JPH11281845A - Connector cap for optical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate coupling of optical connectors with each other, to reduce connection loss, and to obtain stable coupling characteristics. SOLUTION: A cap 20 to cover the connection end surface 3a of an optical connector 3 is equipped with a matching agent holding part 23 which projects in the optical connector mounting direction and collides against the connection end surface 3a in its main body and also has a hollow for holding a specified amount of a refractive index matching agent (matching gel) 35 on the tip end surface 23a of the matching agent holding part 23.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is applied to an optical connector for connecting optical fibers to each other, and is capable of maintaining the connection end face of the optical connector in a good condition from the time of shipment from the factory to the time of on-site coupling work. The present invention relates to a connector cap for a connector.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG.
A pair of connectors 3, 4 to which the optical fiber tapes 2, 2 are connected and fixed respectively are connected to each other. Note that reference numeral 5 is
This indicates a pin for alignment, and aligns the fibers when the connector is connected. At the time of connector connection, the connection end face 3a of one connector 3 is coated with a refractive index matching agent 8 using a syringe 7 or the like, thereby reducing connection loss and, at the same time, having a gap in the connection end face to prevent light from being lost. Fresnel reflection caused by the reflection of light is prevented. For this reason, connector connection at the connection site is poor in workability, and there is also a variation in the amount of matching agent applied. When the amount of application is large, dust and the like adhere to extra parts and cause contamination, resulting in connection loss. There was a problem that increases.

Therefore, in the optical connector shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 1-113206, a plastic cap incorporating a matching agent is applied to protect the end face of the optical connector. Attached to the end of the connector main body before connector connection. That is, the cap 9 of FIG.
Has two axial holes 12 and 13 communicating with the end face of the optical connector 3 therein, and a matching agent 14 is built in one of the holes 12 and 13 and the hole 12 is A projection 15 extending in the direction is formed. By pinching the protruding portion 15, the matching agent 14 in the hole 12 is sent to the end face of the optical connector 3. The other hole 13 is for accommodating the coupling pin 5 for positioning. The cap 19 of FIG. 8 is provided with only the hole 13 for accommodating the coupling pin 5, and the matching agent 14 is applied to the end face of the optical connector 3 in advance. By using these caps, the conventional problems were solved, and at the same time, the on-site work was simplified and the connection workability was improved.

[0004]

However, among the conventional caps as described above, in the former cap, the amount of application varies depending on how the operator grips the projecting portion 15 and the cap is fed into the end face of the optical connector 3. In some cases, the matching agent 14 wrapped around the hole 13 of the connecting pin 5 and caused a variation in the amount of application. In addition, it is troublesome to pinch the minute projection 15. Also, in the latter case, the matching agent 14
As a result, the amount of coating on the connection end face was varied due to the rounding of the hole into the hole 13.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a connector cap for an optical connector capable of applying a constant amount of a refractive index matching agent while eliminating the operation of applying a matching agent at the time of connector connection. It is an object of the present invention to simplify the operation at the time of connector connection to shorten the operation time, and to reduce the connection loss by preventing dust adhesion and the like.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided a connector cap for an optical connector according to the present invention, which is detachably provided and covers at least a connection end surface of the optical connector. And a matching agent holding portion that projects to a substantially central portion of the optical connector, abuts against the connection end surface of the optical connector to be mounted, and applies the refractive index matching agent held on the front end surface to the connection end surface.

As described above, according to the connector cap for an optical connector of the present invention, the matching agent holding portion holds the refractive index matching agent on the front end surface and abuts on the connection end surface of the optical connector. The refractive index matching agent can be applied to the connection end face of the optical connector simply by mounting the optical connector on the connector.

Further, in the connector cap for an optical connector according to the present invention, a recess having a substantially arc-shaped cross section may be provided on a tip end surface of the matching agent holding portion (see FIG. 1). Claim 2). In this case, the depression can hold the matching agent well, and the holding amount can be constant.

In the above-mentioned connector cap for an optical connector according to the present invention, the shape of the depression is provided in a plan view so as to substantially correspond to the connection end face so that the matching agent can be spread evenly. It may be characterized by the following (claim 3). For example, when the connection end face of the connector is rectangular, if the shape of the depression in plan view is set to be an ellipse whose major axis is aligned with the long side of this rectangle, this cap is attached to the optical connector. Sometimes, the matching agent can be evenly spread and applied to the connection end surface of the optical connector.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the connector cap for an optical connector according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a partially broken perspective view of a connector cap for an optical connector according to the present invention, and shows a state before being attached to an optical connector. The optical connector is shown in FIG.
Are provided in the same manner as the conventional structure shown in FIG. The optical connector connector cap (hereinafter, simply referred to as a “cap”) 20 is formed as a molded product of a plastic resin, and has a shape and a size substantially corresponding to those of the rectangular optical connector 3. It can be attached to the optical connector 3 while covering the connection end face of the connector 3, and can be detached from the optical connector 3.

The cap 20 has a front half 20a formed in a space 21 into which the optical connector 3 is inserted, and a rear half 20b formed in a solid shape for gripping when the cap 20 is detached. At a substantially central part of the solid end face 22, a trapezoidal matching agent holding part 23 is provided which protrudes toward the space part 21 and is formed so as to be in contact with the connection end face 3a of the optical connector 3 to be mounted. The matching agent holding portion 23 is set out of the coupling pin storage area (not shown) of the optical connector 3.

A recess 34 (see FIG. 2) having a substantially arc-shaped cross section is formed in the distal end surface 23a of the matching agent holding portion 23, and a refractive index matching agent (hereinafter, referred to as "matching gel") to be dropped. ) 35 can be held satisfactorily. The matching gel 35 has a refractive index close to the refractive index of the optical fiber core, and uses, in addition to silicon oil, for example, a urethane-based, epoxy-based, ethylene / methacrylic acid copolymer, olefin-based copolymer, or the like. be able to.

The recess 34 has an elliptical shape whose major axis is set so that its plan view shape is parallel to the long side of the rectangular connection end face 3 a of the optical connector 3.

Next, the operation of the cap 20 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the cap 20 is formed by projecting the matching agent holding portion 23 in the cap body. As shown in FIG. 3, a predetermined amount of the matching gel 35 is extracted from the depression 34 of the matching agent holding unit 23 by the droplet device. The cap 20 holding the matching gel 35 is
As shown in FIG. 4, at the time of shipment from the factory, the optical connector 3 is attached to the optical connector 3 so as to cover the connection end surface 3a, and the matching gel 35 comes into contact with the connection end surface 3a. As a result, at the time of connector connection, if the cap 20 is removed from the connector 20 by grasping the rear half portion 20b, the matching gel 35 moves to the connection end face 3a and applies the connection end face 3a. In this case, the connecting operation with the other connector (not shown) can be immediately performed by omitting the operation of applying the matching agent.

If at least the surface of the recess 34 is coated with a material having no affinity for the matching gel 35, the matching gel 35 can be smoothly moved to the connection end face 3a.

Incidentally, the matching gel 35 described above is used.
Since the cross section of the depression 34 is formed in a substantially circular arc shape, the matching gel 35 can be satisfactorily held, and a predetermined amount can be held to prevent the liquid from flowing out of the predetermined area. Further, since the shape of the depression 34 in plan view is formed as described above, when the distal end surface 23a of the matching agent holding portion 23 comes into contact with the connection end surface 3a, as shown by an arrow in FIG. 35 can be spread evenly on the connection end face 3a and applied. Thereby, the connection end face 3a
The matching gel 35 can be supplied only to the predetermined area of the matching gel 35.

In the above embodiment, the matching agent holding section 23
Is formed in a trapezoidal shape, the cross-sectional shape of the depression 34 is formed in a substantially arc shape, and the shape in plan view is an elliptical shape. However, the present invention is not limited to only such a form and shape, and various forms are available. Needless to say, the shape can be selected. In short, when the cap is attached to the optical connector, the matching agent holding portion projects so as to come into contact with the connection end surface of the optical connector, and the tip surface of the matching agent holding portion has a predetermined amount of the matching gel 35. What is necessary is just to be formed so that it can hold | maintain.

[0018]

As described above, according to the optical connector connector cap of the present invention, since the matching agent holding portion that holds and projects the matching gel is built-in,
When the connector is connected to the optical connector, the matching gel can be moved from the matching agent holding portion to the connection end face of the optical connector and applied to the connector when the connector is connected. Therefore, the matching gel can be applied simply by removing the cap, thereby shortening the operation time and simplifying the operation. Also,
Adhesion of dust and the like can be prevented with a reduction in work time, and connection loss can be reduced. In addition, if the cross section of the dent is formed in a substantially circular arc shape, the matching agent can be satisfactorily held and the holding amount can be constant. In addition, if the shape of the depression in plan view is set to be an elliptical shape similar to the connection end face of the optical connector, the matching agent can be evenly spread and applied to a predetermined region of the connection end face.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially broken perspective view of an optical connector connector cap according to the present invention, showing a state before being attached to an optical connector.

FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the cap of FIG. 1, showing a state before a matching agent is applied.

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of the cap of FIG. 1, showing a state at the time of applying a matching agent.

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view of the cap of FIG. 1, showing a state when an optical connector is mounted.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state of diffusion of a matching agent.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing a conventional example.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view showing another conventional example.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view showing still another conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 2 optical fiber tape 3 optical connector 3a connection end face 20 connector cap for optical connector 23 matching agent holding portion 23a distal end surface 34 dent 35 refractive index matching agent

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An optical connector connector cap which is detachably provided and covers at least a connection end face of an optical connector, wherein the tip face protrudes from a substantially central portion of the main body and abuts on a connection end face of the optical connector to be mounted. A connector cap for an optical connector, comprising: a matching agent holding portion for applying the refractive index matching agent held on the connection end face. 2. The connector cap for an optical connector according to claim 1, wherein a recess having a cross section formed in a substantially arc shape is provided on a tip end surface of said matching agent holding portion. 3. The connector for an optical connector according to claim 1, wherein the recess has a shape in plan view substantially corresponding to the connection end face so that a refractive index matching agent can be uniformly diffused and applied. cap.