JPH09197188A - Optical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical connector capable of simply buttingly connecting optical fibers to each other and reduced its cost. SOLUTION: Optical fiber ribbon coated optical fibers 12 can be buttedly connected to each other so as to switch their connection only by inserting ferrules 10 from both the sides of a housing 11 in the axial direction, butting both the butting faces 14 of the ferrules 10 to each other and engaging holding claws 17 with engaging parts 18. Consequently, operability for the butting connection of optical fiber ribbon coated optical fibers 12 can be improved.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical connector for abutting and connecting optical fibers, and more particularly to an optical connector capable of freely switching between connection and disconnection.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an optical connector for butt-connecting optical fibers to each other, an MT connector (Mechanica) is used as a connector that can be freely switched between connection and disconnection.
LlyTransferable) is known. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the MT connector. In the figure, an MT connector includes a ferrule 2 that terminates four cores of optical fiber tape 1 so that they can be butt-connected to each other, a spring 3 that clamps a pair of butted ferrules 2 and holds the butted state, and a ferrule that is butted. It is composed of a fitting pin 4 for positioning the two members. The ferrule 2 is assembled at the abutting end of the optical fiber ribbon 1 and the abutting end surfaces 5 are abutted with another ferrule 2 that is also assembled,
The optical fiber ribbons 1 are butt-connected to each other. The end faces 5 of the bare fibers of the optical fiber ribbon 1 are exposed flush with the butt end faces 5. The spring 3 clamps the pair of ferrules 2 having the abutting end faces 5 abutting against each other in the axial direction of abutting so as to apply abutting force between the optical fiber ribbons 1. The fitting pin 4 is fitted in a pin fitting hole 7 opened in the abutting end face 5 so as to be insertable and removable, and between the pin fitting holes 7 of both ferrules 2 in which the abutting end faces 5 are arranged to face each other. The ferrules 2 are precisely positioned by arranging the ferrules 2 so as to span the ferrules 2.

[0003]

By the way, in the case of the optical connector as described above, it is necessary to use a dedicated tool for mounting the spring 3 when the optical fiber ribbons 1 are optically connected to each other, and the size is small. Since it was small, there was a problem that workability on site was particularly poor. In particular, since the spring 3 has to be attached to and detached from the ferrule 2 at the time of switching the connection, the above problem becomes more remarkable. Further, in order to hold the optical connector in a fixed position, a holder for detachably holding the optical connector is required in view of the connection switching work, which causes a problem that the number of parts increases and the cost increases. .

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an optical connector in which optical fibers can be simply butted and connected to each other and the cost is reduced.

[0005]

The present invention has the following features to attain the object mentioned above. That is, in the optical connector according to claim 1, in an optical connector that butt-connects optical fibers, a ferrule that is assembled at the tip of the optical fiber to form a butt face that is flush with the tip face of the optical fiber, And a cylindrical housing into which the ferrules are inserted from both axial directions and abuttingly connected to each other inside, and the ferrule is held at the abutting position by engaging with a locking portion formed on the side surface of the ferrule, and The retaining member for elastically deforming by a manual operation from the outside of the housing to be detached from the locking portion is formed on the side wall portion of the housing.

According to the optical connector of claim 2, the optical connector of claim 1 is used.
In the optical connector described above, the holding claw and the locking part have a shape that engages and disengages with the locking part when the ferrule is inserted into and removed from the housing against the elastic force of the holding claw. did.

According to the optical connector of claim 3, the optical connector of claim 1 is used.
In the optical connector described above, the vicinity of the holding claw of the side wall portion of the housing faces the side surface of the ferrule having an inner surface inserted into the housing and the holding claw engaged with the locking portion through a clearance, and the side wall portion The holding claw can be disengaged from the locking portion by elastically deforming by manually pressing a portion that does not correspond to the locking portion in the ferrule direction and applying a rotational moment. And

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A first embodiment of an optical connector of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the optical connector of the present embodiment is
A ferrule 10 that is assembled at the tip of a four-fiber optical fiber ribbon 12 (optical fiber) to form a butt face 14 flush with the tip surface 13 of the optical fiber ribbon 12, and the ferrule 10. The cylindrical housing 11 is inserted from both axial directions and butt-connected inside.

The ferrule 10 is made of resin such as plastic and is formed in a box shape. The abutting surface 14 is a flat surface of an elongated rectangular shape perpendicular to the optical connection axis of the optical fiber ribbon 12, and a fitting pin 15 for precisely positioning the ferrules 10 for butt connection can be inserted and removed. Pin fitting holes 16 to be inserted and fitted are provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction. On the side surface of the ferrule 10 at the central portion in the optical connection axial direction, a locking portion 18 is formed to engage and disengage the holding claw 17 protruding toward the inside of the housing 11. The locking portion 18 is a recess having an inner surface having a curved inner surface, and is formed on both side surfaces of the ferrule 10 facing each other around the optical connection axis. Further, the ferrule 10 is provided on the upper side surface (upper side in FIG. 1) of the ferrule 10.
An adhesive injection hole 19 for injecting an adhesive is opened therein. At the rear end of the ferrule 10 in the optical connection axis direction, a flange portion 20 is provided so as to project over the entire circumference of the side surface of the ferrule 10 (around the optical connection axis line). The flange portion 20 is adapted to be engaged with the spring shown in FIG. 5 when reinforcing the abutting force between the ferrules 10.

The housing 11 is a component formed of a material having an appropriate elasticity such as plastic and formed in a rectangular tube shape having an inner shape substantially matching the outer surface of the ferrule 10. The locking portion 1 is provided on the side wall portion 21 of the housing 11 corresponding to each locking portion 18 of each inserted ferrule 10.
A holding claw 17 that holds the ferrule 10 at the abutting position by engaging with 8 and that is elastically deformed by a manual operation from the outside of the housing 11 and is disengaged from the locking portion 18 is formed.

The holding claw 17 is formed integrally with the housing 11 by the same material, and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the holding claw 17 is formed from a column 23 extending in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the housing 11. The protrusions are provided on both sides in the axial direction, and can be elastically deformed independently of the side wall portion 21. The housing 11 is attached to the tip portion 24 of the holding claw 17.
An engaging projection 25 that engages with the locking portion 18 of the ferrule 10 inserted in the housing is provided so as to project toward the inside of the housing 11. The engaging projection 25 has a curved outer surface, and is engaged with and disengaged from the locking portion 18 by inserting / removing the ferrule 10 into / from the housing 11 against the elastic force of the holding claw 17. Further, the engagement protrusion 25 is configured to press the ferrule 10 toward the abutment surface 14 when engaging with the engagement portion 18 and to apply an abutting force between the optical fiber ribbons 12 to each other. In the holding claw 17, the engaging projection 25 has the locking portion 18.
When engaged with, the tip portion 24 is pushed out of the side wall portion 21 and protrudes. The holding claw 17
Can be formed separately from the housing 11 as long as it is elastically deformable.

A flange portion 20 of the inserted ferrule 10 is brought into contact with both axial ends of the housing 11 to form a step portion 26 for positioning the ferrule 10 at a position where the abutting surfaces 14 can come into contact with each other. Has been formed.

The operation and effect of the optical connector of this embodiment will be described below. In the optical connector, the ferrule 10 assembled at the tip of the optical fiber ribbon 12 is inserted into the housing 11 from both ends in the axial direction and the abutting surfaces 14 are brought into contact with each other, so that the optical fiber ribbons 12 have a butt connection. Hold the state. That is,
The optical connector is the ferrule 1 inserted in the housing 11.
By pushing 0 until the flange portion 20 comes into contact with the step portion 26, the holding claw 17 engages with the locking portion 18 to hold the ferrule 10 at a fixed position in the housing 11 and to mate with the ferrule 10. Apply a biasing force in the direction. The relative positioning of the ferrules 10 is performed in the same manner as in the conventional case by the fitting pins 15 inserted into the pin fitting holes 16 of both ferrules 10. Therefore, by simply butting the butting surfaces 14 of the ferrules 10 together, The end faces 13 of the bare fibers of the fiber tape core 12 are butted against each other. Therefore, the housing 1
The optical fiber tape core wires 12 held by different ferrules 10 can be stably held in a butt connection state only by bringing the abutting surfaces 14 of the ferrules 10 pushed in from both axial end portions of 1 into contact with each other.

Further, the optical connector pulls the ferrule 10 inserted into the housing 11 to the outside of the housing 11 against the elastic force of the holding claw 17, thereby holding the holding claw 17 in place.
The ferrule 10 can be pulled out from the housing 11 by releasing the engagement between the locking portion 18 and the locking portion 18. The pulled-out ferrule 10 can be reused for the butt connection of the optical fiber ribbons 12 by inserting it into the housing 11 again. By doing so, the connection of the optical fiber ribbon 12 can be switched over and over again.
When pulling out the ferrule 10 from the housing 11, the tip end 24 of the holding claw 17 that is engaged with the locking portion 18 and protrudes to the outside of the side wall 21 is manually pulled out to the engaging protrusion 25 of the holding claw 17. May be pulled out to the outside of the locking portion 18. By doing so, the ferrule 10 can be pulled out from the housing 11 without applying a tensile force to the optical fiber ribbon 12 or the ferrule 10.

