having a length several times as large as the diameter, and the positioning hole 6 is used as a photoelectric conversion hole. It has to be installed in front of the conversion element 7, so that the size of the connector body is increased by the extent that the positioning hole 6 extends, and the size in the optical axis direction when connecting both connectors 1 and 2 is made bulky and the mounting area is increased. Has a problem of occupying a lot.

Further, since the ferrule itself is movably held by a spring, an excessive error may occur in the mounting position, which may hinder the alignment with the positioning hole. In addition, since the ferrule has to be long enough to project from the connector body in a size corresponding to the positioning hole, it may be deformed by an external force during handling.

The above problem also applies to the connection between optical cables.

According to the present invention, when connecting an optical cable and an optical element, or an optical cable to each other, the size of the connector in the optical axis direction is made as small as possible, and the connection of both connectors is made smooth and easy. The present invention provides an optical connector that can be properly performed.

Means for Solving the Problems As a means for achieving the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a movable frame horizontally along a front opening for receiving a mating connector in an optical cable connector body, and the mating connector is provided on both sides of the movable frame. A pair of positioning pins to be inserted into the positioning holes were erected, and a ferrule of an optical cable terminal was attached to the movable frame between the positioning pins.

On the other hand, stoppers are projected at both ends of the front opening integrally with the optical cable connector main body, and both ends of the movable frame are arranged on the rear surface of the stopper so as to be in contact with each other. The pin loosely penetrates through the stopper and projects forward from the front of the stopper, and both ends of the movable frame are elastically held forward by coil springs at the mounting positions of the positioning pin by the coil spring to abut the stopper and the positioning pin and ferrule. Is configured to follow the movable frame integrally with the coil spring while being elastically held so as to be aligned with the mating connector.

Operation With the above configuration, when the optical cable connector is coupled to the mating connector, the positioning pins that are erected on both sides of the movable frame are inserted into the mating connector, and this connector can be used as a guide to easily couple both connectors. The positioning pin is inserted into the positioning hole while adjusting and moving integrally with the movable frame, and the alignment is accurately achieved. At the same time, the ferrule is moved integrally with the positioning pin through the movable frame according to the alignment of the positioning pin. As a result, it is possible to properly secure the alignment with respect to the mating ferrule or the optical cable and the parallelism with respect to the optical axis.

Further, in the above-mentioned optical connector, unlike the conventional example in which the ferrule is deeply inserted into the positioning hole to serve as the positioning means, it is not necessary to extend the positioning hole into which the ferrule is inserted for a long time. The size in the axial direction can be made as small as possible.

Further, it is not necessary to project the ferrule to be inserted into the positioning hole for a long time, and the deformation due to an external force can be effectively prevented.

Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

10A is an optical cable connector attached to an optical cable terminal, an optical cable 12 is inserted from the rear surface of the connector main body 11 so as to be able to move forward and backward, and a pair of positioning pins 14 made of metal or the like are provided on the front surface so as to project long in the optical axis direction. Has been done.

The bases of the positioning pins 14 are fixedly attached to both ends of a movable frame 15 made of a flat metal plate and project forward. The movable frame 15 has a front opening for receiving a mating connector of the optical cable connector body 11. The part 19 is laid horizontally along it so as to shield it. Both ends of the movable frame 15 are elastically supported by a coil spring 16 so as to be urged forward, and both ends of the movable frame 15 are elastically urged by stoppers 17 that are integrally projected to both ends of the front opening 19 of the optical cable connector body 11. Support against power.

Therefore, the movable frame 15 has a coil spring in the opening 19.
It retreats or tilts with the positioning pin 14 against the elasticity of 16.
Further, it moves forward according to the elasticity of the spring 16 and contacts the stopper 17 to keep the forward position.

The two optical cables 12 are inserted in parallel from the rear surface of the optical cable connector main body 11 and attached to the end of the ferrule.
18 is inserted into and fixed to the movable frame 15 so that the end surface of the ferrule is exposed on the front surface of the movable frame 15. In the illustrated example, the tip of the ferrule is attached so as to project slightly from the front surface of the movable frame 15, but the protruding configuration is not a requirement, and if it is exposed from the front surface of the movable frame 15, it may be attached, for example, on substantially the same surface as the front surface of the frame. . In this case, the mating optical element or the end face of the optical cable is also installed so as to be substantially flush with the front surface of the mating connector.

As described above, a pair of positioning pins 14 that are inserted into the positioning holes 24 of the mating connector are erected on both ends of the movable frame 15, and the ferrule 18 is located between the positioning pins. Install. On the other hand, both ends of the movable frame 15 are arranged so as to abut against the rear surface of the stopper 17 which integrally projects with the optical cable connector main body 11 at both ends of the front opening 19, and the positioning pin 14 is provided on the movable frame. Two pieces are erected in parallel at both ends of 15 and penetrated loosely so that they can move forward and backward with respect to the stopper 17, and project forward from both ends of the front surface of the optical cable connector main body 11, that is, the front surface of the stopper 17, and the coil spring 16 is a positioning pin. Two of them are arranged so that they have the same axis as each of the fourteen, and both ends of the movable frame 15 are aligned with the positioning pins 14
The stopper 17
Abut. At this time, the base end of the positioning pin 14 projects from the rear surface of the movable frame 15 and is inserted into the center of the front end portion of the coil spring 16 to maintain the relative position with the spring.

