JPH10148730A - Adapter for optical fiber connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an adapter for optical fiber connector with which the danger by a harmful laser beam at the time of connecting the optical fiber connector is completely eliminated and the formation to the smallest possible size over the entire part is made possible. SOLUTION: This adapter has a fitting end 5 to be fitted to the optical fiber connector at its one end, has a connecting end 6 to be fitted to the optical fiber connector and other optical parts at its other end and couples the optical fiber connector and the optical parts by aligning their optical axes 7. A shutter member 25 made of a shape memory alloy having a superelastic characteristic is mounted at a housing and the shutter plate part 27 of the shutter member 25 is arranged diagonally in the housing on the fitting end 5 side so as to cross the optical axes 7.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an adapter for an optical fiber connector used for connecting an optical fiber connector to another optical fiber connector or a related optical component such as a light emitting means.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this type of optical fiber connector adapter has a fitting end fitted to an optical fiber connector at one end of a housing, and an optical axis of the optical fiber connector fitted to the fitting end. The structure is such that the optical axis of the related optical component on the connection end side facing the fitting end is coincident with the optical axis. In a state where the optical fiber connector is not fitted into the fitting end and the related optical component connected to the connecting end is in an operating state, the laser beam is guided to the fitting end, and During the operation of inserting the optical fiber connector, there is a risk of causing serious harm to the worker's body, particularly to the eyes. In order to avoid such a danger, there has been proposed a device in which a shutter plate which can be opened and closed is provided at the fitting end (for example, Japanese Patent Application No. 7-8699 of the same applicant, "Optical fiber component having movable protective shield"). Assembly ”).

[0003]

As described above, in the conventional adapter for an optical fiber connector provided with a shutter plate which can be opened and closed at the fitting end of the housing, when the optical fiber connector is connected to the fitting end. First, after the shutter plate is opened and the fitting end is opened, an operation of fitting the optical fiber connector into the fitting end is performed. Therefore, when the shutter plate is opened, there is a problem in that a harmful laser beam (5 mW or more) guided from related optical components is exposed. In addition, the addition of the shutter plate tends to increase the size of the entire optical fiber connector adapter, resulting in a problem that space efficiency is impaired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and completely eliminates the danger caused by a harmful laser beam when connecting an optical fiber connector, and at the same time miniaturizes the whole as much as possible. An object of the present invention is to provide an adapter for an optical fiber connector which enables the above.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made with the above object and provides a shutter plate portion of a shutter member provided at a fitting end via an optical fiber connector fitted into the fitting end of a housing. The shutter member is made of a shape memory alloy having a superelastic characteristic so that the overall size can be reduced.

That is, according to the present invention, one end of a housing is provided with a fitting end for fitting with an optical fiber connector, and the other end is provided with a connecting end for fitting with an optical fiber connector and other optical components. In the optical fiber connector adapter in which the optical components are coupled with their optical axes aligned, a shutter member made of a shape memory alloy having superelastic properties is attached to the housing, and a shutter plate portion of the shutter member is In the housing at the fitting end side, the shutter plate portion is disposed obliquely so as to cross the optical axis, and the optical axis extends from the position where the shutter plate portion crosses the optical axis via an optical fiber connector fitted to the fitting end. Can be retracted to a position that does not cross the optical axis, and when the optical fiber connector fitted to the fitting end is pulled out, the shutter plate portion is moved to a position that does not cross the optical axis. To its original position across the optical axis from an optical fiber connector adapter, wherein you have to be restored by the elasticity of the shutter member.

Further, the housing has a configuration in which a rectangular tubular fitting end side portion and a rectangular tubular connecting end side portion are joined along an optical axis, and the shutter member is
A support plate portion attached to the upper side wall of the fitting end side portion,
The optical fiber connector adapter is constituted by a shutter plate portion which is acutely connected to the tip of the support plate portion and extends obliquely toward the base of the support plate portion.

Further, the shutter member has a hanging piece continuous at right angles to a base of the supporting plate portion, and the hanging piece is sandwiched by a joint between the fitting end side portion and the connection end side portion of the housing. Adapter for an optical fiber connector.

Further, the shutter member is made of a Ni (nickel) -Ti (titanium) binary alloy or a Ni-Ti binary alloy with Cr (chromium), Fe (iron), V (vanadium), Co ( (Cobalt) is an adapter for an optical fiber connector which is formed by stamping out a rolled material of a shape memory alloy having superelastic properties and made of an alloy to which a third element of any one of the metals (Cobalt) is added.

An optical fiber connector wherein the shutter member is punched out so that the longitudinal direction of the support plate portion and the shutter plate portion coincides with either the rolling direction of the rolled material or the direction orthogonal to the rolling direction. Adapter.

[0011]

According to the adapter for an optical fiber connector of the present invention, by inserting the optical fiber connector into the fitting end of the housing, the shutter plate portion installed across the optical axis inside the fitting end can be optically connected. It can be retracted to a position that does not cross the optical axis via the fiber connector. Also,
When the optical fiber connector fitted in the fitting end is pulled out, the shutter plate portion can be automatically returned to the original position crossing the optical axis by the elasticity of the shutter member. Therefore, the fitting end of the housing is opened and the harmful laser beam is not directly emitted to the outside, so that danger can be eliminated. Further, since the shutter member is made of a shape memory alloy having superelastic characteristics, the shutter plate portion can be relatively displaced, and therefore, the mounting structure of the shutter member to the housing can be simplified, and as a result, It is possible to reduce the size of the entire fiber connector adapter.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The adapter 1 shown in the figure for an optical fiber connector.
Is an embodiment in which two optical fiber connectors (not shown) can be connected to each other. This optical fiber connector adapter 1 has a housing 2 made of a synthetic resin molded product divided into two parts.
a and the connection end side portion 2b.
And the joining end 4 of the connection end side portion 2b are brought into contact and integrally joined. The fitting end side portion 2a and the connection end side portion 2b are each formed in the shape of a rectangular tube, and from the open fitting end 5 of the fitting end side portion 2a toward the joining end 3 and further to the connection end side portion 2b. The optical fiber connector is configured to be able to be fitted therein from the open connection end 6 to the joint end 4.

The fitting end side portion 2a includes an upper side wall 8, a bottom wall 9, left and right side walls 10, and a joining end wall 11, and the fitting end 5 is open. The connection end side portion 2b includes an upper side wall 12, a bottom wall 13, left and right side walls 14, and a joint end wall 15, and the connection end 6 is open. Flanges 16 and 17 are formed on the outer side from the respective side walls 10 and 14 so as to be flush with the joining end walls 11 and 15 (FIG. 2), and the fitting end side portion 2a is arranged such that the flanges 16 and 17 overlap. And the joining end side portion 2b are joined along the optical axis 7 to be integrated. The integration can be performed by means such as ultrasonic welding, an adhesive, and eyelets.

A cylinder 20 is formed at the center of the joint end wall 11 of the fitting end side portion 2a toward the fitting end 5, and
A cylinder 21 is formed at the center of the joint end wall 15 of the connection end side part 2b toward the connection end 6, and when the fitting end side part 2a and the connection end side part 2b are connected, both cylinders 20 and 21 become optical. The center axis is aligned on the shaft 7 so as to be aligned. At the time of this connection, a cylindrical sleeve 22 is mounted inside and held by both cylinders 20 and 21. Latch pieces 23, 24 for the optical fiber connectors are formed along the side walls 10, 14 between the respective cylinders 20, 21 and the side walls 10, 14.

The fitting end side portion 2a is further provided with a shutter member 25 stamped and formed from a rolled material of a shape memory alloy having superelasticity into the shape shown in FIGS. The shutter member 25 includes a rectangular support plate portion 26, a shutter plate portion 27 that is acutely connected to the tip of the support plate portion 26, and extends obliquely in the direction of the base of the support plate portion 26. And a hanging piece 28 which is continuous at a right angle to the base part. In accordance with the shutter member 25 having such a shape, a concave groove 29 corresponding to the support plate portion 26 is formed along the longitudinal direction on the outer surface of the upper side wall 8 of the fitting end portion 2a of the housing 2 along the longitudinal direction. The shutter member 25 is attached to the fitting end side portion 2a such that the support plate portion 26 is set in the concave groove 29, and the hanging piece 28 is sandwiched between the contact portions of the joining end walls 11, 15. Installed.

The shutter plate portion 27 of the shutter member 25 attached as described above obliquely extends inside from the open fitting end 5 of the fitting end side portion 2a and crosses the optical axis 7. An opening window 30 is provided on the hanging piece 28 of the shutter member 25.
Is formed. The opening window 30 is provided at the fitting end side portion 2a.
Of the upper and lower protruding portions 31 and 32 provided at the joint end 3 of FIG. In accordance with these projections 31 and 32, the joint end 4 of the joint end side portion 2b is provided with the concave holes 33, 3
4 are formed, and the projections 31 and 32 and the recessed holes 33 and 34 are formed.
, The two parts 2a and 2b can be properly joined, and the shutter member 25 can be securely attached to the fitting end side part 2a.

