JPS59164521A - Optical brancher and coupler - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate assembling operation and realize mass-production by coupling one single-port optical fiber cable, light guide part, intervenient cable bundle, and plural multiple-port side optical fiber cables together so that end surfaces are brought into contact with one another. CONSTITUTION:A holder7 has a bundle-side sleeve insertion hole 7e into which a bundle-side sleeve 11 is inserted and a light guide part 6 which has one end surface facing the hole 7 and projects light received from one end surface from the other end surface. A multiple-port receptacle 16 which has plural separation- side sleeve insertion holes 16c into which respective separation-side sleeves 13 are inserted and holds plugs 15 fitted to plural multiple-port side optical fiber cables 14 opposite to the separation-side sleeve insertion holes 16c, and a single- port receptacle 3, holder 7, intervenient cable bundle 8, and multiple-port side optical receptacle 16 are stored in order in cases 17 and 18 so that light is transferred between one single-port side optical fiber cable 1 and plural multiple- port side fiber cables 11.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an optical branching/coupling device that is excellent in mass production.

For example, a conventional optical splitter/combiner is one in which multiple multi-port fiber optic cables are bundled at one end, and the end face of the bundle is glued to the end face of one single-port fiber optic cable. In some cases, a plurality of multi-port optical fiber cables and one single-port optical fiber cable are connected by doing this.

However, with such conventional optical branching/coupling devices, the multi-port side optical fiber cable and the single-port side optical fiber cable are left in close contact with their end faces until the adhesive hardens. Since it had to be fixed to a jig and left unattended, it required a large work space and had a poor work flow, making it unsuitable for mass production.

Furthermore, it is difficult to align the optical fiber cables on the multi-port side and the optical fiber cables on the single-port side, and this work requires careful attention, which has also been a factor hindering improvement in production efficiency.

This invention was made in view of such problems,
The aim is to provide an optical branching/coupling device that is highly mass-producible.

To achieve this objective, the present invention provides a single-port receptacle that holds a plug attached to one single-port optical fiber cable, and a plurality of optical fiber cables that are bundled at one end and bundled at the bundle. An intermediary cable bundle has a side sleeve attached thereto, the other end is spaced apart from each other, and a separation side sleeve is attached to each of the intermediate cable bundles, and one end is inserted into the bundling side sleeve insertion hole into which the bundling side sleeve is inserted and the bundling side sleeve insertion hole. , a holder having a light guide portion facing the surface and allowing light received from one end surface to be emitted from the other end surface, and a plurality of separation-side sleeve insertion holes into which each separation-side sleeve is inserted; A multi-port receptacle that holds plugs attached to multiple multi-port 1-side optical fiber cables facing each separation-side sleeve insertion hole, and one single-port side optical fiber cable and multiple An optical branch/coupler is configured from a single port receptacle, a holder, an intermediate cable bundle, and a case housing the multi-port receptacles arranged in this order so that light can be exchanged with the multi-port side optical fiber cable. The main points are as follows.

The present invention will be explained below based on the drawings.

1 to 4 are diagrams showing an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a single-port optical fiber cable with a plug 2 attached to one end 1a, and the plug-side end surface 1b appears at the tip of the plug 2.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a single boat receptacle, which has a plug holding portion 3a provided with one plug insertion port into which the plug 2 is inserted. The plug holding part 3a has a plug in its plug socket,
It has a structure with an annular retaining spring that can be expanded in the radial direction, and when the plug 2 is inserted into the plug insertion opening of the plug holding part 3a, the retaining spring engages the plug 2.
The plug 2 is fitted into an annular groove 2b formed at the base end of the tip projection 2a to prevent the plug 2 from falling off. When the plug 2 is inserted into the plug insertion opening of the plug holding portion 3a, the tip of the plug 2 is positioned at the open end 3b. Reference numeral 4 denotes a light guide unit, which includes a light guide case 5 having a through hole and a flange 5a formed at one end.
and a light guide part 6 inserted into a through hole of the light guide part case 5. The light guide section 6 emits the light received from one end surface from the other end surface, and an optical fiber is used here. An end surface 6a of the light guide section 6 appears at the other end, and an end surface 6b of the light guide section 6 appears at the other end. Note that the region in the light guide section through which light is transmitted will be referred to as a light transmission region.

When the light guide is an optical fiber, the light transmission region is the core. 7 is a holder, and this holder 7 is provided with a through hole 7a in which a small diameter hole 7b and a large diameter hole 7C having a larger diameter than the small diameter hole 7b communicate with each other. This through hole 7a is
The light guide unit 4 is inserted into the small diameter hole 7 from the large diameter hole 7C side.
The hole into which the bundling sleeve 11 described later is inserted from the side b, and the part where the light guide unit 4 is inserted, that is, the part 7d in the figure, is called the light guide unit insertion hole. The portion into which the side sleeve 11 is inserted, ie, the portion 7e in the figure, is referred to as the binding side sleeve insertion hole. Reference numeral 8 denotes an intermediate cable bundle in which a plurality of optical fiber cables 9 are bundled at one end, and a bundle side sleeve 1 is attached to the bundle part 10.
1 is attached, and separated from each other at the other end, and a separation side sleeve 13 is attached to each of the separation portions 12. An end surface 10a of the binding portion 10 appears at the tip of the binding sleeve 11, and an end surface 12a of the separation portion 12 appears at the tip of the separation sleeve 1.
It appears at the tip of 3. The end face 10a of the bundle part is as shown in FIG. 3, and the optical fiber cables 9, 9, 9
, 9, each end face 9a, 9a, 9a.

The end faces 9a have fan-shaped end faces with equal central angles, and are in close contact with each other with their flat sides. 9b is the core, 9c is the cladding, and DO is the core 9b, 9b, 9b.

9b shows the diameter of the circle formed by connecting the arcs (hereinafter referred to as the outer diameter of the core gathering part).

In this embodiment, the core diameter at the end surface 6a of the light guide section 6 is set larger than the core diameter at the plug side end surface 1b of the single port side optical fiber cable 1, and the core diameter at the end surface 6b of the light guide section 6 is set as follows. It is set to be larger than the outer diameter [)o of the core gathering portion at the end face 10a of the bundled portion of the intermediate cable bundle 8.

This means that the core portion of the end surface 6a of the light guide section 6, that is, the light transmission area, has a size that covers the entire core portion of the plug-side end surface 1b of the single-port 1-side optical fiber cable 1 facing the end surface 6a. and the end surface 6b of the light guide section 6
This means that the core portion, that is, the light transmission region, has a size that covers the entire core portions 9b, 9b, 9b, 9b on the bundle end surface 10a of the intermediate cable bundle 8 facing the end surface 6b. .

14 is a multi-port side optical fiber cable with a plug 15 attached to one end i4a, and the plug side end face 14b
appears at the tip of the plug 15. Reference numeral 16 denotes a multi-port receptacle, which has a plug holding portion 16b provided with a plurality of plug insertion ports 16a into which each plug 15 is inserted. A plurality of separation-side sleeve insertion holes 16c into which respective separation-side sleeves 13 are inserted are provided at positions facing the plugs 15 inserted into the plug insertion ports 16a. The plug holding part 16b has the same structure as the plaque holding part 3a, that is, it has an annular engagement spring that can be expanded in the radial direction in each plug insertion opening 16a,
By engaging the engagement spring with the plug 15 inserted therein, the structure is such that the plug 15 is held so that it cannot fall off.

Reference numeral 17 denotes a lower case, on one side of which a first parts storage section 1 is provided.
8a, a second component storage section 18b is formed on the other side, and a cable bundle storage section 18c is formed between the first component storage section 18a and the second component storage section 18b. A first notch 19 is provided on the side wall on the side of the first component storage section 18a.
A is formed on the side wall on the side of the second component storage section 18b.
A notch 19b is formed. Further, in the cable bundle storage section 18c, a first
A clamping part 20a is provided, a second clamping part 20b is provided at a position facing the second component storage part 18b, and the first clamping part 2
One notch 21a is formed in 0a, and the second holding part 20
A plurality of notches 21b are formed in b. Furthermore, holes 22 into which screws S are inserted are provided at four locations.

