JPS61219012A - Optical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent lenses from damaging and sweep dust by projecting a lens part at the center part of the tip part of a ferrule from the peripheral part, and prevents lenses from contacting each other by using a spacer as a body different from the ferrule. CONSTITUTION:The lens parts 11a and 12b are formed at the center parts of the front and surfaces of ferrules 11 and 12 from their peripheral parts 11b and 12b and wire element tip parts of optical fiber cores 13 and 14 are fixed to the lens parts at specific rear parts. A spacer 16 is cylindrical having an internal diameter equal to the diameter of the lens parts 11a and 12a and an external diameter a little bit smaller than the diameter of the ferrules 11 and 12. A sleeve 15 has an internal diameter a little bit smaller than the diameter of the ferrules 11 and 12 and is expanded by the ferrules 11 and 12 which are inserted from both right and left end parts while the spacer 16 is interposed, so that the ferrules 11 and 12 are arrayed detachably.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Object of the Invention Industrial Field of Application The present invention relates to an optical connector used in optical communication systems and the like.

Conventional optical connectors include lens-type optical connectors that use lenses to magnify and combine light beams emitted from the tips of a pair of opposing optical fibers.

As shown in a cross-sectional view in FIG. 2, a conventional lens-type optical connector holds an optical fiber core 3.4 by a ferrule 1.2 having lens portions 1a and 23 formed at its tip, and connects these ferrules to each other. They are configured to be aligned by the sleeve 5. In order to prevent damage caused by direct contact between the lens parts 1a and 2a, protrusions 1b and 2b are formed around each lens part, so that the lens part is protected and accommodated in the recess.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention In the above-mentioned conventional lens-type optical connector, the lens part at the tip of the ferrule is housed in a recess, so if dust adheres to the lens part, it is difficult to wipe it off. There is a problem that it cannot be used for attachment and detachment in many places.

Means for Solving the Problems of the Structure of the Invention The optical connector of the present invention, which solves the problems of the prior art described above, includes a pair of ferrules having a lens portion protruding from the peripheral portion at the center portion of the distal end surface, and a lens portion. A cylindrical spacer having an inner diameter equal to or less than the outer diameter of the ferrule, and a sleeve that allows the ferrules to be aligned in a detachable manner while interposing the spacer between the tip surfaces of the ferrules. .

In other words, by making the lens part protrude from the peripheral part at the center of the ferrule tip, and by using a spacer separate from the ferrule to prevent the lenses from coming into contact with each other, it is possible to prevent damage to the lenses and wipe away attached dust. Both of these are possible.

Hereinafter, the operation of the present invention will be explained along with examples.

Embodiment FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the structure of an optical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

This optical connector includes ferrules 11.12 for fixing optical fiber core wires 13.14, a sleeve 15 for arranging these ferrules, and a spacer 16 interposed between the tip surfaces of the ferrules 11.12.

The ferrules 11 and 12 are made of transparent resin such as acrylic resin by injection molding or the like so as to have a circular cross section. The sleeve 15 and the spacer 16 are made of resin such as polycarbonate by injection molding or the like to have a cylindrical shape with predetermined dimensions.

The central part of the tip surface of the ferrule 11 has a peripheral part 1.
A lens portion 11a protruding from 1b is formed, and the tip end of the optical fiber core 13 is fixed at a predetermined position behind this lens portion.

The central part of the tip surface of the ferrule 12 also has a surrounding part 1.
A lens portion 12a protruding from 2b is formed, and an optical fiber core is placed at a predetermined position behind this lens portion! The tips of 14 strands are fixed.

This spacer 16 has an inner diameter equal to the diameter of the lens portions 11a, 12a of the ferrule 11.12 and a diameter of the ferrule 11.12.
It has a cylindrical shape with an outer diameter somewhat smaller than the diameter of 12.

The spacer 15 has an inner diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the ferrules 11 and 12, and the ferrule 11 is inserted from both left and right ends with the spacer 16 interposed therebetween.
and 12, so that the ferrules 11 and 12 are removably aligned.

As described above, the inner diameter of the spacer 16 is the lens portion 11a.

Although the case where the diameter is equal to the diameter of the lens portion 12a has been exemplified, the diameter may be somewhat larger than the diameter of the lens portion. Also, spacer 16
The outer diameter of the ferrule 11.12 may be increased within a range that does not exceed the diameter of the ferrule 11.12.

Further, the spacer 16 is not limited to a cylindrical shape, but may be an appropriate polygonal tube.

Although a configuration in which the lens portion is formed integrally with the ferrule has been illustrated, a configuration may also be adopted in which the lens is created separately from the ferrule and is held at the center portion of the ferrule tip while protruding from the peripheral portion.

Effects of the Invention As explained in detail above, the optical connector of the present invention has the lens part protrude from the peripheral part at the central part of the ferrule tip, and uses a spacer separate from the ferrule to separate the lens parts from each other. Since it is configured to prevent contact, it is possible to both prevent damage to the lens and wipe off dust attached to the lens, expanding the range of applications for attaching and detaching outdoors where there is a lot of dust.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the structure of an optical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the structure of a conventional optical connector. 11.12... Ferrule, lla, 12a... Lens part of ferrule tip surface, llb, 12b... Peripheral part of ferrule tip surface, 13.14... Optical fiber core wire, 15
... Sleeve, 16... Spacer. Patent applicant NEC Corporation (3 others) Agent
Patent attorney Toshihiko Sakurai

Claims (1)

[Claims] a pair of ferrules having a lens portion protruding forward of the peripheral portion at the center portion of the tip surface; a cylindrical spacer having an inner diameter greater than or equal to the diameter of the lens portion and an outer diameter less than or equal to the outer diameter of each ferrule; An optical connector characterized by comprising a sleeve for removably aligning each ferrule while interposing the spacer between the tip surfaces of each ferrule.