JPH1031131A - Optical connector coupling member - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mounting method for multicore optical connector which improves connection workability, mounting density and housing ability and is made advantageous for cost down even when connecting optical connectors having a lot of cores. SOLUTION: This coupling member has a casing 2 for housing plural multicore optical connectors 1 while laminating them in coupling state and a pressurizing member 3 which is locked with the casing 3 and has a spring function for individually pressing the respective multicore optical connectors 1 in axial direction. The pressurizing member 3 is structured for pressing the rear parts of respective multicore optical connectors 1 with respectively independent leaf springs. This coupling member is provided with a clustering member for clustering the plural multicore optical connectors 1 while laminating them and for simultaneously coupling them. Besides, the function of fixing to a mount plate is added to the casing 2, and this fixing function is made into groove for fitting into the mounting part.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to an optical communication system,
The present invention relates to a method for mounting a multi-fiber optical connector joint.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there are roughly the following two methods for connecting and mounting a multi-fiber optical connector. FIG.
FIG. 2 is an assembly view showing a structure of a conventional multi-core optical connector connecting member using a clip. The first method is a method using a clip as shown in FIG. That is, this is a mounting method in which the two multi-core optical connectors 21 and 21 ′ to which the optical fiber tapes 22 and 22 ′ are respectively connected are connected by two left and right guide pins 23 and pressed by the clips 24. This method is suitable when the storage space is limited mainly in the closure or the like, and is hardly touched by humans after storage, and is inexpensive.

FIG. 5 is an assembly diagram showing a structure of a conventional multi-fiber optical connector connecting member using a housing and an adapter having a push-pull attaching / detaching function. A second method is to use a housing and an adapter having a push-pull attaching / detaching function as shown in FIG. That is, this is a mounting method in which the two multi-core optical connectors 21 and 21 ′ having the push-pull housings 26 and 26 ′ are fitted and connected to the adapter 25. Since this method has excellent workability in attaching and detaching, it has room for storage space mainly in a room, and is suitable for applications where the frequency of attaching and detaching is relatively high. 4 and 5 are shown on the same scale.

[0004]

In the case of connecting large-scale information processing apparatuses by optical wiring, the frequency of attachment / detachment is relatively low, but a large number of optical fibers must be connected and housed in the apparatus. There is a need for an optical connector mounting method that is excellent in connection workability, has high mounting density, has good storage properties, and is low in cost. However, in the first method, since the fitting and clip attaching work is required for each set of connectors, the workability is not efficient when the number of connectors is large.

Furthermore, although the occupied area of each piece after clip attachment is small, the shape is weak against external force, and it is not suitable for orderly accommodation. A mounting tool for storing and protecting the connector and fixing it to a predetermined mounting board is required, and as a result, there is a problem that the mounting density does not increase. In the second method,
There is a problem in that the mounting area per optical connector is large, the number of components is large, and the cost is disadvantageous.

[0006]

As a result of various studies on the above-mentioned problems, the present inventor has found that a housing accommodating a plurality of multi-fiber optical connectors in a stacked state in a connected state, and each multi-fiber optical connector being individually shafted. It has been found that the above problems can be solved by combining a pressing member having a spring function of pressing in the direction, and the present invention has been completed. That is, the present invention provides: a housing for accommodating a plurality of multi-core optical connectors in a stacked state in a coupled state; and a spring having a spring function for locking the housing and individually pressing each multi-core optical connector in the axial direction. An optical connector coupling member having a pressure member is provided. Further, the pressure member is characterized in that the rear part of each multi-core optical connector is pressed by an independent leaf spring. Further, the present invention is characterized in that all of the pressing members are press-formed products from one metal plate. Also,

[0007] It is also characterized in that a plurality of the multi-core optical connectors are stacked and assembled in advance before the connection, and an assembling member for connecting the opposing multi-core optical connectors in a lump is further provided. Also, the assembly member is characterized in that it has a structure that gives a degree of freedom that the multi-core optical connector can move in the front-rear direction. Also, the plurality of multi-core optical connectors is characterized in that the number is two or more and six or less. Another feature is that the housing has a function of fixing the mounting board. Further, the fixing function is characterized in that it is a groove for fitting into a mounting plate. In addition, the mounting plate is characterized in that a slit for fitting into the fitting groove is provided. Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0008]

According to the present invention, (1) a plurality of optical connectors are pressed by one pressing member, so that the first conventional method (FIG. 4)
It saves you the trouble of attaching each clip as in
No special jig is required if the pressure member is pressed into the mounting structure (claim 1). (2) A plurality of multi-core optical connectors are stacked and assembled before joining, and an assembly member is further provided so that the opposing multi-core optical connectors are joined together to further simplify the joining work. Yes (claim 4).

(3) Since the pressing member has a spring function of individually pressing each multi-core optical connector in the axial direction, even if the polishing length of each optical connector varies, it is evenly applied to all connector connection surfaces. , And can be combined without any problem in terms of characteristics (claim 2). (4) Since all the pressing members are formed by pressing a single metal plate, it is advantageous in terms of cost reduction (claim 3). (5) Even when the collective member is used, each optical connector can be pressed independently by giving a certain degree of freedom to move each connector in the forward and backward directions (claim 5).

(6) In order to stabilize the connection characteristics of each connector, about 1 kgf, preferably 0.8 kgf
A pressing force of 1.2 kgf is required (claim 2). (7) This pressing force becomes a reaction force when the pressing member is mounted, and is supported by the housing after mounting. Therefore, from the viewpoint of mounting workability and housing strength, the number of laminated connector pairs is 2 to 6 pairs, preferably 2 to 6 pairs. More than three sets and less than three sets are desirable (claim 6). Also,
According to the present invention, (8) since the plurality of optical connectors are stacked as they are, the cross-sectional area of the housing occupies the outside, but the housing itself can have sufficient strength to protect the internal connector. Therefore, the housing itself can be fixed to the mounting plate, so that the mounting density can be sufficiently increased as a whole, and furthermore, the storage property is excellent (claim 1).

(9) For example, by using a method in which vertical grooves are formed on both sides of the housing and fitted into slits provided in the mounting plate, the structure is simple and the storage is good (claim 8, 9). (10) For a plurality of optical connector pairs, one housing and one pressing member
In this case, even if a collective member is used, it can be composed of a minimum of four parts, which is advantageous for cost reduction (claims 1 and 2).
4). For example, the housing uses metal MIM (Metal Injection Mold) molding or rigid plastic molding using PPS (polyphenylene sulfide) or the like, the pressing member uses press molding of a metal plate, and the collective member uses soft plastic (for example, Polyethylene) molding or rubber (for example, NBR) molding can be used at low cost.

[0012]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be described specifically with reference to Examples.
They do not limit the scope of the invention. FIG. 1 is an assembly view showing one typical example of the optical connector coupling member of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a multi-fiber optical connector, each optical connector is 1a, 1b,..., 2 is a housing, 3 is a pressing member,
Is an optical connector coupling member of the present invention, 5 is a spring portion, 6 is a folded portion, 7 is a locking tongue, and 8 is a locking step portion.

That is, the optical connector connecting member 4 of the present invention.
Consists of an aluminum housing 2 for accommodating five sets of multi-core optical connectors 1, 1 a, 1 b,..., And a pressing member 3 formed by pressing a stainless steel plate. First, each of the optical connectors 1a, 1b,.
After assembling and coupling, each is stacked and stored in the housing 2, and then the pressing member 3 is pushed in from the rear. The pressing member 3 has a spring portion 5 for independently pressing each connector pair at about 1 kgf.

Further, a locking step 8 provided on the housing,
With the locking tongue 7 provided on the pressing member 3, the two members (the housing 2 and the pressing member 3) are connected and gripped in a sufficiently pressed state. Further, since the housing 2 and the pressing member 3 have a structure opened upward in a U-shape, the folded portion 6 is provided above the pressing member 3.
To prevent the pressing member 3 from spreading right and left outward due to the reaction force of the connector pressing force. As a result of trial production of the optical connector coupling member of the present invention and evaluation of connector coupling loss, characteristics having no significant difference were obtained as in the case of ordinary clip coupling.

FIG. 2 is an assembly view showing another typical example of the optical connector connecting member of the present invention, particularly an example of a method of fitting the housing and the pressing member. That is, the optical connectors 1a, 1b,
The workability is improved by combining the three sets of multi-core optical connectors 1 and 1 '1c together with a collective member 11 made of a soft plastic, for example, polyethylene.

In this case, by reducing the number of laminations to three sets and reducing the counter load applied to the housing, a more inexpensive plastic molded product can be obtained for the housing material. The pressing member 3 has a structure in which the locking claws 13 provided in the housing 2 and the locking holes 12 provided in the pressing member 3 connect and hold the two. The structure is similar to that of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an assembly view showing still another typical example of the optical connector connecting member of the present invention, particularly an example of a method of mounting a plurality of multi-core optical connectors on a housing using a mounting plate. In this case, by providing the mounting plate 16 provided with the slit portion 15 for fitting the housing and the vertical groove 14 provided for fitting in the housing 2, as shown in the mounting image of FIG.
It can be fitted and fixed in the slit portion 15 of the mounting plate 16 in an orderly manner.

[0018]

As described above, according to the present invention, even in the connection of a multi-fiber optical connector, a multi-core optical fiber having an excellent connection workability, a high mounting density, a good storability and a low cost is advantageous. An optical connector mounting method can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an assembly view showing one typical example of an optical connector connecting member of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an assembly view showing another typical example of the optical connector connecting member of the present invention, particularly an example of a method of fitting a housing and a pressing member.

FIG. 3 is an assembly view showing still another representative example of the optical connector coupling member of the present invention, particularly an example of a method of mounting a plurality of multi-core optical connectors on a housing using a mounting plate.

FIG. 4 is an assembly view showing a structure of a conventional multi-fiber optical connector connecting member using a clip.

FIG. 5 is an assembly view showing a structure of a conventional multi-fiber optical connector connecting member using a housing and an adapter having a push-pull attaching / detaching function.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1 'Multi-core optical connector 1a, 1b Each optical connector 2 Housing 3 Pressing member 4 Optical connector coupling member 5 Spring part 6 Folding part 7 Locking tongue piece 8 Locking step part 11 Assembly member 12 Locking hole part 13 Locking claw 14 Vertical groove for fitting 15 Slit 16 Mounting plate 21, 21 'Multi-core optical connector 22, 22' Optical fiber tape 23 Guide pin 24 Clip 25 Adapter 26, 26 'Push-pull housing

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A housing for accommodating a plurality of multi-core optical connectors stacked and housed in a coupled state, and a pressurizing device having a spring function for locking the multi-core optical connectors and individually pressing the multi-core optical connectors in the axial direction. An optical connector coupling member comprising a member. 2. The optical connector connecting member according to claim 1, wherein said pressing member has a structure in which a rear portion of each multi-core optical connector is pressed by an independent leaf spring. 3. The multi-fiber optical connector connecting member according to claim 2, wherein the pressing members are all press-formed products from one metal plate. 4. A multi-fiber optical connector further comprising an assembling member in which the plurality of multi-fiber optical connectors are stacked and assembled before coupling, and the opposing multi-fiber optical connectors are collectively coupled to each other. The multi-fiber optical connector connecting member according to claim 1. 5. The multi-fiber optical connector coupling member according to claim 4, wherein the assembly member has a structure that gives a degree of freedom in which the multi-fiber optical connector can move in the front-rear direction. 6. The multi-fiber optical connector coupling member according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of multi-fiber optical connectors are two to six sets. 7. The multi-fiber optical connector coupling member according to claim 1, wherein the housing has a function of fixing to a mounting plate. 8. The multi-fiber optical connector coupling member according to claim 7, wherein the fixing function is a groove for fitting into a mounting plate. 9. The multi-fiber optical connector coupling member according to claim 8, wherein the mounting plate is provided with a slit that fits into a fitting groove.