JPS60213914A - Connector for connecting optical fiber - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To remove the increase of light transmission loss due to the adhesion of dust to an optical fiber grinding surface and connection loss due to the deviation of centering size by moving a centering sleeve following ferrules and removing friction among the sleeve, a centering part and water-proof ring. CONSTITUTION:The ferrule 1 is inserted into a male connector M and one end of the centering sleeve 6 is externally inserted to the centering part 1a, a collar part 1b and a water-proof ring inserting part 1c. Therefore, the other end of the sleeve 6 is excited by a spring and allowed to collide against the front wall 3a of the body 3 of the connector M and the centering part 1a is inserted up to the intermediate position of a centering hole 6a and held at the position. When the connector M is engaged with a cover body part 4 of a female connector F, the right and left ferrules 1 are backed against the repulsive power of respective springs 8 while advancing into a water-proof ring inserting part receiving hole 6c and cores P1 of optical fibers P are allowed to collide with each other at their leading end surfaces in the center part of the centering hole 6a and connected while keeping proper pressing force.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an optical fiber connecting connector, more specifically, an optical fiber connecting connector (hereinafter referred to as an optical connector) formed by mating a pair of opposing female and male connectors. The present invention relates to an optical connector devised to significantly reduce fiber axis misalignment loss, etc.

As for the alignment structure of a conventional optical connector, the one shown in vertical cross section in FIG. 2 has been proposed.

That is, in FIG. 2, M' indicates a male connector, F' indicates a female connector, and a ferrule 1' is inserted into each connector. The ferrule 1' has an optical fiber P inserted therein.
A thin centering part 1a' provided at the tip of the centering part 1a'
A sheath part 10' is connected to the rear of the female connector F' via a tapered part 1b', and a collar 1d' is provided around the outer periphery of the front half of the sheath part 1c'. It is inserted into the main body 3' of the male connector M'.

Therefore, inside the female connector bodies 2' and 3', there are an alignment part 1a' and a tapered part 1b of the ferrule 1', respectively.
alignment hole 4', tapered hole 5', and collar 1d' corresponding to '
The stopper wall 6' is formed in a stepped manner.

In the illustrated example, the main body 2' of the female connector F' has a structure in which an alignment hole 4' and a tapered hole 5' for the left and right ferrules 1' are integrally formed.

Therefore, each ferrule 1' inserted into the female and male connectors F' and M' is pushed through the collar 1d' by the elastic force of the spring 7' provided around the rear outer periphery of the collar 1d' of the sheath part 1c'. ferrules 2' and 3' in the front direction, and even if one of the ferrules 1' is pulled by an external force in the L direction, the other ferrule always follows the one ferrule and the ferrule adjusts. It is configured to reduce as much as possible the gap loss between the end faces of the optical fibers connected at the core portion 1a'.

However, in the alignment structure of such a conventional optical connector, an alignment sleeve 8' that forms an alignment portion 4' and a tapered hole 5' at the tip of the connector body 2' or 3'(2' in the figure) If the connector is formed integrally with the main body 2', the axial dimension of the connector becomes long, so that the length of the alignment hole 4' cannot be made too long. Therefore, when one side of the ferrule 1' is pulled in the L direction, the fitted alignment part P on the pulled side becomes extremely short, making it impossible to maintain proper alignment and causing the end of the optical fiber P to bend at an angle. In addition, since the clearance between the alignment hole 4' of the alignment sleeve 8' and the ferrule alignment part 1a' is normally made extremely small to reduce the axial misalignment loss, the ferrule 1' may be damaged by external force. The alignment sleeve 8 moves every time it moves within the main body 2', 3'.
Frictional force due to the sliding action acts between the inner wall of the alignment hole 4' and the outer wall of the ferrule alignment part 1a', and dust is generated due to wear from the ferrule 1' and the alignment sleeve 8', which causes damage to the optical fiber P. In addition to penetrating and adhering to the polished surface and causing optical transmission loss, the ferrule 1' and alignment sleeve 8 may also become damaged due to wear.
It has the disadvantage that it causes misalignment of the alignment dimensions within ' and increases the connection loss.

The present invention solves these drawbacks of conventional optical connectors. The purpose of this invention is to provide an optical connector with a zero alignment structure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings showing embodiments.

FIG. 1 shows a front view of the optical connector of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, the optical connector of the present invention shows an example of a two-core optical connector, and is composed of a pair of opposing male connectors M and female connectors F.

In the female and male connectors F and M, ■ is a ferrule, and this ferrule 1 has a centering part 1a of the optical fiber P and a waterproof ring insertion part 1c connected to the centering part 1a via a collar part 1b. , an optical fiber jacket holding part 1d connected to the waterproof ring insertion part IC, a flange 1e for regulating the connection position of the optical fiber, and an optical fiber jacket holder 1d connected to the waterproof ring insertion part IC; It is composed of a caulking part 1f.

2 and 3 are the bodies of female and male connectors F and M, respectively; in the illustrated example, a male connector body 3 is provided on the outer periphery of the female connector body 2.
A sleeve portion 4 is formed to receive the female connector, and a locking claw 5a of a locking arm 5 connected to the outer periphery of the male connector body 3 is engaged with a lock hole 4a formed in the sleeve portion 4.
Male connector F.

M is configured to be locked.

Reference numeral 6 denotes an alignment sleeve, which in the illustrated example is inserted into the male connector main body 3 as an independent member so as to be freely movable in the axial direction, and has the tip core wire (core portion covered with a cladding) PL of the optical fiber P in the center. It has an alignment hole 6a for the alignment hole 6a.
The waterproof ring insertion portion ICO receiving hole 6C of the ferrule 1 is provided on both sides of the ferrule 1 via a stepped portion 6b. In this case, the length of the alignment hole 6a is formed to approximately correspond to the joining length - of the alignment portion 1a of each ferrule.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a spring retaining cap, inside of which a stepped seat 7a for a spring 8 wound around the rear caulking part 1f of the flange part 1e of the ferrule 1 is formed, and an outer cylinder 9 having a locking mechanism (not shown). Depending on the female and male connector body 2,
Connected to the rear end of 3. This spring retention camp 7
A flexible boot 10 for preventing the optical fiber P from being bent is attached to the rear end of the optical fiber P. Note that 11 is a waterproof ring.

Next, the connection of the female and male connectors F and M of the present invention will be explained.

First, an optical fiber P obtained by stripping a predetermined length of the core wire P1 is inserted from the rear end caulking portion 1f of the ferrule 1, and the core wire P1 is inserted into the alignment portion 1a of the ferrule I, and the end face of the core wire P+ is aligned with the alignment portion 1a. Either align the end faces with the end faces of the core wire P+ or prepare a pair of core wires with slightly protruding end faces, and fit those end faces in a jig (not shown). Keep it. Then, one ferrule 1 is inserted into the female connector main body 2 by winding a spring 8 around the caulking part 1f, and the waterproof ring insertion part IC of the ferrule 1 that is biased by the spring 8 and protrudes from the main body 2 is waterproofed. Attach the ring 11.

Similarly, the other ferrule 1 is inserted into the male connector M, and the tip of the ferrule 1, that is, the centering part 1
a. Insert one end of the alignment sleeve 6 into the collar portion 1b and the waterproof ring insertion portion IC. Then, the other end of the alignment sleeve 6 is biased by the spring 8 and is pressed against the front wall 3 of the male connector body 3.
a, and the alignment portion 1a of the ferrule 1 inserted into the male connector M enters and is held at an intermediate position of the alignment hole 6a of the alignment sleeve 6 (not shown).

In this state, the male connector M is attached to the sleeve part 4 of the female connector F.
When fitted, the protruding alignment part 1a of the ferrule 1 on the female connector F side and the waterproof ring insertion part IC to which the waterproof ring 11 is attached will fit into the open alignment hole 6a at the other end of the alignment sleeve 6. While entering the waterproof ring insertion portion receiving hole 6c, the left and right ferrules 1, 1 retreat against the elastic force of the springs 8, 8, respectively.

Therefore, when the female and male connectors F and M are in the fitted state, the core wire P1 of the optical fiber P is pushed through the alignment hole 6a of the alignment sleeve 6 through the ferrules 1 and 1 by the balanced pressing force of the spring 8.8. Their tip surfaces meet in the center of the
Connected with appropriate pressure.

As described in detail above, according to the optical connector alignment mechanism of the present invention, the alignment sleeve 6 is attached to the main bodies 2 of the female and male connectors F and M.
Or, since the alignment sleeve 6 is inserted as an independent body within the ferrule 3 so as to be able to move left and right in the axial direction, when the alignment sleeve 6 is used to align the alignment section 1a of the ferrule 1, the alignment section 1
Since the connection part a is fixed in the alignment sleeve 6 together with the waterproof ring insertion part IC, one ferrule 1
Even when the ferrule is pulled outward by an external force, the other ferrule follows the one ferrule together with the alignment sleeve 6, and the connection relationship between the core wires P1 in the alignment part 1a remains unchanged and is therefore always stable. optical fiber connections are achieved.

Further, according to the present invention, the alignment sleeve 6 is connected to the ferrule 1,
1, there is no friction between the alignment sleeve 6, the ferrule alignment part 1a, and the waterproof ring 11.
Therefore, wear on these contact surfaces is prevented,
Optical transmission loss due to adhesion of dust to the polished surface of the optical fiber or frictional contamination and increase in axis misalignment loss due to changes in alignment dimensions are avoided. Furthermore, since the alignment sleeve 6 can be molded as an independent body separately from the connector, only the alignment sleeve can be made of a different material such as metal or ceramic, which has advantages such as high precision processing. is obtained.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a front view of the optical connector of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a conventional optical connector. F... Female connector, M... Male connector, 1... Ferrule, 1a... Aligning part, 2, 3... Connector body, 4... Mantle body part, 5... Locking Arm, 6・
...Aligning sleeve, 6a...Adjustment hole, 7...Spring holding camp, 8...Spring, 9...Outer cylinder, 10...Boot, 11...Waterproof ring. Patent applicant Yazaki Sogyo Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A pair of opposing female and male connectors are fitted, and a pair of left and right ferrules inserted inside are urged in opposing directions by a spring, so that the tip surfaces of optical fibers housed in the ferrules are brought into close contact with each other. In the connector, an alignment sleeve into which alignment portions of the pair of ferrules are inserted is inserted into one of the female or female connector bodies so as to be movable in the axial direction of the body. An optical fiber connection connector characterized by: