JPH07234336A - Multi-fiber optical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the multi-fiber optical connector which is useful for operation such as coated optical fiber switching at an optical fiber coupling point in an optical fiber wire network as to a switching device for wires consisting of optical fibers. CONSTITUTION:The multi-fiber optical connector used for the optical fiber wire switching device which switches and connects (m) 1st optical wire end parts consisting of optical fibers and (n) 2nd optical wire end parts so that them correspond to each other, one to one, and are equipped with driving mechanisms that are provided successively for 1st and 2nd terminal assemblies and position respective terminals is equipped with a couple of ferrules 106 which fix the optical fibers 105, two pins 109 for positioning the ferrules 106, a couple of housings 107 which have a self-holding function, an attaching/ detaching function, a ferrule pressing function, and a positioning pin gripping function, and one adapter 102 which couples the housings 107 with each other.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical fiber wiring switching device, and more particularly to a multi-fiber optical connector useful for performing operations such as switching the optical fibers at optical fiber connection points in an optical fiber wiring network. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In optical fiber communication, various studies have hitherto been made with the aim of introducing it into a trunk system. In the wiring network, unlike the conventional point-to-point relay transmission, it is necessary to construct a network having good serviceability and efficiency for users distributed in a plane. Further, for such a wiring network configuration, an optical cross-connect device and an optical switch which perform path switching and line switching as optical signals are important.

These optical cross-connect devices and the like are, so to speak, large-scale optical switches, and various studies have been made at present (Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 3-287212 and 3-2872).
See Japanese Patent Publication No. 13. ), It is difficult to realize a compact, multi-input, multi-output optical switch, and a sufficient one has not yet appeared.

A conventional optical fiber wiring switching device will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in the figure, the substantially rectangular support frames 11 and 12 are fixed to face each other, and the support frame 11 has terminals a _i (i = 1, 2, ... M) on one side.
Further, the support frame 12 has terminals b _j (j = 1, 2,
... n) are movably arranged. Further, both ends of thin plate-shaped guide rails 13 are supported and fixed to the left and right support members 11a of the support frame 11, and the guide rails 13 are stacked in the vertical direction (Y direction in the drawing) in the drawing. Are installed in large numbers. The terminals a _i are slidably supported between the adjacent guide rails 13 in the left-right direction in the drawing (X direction in the drawing). On the other hand, guide rails 14 are similarly stacked on the upper and lower support members 12a of the support frame 12 in the figure with both ends thereof supported, and the terminals between the adjacent guide rails 14 are arranged. b _j is slidably supported in the Y direction.

The guide rails 13 and 14 are laminated in parallel at the same pitch, and the terminals a _i and b _j held by the guide rails 13 and 14 respectively move in parallel and the terminals a _i. And the terminal b _j are movable in directions orthogonal to each other.

On the other hand, the upper and lower support members 1 in the figure of the support frame 11
A moving rail 21a is bridged over 1b and slidably driven in the X direction in the figure.
a is slidably driven in its longitudinal direction (Y direction in the figure),
The gripper moving device 22a is supported. Also, the support frame 1
The moving rails 2 are similarly provided on the left and right support members 12b in FIG.
1b is provided so as to be slidably driven in the Y direction in the drawing, and this moving rail 21b is slidably driven in the longitudinal direction (X direction in the drawing) of the gripping moving device 22b.
Supported by. The moving rails 21a and 21b and the gripping moving devices 22a and 22b serve as a driving mechanism for the terminals a _i and b _j . The moving rails 21a, 21b,
Each of the gripping movement mechanisms 22a and 22b is provided with a pulse motor (not shown), and the positioning movement can be performed by open loop control.

In such a device, each terminal a _i ,
In order to switch and connect each terminal b _j , for example, the terminal a _k and the terminal b _k to be connected are respectively moved to the intersections of their moving axes. This movement is performed by gripping the terminals a _k and b _k with the gripping moving devices 22a and 22b and moving the gripping moving devices 22a and 22b in the X and Y directions in the figure. Further, the butt connection after the alignment is performed by the movable terminals a _k and b via the gripper moving devices 22a and 22b.
_This is done by projecting _k in the Z direction and supporting it.

[0008]

In the conventional device of this type, the optical connector is made high in density by constantly exerting a pressing force on the multi-fiber optical connector at the time of connection. It is necessary to increase the rigidity of the part, which has been an obstacle to downsizing the entire device.

When the multi-fiber optical connectors are laminated, they are laminated in the optical fiber arrangement direction of the multi-fiber optical connector and in a direction orthogonal to the direction, and the moving direction of the head is also the optical fiber arrangement direction and the direction orthogonal thereto. Therefore, there are problems that the mounting density is different in each direction, and that the extra length processing space is different in each direction because the multi-core optical fiber tape has bending directionality.

In view of such circumstances, the present invention provides a multi-fiber optical connector which can be further miniaturized and which can be used in an optical fiber wiring switching device which is a large-scale optical switch having a large number of inputs and a large number of outputs. To aim.

[0011]

A multi-fiber optical connector according to the first aspect of the present invention which achieves the above object is a multi-fiber optical connector comprising m optical fibers and n optical fibers. Two
In a one-to-one correspondence with the optical fiber end portions of each of the optical fiber wiring switching devices, the terminals a _i (i = 1) to which m first optical wiring end portions are respectively connected. ，
2, ... m) are laminated, and the first terminal aggregate, which is provided so as to be movable in a direction at an angle with respect to the lamination direction, is connected to n second optical wiring end portions, respectively. Terminals b _j (j = 1, 2, ... N) are laminated and a second terminal assembly provided so as to be movable in a direction at a certain angle with respect to the laminating direction abuts each wiring terminal portion with each other. The switching connection portion is configured such that it can be connected and the moving direction of the terminal a _{i and} the moving direction of the terminal b _i intersect, and the first and second terminal aggregates are arranged side by side. In a multi-fiber optical connector used in an optical fiber wiring switching device having a drive mechanism for positioning and moving terminals, a pair of ferrules for fixing an optical fiber,
Having two pins for positioning the ferrule, a pair of housings having a self-holding function, an attaching / detaching function, a ferrule pressing function, and the positioning pin gripping function, and one adapter connecting the housings to each other Is characterized by.

In a second aspect of the present invention, in the multi-fiber optical connector adapter, the optical fibers of the multi-fiber optical connector are aligned at a predetermined angle with respect to the moving direction of the terminal a _{i and} the moving direction of the terminal b _j. It is characterized by being arranged with.

A third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned multi-fiber optical connector, a side surface of the multi-fiber optical connector parallel to the optical axis of the optical fiber is chamfered.

[0014]

In the multi-fiber optical connector having the above-mentioned structure, after the multi-fiber optical connector is inserted into the adapter by using the drive mechanism of the optical fiber wiring switching device, the multi-fiber optical connector is coupled in the adapter with a pressing force applied. As a result, the reaction force is not applied to the drive device, so that the drive device can be downsized and simplified. In addition, by providing an optical fiber arrangement direction of the multi-fiber optical connector with a certain angle with respect to the moving direction of each terminal, it is possible to provide a structure in which the multi-fiber optical connectors can be arranged in the highest density, and the optical fiber wiring switching device The size can be further reduced. By reducing the wall thickness of the side surface of the multi-fiber optical connector without lowering the ferrule strength, it is possible to increase the mounting density of the optical connector and downsize the optical wiring switching device.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, referring to FIG. 7, the optical fiber wiring switching
The principle will be explained. The figure shows m optical fiber wiring on the A side.
A_i(I = 1, 2, ..., M) and n optical fibers on the B side
Wiring B_i(J = 1, 2, ... N) is an optical fiber for switching connection
1 is a conceptual view of an Ibar wire switching device. In the figure,
a_i(I = 1, 2, ..., M) is the optical fiber wiring A_iEdge of
The terminal connected to the_j(J = 1, 2, ...,
n) is the optical fiber wiring B _jTerminal connected to the end of
Are shown respectively. Each terminal a_i, B_jCan only move in one direction
Function, that is, with only one axis of movement allowed.
Are stacked in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the. here,
Each terminal a_iMove on one axis parallel to each other without interfering with each other.
Movable, while each terminal b_jDo not interfere with each other
It is possible to move on one axis parallel to the_iAnd each end
Child b_jThe movement directions of and intersect so that they intersect (orthogonally in the figure).
ing. In addition, in order to shorten the moving range
Is most preferred. And each terminal a_iAnd each terminal b_jWhat is
Mutually stick to moving to the intersection of each moving axis
Can be connected together. This connection is for all pairs
It is possible to combine them, for example, terminal a_iOne terminal a
_kIs each terminal b_jAt the intersection with the movement axis of
Terminal b_jCan be switched and connected.

With such a terminal arrangement,
Optical fiber wiring A_i． B_jTerminal a _i, B_jAccompanying the movement of
Congestion can be avoided. That is, each terminal
a_i, B _jCan move only on one axis, so this movement
Optical fiber wiring A parallel to the axis_i, B_jIf you place
It never crosses.

The moving means of each terminal is provided with a drive mechanism on the opposite side (rear side) from the butt connection side of each terminal a _i , b _j , and is connected to the drive mechanism to move the optical fiber. The terminals a _i and b _j can be moved to arbitrary positions without any interference with the wirings A _i and B _j .

Next, a schematic view of a multi-fiber optical connector for connecting the terminals a _i and b _j of the optical fiber wiring switching device is shown in FIG.
And shown in FIG. As shown in these drawings, a matrix board 102 having a plurality of connector insertion holes 101
And connector plugs 103A _i (i = 1, 1, which are opposed to each other and are laminated via the matrix board 102).
_{2, ... m) 103B j (} j = 1,2, and ... m), and a driving unit 104 for positioning are moved to the connector axis is moved in a direction perpendicular to the connector plug 103A, and 103B to the stacking direction To do.

On the matrix board 102, connector insertion holes 101 for inserting connector plugs 103A and 103B, which will be described later, are formed on both sides, and the connector insertion holes 101 are, as shown in FIG. X, which is the moving direction of the connector plugs 103A and 103B
A predetermined angle (θ: θ = 4 in this embodiment) with respect to the axis and the Y-axis
5 °).

Next, referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, the adapter 10 is used.
The structure of the connector adapter 103 joined to the inside of 2 will be described. The connector adapter 103 facing the matrix board 102 includes a ferrule 106 to which an optical fiber 105 is bonded and a pair of upper and lower holding means 107a.
A plug housing 107 held by 107b, a spring 108 for applying a pressing force to the ferrule 106,
Pin gripping means 110 for gripping and fixing the two pins 109 for positioning the ferrule 106 and the connector plug 103
The holding means 107a, 1 comprising elastically deformable locking pieces 111a-111b for locking and holding the inside of the insertion hole 101.
The locking means 111 is provided at the tip of 07b, and the cross-sectional shape of the ferrule 106 orthogonal to the axial direction is chamfered to be a substantially rectangular shape. A notch recess 112 is formed on the rear side surface side of the plug housing 107 so that the plug housing 107 is engaged and gripped with the gripping portion 113 of the driving means 104.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a locking portion 114 for locking is formed in the insertion hole 101 formed in the matrix board 102, and the elastically deformable locking piece of the plug housing 107 is formed. For engagement with the engagement means 111 composed of 111a to 111b, the plug housing 107 is grasped by the grasping portion 113 of the drive means 104 and moved forward to insert into the insertion hole 1.
01 when locked in, while driving means 104
Inserting the claw release rod 115 from the rear, the engaging means 111
The locking is released by pushing down the central claw portion 111b of the plug housing 1 and the grip portion 113 is retracted to move the plug housing 1
I am trying to pull back 07.

In the above structure, when switching the optical fiber wiring, the grip portion 113 of the driving means 104 on the A side is provided.
The connector adapter 103A gripped by is inserted into a predetermined insertion hole 101 of the matrix board 102. Along with this, B facing through the matrix board 102
The connector adapter 103B on the side is similarly driven by the driving means 1
It is inserted into a predetermined insertion hole 101 by 04. At this time, the two pins 109 attached to the connector adapter 103A side are inserted into the pin insertion holes 106a of the ferrule 106 on the one connector adapter 103B side to align the optical fibers 105 with each other, and As a result of the ferrules 106 locked by the locking portions 114 formed in the fitting holes 101 being pressed against each other by the springs 108,
It is no longer necessary to support the connector with a pressing force as in the conventional case, and the rigidity of the driving means 104 is not required to be high.

Further, the arrangement direction of the optical fibers 105 of the multi-fiber optical connector adapter 103 is a predetermined angle (45 in this embodiment) with respect to the X-axis direction which is the moving direction of each adapter 103.
By setting the angle to °), it was possible to arrange the multi-fiber optical connectors in the highest density. The array angle may be determined to be optimal according to the shape of the ferrule 106.

Furthermore, since the side surface of the ferrule 106 in the axial direction is chamfered without lowering its strength, it contributes to the improvement of the mounting density of the optical connector.

In this embodiment, the connector insertion hole 101 formed in the matrix board 102, the locking means 111 and the driving means 104 provided in the plug housing 107 constitute a self-holding and detaching function, The ferrule pressing function is performed by the spring 108 and the pin holding function is performed by the pin holding means 110, but the present invention is not limited to these.

[0027]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to realize an optical fiber wiring switching device, which is a large-scale optical switch with multiple inputs and multiple outputs, in a compact and integrated state, and to perform operations such as switching cores at optical fiber connection points in an optical fiber wiring network. Useful when doing.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an optical fiber wiring switching device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a multi-core connector according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a multi-core connector according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a housing according to an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a ferrule according to an embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a front view of a matrix board according to an embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a principle diagram of an optical fiber wiring switching device of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a conventional optical fiber switching device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 connector insertion hole 102 matrix board 103A, 103B connector adapter 104 driving means 105 optical fiber 106 ferrule 107 plug housing 108 spring 109 pin 110 pin gripping means 111 locking means 112 notch recess 113 gripping part 114 locking part 115 claw release bar

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Hideo Kobayashi 1-1-6 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Nihon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An optical fiber wiring switching device for switching and connecting m first optical wiring end portions and n second optical wiring end portions made of optical fibers in a one-to-one correspondence. , The terminals a _i (i = 1, 2, ..., M) to which the m first optical wiring end portions are respectively connected are stacked and provided so as to be movable in directions at a certain angle with respect to the stacking direction. The first terminal assembly thus formed and the terminals b _j (j = 1, 2, ... N) to which the n second optical wiring end portions are respectively connected are stacked and the stacking direction forms an angle. And a second terminal assembly provided so as to be movable in the respective directions so that the respective wiring terminal portions can be butt-connected to each other and that the moving direction of the terminal a _{i and} the moving direction of the terminal b _i intersect with each other. A switching connection portion is configured, and each of the first and second terminal aggregates is arranged in parallel at each end. In a multi-fiber optical connector used in an optical fiber wiring switching device having a drive mechanism for positioning and moving each of them, a pair of ferrules for fixing the optical fiber, two pins for positioning the ferrule, a self-holding function and attachment / detachment A multi-fiber optical connector comprising a pair of housings having a function, a ferrule pressing function, and the positioning pin gripping function, and one adapter for connecting the housings. 2. The multi-fiber optical connector according to claim 1, wherein an optical fiber alignment direction of the multi-fiber optical connector is a terminal a _i.
Is arranged with a predetermined angle with respect to each of the moving direction of the terminal b _j and the moving direction of the terminal b _j . 3. The multi-fiber optical connector according to claim 1, wherein a side surface of the multi-fiber optical connector parallel to the optical axis of the optical fiber is chamfered.