JPH11326701A - Optical multifiber connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the stability and handling quality of connection by adopting the constitution to hold a plug and receptacle in the state of butting both against each other face to face at the time of fitting in such a manner that the optical fiber in a plug generates a deflection and connects to the optical waveguide member or optical condensing member on a receptacle side in the deflecting state. SOLUTION: At the time of fitting of the plug 50 and the receptacle 70, a V-groove guide 55 is inserted into a holder 73 and thereafter, the optical fiber 52 in the plug 50 is aligned into the fine hole of a microsleeve 71 in the receptacle 70 and is inserted to a prescribed position. The plug 50 and the receptacle 70 are then fixed by a fixing spring 40, by which a V-groove guide end face 55a and the inside surface (point A) of the holder 73 or a projecting part 60a of the plug frame and the end face (point B) of a shell 75 are held in a contact state. At this time, the optical fiber 52 in the plug 50 is previously so set as to slightly deflect. The optical fiber is connected in the deflecting state to the optical waveguide member or optical condensing member 77 on the receptacle 70 side.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical multi-core connector of a type in which optical fibers are directly connected to each other by using the bending of optical fibers, and more particularly to improvement of connection stability and handling.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art (Conventional Example 1) As an optical connector compatible with miniaturization, there have been proposed some connectors of a system for directly connecting fiber strands. However, a connector that is small and suitable for a large number of cores has not been proposed.

FIG. 10 shows a conventional optical connector (Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 6-152349). This connector includes a plug 1 and an adapter 10.
The optical fiber 2 of the plug 1 is fixed to a fixed substrate 3 formed in a U-shape. The fixed substrate 3 has a convex portion 6 formed on the inside and a concave portion 5 formed on the outside, and a guide projection 7 formed on the outside rear end. Further, it has a V-groove substrate 8 in which the optical fiber fits, and a plate 9 covering this substrate 8.

The adapter 10 includes a micro ferrule 15 serving as an alignment member, a V-groove substrate 12 for fixing the same, a fixed substrate 14 for fixing the V-groove substrate 12, and a bend formed at the tip of the micro ferrule 15. It is constituted by a member 18. Protrusions 13 are provided on both sides of the fixed substrate 14, and a leaf spring 17 is provided on the tip side of the protrusions 13.
L-shaped grooves 16 are formed near both ends of the fixed substrate 14. A guide piece 19 is provided at a corner of the upper surface of the substrate 11.

To fit the optical connector, the projection 6 of the plug 1 and the L-shaped groove 16 of the adapter 10 are aligned, and the L-shaped groove 16 is
It is performed along. The holding of the plug 1 and the adapter 10 is performed by a leaf spring 17. When mating, plug 1
The optical fibers 2 in the inside generate bending, and the fibers are connected to each other with the force generated by the bending as a contact force. (Conventional Example 2) In the optical multi-core connector disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 9-28868, a pair of plugs 21 is fitted into an adapter 29 as shown in FIG.

[0006] In the plug 21, the plug frame 2
The optical fiber alignment guide 23 is held in the optical fiber alignment guide 23 so as to be movable in the direction of the optical fiber 24, and the stopper 25 fixed to one end of the plug frame 22 and the optical fiber alignment guide 2
3, a guide pressurizing leaf spring 26 is interposed. The optical fiber alignment guide 23 has an optical fiber alignment V-groove 2.
The substrate 27 provided with 7a is adhesively fixed.

The optical fiber strand 24a of the plug 21 is bonded and fixed at the rear end side (opposite side of the fitting side) of the optical fiber alignment V-groove 27a in the fitting direction, and the optical fiber at the front end side in the fitting direction. The optical fiber guide 28 formed so as to correspond to the alignment V groove 27 a passes through the optical fiber alignment V groove 28 a and protrudes from the end face of the plug 21. In the adapter 29, the centering guide 3 is provided at the center of the holder 30.
2 is fixed with a screw, and the substrate 33 provided with the alignment V-groove (not shown) is adhesively fixed to the alignment guide 32. Further, the glass capillary 34 having a centering function is a
Adhesively fixed in the groove. Further, the holder 30 is provided with a centering leaf spring 35 for aligning the optical fiber alignment guide 32 and a guide holding leaf spring 36 for locking the guide 32.

The fitting of the plug 21 to the adapter 29 is performed as follows. When the optical fiber alignment guide 23 held by the plug frame 22 is inserted into the U-shaped portion 31 from one end of the holder 30, the optical fiber alignment guide 23 stops when its tip abuts against the alignment guide 32. I do. At this time, the tip of the centering leaf spring 35 aligns the optical fiber alignment guide 23, the tip of the optical fiber strand 24a is inserted into the glass capillary 34, and the tip of the guide holding leaf spring 36 is an optical fiber. The projection 23a of the fiber alignment guide 23 is locked. The guide pressing leaf spring 26 holds the optical fiber alignment guide 23 to the holder 30.
It has a function to make it easy to insert.

[0009] Similar to the plug 21, the other plug 21
When the connector is also fitted to the adapter 29, the connection of the optical multi-core connector is completed.

[0010]

(1-1) In Conventional Example 1,
There is a problem that it is difficult to align the plug 1 and the adapter 10 when the connector is fitted. That is, in order to realize a stable connection with a pitch of 0.25 mm and the number of cores (20 to 30 cores), it is necessary to precisely align the optical fiber 2 in the plug 1 with the micro ferrule 15 in the adapter 10 (0 .1mm
Degree) is required. In the connector structure of Conventional Example 1, the guide protrusion 7 of the plug 1 and the guide piece 19 of the adapter 10 are provided as a positioning structure for the optical fiber 2 in the plug 1 and the micro ferrule 15 in the adapter 10. In the structure, the rattling between the plug 1 and the adapter 10 caused by the variation in the dimensions of each component becomes large, and the distance between the positioning structure and the tip of the optical fiber is long, so that the positioning is difficult, and it is difficult to expand to multiple cores. .

(1-2) Optical fiber 2 held by plug 1
Has no protective structure even though the optical fiber diameter is as small as 0.125 mm, and is likely to be damaged due to a simple handling error or the like. (1-3) When an external force acts on the plug 1 or the adapter 10, the external force acts directly on the bent portion of the optical fiber, and the connection state becomes unstable.

(2-1) In Conventional Example 2, a centering leaf spring 35 is used as a positioning structure for the plug 21 and the adapter 29. During repeated insertion and removal, the pressing force of the spring piece may be reduced, and accurate positioning may not be performed. If accurate positioning is not performed, the optical fiber 24 in the plug 21 may be inserted into an adjacent terminal (capillary) 34 or cause damage to the optical fiber.

(2-2) The structure for holding the plug 21 and the adapter 29 is a friction locking structure using a leaf spring 36 for holding the guide. Since the reaction force generated by the bending of the optical fiber increases due to the increase in the number of cores, a large force (the guide holding leaf spring 36) is required to hold the reaction force.
Increase in holding power). As a result, the plug insertion force increases, and the handleability of the connector deteriorates. An object of the present invention is to improve the connection stability and handleability of an optical multi-core connector.

[0014]

Means for Solving the Problems (1) The invention of claim 1 relates to an optical multi-core connector comprising a plug 50 and a receptacle 70. The plug 50 includes an alignment member 65 for holding a plurality of optical fibers and a member 1 for holding an inner spring 58 for pressing the alignment member 65 [the rear shell 5.
9, outer shell member 60]. The receptacle 70 includes an alignment member [micro sleeve 71] for aligning the optical fiber and the member 2 [V-groove substrate 72, holder 73, shell 7
5], an optical waveguide member or a light condensing member 77 is inserted to a predetermined position in the alignment member on the side opposite to the plug insertion direction. The plug 50 and the receptacle 70 are fixed by the fixing spring 40. When the plug 50 and the receptacle 70 are fitted, the plug 50 and the receptacle 70 are held in contact with the surface, and the optical fiber 52 in the plug 50 is bent and bent. Is connected to the optical waveguide member or the light condensing member 77 on the receptacle 70 side.

(2) According to a second aspect of the present invention, the plug 50
A rear shell 59 having an inner spring 58;
Shell member 60 holding two convex portions 60a on the outer periphery thereof
Consisting of (3) In the invention of claim 3, the alignment member in the receptacle 70 is formed of a micro sleeve 71, and the member 2 is formed of a V-groove substrate 72 holding the micro sleeve 71.
A holder 73 for holding the V-groove substrate 72;
And a shell 75 that holds

(4) According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the plug 50 and the receptacle 70 are fitted, the tip of the alignment member 65 abuts one surface (point A) in the holder 73 and the projection 60 a of the outer member 60. Is held in a state of abutting against the end face (point B) of the shell 75. (5) According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the distal end of the optical fiber 52 held in the plug 50 is disposed inside the distal end surface of the outer member 60.

(6) According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the alignment member 65 in the plug 50 is formed in a square shape, and the holder 73 of the receptacle 70 has a cavity 73a to be fitted with the alignment member 65. . (7) According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the U-shaped concave portion 75a for guiding the plug is formed on the plug fitting side end surface of the shell 75.

(8) In the invention of claim 8, when the plug 50 and the receptacle 70 are fitted and fixed, a reaction force acts between the inner spring 58 and the fixed spring 40 in the plug fitting direction.

[0019]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 to 9 show the structure of the present optical multi-core connector. This embodiment is a case where two plugs 50 are connected to one receptacle 70. The fixing of the plug 50 and the receptacle 70 is performed using the fixing spring 40.

The plug 50 includes a plurality of optical fibers 52,
A V-groove substrate 53 for holding the optical fiber 52; a V-groove substrate 54 fixed to the tip of the V-groove substrate 53; a rectangular V-groove guide 55 for holding the V-groove substrate 53;
5, a rubber shrink tube 57, and a 2 for pressing the V-groove guide 55.
Inner springs 58 and a rear shell 5 holding the inner springs 58
9, a plug frame 60 having two convex portions 60 a on the outer peripheral portion, and an optical fiber fixing substrate 61. The V-groove substrates 53 and 54 and the V-groove guide 55 constitute an alignment member 65. The plug 50 has a pitch between optical fibers (pitch between terminals) of 250 μm and is an embodiment corresponding to 24 cores.

The receptacle 70 has a cylindrical microsleeve (aligning member) 71 having an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the optical fiber, a V-groove substrate 72 for fixing the microsleeve 71, and a V-groove substrate 72. A pair of holders 73 (73-1 and 73-2) for holding the
And a shell 75 having a U-shaped concave portion 75a on the plug fitting side, and a holding plate 76. The micro sleeve 71 in the receptacle 70 is also provided.
The optical waveguide member or the light condensing member 77 is provided within a predetermined position.
Is inserted. For example, in this embodiment, an optical fiber is used as an optical waveguide member or a light condensing member, and the optical fiber and the micro sleeve 71 are bonded.
The pitch between the micro sleeves 71 is also 250 μm, like the optical fiber 52 on the plug 90 side. Holder 7
3-1 and 73-2 are fixed with screws.

The fitting of the plug 50 and the receptacle 70
This is performed as follows. The outer periphery of the plug frame 60 is aligned until the optical fiber 52 held in the plug 50 by the receptacle 70 (the space formed by the shell 75 and the holder 73) is not damaged,
Thereafter, the V-groove guide 55 is inserted into the holder 73,
Thereafter, the optical fiber 52 in the plug 50 is aligned in the small hole of the micro sleeve 71 in the receptacle 70 and inserted to a predetermined position. The fixed spring 40 allows the plug 5
By fixing 0 and the receptacle 70, the V-groove guide end surface 55a and the inner surface (point A) of the holder 73, and the plug frame convex portion 60a and the end surface (point B) of the shell 75 are held in contact with each other. At this time, the optical fiber 52 in the plug 50 is set to be slightly bent. The load generated by this deflection is used as the contact force.

The projection 55b of the V-groove guide 55 is held so as not to contact the inner surface (point C) of the plug frame 60. The V-groove guide 55 is held in the plug frame 60 via an inner spring 58 fixed to the rear shell 59, and when fitted, the V-groove guide has a convex portion 55b,
Since the inner surface (point C) of the plug frame is not in contact, the external force applied to the plug frame 60 is transmitted to the V-groove guide 55 via the inner spring 58. Therefore, even when an external force is applied to the plug 50 (or the receptacle 70), a stable connection can be maintained without being directly applied to the bent portion of the optical fiber 52a.

The present optical connector is an optical connector having a narrow pitch of 250 μm and a multi-core number of 24 cores, and is intended to obtain stability at the time of plug insertion (to prevent damage to the optical fiber) and stability at the time of connection. , A positioning structure like this connector (positioning using the V-groove guide 55 and the holder 73)
is necessary. In this optical connector, in order to realize stable optical characteristics, a single core of about 0.03 [N], 24
A load of about 0.72 [N] is required for the core.

When the receptacle 70 is mounted in the center of the substrate 80, a U-shaped concave portion 75a formed in the shell 75 is formed.
Are used for positioning the plug 50 and the receptacle 70, whereby the plug can be easily inserted (FIG. 1).
reference). 6 is a perspective view of the plug 50, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the receptacle 70. FIG. 8 shows a detailed view of the micro sleeve 71 and the vicinity thereof.

The V-groove substrates 53 and 54, the V-groove guide 55, and the optical fiber 52 are fixed with an adhesive. The V-groove guide 55 and the clamp holding plate 56, the rear shell 59 and the inner spring 58 are press-fitted and fixed. The rear shell 59 and the plug frame 60 are fixed by screws. Further, the tip of the optical fiber in the plug 50 is set at a position that is farther behind the end face of the plug frame 60.

Micro sleeve 7 in receptacle 70
1 and the V-groove substrate 72, and the V-groove substrate 72 and the holder 73 are respectively bonded and fixed. Holder 73, shell 75, shell 7
5 and the holding plate 76 are respectively fixed by screws. The attachment / detachment of the fixed spring 40 to / from the plug 50 and the receptacle 70 is performed using a dedicated jig.

FIG. 9A shows the shape before and after the fixed spring 40 is mounted on the connector (plug 50 and receptacle 70). FIG. 9B shows the shape of the inner spring 58 before and after the plug 50 is fitted to the adapter.

[0029]

[Effects of the Invention] Since the connector structure has two abutting surfaces (reference surfaces) at points A and B, there is no displacement between the plug and the adapter during fitting, and the deflection of the optical fiber in the plug is stable. Held in state. Therefore, a stable connection is possible. Since the distal end of the optical fiber is not protruded from the end face of the plug 50, the optical fiber is not easily damaged at the time of fitting or the like, and is excellent in handleability.

The U-shaped concave portion 75 is formed in the end face of the shell 25.
By forming a, the positioning of the plug 50 and the receptacle 70 can be easily performed, which is particularly effective when the receptacle 70 with excellent handling properties is mounted at the center of the substrate.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

2A is a plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, and FIG. 2B is a right side view of A.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the plug 50 of FIG. 1 with a part cut away.

FIG. 7 is an exemplary perspective view of a part of the receptacle 70 shown in FIG.

8 is an enlarged perspective view showing a rear end side of a holder 73-1 in FIG. 7;