Further, outside the connection end side portion 2b,
A panel lock member 35 is attached. The panel lock member 35 is formed by stamping and forming a metal plate into a gate shape. A mounting recess 36 having a depth corresponding to the thickness of the metal plate is formed on the outer surfaces of the upper side wall 12 and both side walls 14 of the connection end side portion 2b. The outer surfaces of the upper side wall 12 and both side walls 14 and the outer surface of the panel lock member 35 are flush with each other. Panel lock member 3
A cantilevered panel lock 37 is cut and raised from both side pieces of 5 and extends toward the flange 17, and the optical fiber connector adapter 1 is connected to a panel (not shown).
By attaching to the mounting opening from the connection end side portion 2b, the end of the flange 17 and the panel lock 37 can be engaged with the edge of the mounting opening of the panel. Further, screw holes 38 and 39 are formed in the flanges 16 and 17, and can be fixed by screwing or the like together with the screw holes of the panel.

According to the optical fiber connector adapter 1 of the above embodiment, the optical fiber connector is provided from the fitting end 5 side of the fitting end portion 2a and from the connection end 6 side of the connection end portion 2b, respectively. Can be connected to connect two optical fiber connectors. A ferrule (attached to the end of the optical fiber) protruding from the end face of each optical fiber connector enters the cylindrical sleeve 22, and the end faces of the ferrules are brought together. Now, consider a case where an optical fiber connector has already been fitted into the joining end side portion 2b and a laser beam has been guided. Although the fitting end 5 of the fitting end side portion 2a is open, the laser beam is cut off and emitted to the outside because the shutter plate portion 27 extends inside the optical axis 7 so as to extend therethrough. And safety can be ensured. Open fitting end 5
When the optical fiber connector is fitted, the housing of the optical fiber connector hits the shutter plate portion 27, and the shutter plate portion 27 is pushed up against the elasticity of the shutter member 25 and does not cross the optical axis 7 as the optical fiber connector enters. Evacuate to a location. When the optical fiber connector is completely fitted, the shutter plate portion 27 is substantially parallel to the lower side of the upper side wall 8 of the fitting end side portion 2a. On the other hand, when the fitted optical fiber connector is pulled out from the fitting end side portion 2a, the shutter plate portion 27 returns to the optical axis 7 side with elasticity as the optical fiber connector retreats, and finally traverses the optical axis 7. Return to the original position. Therefore, even when the optical fiber connector is pulled out, the laser beam is not emitted to the outside, and safety can be ensured.

When the optical fiber connector is fitted into or pulled out of the fitting end 5 of the fitting end side portion 2a, the amount of deformation of the shutter plate portion 27 of the shutter member 25 is relatively large (about 4).
5 degrees), but since the shutter member 25 is made of a shape memory alloy having superelastic characteristics, the range of elastic deformation is large,
As a result, the shutter member 25 is not plastically deformed by the fitting and pulling out of the optical fiber connector, so that safety can be reliably ensured. Also, the shutter member 2
As a result, a large elastic deformation region is obtained by using a shape memory alloy 5 having a superelastic characteristic, so that the shutter member 25 with respect to the fitting end side portion 2a abuts the support plate portion 26 on the upper side wall 8 as in the embodiment. It can be made as simple as mounting. Therefore, the shutter member 25 is made to have a large shape with a special shape devised so that the deformation amount can be reduced, or a special structure for supporting the shutter member 25 is additionally provided in the fitting end side portion 2a. Eliminate the need. That is, the fitting end side portion 2a with the shutter member 25
Can be reduced in size as needed without increasing the size, which can contribute to an improvement in the space efficiency of the device.

The shape memory alloys having superelastic properties include Cr, Fe, and V, which stably lower the transformation temperature, to Ni--Ti binary alloys or Ni--Ti alloys having a high Ni ratio. And an alloy to which a third element such as Co is added. The shutter member 25 is manufactured by stamping a rolled material obtained by rolling a shape memory alloy having such superelastic properties to a predetermined thickness, and forming the same. The punching process from the rolled material is performed by using the shutter member 2 and the direction of the rolling direction 41 of the rolled material 40 as shown in FIG.
The longitudinal direction (the left-right direction in FIG. 6) of the support plate portion 26 and the shutter plate portion 27 of FIG. And the longitudinal direction of the shutter plate portion 27 is matched.

