JPH0949938A - Optical fiber connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical fiber connector with which butt connection by adhering optical fibers is possible and switching of optical fiber connection is possible. SOLUTION: This optical fiber connector includes a base 2 and cap 3 constituting a two-split structure which is made into an approximate rod shape with a circular section by combining both, positioning grooves as an alignment mechanism which are disposed in at least either of the base 2 and the cap 3 or therebetween and position and align the optical fibers 4 butt-connectably, and set screws 10 to be screwed to threaded parts 8, 9 formed on the outer peripheral surfaces 6, 7 of the base 2 and the cap 3.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical fiber connector used for butt connection of optical fibers such as mechanical splice.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an optical fiber connector has a structure in which two butted optical fibers are fixed in the same housing. The positioning and aligning structure of the optical fiber connector includes (1) a structure in which an optical fiber is inserted from both ends and abutted in a precision thin tube (hereinafter, "microcapillary"), and (2) optical fibers in positioning grooves And (3) a structure in which an optical fiber is carried at the center of three precision rods or three precision balls and positioned. In this optical fiber connector, a pair of optical fibers are aligned and abutted with each other in the aligning mechanism to be bonded or mechanically sandwiched and fixed to the aligning mechanism.

[0003]

By the way, in the case of the optical fiber connector as described above, the connected optical fiber cannot be reused, so that the optical fiber cannot be attached or detached, which is effective for connection switching. There was a problem that it could not be used. That is, when the optical fiber is bonded to the aligning mechanism, it is difficult to remove it from the aligning mechanism, and the abutting end is soiled with the adhesive, which makes reuse difficult. In addition, when the optical fiber is mechanically clamped, a strong crimping force acts on the abutting end of the optical fiber, and when the abutting state is released, the refractive index of the abutting end fluctuates, making reuse difficult. The problem arises that

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an optical fiber connector capable of butt-connecting optical fibers and switching connections.

[0005]

In the optical fiber connector according to the present invention, a base and a lid which form a rod-shaped split structure by combining them, and at least one of the base and the lid or between them. And a centering mechanism for positioning and aligning the optical fibers so that they can be butt-connected to each other, and screwed to a screwing portion formed on the outer peripheral surfaces of the base and the lid, and hold the base and the lid in an integrated state. A pressing screw screwed to the screwing portion is abutted on at least one of the base and the lid body, and the abutting position changes when the pressing screw is rotated. The provision of a screw contact portion formed so as to be able to approach and separate from the body is a means for solving the above problems.

[0006]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of an optical fiber connector according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. Reference numeral 1 in the figure is an optical fiber connector of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, this optical fiber connector 1 includes a base 2 and a lid body 3 that form a split structure having a circular rod-shaped cross section when combined, and at least the base 2 and the lid body 3. A positioning groove 5 as a centering mechanism for positioning and aligning the optical fibers 4 so that the optical fibers 4 can be butted and connected to each other, or a threaded portion formed on the outer peripheral surfaces 6 and 7 of the base 2 and the lid 3. 8, 9
And a pressing screw 10 that is screwed to the.

The base 2 and the lid 3 have the same cross-sectional shape and outer peripheral surfaces 6 and 7. Base 2 and lid 3
The difference is that only the base 2 has a positioning groove 5, and the lid 3 has a support groove 11 for stably pushing the optical fiber 4 into the positioning groove 5. Positioning groove 5
Is located at the center in the width direction of the lid mounting surface 12 on which the lid 3 of the base 2 is mounted, and extends along the longitudinal direction of the base 2. Both ends of the positioning groove 5 are opened at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the base 2. Further, the longitudinal center portion of the positioning groove 5 supports a shallow portion 5a where the abutting tip 4a formed by exposing the bare fiber of the optical fiber 4 is arranged, and both longitudinal end portions support the coating 4b of the optical fiber 4, Coating 4
It is a deep portion 5b where the bare fiber in b is located on the same straight line as in the shallow portion 5a. Base 2 of lid 3
The base mounting surface 13 that faces the lid mounting surface 12 is a flat surface that can uniformly press the optical fiber 4 into the deep portion of the positioning groove 5. Although the positioning groove 5 is a V groove in the present embodiment, it may be a U groove or the like. Further, a plurality of positioning grooves may be formed on the lid mounting surface 12. In this case, the positioning grooves are formed in parallel with each other.

Swelling portions 14 and 15 are formed at the central portions of the base 2 and the lid 3 in the longitudinal direction as screw abutting portions that bulge outside the outer peripheral surfaces 6 and 7, respectively. These bulging portions 14 and 15 are formed in a shape that forms a substantially spindle shape when the base 2 and the lid body 3 are integrated, and are respectively formed from the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the base 2 and the lid body 3 to both end portions. The outer surface is tapered toward the lid mounting surface 12 and the base mounting surface 13 as it goes. These bulges 14, 15
Tool engaging surfaces 14a and 15a for engaging a tool are formed at the portions where the distance from the lid mounting surface 12 and the base mounting surface 13 is maximum.

