JPH07181338A - Multicore optical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To minimize reflection and connecting loss and perform a satisfactory PC connection by nipping a member to be nipped consisting of a material having a refractive index of the same degree as the refractive index of the core material of an optical fiber by the recessed parts of the opposed fiber end surfaces. CONSTITUTION:The optical fiber 13 of an optical fiber tape 12 is inserted to the respective fiber insert hole of a connector ferrule 11, an adhesive is applied between the optical fiber 13 and the fiber insert hole, and the adhesive is heated and hardened in this state. The two resulting connector bodies 1 are PC- connected to each other. A SiO2 glass member 16 to be connected is arranged between the fiber end surfaces of the optical fibers 13 inserted to the two connector bodies 1, and nipped by the recessed parts 15 of both the fiber end surfaces. The member 16 to be connected has a refractive index 1.4 of the same degree as the refractive index 1.4 of the core material of the optical fiber 13. The top end part of the member 16 to be connected has substantially a spherical form as matched to the form of the recessed part 15 of the fiber end surface.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multi-fiber optical connector used in the field of optical communication.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an optical connector used for connecting an optical fiber, there is, for example, a fitting type optical connector as shown in FIG. This mating type optical connector has a pin insertion hole 62 provided in the connected end face 61 of each connector body 60.
Insert the fitting pin 63 into the connector to position it, and
The end faces of the two connector bodies 60 are abutted to each other in a state where the end face of the optical fiber 64 inserted into the optical fiber 64 is exposed to the end face 61 to be connected, and the end faces of the fibers are abutted to each other to optically couple the optical fibers. It is connected by doing so.

That is, as shown in FIG. 7A, the coating of the tape core wire 65 is removed by a predetermined length to expose the optical fiber 64, and the optical fiber 64 is inserted into the fiber hole 66 of the connector body 60. Then, an adhesive is applied between the two. When the insertion of the optical fiber 64 is completed, FIG.
As shown in, the optical fiber 64 is in a state of protruding from the connected end surface 61 of the connector body 60. At this time, the adhesive 67 protrudes from the connected end surface 61 of the connector body 60. In this state, the adhesive is cured by heating.

Next, as shown in FIG. 8 (A), the optical fiber 6 protruding from the connected end face 61 of the connector body 60.
4 and the protruding adhesive 67 are removed by grinding, and then the connected end surface 61 is polished. Finally, Figure 8
As shown in (B), the two connector bodies 60 are connected via a matching agent 68 for suppressing the loss and reflection of transmitted light.
By abutting the connected end faces 61 of the above, the fiber end faces are abutted with each other, and the optical fibers are optically coupled.

In the connection of the optical connector, as described above, the matching agent 68 is interposed on the connected end surface of the connector main body 60 to maintain the continuity of the refractive index of the core of the optical fiber or the end surface of the optical fiber. It prevents the generation of voids between them and suppresses the loss and reflection of light.

[0006]

However, even if the matching agent 68 is interposed, if the matching agent 68 is mixed with air or the matching agent 68 itself evaporates and decreases with time, the connecting portion is reduced. At the loss and reflection of light occurs.
Therefore, it is impossible to maintain a stable and good connection state for a long period of time. Therefore, PC (Physical Contact) connection without using the matching agent 68 or the like is desired.

However, when the connection end face 61 is subjected to the polishing treatment, the polishing amount of the connection end face 61 is different for each optical fiber, and therefore the positions of the fiber end faces after the polishing treatment are not aligned on the same plane. There is a problem that is good P
C connection cannot be made.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and it is possible to perform good PC connection without using a matching agent, reduce reflection and connection loss at the connection portion, and have excellent durability. It is intended to provide a connector.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, a pair of connector bodies each having a pair of alignment pin holes and a plurality of fiber holes, and fiber end faces are exposed in the plurality of fiber holes of the pair of connector bodies. So as to be respectively inserted, and the fiber end surface is aligned with a plurality of optical fibers having a recessed portion which is recessed from the connected end surface of the connector body, and the pair of alignment pin holes of each of the pair of connector bodies. When inserting the pins and abutting the connected end faces of the pair of connector bodies,
The multi-fiber light comprising: a sandwiched member which is sandwiched by the fiber end faces of the optical fibers facing each other and which is made of a material having a refractive index similar to that of the core material of the optical fiber. Provide a connector.

Here, as the material of the connector body, epoxy resin containing glass filler or the like can be used. Further, ceramics, cemented carbide, or the like can be used as the material of the alignment pin.

The cross-sectional shape of the recess on the end face of the fiber may be semicircular or rectangular. It is necessary to determine the cross-sectional shape of the tip of the held member according to the cross-sectional shape of the recess.

The material of the sandwiched member is a material having a refractive index similar to that of the core material of the optical fiber, does not mix air for a long period of time, and does not reduce the mass due to evaporation or the like. . For example, the core material has a refractive index of 1.
Since it is about 4, it is possible to use quartz glass or the like which has the same refractive index of about 1.4 and is stable for a long period of time.

The sandwiched member may be a spherical body or a non-spherical body such as a rod-shaped body. Alternatively, a held member holding member having a hole may be used, and the held member may be arranged in the hole and held between the connected end faces of the connector body.

