JPS58169112A - Connector plug and connector for multicored optical fiber cable - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a connector for multicored optical fiber cable which can connect plural pieces of optical fibers with high accuracy. CONSTITUTION:An optical fiber arraying member 1 is like a flat plate, and is arranged with plural pieces of optical fiber arraying grooves 2 at an equal spacing in parallel with each other. Two pieces of projections 3 for supporting a keep plate are provided on both sides of the grooves. Optical fibers 4 are embedded in the grooves 2, and a keep plate 6 is put thereon through a layer 5 of a suitable adhesive agent, whereby a connector plug 7 is obtained. The assemblies 12 fitted with the plugs and fitting members for the connector plugs are butted to each other at a butt surface (a) through a sleeve 13 to connect multicored optical fiber cable 14, which are then fixed and held by means of lock nuts 15.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (1) Technical Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connector plug and a connector for multi-core optical fiber cables. The present invention relates to a connector plug and a connector that are effective for connecting core wires (hereinafter simply referred to as ``optical fibers'') together with high precision and that can be repeatedly attached and detached.

(2) Background of the technology As is well known, optical fiber cable is a collection of multiple optical fibers, and currently there are various types such as tape-type cables, spacer-type cables, and embedded type cables. Optical fiber cables have been put into practical use. In order to connect these cables, two types of methods have been adopted, one of which is the sprinkling method for the purpose of permanent connection.The other connection method has been improved in the present invention. This is the method using the connector. Connectors generally have low connection loss, excellent reproducibility of connection characteristics, good mechanical strength, ease of handling, mass production, and many other requirements. It is required that the demands of *9 be met.

In order to meet these requirements, it is essential that the connector has good precision (3) Conventional technology and problems Conventionally, in order to obtain a connector with relatively good precision, silicon single crystal An optical fiber alignment member having a V-shaped groove for embedding the optical 7 eyer is manufactured by etching or molding the Fi7 rustic material, and after embedding the formed V-shaped In optical fiber, a suitable adhesive is applied. It has become common practice to join a presser plate to an optical fiber alignment member using a method, and then butt the resulting connector plugs together via a sleeve to connect optical fibers together. However, in order to do this, it must be remembered that when connecting optical fibers together as a connector with high precision, the member or surface for reference positioning must be finished with high precision by machining6. If the accuracy of the mating member or Fi surface is poor, Kd, as is obvious,
This is because the advantages of the connector described above cannot be derived. For these reasons, conventional connectors are expensive to manufacture, and can only be manufactured individually by machining, so there are many variations in characteristics.Furthermore, conventional connector plugs are - When joining a holding plate to an optical fiber alignment member for manufacturing, the holding plate presses the optical fiber embedded in the V-shaped groove of the optical fiber alignment member, causing microbending, which is an obstacle to low-loss connections. This is often the case. In addition, it is common for there to be significant unevenness on the side where the optical fibers are aligned, and due to the kneading, stress concentration occurs on the optical fibers, resulting in breakage of the optical fibers. (4) Purpose of the Invention An object of the present invention is to prevent direct pressure from being applied to the optical fibers of the optical fiber alignment member, thereby suppressing splice loss to a low level. An object of the present invention is to provide an improved connector plug for multi-core optical fiber cables.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved connector for a multi-core optical fiber cable that can connect a plurality of optical fibers with high precision. (5) Structure of the Invention According to the present invention, a first K, an optical fin (an alignment member and an lubricant coupled to the alignment member via an adhesive layer) will be fully understood from the detailed explanation below. A connector plug for connecting a multi-core optical fiber cable is provided, which is comprised of a holder and a holding plate.

In the connector plaque of the present invention, the optical fiber alignment member has a flat plate shape, and the outer diameter of the optical fiber is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the optical fiber (after the cladding is exposed by removing the register) on the top surface of the peak. II? equally spaced parallel to each other with a large width and a depth significantly smaller than its outer diameter.
The book's optical fins are characterized by being formed with alignment grooves and two presser plate support protrusions arranged parallel to each other so as to sandwich these grooves.

