JPH07174940A - Optical element built-in type plug-in optical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make it possible to miniaturize an optical module, to eliminate the need for a surplus length treatment of optical fibers, to eliminate the need for a space for arranging the optical fibers and to automatically make plug-in connection of a mating side optical connector and a rear surface access on a backboard side. CONSTITUTION:This plug-in type optical connector is constituted by building optical elements 3 (light emitting elements or light receiving elements) optically connected to optical fibers 1 within ferrules 2 of the optical connector, arranging plural element housings 10 contg. these ferrules 2 within a multiplex housing 11 and arranging second electric terminals 7 electrically connected to a printed circuit board 12 in the rear part of the multiplex housing 11 via first electric terminals 4 and electric contactors 6. The plug-in connection of the rear surface access is executed on the backboard side.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a structure of an optical connector, and more particularly to an optical connector for plug-in connection having a built-in optical element (light emitting element or light receiving element).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an optical device containing an optical element is called an optical module. The conventional optical module is
There were a pigtail type and a receptacle type. The pigtail type is a device that optically connects an optical element and an optical fiber to perform input and output as an optical fiber, and the receptacle type is an optical connector plug that is optically connected to the optical element and the optical receptacle and is inserted into the receptacle. It is a device that inputs and outputs to and from.

The structure of a conventional optical module will be described. FIG. 8 shows a conventional pigtail type optical module. Generally, when a pigtail type optical module is mounted on a printed board such as an optical transmission device, an outer housing 23 including an optical element 21 is fixed to the printed board as shown in FIG.
The optical connector plug 24 connecting the two is fixed to the front surface of the printed board through an optical adapter or the like. On the other hand, FIG. 9 shows a conventional receptacle type optical module. Generally, when a receptacle type optical module is mounted on a printed board of an optical transmission device or the like, a receptacle 33 including an optical element 31 is fixed to the front surface of the printed board as shown in FIG. To be connected. In either case, the structure is such that an optical connector plug is inserted from the front surface of the printed board to connect with another optical fiber or optical device. Further, while the receptacle type optical module of FIG. 9 is a female type optical module, the optical module according to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-53911 shown in FIG. 10 is a male type having an optical fiber 42 in a flange 43. Optical module. In any case,
When the optical module as described above is mounted on a printed circuit board of an optical transmission device or the like, as shown in FIG.
Fixed to the front surface of the printed board through the optical module 52
And the optical connector plug 54 are connected.

[0004]

When using the above-mentioned conventional optical module, there are the following problems.

First, when a conventional optical module is mounted on a printed board of an optical transmission device or the like, the optical module body or a pigtail type optical connector is fixed to the front surface of the printed board. Therefore, there is a drawback that only the front side can be accessed to the printed board. That is, when the printed board is inserted into the device, there is a drawback that a plug-in connection, which enables automatic optical connection with the insertion operation, cannot be performed.

Secondly, in the conventional pigtail type optical module, the pigtail (that is, the optical fiber and the optical connector at its tip) is connected to the module body, so that the optical fiber is fixed when mounted on a printed board. It had the drawback of requiring a large space.

Thirdly, in the conventional pigtail type optical module, the extra length treatment of the optical fiber is troublesome. That is, when the optical fiber is mounted on the printed board, the optical fiber connected to the optical module needs to have a proper length. Therefore, an optical module in which the length of the optical fiber is finely adjusted must be manufactured, which is expensive.

The present invention provides a plug-in optical connector with a built-in optical element, which eliminates the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks and realizes good operability, space saving and low cost.

[0009]

A plug-in type optical connector with a built-in optical element according to the present invention includes a plug frame including a ferrule having an optical fiber fixed on a central axis and an elastic sleeve for aligning the ferrule. At least 1
A plug-in optical connector including a multiple housing having one element housing, the optical element including an optical element in the ferrule, the optical element being optically coupled to the optical fiber, and the ferrule. The ferrule is electrically connected to the first electrical terminal at the rear end by a lead wire, and the ferrule has its tip located substantially at the center in the longitudinal direction of the elastic sleeve and has the longitudinal direction in the elastic sleeve. Can be practiced in
The ferrule and the elastic sleeve are held in the plug frame with a first anti-rotation mechanism, and the plug frame is second in the element housing.
The element housing is held in the multiple housing having at least one element groove, and a plurality of the element housings are arranged at the rear end of the ferrule. Electrical terminals are provided at the rear of the multiple housing and are electrically connected to a plurality of electrical contacts movable in the longitudinal direction by a spring property, and the plurality of electrical contacts are provided in the multiple housing. It is characterized in that it is in electrical contact with a plurality of second electric terminals provided.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view including a partial cross section showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view showing the main part of the present embodiment, and FIG.
2 is a sectional view showing a further enlarged view of FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a ferrule with a built-in optical element in the present embodiment, and FIG.
(B) is a side view, FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing an electric contact in this embodiment, FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the overall situation when an optical connector according to the present invention is connected to a mating optical connector.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, in one embodiment of the plug-in optical connector with a built-in optical element of the present invention, the optical element 3 is built into the ferrule 2 of the plug-in optical connector, and A plurality of first electric terminals 4 are arranged at the rear end. Here, the optical element 3 may be either a light emitting element or a light receiving element. These first electric terminals 4 are electrically connected to the optical element 3 by lead wires 5 such as bonding wires. The optical fiber 1 built in the center of the ferrule 2 is optically connected to the optical element 3 inside the ferrule 2. That is, the end of the ferrule 2 of this optical connector has an optical interface, while the rear of the ferrule 2 has an electrical interface.

