JPS5921364Y2 - optical connector - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] The present invention relates to an optical connector used for transmitting laser light or the like.

Laser light generates an intense, coherent, and directional light beam by stimulating the emission of electrons, ions, or molecules into lower energy units, and is used, for example, in material processing or laser scalpels for holography or cauterization. It is used in many different ways.

In order to transmit the laser light from the light source to the equipment at the terminal, optical fibers such as quartz glass are used, but optical connectors are required to optically connect the optical fibers to each other or to the equipment.

The above-mentioned optical connector must efficiently connect the high energy density laser light transmitted through the optical fiber to other optical fibers or equipment, but with the current state of technology, for example, it is difficult to adjust the centering of the optical fiber. Due to defects in the connector, coupling loss is likely to occur, which can lead to accidents such as heat generation and burnout of the connecting end surface.

The present invention was developed to prevent the above-mentioned accidents, and by providing a cooling fluid path inside the optical connector, the connecting end surface of the optical fiber on the light output side is cooled, thereby preventing accidents such as heat generation and burnout. The purpose of the present invention is to obtain an optical connector that can prevent the above problems.

The configuration of the present invention will be explained based on the drawings.

The drawing is an explanatory cross-sectional view of the main parts of an embodiment of the optical connector according to the present invention, in which 1 represents a socket and 2 represents a plug, and laser light is transmitted from the socket 1 side to the plug 2 side. shall be

In the socket 1, for example, a large diameter optical fiber 3 directly connected to a light source (not shown) is fixed in a connecting member 4, and
In the plug 2, an optical fiber 5 having a small diameter is fixed in a fitting member 6 to improve bending performance.

Reference numeral 7 indicates a case of the socket 1, into which the fitting member 6 provided with the flange 8 is inserted, and the socket 1 and the plug 2 are connected by a clamp 9.

Reference numeral 10 indicates a mover axially biased by a spring 11, which performs centering adjustment to align the optical axes of the optical fiber 3 on the socket 1 side and the optical fiber 5 on the plug 2 side. It is.

Reference numeral 12 indicates a cooling fluid path connected to a cooling water device for a light source (not shown), which is composed of an inlet 13 and an outlet 14 provided in the case 7, an opening 15 drilled in the fitting member 6, etc. A seal glass 16, an O-ring 17, etc. are provided to prevent cooling water from leaking to other locations.

Reference numerals 18 and 19 indicate focusing lenses disposed at the tips of the connecting member 4 and the fitting member 6, respectively, which direct the laser light incident from the optical fiber 3 on the socket 1 side spread out by the diffusing lens 20 to the plug 2. This is for making the light incident on the side optical fiber 5 appropriately, and together with the movable element 10, improves the optical coupling precision.

According to the optical connector described above, by providing a cooling fluid path, the end face of the optical fiber into which the laser beam enters can be cooled, so even if coupling loss occurs at the end face due to poor centering adjustment, etc. Even if the end face of the optical fiber is This has the significant effect of being able to clean the area.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawing is an explanatory cross-sectional view of essential parts showing an embodiment of the optical connector according to the present invention. 1...Socket, 2...Plug, 5.
...Optical fiber 6...Mating member, 7...
... Case, 12 ... Cooling fluid path, 13.
...Inlet, 14...Outlet, 15...
...Opening.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] One end of the optical fiber is connected to the center of one side of the case, a focusing lens is placed in the middle, and an inlet and an outlet for cooling water are provided on the circumferential surface of the other side. It consists of a socket with a sealing glass on the inner diameter of the socket, and a plug into which one end of the optical fiber is inserted and fixed. An optical connector characterized in that, when inserted and connected, the tip end surface of the plug connects to the seal glass with a desired distance between the inlet and the outlet.