Here, in order to achieve the intended purpose of the present invention, the holding plate supporting protrusion has a height that is slightly larger than the difference between the outer diameter of the cladding of the optical fiber and the groove depth of the optical fiber alignment groove. It is essential that the optical fiber alignment member is made of a plastic material, such as epoxy resin, for example, by subjecting it to a transfer process, or otherwise; It is preferable to produce the material by subjecting a photosensitive resin material, usually a plate-like material, to a photo-etching process, which causes physical changes such as solubilization or insolubilization in a solvent or hardening upon exposure to light.

According to the present invention, secondly, a multi-core optical fiber of a type in which a connector plug consisting of an optical fiber alignment member and a pressing plate bonded to the alignment member via an adhesive layer is butted through a sleeve. The connector of the present invention provides a connector for connecting a cable, preferably i1
In the first type, the optical fiber alignment member constituting the connector plug has a flat plate shape, and the outer diameter of the optical fiber cladding is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the optical fiber after removing the coating and pouring out the shiflad on the upper surface of the optical fiber alignment member. A plurality of optical fiber alignment grooves arranged parallel to each other at regular intervals and having a width and a depth much smaller than the outer diameter thereof, and two optical fiber alignment grooves arranged parallel to them so as to sandwich these groove groups. A presser plate supporting protrusion is formed.

Here, it is important that the height of the holding plate support protrusion is as large as the difference between the outer diameter of the cladding of the optical 7 eyer and the groove depth of the optical fiber alignment groove. The optical fiber alignment member is
The above-mentioned hole can be advantageously manufactured by molding a plastic material or by photo-etching a photosensitive resin material.

The connector of the present invention has the following configuration in another preferred brightness mode: the optical fiber alignment member is formed by photo-etching of a photosensitive resin material; , an aligned optical fiber section having a plurality of optical fiber alignment grooves arranged parallel to each other and spaced apart from each other on the upper surface of the base material, and the connector arranged parallel to the aligned optical fiber section on both sides thereof. Two guide rail portions are formed to reliably guide and fix the plug to the sleeve, and (6) the sleeve has a connector plug fitting member fixedly attached to the inner surface thereof. and an aligned optical fiber section embedding groove, each having a shape in which the fitting member can be fitted with the connector plug, and two guide rail sections arranged on both sides of the alignment optical fiber section embedding groove. A guide groove is formed.

Here, the connector plug fitting member can advantageously be manufactured by molding a plastic material or by photoetching a photosensitive resin material, as in the case of the optical fiber alignment member described above.

In the above tights connector, as an example of the 1 m type, the guide rail part and the corresponding guide groove of the guide rail part are omitted, and as an alternative, the aligned optical fiber part and the corresponding aligned optical fiber part are omitted. Each tapered part of the fiber part embedding groove is configured to have a function as a reference positioning surface that enables accurate fitting between the connector flag fitting member and the connector plug. In yet another variation of the tights connector described above, the optical fiber alignment groove may be larger than the outer diameter of the optical fiber cladding, exposing the optical fiber cladding by removal of the coating. The grooves have a width that is much larger, a depth that is also slightly smaller than their outer diameter, and on both sides of these grooves there are two grooves arranged parallel to them.
Holding plate supporting protrusions are formed, and the height of these holding plate supporting protrusions is significantly larger than the difference between the outer diameter of the cladding of the optical fiber and the groove depth of the optical fiber alignment groove. According to the above modification, which can be configured as follows, it is possible to facilitate manufacturing and reduce the number of connector parts, which is effective in reducing the cost of multi-core connectors.

(6) Embodiments of the Invention Next, the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the attached drawings. Figures 1 to 3 show the process of manufacturing the connector plug of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an optical fiber alignment member manufactured by subjecting epoxy resin to transfer molding. Of course, as mentioned above, it is also possible to manufacture the paperboard member by employing photoetching of a photosensitive resin material instead of molding the epoxy resin. The optical fiber alignment member 1 has a flat plate shape as shown in the figure.
The optical fiber alignment grooves 2 of the book are arranged parallel to each other at equal intervals, and two presser plate supporting protrusions 3 are provided on both sides of the groove. 4 in Figure 1, which is an enlarged partial sectional view of the optical fiber alignment member l shown to explain the dimensional relationship with the protrusion 3, is an optical fiber (in a state where the cladding is exposed by removing the coating). The optical fiber alignment groove 2 has a width W slightly larger than the outer diameter f of the cladding of the optical fiber (4) and a depth d slightly smaller than the outer diameter f. In addition, the holding plate support protrusion 3 has a height h which is much larger than the difference between the outer diameter f of the cladding of the optical fiber (4) and the groove depth d of the optical fiber alignment groove. In this example, f=12
5#ra, d=117μm*”=l 277
Good results were obtained when h = 1 m g and h = 10 μm. Figure 3 shows the groove 2 of the optical fiber alignment member 1 shown in Figure 1.
1 shows a cross-section of a connector flag 7 of the present invention manufactured by embedding an optical fiber 4 in the wafer and covering it with a holding plate 6 through a layer 5 of a suitable adhesive. Here, the adhesive to be used has a negative effect on the connection characteristics of the optical fiber and is not limited to any extent, but as an example of a preferable adhesive, for example, epoxy adhesive I can give it to you. In this example, we used a 1-pound quick set manufactured by Konishi Co., Ltd. to set the adhesive pressure to 5 to 4/4.
The connector plug shown in FIG. , and can be used for connecting optical fibers. [Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the optical fiber alignment member used in manufacturing the connector of the present invention.

Although the formation process will not be explained in detail here, the alignment member 1 is formed by photo-etching a photosensitive resin material. This member includes a base material 1, an aligned optical fiber section I and a guide rail section (1) formed on the upper surface thereof.
It consists of The alignment optical fiber section IKFi is provided with a plurality of optical fiber alignment grooves 2 arranged parallel to each other at equal intervals. Furthermore, this aligned optical fiber section I
Two guide rail portions l (members for reliably guiding and fixing the connector plug 7 shown in FIG. 5 to the sleeve) are provided on both sides of the sleeve and arranged in parallel thereto. In this example, photosensitive resin plate C8- manufactured by Toshi Co., Ltd.
Photoetching was performed using 33P to obtain an optical fiber alignment member 1 as shown in the figure.

FIG. 5 shows a connector plug manufactured by embedding optical fibers 4 in the grooves 2 of the optical fiber alignment member 1 (see FIG. 4) manufactured previously and joining a holding plate 6 through an adhesive layer 5. Regarding the fabrication of the U connector plug whose cross section is shown in FIG. 7, please refer to the explanation of FIG. 3 above.

FIG. 6 shows a cross section of a connector plug fitting member attached to the inner surface of a sleeve (not shown) in a manner to fit the fabricated connector plug. The fitting member 9 is manufactured by molding a plastic material, and has an alignment light whose dimensions correspond to the alignment optical fiber section 1 and the guide rail section IK as shown in the figure. The fiber part has a buried part 1' and a guide rail part has a guide groove. In this example, this fitting member 9 is machined with high precision using a T1+ molding die and an epoxy Ill? manufactured by Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd. IME-155
Made from transfer group %JK using F.
Figure 7 shows one of the connector plug fitting members shown in Figure 6.
This shows an example of a curved shape. Here, instead of the plastic material, a photosensitive resin material coated above the base material 11 was used, and the connector plug fitting member 1O was manufactured by photoetching it. This member 10
In the production of the optical fiber alignment member, a light-binding attenuated plate similar to that used previously in the production of the optical fiber alignment member (see FIG. 4) can be used.

In this example as well, the photosensitive resin plate CB-33P (described above) was used in a relatively thick state to form the fitting member 10.

Figure 8 shows connector plug 7 in figure 5 and figure 6 or 7.
When the connector plug fitting member 9 in the figure is fitted with 1° and the sleeve 2 is butted through 3 and butted at tjiis, the multi-core optical fiber cable 14 is connected.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a connected state. 15 in the figure is
Connector plug 7-connector plug fitting member 9 or 1o
- Sleeve] 3 is tightened with a nut to keep it fixed integrally.
A preferred modification of the one shown in Fig. 16 is shown in [7]. That is, in these drawings, the guide rail part (2) and the guide rail part (guide groove opening) are omitted; instead, detailed parts A and B are configured to perform the same functions as described below. .

FIG. 9 shows a 11
The alignment member 1, which is a cross-sectional view of two optical fiber alignment members, is formed by photo-etching a photosensitive resin, similar to that shown in FIG. The aligned optical fiber structure formed in 1+ consists of 1 and force 4. 2 in the figure is an optical fiber alignment groove. Here, in order to reliably guide and fix the connector 7 lug 7 shown in FIG. 10 to the sleeve, a tapered portion A (both II of the aligned optical fiber section 1) is formed in place of the guide rail section deaf shown in FIG. tJA4. In this example, a photosensitive resin plate C8-33P manufactured by Toshi Co., Ltd. was used for photoetching to obtain an optical fiber alignment member l having a desired shape.

FIG. 10 shows the optical 7 eyeper alignment member l in FIG. 9.
.

Connector plug 7 manufactured by embedding optical fiber 4 in groove 2 and joining presser plate 6 via adhesive layer 5
This figure shows a cross section of .

FIG. 11 shows a cross section of a connector plug fitting member fixedly attached to the inner surface of a sleeve (not shown) for fitting the connector plug of FIG. 1θ. This fitting member 9 is manufactured by molding a plastic material, and is shown at 31! I,
It has an alignment optical fiber part embedding groove 1' and a taper part B corresponding to the alignment optical fiber part I and its taper part AK, respectively. In this example, this member was manufactured by transfer molding of epoxy resin in the same manner as in the case of FIG. (7) Effects of the Invention According to the present invention, since small protrusions are provided on the upper surface of the first K optical fiber alignment member, each of the optical fibers embedded in the alignment member If no pressure is applied to the optical fiber and it is used to form a connector plug, defects such as micro pliers ink can be avoided, thus reducing connection loss. In addition to this, the thickness of the adhesive layer of the connector plug can be made constant, so a high adhesive strength can be ensured. Furthermore, since the thickness of the connector plug itself can be made constant, precise fitting with the sleeve can be guaranteed, which is also effective in achieving a low-loss connection.

According to the present invention, secondly, by providing a guide rail portion or a similar means, the number of reference points for optical fiber connection is reduced, so that high precision of the connector can be achieved. Furthermore, since the formation of means such as the guide rail portion can be carried out at the same time as the formation of the optical fiber alignment grooves, the process can be simplified and it is also economically advantageous. Furthermore, since photoetching of a photosensitive resin material is used to form the single optical fiber alignment member, members of the same size can be easily obtained by retightening. Furthermore, the same effect can be obtained when the connector plug connecting member is formed from a photosensitive resin material. When the connector flag mating member is formed from a plastic material, this member can be formed by transfer from a mold of the same size, resulting in a mating member with excellent dimensional precision and reproducibility. be able to.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an optical fiber alignment member used in manufacturing the connector plug of the present invention; FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the optical fiber alignment member; FIG. 3 is a cross-section of the connector plug of the present invention. Figure; Figure 4 is a sectional view of another optical fiber alignment member used in manufacturing the connector of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a connector plug manufactured using the alignment member of FIG. 4; FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a connector plug fitting member made of plastic material used in manufacturing the connector of the present invention. Figure; Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of a connector plug fitting member made of a photosensitive resin material, similar to that in Figure i6; Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of a connector plug fitting member made of a photosensitive resin material; Cross-sectional view showing the state in which the cables are joined: No. 91
10 is a sectional view of another optical fiber alignment member used in manufacturing the connector of the present invention, and FIG.
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a connector plug fitting member used together with the connector plug of FIG. 10 in manufacturing the connector of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is an optical fiber alignment member, 2 is an optical fiber alignment groove, 3 is a holding plate support protrusion,
4 optical fibers, 5 an adhesive layer, 6 a holding plate, 7 a connector plug, 8 and 11 a base material, 9 a connector plug fitting member made of a plastic material, 1O a connector plug fitting made of a photosensitive resin material. The members 12 are a connector plug/connector plug fitting member after fitting, 13 is a sleeve, 14 is a multi-core optical fiber cable, and 15 is a tightening nut. Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 1) One Figure 9A Figure 11

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A connector plug for connecting multi-core optical fiber cables, comprising an optical fiber alignment member and a holding plate bonded to the line alignment member via an adhesive layer. In the above, the optical fiber alignment member has a flat plate shape, and has a width slightly larger than the outer diameter of the cladding of the firefly optical fiber whose top surface is exposed by removing one coating, and a width slightly larger than the outer diameter of the cladding. A plurality of optical fiber alignment grooves having a slightly smaller depth are arranged parallel to each other at promontory intervals, and two presser plate supporting protrusions are arranged parallel to them so as to sandwich these groove groups. A connector plug for a multi-core optical fiber cable, characterized in that: 2. The height of the front holding plate supporting protrusion is 4I greater than the difference between the outer diameter of the cladding of the optical fiber and the groove depth of the optical fiber alignment groove. A multi-core optical fiber cable connector plug 3 according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the optical fiber alignment member is made of a plastic material and formed by molding the material. Connector plug for multi-core optical fiber cable described in . 4. The multicore optical fiber according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the optical fiber alignment member is made of a photosensitive resin material and formed by photoetching the material. Cable connector plug 5 is for connecting multi-core optical fiber cables, and is composed of an optical fiber alignment member and a holding plate bonded to the alignment member via an adhesive layer. In a type of connector that is butted together through a sleeve, the optical fiber alignment member has a flat plate shape, and the upper surface thereof has a diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the cladding of the bare optical fiber whose cladding has been exposed by removing the adhesion. A plurality of optical fiber alignment grooves having a large width and a depth slightly smaller than the outer diameter thereof are arranged parallel to each other at equal intervals, and a plurality of optical fiber alignment grooves are arranged parallel to each other at regular intervals so as to sandwich these groove groups. A connector for a multi-core optical fiber cable, characterized in that two holding plate supporting protrusions are formed. 6. The height of the pusher plate support protrusion is the difference between the outer diameter of the cladding of the optical fiber and the groove diameter of the optical fiber alignment groove!
Connector 7 for a multi-core optical fiber cable arranged according to claim 5, which has a size of approximately 1.1 lI. The front optical fiber alignment member is made of a plastic material and is formed by molding the material. 8. The optical fiber alignment member is made of a photosensitive resin material and is formed by photoetching the material. A multi-core optical fiber cable connector according to claim 5 or 6, which is a multi-core optical fiber cable connector. 9. A connector plug for connecting multi-core optical fiber cables, which consists of an optical fiber alignment member and a presser plate bonded to the alignment member via a layer of Kl)51 agent, is inserted through the sleeve. In the connector of the type in which the optical fibers are butted together, the optical fiber alignment member is photosensitive 11! An aligned optical fiber part is formed by photo-etching a resin material and has several willow optical fiber alignment grooves arranged in parallel with each other at equal intervals on the upper surface of the base material; two guide rail portions arranged parallel to and on both sides of the phyno portion for reliably guiding and fixing the connector plug to the sleeve;
and said sleeve has a connector flag mating member fixedly attached to its inner surface, and said shell mating member has an engraving to enable mating between said sleeve and said connector plug. A connector for a multi-core optical fiber cable, characterized in that a buried optical fiber section is arranged in an 11iK pattern, and 62 guide grooves are formed in the guide rail section. 10. The multi-core optical fiber cable connector hollow according to claim 9, wherein the connector plug fitting member is made of a plastic material and formed by molding the material. Previous 1. 10. The multi-core optical fiber cable connector according to claim 9, wherein the connector plug fitting member is made of a photosensitive resin material and formed by photoetching the material. 12 The guide rail part and the kite rail part guide groove corresponding thereto are omitted, and instead, a connector is installed in each tapered part of the aligned optical fiber part and the corresponding aligned optical fiber part embedding groove. It has the ability to function as a reference positioning surface that enables secure fitting between the plug fitting member and the connector plug.
A multicore optical fiber cable connector according to any one of claims 9 to 11. 13. The optical fiber alignment groove has a width slightly larger than the outer diameter of the cladding of the optical fiber and a depth slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the optical fiber cladding. and in both of these groove groups,
Two presser plate support protrusions are formed parallel to them, and the height of these presser plate support protrusions is determined by the outer diameter of the cladding of the optical fiber and the groove depth of the optical fiber alignment groove. claim 9, which is slightly greater than the difference;
The multi-core optical fiber cable connector according to any one of Items 1 to 12