Although the embodiment has been described with reference to the optical fiber connector adapter 1 capable of connecting two optical fiber connectors, the connection end side portion 2b is used as a component of the laser beam emitting means itself. Can be changed.

[0023]

As described above, according to the present invention, when fitting or pulling out the optical fiber connector, the shutter plate portion provided so as to cross the optical axis can be opened and closed via the housing. In addition, there is an effect that a risk of a laser beam being emitted to the outside by opening and closing the shutter plate portion can be avoided, and a safe optical fiber connector adapter can be provided. Further, since the shutter member is made of a shape memory alloy having superelastic characteristics, the shutter member itself can be reduced in size, and a special additional structure for supporting the shutter member at a fitting end side portion where the shutter member is attached can be eliminated. As a result, there is an effect that the whole can be reduced in size.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of an optical fiber connector adapter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the connection end side portion of the embodiment viewed from the connection end.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the fitting end side portion of the embodiment as viewed from the fitting end.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the shutter member of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the shutter member of the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the shutter member of the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a rolled material for punching a shutter member according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Adapter for optical fiber connectors 2 Housing 2a Fitting end side part 2b Connection end side part 3, 4 Joining end 5 Fitting end 6 Connection end 7 Optical shaft 8 Upper wall of fitting end side part 9 Fitting end side part Bottom wall 10 Side wall of fitting end side portion 11 Joint end wall of fitting end side portion 12 Upper wall of connection end side portion 13 Bottom wall of connection end side portion 14 Side wall of connection end side portion 15 Joining of connection end side portion End wall 16, 17 Flange 20, 21 Cylinder 22 Cylindrical sleeve 23, 24 Latch piece 25 Shutter member 26 Support plate part 27 Shutter plate part 28 Hanging piece 29 Recessed groove 30 Opening window 31, 32 Projection 33, 34 Recess Hole 35 Panel lock member 36 Mounting recess 37 Panel lock 38, 39 Screw hole 40 Rolled material

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An end of a housing 2 is provided with a fitting end 5 for fitting with an optical fiber connector, and the other end is provided with a connection end 6 for fitting with an optical fiber connector and other optical components. In the optical fiber connector adapter 1 in which the optical components are coupled so that the optical axes 7 are aligned with each other, a shutter member 25 made of a shape memory alloy having superelastic properties is attached to the housing 2. A shutter plate portion 27 is obliquely disposed in the housing 2 on the fitting end 5 side so as to cross the optical axis 7, and is provided via an optical fiber connector fitted to the fitting end 5. When the optical fiber connector 27 is pulled out from the position crossing the optical axis 7 to a position not crossing the optical axis 7 and the optical fiber connector fitted to the fitting end 5 is pulled out, the shutter Portion 27, to its original position transverse to the optical axis 7 from a position which does not cross the optical axis 7, an optical fiber connector adapter, wherein you have to be restored by the elasticity of the shutter member 25. The housing 2 has a configuration in which a rectangular cylindrical fitting end side portion 2a and a rectangular cylindrical connection end side portion 2b are joined along an optical axis 7, and a shutter member 2 is provided.
5 is a support plate portion 26 attached to the upper side wall 8 of the fitting end side portion 2a, and is connected to the front end of the support plate portion 26 at an acute angle and obliquely toward the base of the support plate portion 26. 2. The optical fiber connector adapter according to claim 1, wherein said adapter comprises an extending shutter plate portion. 3. The shutter member 25 includes a support plate portion 26.
The optical fiber connector according to claim 2, further comprising a hanging piece (28) continuous at a right angle to the base of the housing (2), and the hanging piece (28) is sandwiched between a joint between the fitting end portion (2a) and the connection end portion (2b) of the housing (2). Adapter. 4. The shutter member 25 includes a Ni—Ti binary alloy or a Ni—Ti binary alloy formed of Cr, Fe, V, and C.
2. The optical fiber connector adapter according to claim 1, wherein the adapter is stamped and formed from a rolled material 40 of a shape memory alloy having superelastic properties and made of an alloy to which a third element of any one of the metals o is added. 5. The shutter member 25 includes a support plate portion 26.
5. The optical fiber connector adapter according to claim 4, wherein the shutter plate portion is punched out so that the longitudinal direction of the shutter plate portion coincides with either the rolling direction of the rolled material or a direction perpendicular to the rolling direction.