JPH1090527A - Optical cable extra length treating mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical cable extra length treating mechanism capable of improving packaging efficiency and allowing the laying of the optical cable without sagging. SOLUTION: This optical cable extra length treating mechanism is provided with an optical cable case 15 which is so arranged as to exist an optical element 10 inward in the state of viewing a main body substrate 14 from above and in which the extra length part 17 of the optical cable 13 is housed and a rail 16 for the optical element 10 adjustable in the mounting position of the optical element 10 to the main body substrate 14. The optical cable case 15 is so constituted as to hold the extra length part 17 of the optical cable 13 in a wound state.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical cable extra length processing mechanism for treating an extra length of an optical cable connecting an optical element on a fixed plate to another optical device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional optical cable extra length processing mechanism of this type is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 5-15003 and
The one disclosed in -75705 is known. Hereinafter, the mechanism disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 5-1503 will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 1 denotes an optical fiber cable mounted on a printed wiring board (fixed plate) 2, and its extra length 1a is wound in a circular shape. In the following description, the extra length 1 of the optical fiber cable 1 will be described.
a may be simply referred to as “extra length 1a”.

More specifically, on the printed wiring board 2,
The winding frame 3 includes a circular frame plate 31, a groove-shaped accommodation portion 33 formed on the periphery thereof, and a holding tongue piece 35 protruding from the edge of the accommodation portion and bent toward the frame plate 31. The extra length portion 1 a of the optical fiber cable 1 is wound around the housing portion 33 of the bobbin 3. One end of the optical fiber cable 1 is connected to an optical element 5 fixed on the printed wiring board 2 via an optical connector 4, and the other end is connected to an external optical device via a multi-connector 21. In the illustrated example, the winding frame 3 is fixed on another optical element 6 fixed on the printed wiring board 2, and one end of the optical cable 1 may be connected to the optical element 6.

In the optical cable extra length processing mechanism having the above-described structure, since the winding frame 3 is fixed on the optical element 6, the extra length 1
a The processing space and the space for disposing the optical element 6 can be shared, and there is an advantage that the mounting efficiency of the printed wiring board 2 can be improved.

The extra length 1a is wound around the winding frame 3 if the extra length 1a is not fixed to a substantially circular shape. This is because the radius of curvature of the fiber cable 1 becomes small, causing an increase in transmission loss. In an extreme case, the minimum radius of curvature defined by the optical fiber cable 1 may not be secured.

[0007]

However, in the above-described conventional optical cable extra length processing mechanism, since the mounting positions of the optical elements 5 and 6 on the printed wiring board 2 are fixed, the length of the extra length portion 1a is reduced. In some cases, the optical cable 1 may be partially slack near the connection end of the optical cable 1 or the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved optical cable surplus processing mechanism capable of improving mounting efficiency and laying an optical cable without slack.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is applied to an optical cable extra length processing mechanism for accommodating an extra length of an optical cable having one end connected to an optical element on a fixed plate. And
The above-described problem is caused by disposing the optical element inside in a state where the fixing plate is viewed from above, and an optical cable storage part for storing the extra length of the optical cable, and an attachment position of the optical element to the fixing plate. This problem can be solved by providing an adjustable mounting portion and providing an optical cable holding portion for holding the excess length portion of the optical cable in a wound state in the optical cable storage portion.

[0010] In the optical element in which the mounting position on the fixing plate can be adjusted by the mounting portion, the mounting position on the fixing plate is adjusted so that the surplus portion has an optimal shape in accordance with the length of the surplus portion of the optical cable. Adjusted.

In the present invention, it is desirable that the optical element is located in the optical cable holding section. In addition, it is preferable that the optical cable holding portion is formed of a hollow member formed into a cylindrical shape having a radius of curvature larger than the minimum radius of curvature of the optical cable. Further, it is preferable to provide a lid for covering the opening of the optical cable. Alternatively, it is preferable that the mounting portion includes a support portion that movably supports the optical element along the surface of the fixing plate, and a fixing unit that fixes the supporting position of the support portion.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an optical cable extra length processing mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an optical element rail. In these figures, reference numeral 10 denotes a pair of optical elements, 11 and 12 denote optical connectors, and an optical cable 13 is interposed between the optical module 10 and the optical connectors 11 and 12. In the present embodiment, one optical element 10 is for transmission and the other optical element 10 is for reception.
In the following description, the optical element 10 will be collectively described without distinction. The optical element 10, the optical connectors 11, 12 and the optical cable 13 are mounted on a main board 14.