Therefore, according to the optical connector of the present embodiment, the ferrule 1 is attached to the housing 11 from both sides in the axial direction.
Since the optical fiber tape cores 12 can be butt-connected with each other so that the connection can be switched, only by inserting 0 to bring the butting surfaces 14 into contact with each other and engaging the holding claw 17 with the engaging portion 18, the optical fiber tape cores can be connected. Workability of the butt connection of the wires 12 is improved. Further, since the ferrule 10 can be stably held in a fixed position only by installing the housing 11 in the fixed position, it is not necessary to install a holder separately.
The number of parts is reduced, which enables downsizing and cost reduction.

When the holding force applied to the ferrule 10 by the holding claws 17 is insufficient, a conventional spring may be attached between the flange portions 20 of the two ferrules 10 that have been butted to reinforce the butting force. Is.

A second embodiment of the optical connector of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. In the figure, FIG.
The same components as those in FIG. 2 are designated by the same reference numerals to simplify the description. 3 and 4, the optical connector according to the present embodiment has a four-fiber optical fiber ribbon core wire 3
The ferrule 30 terminating 2 and the ferrules 30 inserted from both ends in the axial direction are abutted to each other to form an angular tube-shaped housing 31 in which optical fiber tape core wires 32 are abutted and connected to each other. There is.

The ferrule 30 is the same as the ferrule 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, except that the locking portion 18 is replaced with a locking hole 33 (locking portion). The locking hole 33 is provided on the housing 31 when the ferrule 30 is inserted into the housing 31.
Of the ferrule 30 is the deepest in the central portion in the optical connection axis direction, and the depth increases from the central portion toward both sides in the optical connection axis direction. It is tapered so that The other part of the ferrule 30 is configured similarly to the ferrule 10 of the first embodiment.

The holding claw 35 is formed on the side wall portion 3 of the housing 31.
4, the column 3 formed perpendicular to the axis of the housing 31
6 extends in the axial direction of the housing 31. An engagement protrusion 37 that engages with and disengages from the locking hole 33 is provided at the tip of the holding claw 35 so as to protrude toward the inside of the housing 31. The engagement protrusion 37 has a maximum protrusion amount in the central portion, and has a tapered shape in which the protrusion amount decreases from the central portion toward both sides in the axial direction of the housing 31. Therefore, the engagement protrusion 37
When the engagement hole 33 is engaged, the ferrule 30 is urged toward the opposing ferrule 30 so as to apply the abutting force between the optical fiber ribbons 32.
Further, the holding claw 35 is formed in such a size that the tip portion thereof protrudes to the outside of the side wall portion 34 when the engagement protrusion 37 engages with the locking hole 33.

The housing 31 has a side wall portion 34 having a holding claw 35 and upper and lower wall portions 39 connecting the side wall portions 34. In the vicinity of the side wall portion 34 of the upper and lower wall portion 39, a slit 40 for cutting the edges of the side wall portion 34 and the upper and lower wall portion 39 to allow elastic deformation of the side wall portion 34 inward and outward of the housing 31 is provided. An opening is formed along the connection line 41 with. Since the inner surfaces of both side wall portions 34 face the side surface of the ferrule 30 inserted in the housing 31 via the clearance 41, the side wall portions 34 are elastic by pressing the central portion inside the housing 31. The center portion is deformed and displaced inside the housing 31 within the range of the clearance 41, and a rotational moment acts between the center portion and a portion other than the center portion having a small deformation amount, and the locking hole 33 and The holding claw 35 that has been engaged is released.

The operation and effect of the optical connector of this embodiment will be described below. The optical connector is a housing 3
By inserting the ferrules 30 from both sides in the axial direction of 1 and bringing the abutting surfaces 38 into contact with each other at the central portion of the housing 31, the optical fiber tape core wires 32 terminated in the ferrules 30 are abutted and connected. Has become. At this time, the ferrule 30 inserted in the housing 31
The holding claw 35 engages with the locking hole 33 of the ferrule 30.
Are held in place in the housing 31. Further, since the holding claw 35 projects to the outside of the side wall portion 34 when engaged with the locking hole 33, the engagement with the locking hole 33 can be released by manually pulling it out. Housing 3
When pulling out the ferrule 30 from 1, the side wall portion 34
The central portion of the side wall 34 is pushed into the housing 31.
Elastically deforms to generate a rotation moment, and the holding claw 3
The engagement between 5 and the locking hole 33 is released.

Therefore, according to the optical connector of the present embodiment, the holding claws 35 engaged with the locking holes 33 can be manually pulled out or the central portion of the side wall portion 34 can be pressed.
Since the ferrule 30 inserted in the housing 31 can be pulled out by releasing the engagement between the locking hole 33 and the holding claw 35, the work efficiency of connection switching of the optical fiber ribbon 32 is improved. Further, the locking holes 33 that are tapered with respect to each other
Since the engaging projection 37 is engaged with the holding projection 35,
The holding force for holding the ferrule 30 can be improved, and it is possible to cope with a large ferrule terminating the multi-core optical fiber tape core wire 32. Further, in the optical connector of the present embodiment, even when the protrusion amount of the holding claw 35 to the outside is insufficient when the holding claw 35 is engaged with the locking hole 33, the side wall portion 34 is provided.
Since the holding claw 35 can be pulled out from the locking hole 33 only by pressing the central portion, the holding claw 35 can be formed in a small size, and the overall size can be further easily reduced.

The optical connector of the present invention can also be applied to optical connection of various optical fibers other than the four cores. The optical connector of the second embodiment may be applied to a housing having no slit as long as the holding claw engaged with the locking portion can be detached by elastically deforming the side wall portion manually. Is.

[0024]

As described above, according to the optical connector of the first aspect, a ferrule which is assembled at the tip of the optical fiber to form a butting surface flush with the tip surface of the optical fiber, And a cylindrical housing into which the ferrules are inserted from both axial directions and abuttingly connected to each other inside, and the ferrule is held at the abutting position by engaging with a locking portion formed on the side surface of the ferrule, and The holding claw that is elastically deformed and detached from the locking part by manual operation from the outside of the housing is formed on the side wall of the housing, so that the ferrule inserted and held in the housing can be held and held simply by operating the holding claw. Since the releasing and releasing can be freely performed manually, the work efficiency of butt connection and connection switching of optical fibers is improved. In addition, the housing can maintain the connection state of the ferrule, and by installing the housing in a fixed position, the ferrule can be stably connected in the fixed position, reducing the number of parts and reducing the cost. It has an excellent effect that it can be done.

According to another aspect of the optical connector of the present invention, the holding claw and the engaging portion are shaped to engage and disengage with the engaging portion by inserting and removing the ferrule against the elastic force of the holding claw. Since the holding claw and the locking portion can be engaged and disengaged by simply moving the ferrule with respect to the housing without manually operating the holding claw, an excellent effect that work efficiency such as connection switching of the optical fiber is further improved. Play.

In the optical connector according to the third aspect of the present invention, the vicinity of the holding claw on the side wall portion of the housing is provided with a clearance between the inner surface of the ferrule and the holding claw engaged with the holding part via the clearance. By opposing the portion of the side wall portion that does not correspond to the locking portion by elastically deforming by manually pressing in the ferrule direction, the holding claw can be separated from the locking portion by the action of the rotation moment. The holding claw that is engaged with the locking portion can be easily removed by simply pressing the side wall, and the work efficiency such as connection switching of the optical fiber is further improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of an optical connector of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan sectional view showing a first embodiment of an optical connector of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of the optical connector of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan sectional view showing a first embodiment of an optical connector of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an optical connector of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Ferrule, 11 ... Housing, 12 ... Optical fiber (optical fiber ribbon), 13 ... Tip surface, 14 ... Butt surface, 17 ... Holding claw, 18 ... Locking part, 21 ... Side wall part, 30 ... Ferrule, 31 ... Housing, 32 ... Optical fiber (optical fiber tape core wire), 33 ... Locking hole, 34
... Side wall part, 35 ... Holding claw, 38 ... Butt face, 41 ...
clearance.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An optical connector for abutting and connecting optical fibers (12, 32) to each other, the abutting surface (14, 14) being flush with the tip surface (13) of the optical fiber by being assembled at the tip of the optical fiber.
38), and a cylindrical housing (11, 31) into which the ferrules are inserted from both axial directions and abuttingly connected to each other inside, and formed on the side surface of the ferrule. The holding claws (17, 3) that hold the ferrule at the abutting position by engaging with the locking portions (18, 33) and that are elastically deformed by the manual operation from the outside of the housing to be separated from the locking portions.
An optical connector characterized in that 5) is formed on a side wall portion (21, 34) of the housing. 2. The optical connector according to claim 1, wherein the holding claw and the locking portion have a shape that engages and disengages with the locking portion when the ferrule is inserted into and removed from the housing against the elastic force of the holding claw. An optical connector characterized in that 3. The optical connector according to claim 1, wherein the vicinity of the holding claw on the side wall portion of the housing has a clearance with respect to the side surface of the ferrule in which the inner surface is inserted into the housing and the holding claw is engaged with the locking portion. 41) facing each other, and elastically deformed by manually pressing a portion of the side wall portion that does not correspond to the locking portion in the ferrule direction, and the holding claw can be disengaged from the locking portion due to the rotation moment acting. An optical connector characterized in that