Further, such a ferrule 2 is aligned and held in an elastic sleeve 8 for alignment, and is structured to optically connect when another ferrule is inserted from the open end of the elastic sleeve 8. Has become. Ferrule 2
The plurality of first electric terminals 4 at the rear end of the multiple housing 1
1 is connected to an electric contactor 6 having a plurality of springs 16 which can be moved back and forth by spring pressure.
Even when the connector itself moves back and forth due to the insertion of another connector ferrule, the plurality of first electric terminals 4 and the plurality of electric contacts 6 are always electrically connected. The plurality of electric contacts 6 are respectively provided with a plurality of second electric terminals 7 arranged at the bottom of the multiple housing 11.
, And are electrically connected to the circuit pattern of the printed board 12 by the plurality of second electric terminals 7. In this way, the optical connector of this embodiment has the ferrule 2
It is configured to be optically connected to another plug-in optical connector at the tip of, and electrically connected to the printed board 12.

The ferrule 2 and the elastic sleeve 8 are shown in FIG.
As shown in Fig. 3, the ferrule 2 is held in the plug frame 9 while maintaining an appropriate clearance.
Has a structure that does not rotate in the plug frame 9 due to a key mechanism such as the key groove 13 shown in FIG.
Further, the ferrule 2 has a structure capable of moving back and forth within the elastic sleeve 8 to some extent. Therefore, according to the position of other connector ferrule, ferrule 2
The spring 16 built in the electric contactor 6 moves back and forth, and the tips of the other ferrule 2 and the other connector ferrule 2 are always in contact with each other, so that stable electrical connection is ensured.

The ferrule 2 and the plug frame 9
Is incorporated in the multiple housing 11 of the plug-in type optical connector through the element housing 10. The plug frame 9 is also fixed in the element housing 10 by a key structure or the like so as not to rotate. Further, a plurality of element housings 10 are arranged in the multiple housing 11 with a rotation preventing mechanism. On the other hand, the multiple housing 11 includes the printed board 12
It is fixed by screws or rivets.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the present invention, in which the optical connector element 14 having the ferrule 15 with a built-in optical element as described above is constructed so as to be attachable to and detachable from the multiple housing 11. It is a thing.

According to the plug-in optical connector of the above embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG.
2 is a mating plug-in optical connector whose interface matches the backboard 17 side by a plurality of element housings 10 arranged in the multiple housing 11 or the ferrule 2 in the optical connector element 14. The optical connection with the ferrule of the backboard side optical connector 18 is automatically performed by the plug-in,
Electrical / optical conversion or optical / electrical conversion is performed in the ferrule 2 by the optical fiber 1 and the optical element 3, and a plurality of first electrical terminals 4, electrical contacts 6, and second electrical terminals 7 at the rear end of the ferrule 2 are provided. Electrical connection can be made to the printed board 12 via the.

[0018]

As described above, according to the optical connector of the present invention, the following various effects can be obtained.

First, by incorporating an optical element inside the ferrule, it is not necessary to separately prepare an optical module, it is not necessary to secure a space for disposing the optical module on a printed board, and high density mounting is possible. Become. Second,
Since there is no pigtail, the space for arranging the extra length of the optical fiber becomes unnecessary. Thirdly, since it is not necessary to strictly manage the variation in the length of the optical fiber to manufacture the optical module, the cost can be reduced as compared with the pigtail type optical module. Fourthly, since it is a plug-in type optical connector, there is an effect that it can be automatically plugged-in with another optical connector on the backboard on the back side of the printed board, not on the front side access.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view including a partial cross section showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a main part of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing FIG. 2 in a further enlarged manner.

FIG. 4A is a sectional view and FIG. 4B is a side view showing a ferrule with a built-in optical element according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing an electric contactor incorporated in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an overall situation when a plug-in optical connector with a built-in optical element according to the present invention is connected to a mating optical connector.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing an example of a conventional pigtail type optical module.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a conventional receptacle type optical module.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing an example of a conventional male receptacle optical module.

FIG. 11 is a front view showing a situation in which a conventional optical module is used as a receptacle module.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Optical Fiber 2 Ferrule 3 Optical Element 4 First Electric Terminal 5 Lead Wire 6 Electric Contact 7 Second Electric Contact 8 Elastic Sleeve 9 Plug Frame 10 Element Housing 11 Multiple Housing 12 Printed Board 13 Key Groove 14 Optical Connector Element 15 Ferrule with optical element 16 Spring 17 Backboard 18 Optical connector on backboard 19 Multiple housing on backboard

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A plug-in comprising a multiple housing having at least one element housing including a plug frame having a ferrule having an optical fiber fixed on a central axis and an elastic sleeve for aligning the ferrule. An optical connector, which includes an optical element in the ferrule, the optical element being optically coupled to the optical fiber, and electrically connected to a first electric terminal at a rear end of the ferrule and a lead wire. The ferrule and the distal end of the ferrule are located substantially at the center of the elastic sleeve in the longitudinal direction, and the ferrule can be moved in the elastic sleeve in the longitudinal direction. Is retained in the plug frame with a first anti-rotation mechanism, and the plug frame is Second in the element housing
The element housing is held in the multiple housing having at least one element groove, and the plurality of element housings are arranged at the rear end of the ferrule. Electrical terminals are provided at the rear of the multiple housing and are electrically connected to a plurality of electric contacts movable in the longitudinal direction by a spring property, and the plurality of electric contacts are inside the multiple housing. An optical element built-in type plug-in optical connector, which is in electrical contact with a plurality of second electric terminals provided. 2. The optical element built-in type plug-in optical connector according to claim 1, wherein the optical element is a light emitting element or a light receiving element. 3. The plug-in optical connector with a built-in optical element according to claim 1, wherein the element housing is detachable from the multiple housing.