Reference numeral 15 denotes an optical cable case having a hollow cylindrical shape made of a metal member, and is disposed substantially at the center of the main body substrate 14. The radius of curvature of the inner peripheral surface of the optical cable case 15 is set sufficiently larger than the minimum radius of curvature of the optical cable 13. All of the above-described optical elements 10 are arranged in the optical cable case 15.

More specifically, these optical elements 10 are mounted on an optical element rail 16 fixed on a main body substrate 14. As shown in FIG. 3, the optical element rail 16 is formed by forming a groove 16a having an arc-shaped cross section on the upper surface of a plastic long rod, and the optical element 10 is mounted on the groove 16a. . Therefore, the optical element 10 is
The mounting position can be adjusted along the longitudinal direction of a. On the other hand, both of the optical connectors 11 and 12 are arranged outside the optical cable case 15.

The optical fiber 13 has a surplus portion 17 formed at an intermediate portion thereof. In the extra length portion 17, the optical fiber 13 is wound in a circular shape along the inner peripheral surface of the optical cable case 15, and passes through a cutout portion 15a formed at an appropriate position on the side surface of the optical cable case 15.
It is laid outside and connected to the optical connectors 11 and 12.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 18 denotes a module board housed in the optical cable case 15, which is connected to each optical element 10 via a wire 19. In the present embodiment, the wire 19 is made of a material that can be flexibly deformed, and has a length that does not hinder the movement of the optical element 10 on the optical element rail 16.

In the optical cable surplus length processing mechanism having the above-described structure, the optical element 10 mounted on the main body substrate 14,
When the optical connectors 11 and 12 are connected by the optical cable 13, the optical cable 13 has a certain amount of extra length, and is wound in a circular shape along the inner peripheral surface of the optical cable case 15 to process this. The unit 17 is constituted. At this time, the optical cable 13 is prevented from bending beyond the minimum radius of curvature in the extra length portion 17.

After that, the optical cable 1 having the necessary minimum length
3 is laid outside the case 15 via the cutout 15 a of the optical cable case 15 and connected to the optical connectors 11 and 12. At this time, the optical cable 13 is connected to the case 15 and the connector 1.
In the case where the optical element 10 does not extend linearly and has a slack, the optical element 10 is moved on the optical element rail 16 to finely adjust the mounting position. Adjust the length of 13 to eliminate slack.

After that, the optical element 10 is connected to the optical element rail 16.
And fix the mounting position. The method of fixing the optical element 10 is arbitrary, but an example is a method of fixing the optical element 10 to the groove 16a of the optical element rail 16 with a double-sided tape or an adhesive. Finally, as shown in FIG. 2, the upper surface of the optical cable case 15 is covered with a lid 20 to prevent dust and the like from entering.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the mounting position of the optical element 10 housed in the optical cable case 15 is adjustable, so that the optical element 10 is arranged inside the extra length 17. In addition to improving the mounting efficiency, the length of the optical cable 13 at the extra length 17 can be finely adjusted, and the optical cable 1 outside the optical cable case 15 can be adjusted.
3 can be eliminated.

[0021]

As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, the mounting efficiency can be improved, and the optical cable can be laid without slack.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an optical cable extra length processing mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the optical element rail according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of a conventional optical cable extra length processing mechanism.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Optical element 11, 12 Optical connector 13 Optical cable 14 Main board 15 Optical cable case 16 Optical element rail 17 Extra length

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An optical cable extra length processing mechanism for accommodating an extra length of an optical cable having one end connected to an optical element on a fixed plate, wherein the optical device is inwardly viewed when the fixed plate is viewed from above. And an optical cable storage part in which the extra length of the optical cable is stored, and an attachment part capable of adjusting a mounting position of the optical element to the fixing plate, wherein the optical cable storage part is An optical cable extra length processing mechanism, comprising: an optical cable holding portion that holds the extra length portion of the optical cable in a wound state. 2. An optical cable extra length processing mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said optical element is located in said optical cable holding section. 3. The optical cable extra length processing mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the optical cable holding portion is formed of a hollow member formed in a cylindrical shape having a radius of curvature larger than a minimum radius of curvature of the optical cable. 4. The optical cable extra-length processing mechanism according to claim 3, further comprising a cover for covering an opening of the optical cable. 5. The mounting section includes a support section for movably supporting the optical element along a plate surface of the fixing plate, and fixing means for fixing a support position of the support section. The optical cable extra length processing mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein