JPS608806A - Optical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a small-sized optical connector which deflects an optical transmission line at right angles by providing a connector body which has through holes whose axes cross each other at right angles with a couple of connector couplers which are inserted into the through holes fixedly, and providing a light guide to the orthogonal intersection part of through holes. CONSTITUTION:The connector couplers 3 and 4 inserted fixedly into the orthogonal through holes 1a and 1b of the connector body 1, and a deflecting element 11 made of a right-angled prism having a light guide 11a is fixed to the orthogonal intersection part of the through holes 1a and 1b. Light transmitted by one optical fiber 17 passes through a plug 14 to enter the light guide 11a through the lens 7 of the connector coupler 4, and is made incident and transmitted in an optical fiber 17 through the lens 7 of the connector coupler 3. Consequently, the small-sized optical connector which deflects the optical transmission line at right angles is obtained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (1) Technical Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connector for an optical fiber transmission line, and particularly relates to an optical connector that deflects an optical path at right angles.

(2) Purpose of the Invention In the field of optical communication using optical fibers as optical transmission lines, it is necessary and indispensable to disconnect and disconnect optical fibers.

Recently, there have been remarkable developments in various optical coils and lids for such parts, but most of them are optical connectors in a straight line. On the other hand, in optical communication devices, there is a demand for high-density packaging due to the miniaturization of various parts and elements, and the optical transmission lines used therein also have to be arranged in a small space. In such a case, the optical fiber connection with the circuit device using the conventional optical connector described above has a limit to miniaturization of the device because it requires a space for the optical fiber connector to protrude orthogonally and a bending allowance for the optical fiber.

The present invention addresses these points and provides an electrical connector.

The object of the present invention is to provide an optical connector that can deflect the line at right angles in an optical fiber transmission line as well as in a coaxial line connector and minimize the space required.

Currently, there have been almost no disclosures of publicly known specific configurations of such optical connectors.
The present invention shows its concrete feasibility.

(3) Structure of the Invention The object of the present invention is to provide a coil, a lid body having through holes whose axes are perpendicular to each other, and a pair of connector connectors inserted and fixed into the through holes of the connector body from the orthogonal direction. This is achieved by an optical connector characterized by comprising: and an inner member on the optical path side forming a light guide for connecting the optical paths of the pair of connector connectors at a portion perpendicular to the axis of the through hole of the connector body. (4) Embodiments of the Invention The present invention will be explained below based on the embodiments shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 1 is a sectional view of the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view.

In the figure, 1 is the connector body, la and lb are through holes,
2 is a cover + 2a is an inclined part 3.4 is a connector connector, 5
1 is a lens, 6 is a screw, 7 is a lens support member, 8 is an inner peripheral surface, 9.10 is a step, 11 is a light deflection element, and 11a is a light guide.

In FIG. 1, the connector main body 1 is a cubic metal block with an L'4-shaped cross section, as shown in the perspective view of FIG. They are drilled to the same inner diameter. The perpendicular angles of the holes 1a and lb can be easily determined based on the perpendicularity of the adjacent surfaces of the main body 1.

The connector connector 3.4 has a cylindrical connector body with a screw 6 cut on one side on the outside, and the other side has a cylindrical shape that fits into the hole 1a or 1b of the connector body 1. On the other hand, inside, a step 10 is provided at an end opposite to the screw 6 side, and a lens support member 7 is press-fitted into the inner circumferential surface 8, and is positioned by abutting against the step 10 at the end thereof. The lens support member 7 has a cylindrical shape, and the lens 5 is positioned on the inner periphery of the lens support member 7 in contact with the step 9, and is elastically urged in the axial direction and retained by an expansion retaining ring (not shown). Note that an appropriate gap is provided in the radial direction to prevent the influence of thermal expansion due to changes in ambient temperature. It is also possible to fill this gap with a flexible ophthalmic resin to eliminate rattling.

In this embodiment, two identical connector connectors 3.4 are prepared as a pair.

A cover 2 is press-fitted into the connector body 1.

This cover 2VC is provided with a sloped portion 2a.

The optical deflection element 11 having the optical guide 11+1L formed by the inclined portion 2av is fixed to the connector main body 1. light guide l
Both ends of la should be aligned with the axis of the carp/lid connector. As shown in the perspective view of FIG. 3, the light deflection element 11 has an outer shape similar to that of a triangular prism, but has an arcuate light guide formed therein. The optical deflection element 1 is obtained as shown in FIG. A circular light guide 13 is formed on an optical substrate 12 made of quartz or the like using thermal diffusion, ion implantation, or the like.

Next, cut along line segments AA' and BB', and finally cut along line segment CC'.

As a result, the optical deflection element 11 shown in FIG. 3 can be obtained. This light deflection element 11 may be used alone, or may be used in combination so that the light guides face each other as shown in FIG. FIG. 6 shows the coupled state of the optical fibers.

In the figure, 14 is a plug, 15 is a bag/socket 16 is an end surface, 17 is an optical fiber (the tip of each optical fiber is inserted into a hole in the glove 14, and the plug 14 is
Insert into connector connectors 3 and 4.

The two are tied together using a cap nut 15. ] Tip of La Plug 1505. Pressed against the end surface of the lens support member 11,
The axial position is fixed.

This makes the distance between the end 16 of the optical fiber 17 and the lens 7 constant. Specifically, what is this distance?

Focal length J of lens 7: Leave it long. On the other hand, lens 7
and the end face of the light guide 1.1a is set equal to the focal length of the lens 7.

As a result, the optical signal transmitted from one optical fiber <17VC is emitted from the end 1 with a divergence angle based on N and A, reaches the lens 7 of the connector coupler 3, and reaches the lens 7V.
The light beam spread by C is converged and passes through the light guide 11. incident on a. The optical path is deflected as desired by the light guide lla, and the light enters the optical fiber again by the lens 7 of the other connector coupler 4 at <17 Vtc and is transmitted.

FIG. 7 is a side cross section of another embodiment of the present invention, in which the same connector coupler 2 as in the above embodiment is fixed to one side, but a bag-shaped nut is attached to the other side instead of the screw on the outer periphery of the connector body. 18a
A carp/lid connector 18 fitted with the above is fixed.

This is the case when the optical fiber connector has a male screw carved on the outer peripheral surface, or the optical element 9 having a similar shape, such as a light emitting unit.

Suitable for coupling to a light receiving unit.

As a further different embodiment, although not particularly shown, both connector connectors may be the bag-shaped nuts 6 described above, and similarly can be connected to a male-threaded optical fiber connector or an optical element.

(5) Effects of the Invention As described above, the optical connector of the present invention has a pair of connector connectors and an optical deflection element forming a light guide fixed to perpendicular through holes provided in the block of the connector body. It is extremely simple, has good manufacturability, has high precision, and has remarkable practical effects, such as being able to connect optical circuits in a limited space.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a side cross section of an embodiment of the present invention in a separated state before assembly, Figure 2 is a perspective view of the connector body, Figure 3 is a perspective view of the optical deflection element, and Figure 4 is the fabrication of the optical deflection element. diagram showing the law,
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another example of the original deflection element 3, FIG. 6 is a sectional view for explaining the connection of an optical fiber connector, and FIG. 7 is another example. In the figure, 1 is the carp, the lid body, and 1a+1b are the through holes. 2 is a cover, 3.4Fi connector connector, 5. H; I lens; 11 indicates a light deflection element; 1st Sword 2nd Figure 3121 4th Eye 2 Kuku 5 Figure Negative 4 6 Jinn ↑ Funeral 7 Figure

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A connector body having through holes whose axes are orthogonal to each other, and a pair of connector connectors each inserted and fixed into the through holes of the connector body from orthogonal directions. 1. An optical connector comprising: an optical path deflector having an optical power output that connects optical paths of the pair of connector connectors formed at an axis perpendicular to the through hole of the connector body.