23 is an upper case, which is combined with the lower case 17 to form one case. In the upper case 23,
A similar second notch 24b is provided at a position corresponding to the second notch 19b of the lower case 17.
At positions corresponding to the cutout portion 19'a, the first component storage section 18a, the second component storage section 18b, and the cable bundle storage section 18c, there are provided a first cutout section, a first component storage section, and a first cutout section (not shown) similar to these. A two-component storage section and a cable bundle storage section are provided, and when the upper case 23 is attached to the lower case 17, the first cutout section and the second cutout section of both cases form a through hole, and both cases are connected to each other. The first parts storage part of the case,
The second component storage portion and the cable bundle storage portion each form a space for storing components.

Furthermore, a threaded portion (not shown) that is threadedly engaged with the screw S is formed at a position corresponding to the return bow 22.

All the various parts other than the screw S mentioned above are made of resin.

Such parts are assembled in the following steps.

Insert the light guide unit 4 into the through hole 7a of the holder 7 from the large diameter hole 7C side, and push it in until the flange 5a fits into the large diameter hole 7c and touches the light guide unit 4. The unit 4 is housed in the light guide unit insertion hole 7d. At this time, the end surface 6b of the light guide section 6 is inserted into the bundling side sleeve insertion hole 7.
We are now in a state where we are faced with e.

Next, the binding side sleeve 11 of the intermediate cable bundle 8 is inserted into the binding side sleeve insertion hole 7e of the holder 7 in which the light guide unit 4 is housed, and each separation side sleeve 13 of the intermediate cable bundle 8 is inserted into the binding side sleeve 11 of the intermediate cable bundle 8. It is inserted into each separation-side sleeve insertion hole 16+c of the boat receptacle 16. At this time, the end face 10a of the bundled part of the intermediate cable bundle 8 and the end face 6 of the light guide part 6
b are in close contact with each other.

The thus connected holder 7, intermediate cable bundle 8, and multi-port receptacle 16 are arranged in the lower case 17 together with the single-port receptacle 3. That is, the holder 7 housing the light guide unit 4 and the single boat receptacle 3 are combined so that the light guide end surface 6a and the open end 3b are in close contact with each other, and the base end of the plug holding part 3a is formed in the first notch. The first component storage portion 18 is inserted into the portion 19a.
a, and the intermediary cable bundle 8 bundles the optical fiber cables 9, 9° 9.9 near the binding side sleeve 11 and fits into the notch 21a of the first holding part 20a, while the optical fiber Separation side sleeve 1 of each cable 9, 9, 9.9
The multi-port receptacle 16 is arranged in the cable east storage part 18c in such a manner that the three adjacent parts are fitted into each notch part 2Ib of the second holding part 20b separately, and the multi-port receptacle 16 has a proximal end part of the plug holding part 16b in the second notch part. It is disposed within the second component storage portion 18b so as to fit into the second component storage portion 19b. The first holding part 20a and the second holding part 20a
The holding part 20b is a part that supports the optical fiber cables 9, 9, 9.9 by holding them from both sides, and prevents the intermediary cable bundle 8 from falling off (see FIG. 2).

After that, the upper case 23 is placed over the lower case 17 in which each part is arranged, and the screw S is inserted into the hole 2 from below the lower case 17.
After attaching the upper case 23 to the lower case 17 by screwing it into the threaded part (not shown) of the upper case 23, one single port side light is inserted into the plug insertion opening of the plug holding part 3a that protrudes to one side. The plug 2 attached to the fiber cable 1 is inserted into each plug insertion opening 16a of the plug holding portion 16 protruding in the opposite direction. By inserting the plug 15, the assembly of the optical branch/coupler is completed.

At this time, the plug-side end surface 1b of the single-port side optical fiber cable 1 is in close contact with the end surface 6a of the light guide section 6, and the plug-side end surface 14b of the multi-port side optical fiber cable 14 is the end surface of each separation section of the intermediate cable bundle 8. 12a.

The assembly work described above can be performed as part of a series of assembly operations, and the parts can be aligned with each other by simply connecting each part with a mechanical connection mechanism. , there is no need for difficult alignment work.

The optical branch/coupler assembled in this manner transmits the light guided to the single-port side optical fiber cable 1 to the multi-port side optical fiber cables 14, 14, through the light guide section 6 and the intermediate cable bundle 8. 171.14 for transmission, and multi-port side optical fiber cable 14.1
4, 14, and 14 are respectively coupled to the single boat side optical fiber cable 1 via the intermediary cable bundle 8 and the light guide section 6, and are transmitted.

In this embodiment, as described above, the end surface 6 of the light guide section 6
The core diameter D:I at a is set larger than the core diameter D1 at the plug-side end surface 1b of the single-port optical fiber cable 1, and the core diameter D2 at the end surface 6b of the light guide section 6 is set to be larger than the core diameter D2 at the end surface 6b of the intermediate cable bundle 8. The outer diameter Do of the core gathering portion in 10a is set larger than that of the end surface 6 of the light guide portion 6.
The core portion at a, that is, the light transmitting region, has a size that covers the entire core portion at the end surface 1b on the plug side opposite to the end surface 6a, and the core portion, that is, the light transmitting region at the end surface 6b of the light guide section 6 has a size that covers the entire core portion at the end surface 1b on the plug side opposite to the end surface 6a. The end face 10 of the binding portion opposite to 6b. Core portions 9b, 9b, 9b, 9 in a
It has a size that covers the entire area b. Therefore, if each component is manufactured within a predetermined component accuracy, the end portion 1a of the single-port side optical fiber cable 1, the light guide portion 6, and the binding portion 10 of the intermediate cable bundle 8 will be connected as shown in FIG. state, the optical fiber cables 9, 9 of the intermediate cable bundle 8
. .9.9 are transmitted equally.

In addition, in this embodiment, when the assembly is completed, the single-port side optical fiber cable 1, the light guide section 6, the intermediate cable bundle 8, and the plurality of multi-port side optical fiber cables 1 are included.
4 are connected with their end faces in close contact with each other to prevent light loss as much as possible, but for optical splitters and couplers whose purpose is not to have light loss be a problem,
The end faces only need to face each other and do not necessarily need to be in close contact with each other, so production can be made at a lower cost.

In this embodiment, the light guide section 6 was an optical fiber, but in addition, a light transmitting material may be formed by forming a cladding on the outer periphery of a core that transmits light to reflect light coming from the core side. A good acrylic resin whose outer periphery is coated with a material with a smaller curvature, or a metal cylindrical tube whose inner periphery is a reflective surface (in this case, the cladding is the cylindrical tube and the core is the hollow part). ) may also be used. Furthermore, the light guiding section may be something like a lens.

Further, in this embodiment, the light guide section 6 is formed separately from the holder 7, and the light guide section 6 is housed in the light guide section case 5 to form a light guide section unit 4, which is provided in the holder 7. Through hole 7a
However, in this embodiment, the number of optical fiber cables on the multi-port side and the number of optical fiber cables in the intermediate cable bundle are 4 so that the light guide part 6 and the holder 7 are integrally formed. Although it is a book, it goes without saying that it is not limited to this.