9A is an enlarged front view of a distal end portion of the fixed spring 40 of FIG. 1, and FIG. 9B is an enlarged front view of an inner spring 58 of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an example of a conventional optical multi-core connector.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing another example of a conventional optical multi-core connector.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: plug 2: optical fiber 2a, 2a ': optical fiber system 3: fixed substrate 4: fitting arm portion 5: concave portion 6: projection (or convex portion) 7: guide projection 8, 8': V-groove substrate 9: Plate 10: Adapter 11: Substrate 12: V-groove substrate 13: Convex portion 14: Microferrule fixing substrate 15: Microferrule 16: L-shaped groove 17: Leaf spring 18: Deflection alignment member 19: Guide piece 21: Plug 22: Plug Frame 23: Optical fiber alignment guide 23a: Convex part 24: Optical fiber 24a: Optical fiber strand 25: Stopper 26: Leaf spring 27: Substrate 28: Optical fiber guide 28a: V groove 29: Adapter 30: Holder 31: Co Character-shaped part 32: alignment guide 33: substrate 34: glass capillary 35: alignment leaf spring 36: guide holding leaf spring 40: fixed spring 50 : Plug 52: Optical fiber 52 a: Optical fiber wire 53, 54: V-groove substrate 55: V-groove guide 55 a: End face 55 b: Convex portion 56: Clamping plate 57: Shrink tube 58: Inner spring 59: Rear shell 60: Plug frame or outer member 60a: convex portion 61: optical fiber fixing substrate 65: alignment member (consisting of 53, 54, 55) 70: receptacle 71: micro sleeve 72: V-groove substrate 73, 73-1, 73- 2: Holder 74: Sleeve protection substrate 75: Shell 75a: U-shaped concave portion 76: Holding plate 77: Optical fiber; Optical waveguide member or light condensing member 80: Substrate

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Mitsuo Usui Inventor, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation 3-9-1-2 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo (72) Inventor Yasuhiro Ando 3-192-1, Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo No. Japan Telegraph and Telephone Corporation

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A plug (50) and a receptacle (70).
In the optical multi-core connector, the plug (50) holds an alignment member (65) for holding a plurality of optical fibers and an inner spring (58) for pressing the alignment member (65). Member 1 [Rear shell (5
9), an outer member (60)], and the receptacle (70) includes an alignment member [micro sleeve (71)] for aligning the optical fiber, a member 2 [V-groove substrate (72), a holder (73)]. ), A shell (75)], and in the alignment member on the side opposite to the plug insertion direction,
The optical waveguide member or the light condensing member (77) is inserted to a predetermined position, and the plug (50) and the receptacle (70) are fixed by a fixing spring (40), and when fitted, the plug (50) and the receptacle (70) are fitted. The optical fiber (52) in the plug (50) is bent while the optical fiber (52) in the plug (50) is bent, and the optical waveguide member or the light condensing member (70) on the receptacle (70) side is bent in the bent state. 77), wherein the optical multi-core connector is connected. 2. A plug (50) holding a rear shell (59) having an inner spring (58) and an outer member (6) holding an alignment member (65) and having a pair of convex portions (60a) on the outer periphery.
2. The optical multi-core connector according to claim 1, wherein the optical multi-core connector comprises: 3. The alignment member in the receptacle (70) is constituted by a micro sleeve (71),
Is a V-groove substrate (7) holding a micro sleeve (71).
2) and a holder (73) for holding a V-groove substrate (72)
The optical multi-core connector according to claim 1, further comprising a shell (75) for holding the holder (73). 4. A plug (50) and a receptacle (70).
At the time of fitting, the tip of the alignment member (65) is attached to the holder (73).
Outer member (60), which abuts one surface (point A) inside
The projection (60a) of the shell (75) is held in a state of abutting against an end surface (point B) of the shell (75).
Optical multi-core connector as described. 5. The optical multicore according to claim 1, wherein the tip of the optical fiber held in the plug is disposed inside the tip of the outer member. connector. 6. The alignment member (65) in the plug (50).
The optical multi-core optical fiber according to claim 1, characterized in that the optical fiber is formed in a square shape, and the holder (73) of the adapter (70) has a hollow portion (73a) fitted with the alignment member (65). connector. 7. An optical multi-core connector according to claim 1, wherein a U-shaped concave portion (75a) for guiding the plug is formed on the plug fitting side end surface of the shell (75). 8. When the plug (50) and the adapter (70) are fitted and fixed, a reaction force is applied between the inner spring (58) and the fixed spring (40) in the plug fitting direction. The optical multi-core connector according to claim 1.