The threaded portions 8 and 9 are formed on the outer peripheral surfaces 6 and 7 of the base 2 and the lid 3 from the bulging portions 14 and 15 to the longitudinal end portions 16 and 17, respectively. . In these screwed parts 8 and 9, the cross-sectional shapes of the base 2 and the lid 3 are constant. In addition, the swelled portions 14 of the screwed portions 8 and 9,
The pressing screw 10 is screwed on the side close to 15. Each pressing screw 10 is screwed with the tip end of the screw thread of the screwing portions 8 and 9 so that a gap can be formed between the base 2 and the lid 3 so that the optical fiber 4 can be inserted. Has become. A contact flange 18 that can contact the bulging portions 14 and 15 when the pressing screw 10 is rotated to approach the bulging portions 14 and 15 is provided on the bulging portions 14 and 15 side of the pressing screw 10. It is projected. These abutting flanges 18 are the bulges 1
4 and 15 are formed in a cylindrical shape having an inner diameter slightly smaller than the maximum bulging portion, and the pressing screw 10 is tightened in the bulging portions 14 and 15 direction, so that the bulging portions 14 and 15 are screwed to each other. The interior is gradually installed from the 9 side, and as a result, the bulging portions 14 and 15 are tightened in the directions approaching each other. The contact flange 18 includes the bulging portions 14, 1
Any shape other than a cylinder may be used as long as the shape can tighten 5.

Both longitudinal ends 1 of the base 2 and the lid 3
6 and 17 are formed in a taper shape in which the cross-sectional area is reduced so that the outer peripheral surfaces 6 and 7 are closer to the positioning groove 5 toward the tip. The threaded portions 8, 9 close to the ends 16, 17
In addition, the optical fiber 4 is tightened so that the end portions 16 and 17 come close to each other by rotating in the direction of moving toward the bulging portions 14 and 15 separately from the pressing screw 10, and the optical fiber 4 is fixed. A fixing screw 19 for sandwiching and fixing is screwed.

The fixing screw 19 is bulged by the rotation of the fixing screw 19.
As it moves in the 4th and 15th directions, the ends 16 and 17
Have tapered inner surfaces 20 that clamp the two closer together. On the end faces of the fixing screws 19 screwed to the screwing portions 8 and 9 facing outwards at both longitudinal ends of the optical fiber connector 1,
A taper hole 21 for inserting the optical fiber 4 into the positioning groove 5 is opened. The tapered hole 21 is formed substantially coaxially with the positioning groove 5 and has an opening cross-sectional area such that the narrowest portion lightly tightens the optical fiber 4. In addition, the positioning groove 5 is provided at the tips of the end portions 16 and 17.
An insertion recess 23 for the optical fiber 4 is formed by expanding the opening end 22 of the optical fiber 4 in a tapered shape. The insertion recess 23 has an opening area smaller than that of the tapered hole 21.
The optical fiber 4 inserted from 1 is guided into the insertion recess 23. The fixing screw 19 may be provided with a tightening means for tightening the optical fiber 4 separately.

The operation and effect of the optical fiber connector 1 of the present invention will be described below. In order to butt-connect a pair of optical fibers 4 with the optical fiber connector 1, first, the pressing screw 10 is swelled in both screwed portions 8 and 9, and the swelled portions 14 and 15 are formed.
Then, the fixing screw 19 is lightly screwed in the vicinity of the ends 16 and 17 of the screwing parts 8 and 9 so that the ends 16 and 17 are not tightened. Next, the optical fiber 4 is inserted into the taper hole 21 from the outside of the both fixing screws 19, and the optical fiber 4 is passed through the taper hole 21.
The butt tip 4a, which has been exposed by removing the coating 4b in advance, is pressed into contact with the insertion recess 23 while being inserted into the positioning groove 5. Abut. At this time, the coating 4b of the optical fiber 4 is housed in the deep portion 5b of the positioning groove 5 so as not to be placed on the shallow portion 5a.

Next, the pressing screw 10 is swollen with the bulging portion 14 while applying a butting force to the optical fibers 4 in a butt state.
Tighten in 15 directions to fix the butted tips 4a in the butted state. At this time, the tool engaging surface 14
By engaging and fixing a tool to a and 15a, the work of tightening the pressing screw 10 can be performed more efficiently. The tool that engages with the tool engagement surfaces 14a and 15a may be a hand tool such as a spanner, or a fixing jig installed on a workbench. Next, while continuing to apply the abutting force, the fixing screw 19 is tightened to tighten the end portions 16, 17
The optical fiber 4 is fixed in between. When tightening the fixing screw 19, it is preferable that the optical fiber 4 is slightly loosened. By doing so, the abutting force between the abutting tips 4a can be constantly maintained. Further, since the fixing screw 19 itself supports the optical fiber 4 with a loose tightening force, the optical fiber 4 is pressed toward the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber connector 1 as it is tightened in the screwed portions 8 and 9. , This optical fiber 4
The butting tip 4a of 4 is lightly pressed against the butting tip 4a of the optical fiber 4 arranged in the centering mechanism 5 in advance.
The tightening work of the fixing screws 19 may be performed on each side.

Further, in the optical fiber connector 1,
The butt-connected optical fiber 4 can be easily pulled out only by rotating the pressing screw 10 and the fixing screw 19 in the direction of loosening. After pulling out the optical fiber 4, if the optical fiber 4 is inserted into the positioning groove 5 again and the pressing screw 10 and the fixing screw 19 are tightened, the pair of optical fibers 4 are fixed in the butted state in exactly the same manner as at the beginning. be able to.

Therefore, the optical fiber connector 1 of the present invention
According to the configuration, the optical fiber 4 is sandwiched and fixed between the base 2 and the lid body 3. Moreover, the optical fiber 4 can be fixed and released many times only by rotating the pressing screw 10. Since it is possible to switch the connection without polluting the optical fiber 4 or changing the refractive index, the connection loss does not change when the connection is switched, and the connection is switched. The work efficiency of can be improved. Further, since the number of parts is small, the structure of each part is simple, and the manufacturing is easy, the manufacturing efficiency is improved and the cost can be reduced, and the forming accuracy of the positioning groove 5 and the like is easily obtained, so that the matching accuracy is improved. be able to. Furthermore, the base 2 and the lid 3 are
Since there is no deformed portion with respect to the tightening force of the pressing screw 10 and the fixing screw 19, the accuracy of the supporting position of the optical fiber 4 can be stably secured even when the optical fiber 4 is fixed, and the target connection loss can be easily and accurately obtained. it can.

As the screw contact portion, other than the bulging portion,
It may be a recess. In this case, the pressing screw is also formed in such a shape that the clamping force of the optical fiber between the base and the lid can be changed when the contact position with respect to the recess is changed by the rotation of itself. The other portions of the base and the lid are not limited to the configurations described in each of the above-described embodiments as long as at least the screwing portion has a shape to which the pressing screw can be screwed. As the centering mechanism, it is also possible to apply a centering structure using a V groove in which a microcapillary is installed or a positioning groove other than the V groove, a precision rod, and a precision ball.

[0017]

As described above, according to the optical fiber connector of the present invention, the base and the lid, which are combined to form a roughly rod-shaped split structure,
At least one of the base and the lid, or provided between them, an aligning mechanism for aligning and aligning the optical fibers so that they can be butt-connected, and screwed to a screwing portion formed on the outer peripheral surfaces of the base and the lid, A pressing screw for holding the base and the lid in an integrated state, wherein the pressing screw screwed to the screwing portion is brought into contact with at least one of the base and the lid, and the pressing screw is rotated. By providing a screw contact portion formed so that the base and the lid can approach and separate when the contact position changes, the optical fiber can be fixed and released many times only by rotating the pressing screw. Since it is possible to change the connection without contaminating the optical fiber or changing the refractive index, it is necessary to change the connection loss when changing the connection. In, it is possible to improve work efficiency of connection switching. Further, since the number of parts is small, the structure of each part is simple and easy to manufacture, the manufacturing efficiency is improved and the cost can be reduced, and the forming accuracy of the aligning mechanism or the like is easily obtained, so that the butt accuracy is improved. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view showing an embodiment of an optical fiber connector of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view showing an embodiment of the optical fiber connector of the present invention and is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG.

3 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the optical fiber connector of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing an embodiment of the optical fiber connector of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Optical fiber connector, 2 ... Base, 3 ... Lid body, 4 ... Optical fiber, 5 ... Alignment mechanism, 6 ... Outer peripheral surface, 7 ... Outer peripheral surface, 8
... screwed portion, 9 ... screwed portion, 10 ... pressing screw, 14 ... screw abutting portion (bulging portion), 15 ... screw abutting portion (bulging portion).

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An optical fiber connector (1) for butt-connecting optical fibers (4) to each other, wherein a base (2) and a lid (3) which are combined to form a substantially rod-shaped split structure. ) And at least one of the base and the lid or between them, and an aligning mechanism (5) for positioning and aligning the optical fibers so that they can be butt-connected to each other, and outer peripheral surfaces (6, 7) of the base and the lid. Screwed to the screwing portion (8, 9) formed in
A pressing screw (1 that holds the base and the lid together)
0), the pressing screw screwed to the screwing portion is abutted on at least one of the base and the lid, and the abutting position changes when the pressing screw is rotated, whereby the base and the lid are changed. An optical fiber connector, comprising screw abutting portions (14, 15) formed so as to be able to approach and separate from a body.