As explained above, the present invention includes a single baud 1-side receptacle that holds a plug attached to one single-port side optical fiber cable, and a plurality of optical fiber cables that are bundled at one end. An intermediary cable bundle in which a binding side sleeve is attached to a binding part, and a separation side sleeve is attached to each end separated from each other at the other end, a binding side sleeve insertion hole into which the binding side sleeve is installed, and the binding side sleeve. A holder having one end face facing the insertion hole and having a light guide portion for emitting light received from one end face from the other end face, and a plurality of separation side sleeve insertion holes into which each separation side sleeve is inserted. a multi-port side receptacle that holds plugs attached to multiple multi-port optical fiber cables facing each separation-side sleeve insertion hole; and one single-port optical fiber cable and multiple A single-port 1-side receptacle for transmitting and receiving light between the main multi-port optical fiber cable,
Since the optical splitter/combiner was constructed from the holder, the intermediate cable bundle, and the case that houses the multi-port side receptacles in this order, the assembly work was done in a series of assembly steps.
This can be done without stopping the flow, and there is no need for difficult positioning work between parts, making mass production easier.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 4 are diagrams showing an embodiment of the optical branching/coupling device according to the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the optical branching/coupling device, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the optical branching/coupling device. A plan view of the optical branch/coupler in the middle of assembly with parts arranged, Figure 3 is a diagram showing the state of the end face of the bundled part of the intermediate cable bundle, and Figure 4 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the main part of Figure 2. It is. ■...Single port side optical fiber cable, 1b...Plug side end surface, 2...Plug, 3...Single port receptacle, 3a...Plug holding part, 4...Light guide unit, 5... Light guide part case, 6... Light guide part, 6a
, 6b... End face, 7... Holder, 7a... Through hole, 7d... Light guide unit insertion hole, 7e... Binding side sleeve insertion hole, 8... Intermediate cable bundle, 9 ...Optical fiber cable, 10.. Binding section, 10a.. End face of bundling section, 11...
Binding side sleeve, 12... Separation part, 13... Separation side sleeve, 14... Multi-port side optical fiber cable, 15...
Plug, 16...Multi-port receptacle, 16a...
・Plug insertion hole, 16b...Plug holding part, 16c・
... Separation side sleeve insertion hole, Procedural amendment issued) October 6, 1981 Commissioner of the Japan Patent Office 1. Indication of case 1988 Patent Application No. 037319 2. Title of invention Optical splitter/combiner 3. Amendment Relationship with the case of a person who does
O9) Alps Electric Co., Ltd. 4, Agent 103 Telephone 669-4421 Address 1 Nihonbashi Kakigara-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
-13-12 Specification Woman - Jiai 6, Contents of amendment (1) On page 10 of the specification, line 4, "set up" is amended to "set up". (2) "Plug holding section 16" in line 12 of page 13 is corrected to "plug holding section 16b". (3) On page 16, line 20, after ``to form'', add ``may be.'' (4) "Single port side receptacle" on page 17, line 7 and page 18, lines 2-3 are corrected to "single port receptacle". (5) "Multi-port side receptacle" on page 17, line 19 and page 18, lines 3-4 are corrected to "multi-port receptacle." (6) On page 19, line 11, "Plug insertion hole" is corrected to "Plug insertion hole." (7) "18" on page 19, line 15 is corrected to "23".

Claims (5)

[Claims] (1) A single-baud receptacle that holds a plug attached to one single-baud 1-side optical fiber cable, and a single-baud receptacle that holds a plug attached to one single-baud 1-side optical fiber cable, and a plurality of optical fiber cables that are bundled at one end and a binding-side sleeve is attached to the bundled part. , an intermediary cable bundle whose other ends are spaced apart from each other and each of which has a separating sleeve attached thereto; a binding sleeve insertion hole into which the binding sleeve is inserted; and one end surface facing the binding sleeve insertion hole. a holder having a light guiding portion that receives the light from one end face and emits the light from the other end face; and a plurality of separation-side sleeve insertion holes into which the respective separation-side sleeves are inserted; a multi-port receptacle that holds plugs attached to the multi-port optical fiber cables facing each of the separation-side sleeve insertion holes; It is characterized by comprising a case in which the single-port receptacle, the holder, the intermediate cable bundle, and the multi-port receptacle are arranged and housed in this order so that light can be exchanged with the port-side optical fiber cable. Optical splitter/combiner. (2) One single port side optical fiber cable, light guide part,
2. The optical branching/coupling device according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate cable bundle and the plurality of multi-port side optical fiber cables are connected with their end faces in close contact with each other. (3) The light transmission area of the light guiding part has a size that covers the entire core part of the plug side end face of the single port side optical fiber cable on one end face, and the light transmission area of the bundle part of the intermediate cable bundle on the other end face. The optical branching/coupling device according to claim 2, characterized in that the optical branching/coupling device has a size that covers the entire area of all the core portions. (4) The light guiding portion is formed by forming a cladding on the outer periphery of a core that transmits light to reflect light coming from the core side. The optical splitter/combiner according to item 1. (5) Any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the light guide portion is formed separately from the holder and is inserted into a through hole provided in the holder. Optical splitter/combiner described in .