[0014]

In the multi-fiber optical connector of the present invention, when the positioning pins are inserted into the respective positioning pin holes of the pair of connector main bodies and the connected end faces of the connector main bodies are butted,
A sandwiching member made of a material having a refractive index similar to that of the core material of the optical fiber is sandwiched by the recesses of the opposing fiber end faces.

Therefore, the held member is held in a stable state. Therefore, good PC connection with less reflection and connection loss at the connection portion is possible. further,
Unlike the matching agent, the member to be connected does not have a decrease in mass such as mixing of air and evaporation, so that it is possible to stably maintain a good connected state for a long period of time.

[0016]

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

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an example of a connector body used in the multi-fiber optical connector of the present invention. Reference numeral 1 in the figure denotes a connector body. The connector body 1 is manufactured as follows. First, an epoxy resin connector ferrule 11 having four fiber insertion holes and a pair of alignment pin holes is prepared, and the optical fiber 13 of the optical fiber tape is inserted into each fiber insertion hole of the connector ferrule 11. After that, an adhesive is applied between the optical fiber 12 and the fiber insertion hole, and the adhesive is heated and cured in this state.

Next, the optical fiber protruding from the connected end surface 14 of the connector ferrule 11 and the protruding adhesive are removed by grinding, and then the connected end surface 14 is subjected to finish polishing treatment using a grindstone made of cerium oxide abrasive grains. Give. In this finishing polishing process, the fiber end face of the optical fiber 12 becomes a recess 15 by δ due to the mechanochemical effect of the cerium oxide abrasive grains. At this time, the depths of all the fiber end faces become almost constant. The depth δ of the recess 15 is 0.3 μm, for example.

Two of the connector bodies 1 thus obtained are connected to a PC as shown in FIG. At this time, a connected member 16 made of SiO ₂ glass is placed between the fiber end faces of the optical fibers 12 inserted in the two connector bodies 1 and sandwiched by the recesses 15 on both fiber end faces. The connected member 16 has a refractive index of 1.4 which is similar to the refractive index of 1.4 of the core material of the optical fiber 12. The shape of the tip of the connected member 16 is substantially spherical so as to match the shape of the recess 15 on the end face of the fiber.

In this multi-fiber optical connector, since the member 16 to be connected is securely fixed by the end faces of both fibers, it is possible to obtain a good P in a state in which there is little reflection and connection loss at the connection portion.
C connection can be made. In addition, unlike the matching agent, the connected member 16 does not have a time-dependent mixture of air or a decrease in mass due to evaporation or the like, so that it is possible to stably maintain a good PC connection state.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing another example of the multi-fiber optical connector of the present invention. In this multi-fiber optical connector, a connected member holding member 17 having a connected member hole 17a and a positioning pin hole 17b is arranged between the connected end faces of two connector bodies. Connected member holding member 1
By using No. 7, the connected member 16 can be reliably mounted in the recess 15 of the fiber end face. The shape of the connected member 16 may be a substantially ellipsoidal shape as shown in FIG. 4A or a columnar shape as shown in FIG. 4B. As the connected member 16 shown in FIG.
When using a cylindrical shape as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, a concave portion 15 having a rectangular cross section is formed on the end face of the fiber to align with the connected member 16.

[0022]

As described above, in the multi-fiber optical connector of the present invention, when the alignment pins are inserted into the alignment pin holes of the pair of connector bodies and the connected end faces of the connector bodies are butted, the core Since the sandwiched member made of a material having the same refractive index as that of the material is sandwiched by the concave portions of the facing fiber end faces, good PC connection can be performed without using a matching agent, and reflection and reflection at the connection portion can be achieved. It has low connection loss and can exhibit excellent durability.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an example of a connector body of a multi-fiber optical connector of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing an example of a multi-fiber optical connector of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing another example of the multi-fiber optical connector of the present invention.

4A and 4B are perspective views showing a held member holding member used in the multi-fiber optical connector of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing an example of a connector body of the multi-fiber optical connector of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view for explaining the configuration of an optical connector.

7A and 7B are schematic diagrams for explaining a conventional method for manufacturing an optical connector.

8A and 8B are schematic diagrams for explaining a conventional method for manufacturing an optical connector.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Connector body, 11 ... Connector ferrule, 12 ...
Optical fiber tape, 13 ... Optical fiber, 14 ... Connected end face, 15 ... Recessed portion, 16 ... Connected member, 17 ... Connected member holding member, 17a ... Connected member hole, 17b ... Positioning pin hole.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued Front Page (72) Inventor Shinji Nagasawa 1-1-6 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Nihon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A pair of connector bodies each having a pair of alignment pin holes and a plurality of fiber holes, and a pair of connector bodies are respectively inserted so that the fiber end faces are exposed in the plurality of fiber holes. A plurality of optical fibers having a recessed portion in which the fiber end surface is recessed from the connected end surface of the connector body, and the pair of connector body by inserting a positioning pin into each of the pair of positioning pin holes When the connected end faces of the connector main body are butted, the optical fiber is sandwiched by the fiber end faces of the optical fibers that face each other, and the optical fiber is sandwiched by a material having a refractive index similar to that of the core material of the optical fiber. A multi-fiber optical connector, comprising: