JPS6113205A - Optical fiber connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To connect optical fibers with high accuracy while simplifying the construction of a connector and reducing the number of parts thereof by connecting a pair of the plugs cast and molded into a synthetic resin in the stage of projecting roughly the front half parts of ceramic cores to each other via a ceramic sleeve. CONSTITUTION:The connector 1 consists of the 1st plug P1, the 2nd plug P2 and the sleeve S. The plug P1 is constituted by casting and molding the ceramic core 2 bored with a fine hole 2a to be inserted therein with a fiber F1 into the central inside part of the synthetic resin body in a manner as to project roughly the front half part thereof, boring a through-hole 3a communicating with the hole 2a in the body 3 consisting of the synthetic resin and providing further a screw ring 4 to the outside periphery of the body 3. The fibers F1, F2 are inserted into the 1st plug P1 and the 2nd plug P2 of the same type as the type of the 1st plug and the core 2 and 7 are inserted into the ceramic sleeve 5 and the screw rings 4, 9 are screwed into the screw grooves 6a of the sleeve S, by which the plugs are connected to each other.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a connector for connecting optical fibers used in optical communications.

(Prior Art) As shown in FIG. 3, a conventional optical fiber connector (hereinafter simply referred to as a connector) is designed to connect fibers Fl and F2 with their axes perfectly aligned 17. The outer diameter of Fl, F2 and the fiber Fl, F
Core N made of metal or ceramic into which 2 is inserted.
l, N2. It is necessary to reduce the difference between the diameter of the pore S drilled in the core Nl and the diameter of the pore S.

In order to match the centers of the outer diameters of N2 and at the same time match the centers of the two fibers Fl and F2, place the cores Nl and N2 in a highly accurate positional relationship with respect to the sleeve B, and Both fibers F1. , F2 is used.

However, although such a connector allows for high-precision connection, it has a large number of parts and a complicated structure, making the connector difficult to mass-produce and expensive. There is also a connector in which the core with a hole for inserting the fiber Fl (F2) and the main body are integrally molded from synthetic resin, but this has the great advantage of being simple in structure and processing and having a small number of parts. However, due to distortion during molding and the elasticity of the synthetic resin, it is difficult to obtain highly accurate products by machining. As a result, it has been extremely difficult to obtain a connector that can connect fibers in a good condition with the axes aligned and the tip surfaces in close contact.

(Problems to be Solved by the Present Invention) In view of the above-mentioned circumstances, the present invention provides a connector that has a simple structure, a small number of parts (and also enables fiber connection with high precision). That is.

(Means for Solving the Problem) Therefore, in the present invention, alumina, which is a material that does not cause dimensional changes, burrs, or cracks due to thermal expansion during processing, and has a small amount of deflection during processing due to its high rigidity, has been developed. , a pair of plugs of the same shape cast in synthetic resin with almost the front half of the ceramic core made of ceramic such as zirconia or glass protruding, and the difference in the outer diameter of these ceramic cores is measured. In this connector, a ceramic sleeve made of the aforementioned ceramic material having a reduced inner diameter is connected via a sleeve cast in synthetic resin. .

(Embodiments) Hereinafter, embodiments of the connector according to the present invention will be specifically described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a connected state of a connector 1 according to the present invention, and this connector 1 is shown in FIGS.
It is composed of a first plug P1, a second plug P2, and a sleeve S as shown in FIG. The same figure ((A) shows the f51 plug P1, and the fiber F1
A ceramic core 2 having a pore 2a into which a ceramic core 2 is inserted is cast and enclosed in the central part of the interior of the synthetic wood 1 finger body so that its front half almost protrudes, forming the main body 3 of the first plug P1. ing. In this case, a through hole 3a is formed in the main body 3 so as to coincide with the center line of the pore 2a of the ceramic core 2, communicating with the pore 2a, and through which the fiber F1 is inserted. Furthermore, a stepped portion 3b is formed on the main body 3, and a flange portion 4a is formed so as to lock the stepped portion 3b.
The first plug Pi is constituted by a threaded ring 6 having a threaded groove 4b formed in its inner circumferential portion on the other end side.

The configuration of the second plug P2 is shown in Fig.
It has exactly the same shape as the first plug P1 and is made of the same structural members.

Further, in the same figure (b), a sleeve S is shown, and the first
A ceramic sleeve 5, which is provided with an insertion opening 5b that allows insertion of the ceramic cores 2 and 7 of the plug PI and the second plug P2, is suspended and enclosed in the inner center of the synthetic resin body so as to form the main body 6 of the sleeve S. ing. Further, the outer circumference of the main body 6 is provided with a threaded groove 6a.

In addition, ceramic core 2.7 and ceramic sleeve 5
The outer peripheral portion 2 is provided with recesses 2b, 5a, 71) and protrusions (not shown) for the purpose of preventing rotation and falling off.

In addition, the sleeve S includes a main body 6 and a ceramic sleeve 5.
In the manufacturing method of the present invention, an air vent hole 6b is formed through the first plug P1, the second plug P2, and the like to communicate with the insertion port 5b of the ceramic sleeve 5 and the outside. A mold with a sleeve S and a screw ring 4°9 was made, and the former 2
For one, there are 2 ceramic cores in each mold.
If the sleeve S) becomes stuck, fix the ceramic sleeves 5 in the mold, seal the ceramic cores 2 and 7 to prevent resin from entering the pores 2a and 7a, and then remove the sleeve S) from the mold. Inject resin inside.

After the resin has solidified, it is removed from the mold, the parts used for sealing are removed, and excess parts such as pads are removed. The screw ring 4.9 was manufactured by injecting resin into a mold, solidifying it, taking it out, and removing the excess portion.

(Operation) The first plug P1 and the second plug P configured as described above.
2 and the sleeve S are connected as shown in Fig. 1 to connect the fibers Fl and F2, but in this case, the ceramic cores of the first plug P1 into which the fiber F1 is inserted and the second plug P2 into which the fiber F2 is inserted. 2 and 7 into the ceramic sleeve 5 of the sleeve S, the screw rings 4.9 of the first plug P1 and the second plug P2 are screwed into the thread groove 6a formed in the sleeve SIζ. % The first and second plugs PL,', P2 are mechanically coupled and the fiber Fl
.

F2 are connected with a 9+ trowel so that their centers coincide with each other and their tip surfaces abut. In addition, the fiber Fl.

F2 is the first. After being inserted into the through holes 3a and Ba formed in the main body 3.8 of the second plug PL and F2, the through holes 3a
, 8a are fixed by injecting adhesive.

(Effects of the Invention) According to the optical fiber connector of the present invention having the structure and function as described above, the core for inserting the fiber and holding it in a predetermined position is formed of a sintered body such as glass or ceramic. Therefore, it is possible to machine the inner diameter tolerance of the pore into which the fiber is inserted and the coaxiality of the inner and outer diameters with high precision. Since the wall surface is composed of minute protrusions (crystals), there are few friction surfaces with the fibers, and therefore, the fibers can be easily inserted into the pores.

In addition, since the ceramic core and ceramic sleeve of the plug are cast into the main body made of synthetic resin, when the ceramic cores are brought into close contact (surface contact) with each other, the elasticity of the surrounding synthetic resin Since force can be used, there is no need for spring materials, etc., so the structure is simple and the number of parts is small, and reliability and performance are improved, making it highly efficient and inexpensive. Furthermore, since the main body is made of synthetic resin, it is lightweight and easy to handle, and plugs of the same type can be used, and since the core is enclosed in both plugs, there is no risk of damage. It has many excellent features such as:

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a state in which fibers are connected by the optical fiber connector ζ according to the present invention, and Fig. 2 (e) (b) (c) shows the optical fiber connector shown in Fig. 1. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a separated state of the first plug P1, the second plug P2, and the sleeve S, respectively. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an example of a conventional optical fiber connector. Pl: 1st plug F2: 2nd plug 1: Connector 2.7: Ceramic core 3.8: Main body S sleeve 5: Ceramic sleeve 4.9: Screw ring

Claims (1)

[Claims] A pair of plugs each having a threaded ring on the outer periphery of a cylindrical body cast into a synthetic resin with almost the front half of the ceramic core protruding from which the ceramic core has a pore for inserting the optical fiber is inserted into the ceramic core. 1. An optical fiber connector characterized in that a ceramic sleeve having a diameter insertion opening is connected via a cylindrical sleeve cast inside an outer envelope made of synthetic resin.