Thus, the positioning pin 14 and the ferrule 18 follow the movable frame 15 integrally while the coil spring 16 is elastically held so that the positioning pin 14 and the ferrule 18 are aligned with the mating connector.

Reference numeral 10B is a photoelectric converter serving as a mating connector, which incorporates a photoelectric conversion element 20 and a circuit board 21 such as an amplifier. The photoelectric converter 10B has a fitting portion 22 formed by projecting a central portion on the front surface of the main body 13.
A ferrule insertion hole 23 is formed on the front surface of the fitting portion 22 corresponding to the ferrule 18, and both ends of the fitting portion 22, that is, the notch step front surface of the front end of the photoelectric converter main body 13 are formed. A positioning hole 24 corresponding to the above-mentioned positioning pin 14 is opened. The positioning hole 24 extends along the left and right ends of the photoelectric converter body 13 in parallel with the optical axis.

When the mating connector typified by the photoelectric converter 10B is coupled to the optical cable connector 10A, the movable frame 15 is pressed while the fitting portion 22 is fitted in the opening 19 of the photoelectric converter 13. Then, the movable frame 15 is retracted against the elastic force of the coil spring 16, and at the same time, the tip of the ferrule 18 is inserted into the ferrule insertion hole 23, and the ferrule end surface, that is, the cable end surface, is inserted into the ferrule insertion hole by the elastic force of the coil spring 16.
The photoelectric conversion element 20 held inside 23 is directly faced.

Thus, when the optical cable connector and the photoelectric converter 13 are coupled, the positioning pin 14 is inserted in advance of the positioning hole 24 while being adjusted and moved integrally with the movable frame 15, and the positioning pin 14 is inserted.
The ferrule 18 attached to the movable frame 15 is properly introduced into the insertion hole 23 while following the guiding action of the ferrule while ensuring the relative position between the two.

As described above, the positioning pin 14 is movable in the optical axis direction integrally with the movable frame 15 while being held by the coil spring 16, and also in the direction orthogonal to the optical axis while tilting the movable frame 15 against the elastic force. The position of the positioning pin 24 is adjusted so that the position deviation of the positioning pin 24 at the time of initial insertion is absorbed, and it is properly introduced into the positioning hole 24 by the guide of the tapered end of the positioning pin. It returns to parallel with the optical axis, and at the same time, the ferrule 18 is also moved integrally with the positioning pin 14 through the movable frame 15 in accordance with the adjustment movement of the positioning pin 14, with respect to the optical element or optical cable of the mating side and the optical axis. Parallelism is secured.

Further, by making the movable frame 15 made of metal and the positioning pin 14 made of metal, both of them can function as the shield means of the photoelectric converter in the optical connector.

As described above, according to the present invention, a pair of positioning pins erected at both ends of the movable frame are inserted into the positioning holes of the mating connector while being elastically adjusted integrally with the movable frame, Using this as a guide, the connecting work of both connectors can be performed very easily. Also, at this time, the positioning pin is inserted into the positioning hole while moving the movable frame backwards or tilts against the spring and tilting to adjust it integrally, and at the same time, the ferrule is aligned according to the alignment of the positioning pin. Is moved integrally with the positioning pin through the movable frame to properly secure the centering with respect to the mating ferrule or the optical cable and the parallelism with the optical axis.

Further, in the above-mentioned optical connector, unlike the conventional example in which the ferrule is deeply inserted into the positioning hole to serve as the positioning means, it is not necessary to extend the positioning hole into which the ferrule is inserted. The dimension in the direction can be made as small as possible and the mounting space can be reduced.

Further, since it is not necessary to project the ferrule to be inserted into the positioning hole for a long time, it is possible to effectively prevent the deformation due to the external force.

Positioning pins erected at both ends of the movable frame are loosely penetrated through stoppers protruding at both ends of the front opening of the connector main body, and both ends of the movable frame are elastically held by coil springs at the position where the positioning pins are attached to the stopper. Since it is configured to be brought into contact with each other, it is possible to suppress abnormal movement of the movable frame and both positioning pins due to the insertion of the mating connector, and to stably and properly adjust the purpose of the positioning pin effectively.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an optical connector before coupling showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view before the coupling, FIG. 3 is a sectional view after the coupling, and FIG. 4 is a conventional example. It is sectional drawing after coupling of the optical connector shown. 10A ... Optical cable connector, 10B ... Photoelectric converter exemplifying mating connector, 11 ... Optical cable connector body,
12 ... Optical cable, 13 ... Photoelectric converter body, 14 ... Positioning pin, 15 ... Movable frame, 16 ... Coil spring, 18 ...
… Ferrule, 20 …… Photoelectric conversion element, 24 …… Positioning hole.

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim: What is claimed is: 1. An optical cable connector body is provided with a movable frame laterally along a front opening for receiving a mating connector,
A pair of positioning pins to be inserted into the positioning holes of the mating connector are erected on both sides of the movable frame, and the ferrule of the optical cable terminal is mounted on the movable frame between the two positioning pins, Overhang stoppers at both ends of the front opening with the optical cable connector body,
Both ends of the movable frame are arranged on the rear surface of the stopper so as to be capable of contacting each other, and the positioning pins attached to both ends of the movable frame are loosely penetrated through the stopper to project forward from the front surface of the stopper. Both ends of the movable frame are elastically pushed forward by a coil spring at the mounting portion of the positioning pin and abutted against the stopper, and the positioning pin and the ferrule follow the movable frame integrally under the elastic holding of the coil spring. An optical connector configured to match the mating connector.