JPS61267709A - Optical plug socket and optical plug - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To check useless transmission loss when an apparatus is not used by coupling a moving mechanism for backing the end part of an optical fiber, while making the backing operation interlock with the inserting operation of an optical plug, with the end part of the movable fiber. CONSTITUTION:When the optical plug 20 is inserted from a plug insertion port 17, the leading end of the plug pushes up the actuator of the 2nd lever 13 and both the end surfaces of optical fibers 8, 9 held by couplers 10, 11 are separated together with the couplers 10, 11 through a rink mechanism, so that the optical plug 20 can be inserted between the separated optical fibers 8, 9. A half mirror 21 and an optical fiber 22 for extracting branched light are included in the optical plug 20 so that a part of transmission light can be extracted at a prescribed inserting position. When the optical fiber 20 is drawn out, the couplers 10, 11 are restored to the most adjacent position by the tensile force of a spring 17 and I/O fibers are directly coupled. Since useless transmission loss due to the half mirror is not generated when the plug is not inserted, i.e. when the plug is not used, the apparatus makes it possible to arrange many plug sockets in series and terminal equipment can be connected at optional positions.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Summary] The present invention is a combination configuration of an optical outlet and an optical plug used to connect various optical terminal devices in the middle of an optical transmission line, and is normally used to connect input and output optical fibers. The present invention proposes an optical outlet and an optical plug in which the end faces are directly connected at the closest position, and when the end faces of both fibers are connected, the end faces of both fibers are opened and a coupling optical plug is inserted between them.

[Industrial application field]

This invention relates to a combination of optical outlets and optical plugs used to connect various optical terminal devices in the middle of an optical transmission line, and is particularly advantageous when a plurality of optical outlets are installed on the same transmission line. This relates to an insertion-type optical outlet.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, when connecting optical terminal equipment by branching from the middle of a low power transmission line, for example, as shown in FIG. A necessary terminal device 5 is connected to the plug 4 so as to input the light branched by the half mirror.
was connected.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional optical outlet, even in an outlet where a terminal is not connected, a part of the light is branched by the half mirror 2 and emitted to the outside, so the transmission loss of the optical signal becomes large and the connection of the outlet is interrupted. There is a problem that the number is limited.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an optical outlet with reduced transmission loss when not in use.

[Means for solving problems]

Briefly stated, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, this invention provides a half mirror for optical coupling, which was conventionally attached to the outlet side, on the plug side, and also connects the input/output, which is normally in a close direct connection state. The gist of the present invention is to have a configuration in which the fiber end faces are separated from each other during plug connection, and the plug is inserted between them.

[Effect]

According to this configuration, when the outlet is not in use, the end faces of the input and output fibers are closely connected and directly connected, so the transmission loss between them is minimized, and more outlets can be installed between a certain distance than before. It becomes possible to do so.

〔Example〕

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of an optical outlet according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a plan view when an optical plug is connected to the outlet. 8 and an output optical fiber 9 are arranged so that their end faces face each other on the same optical axis. The coupling ends of both fibers are inserted and fixed into a metal coupler 10.11 that is movable back and forth, and are normally located at the closest position, with direct optical coupling between the end faces. Further, a link mechanism 16 consisting of two levers 12.13 and two connecting bars 14.15 is symmetrically connected to each of the connectors 10.11, and the actuator of the second lever 13 is connected to the optical plug. It is arranged to face the insertion port 17. A spring 18 is stretched between the lever 12 and the outer casing 7, and its spring force applies a force that always holds the connectors 10, 11 in the closest position.

In the above configuration, when the optical plug 20 is inserted from the plug insertion port 17 as shown in FIG. The optical fiber 8 held
9 are spaced apart from each other, and an optical plug 20 can be inserted therein as shown in the figure. optical plug 20
A half mirror 21 and an optical fiber 22 for extracting branched light are incorporated inside, and a part of the transmitted light can be extracted at a predetermined insertion position. Then, when the optical plug 20 is removed again, the tension of the spring 17 causes the connector 10 to be removed.
11 returns to its original closest position, and the input and output fibers become directly connected.

In this way, unnecessary transmission loss due to the conventional half mirror does not occur when the plug is not inserted and the terminal is not in use, so it is possible to arrange many outlets in series and connect and use the terminal at any location.

Note that the above description is an explanation of one embodiment of the present invention, and various modifications can be made to the configuration of each part.

For example, in addition to the link mechanism shown in the illustration, an appropriate cam mechanism may be used as the mechanism for moving the end face of the input/output optical fiber, or the end of one optical fiber may be fixed and the end of the other optical fiber may be fixed. It is also possible to connect a moving mechanism only to the end to open the insertion gap for the optical plug.

Further, a lens may be attached to the end face of the connector 10.11, and the optical plug 20 may have a configuration as shown in FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b).

The optical plug 23 in FIG.
5 and intermediate input/output optical fibers 26 and 27 are built-in. Furthermore, the optical plug 28 shown in FIG. 3 (bl) has a built-in intermediate input/output fiber 29° 27 with coupling end faces that are directly connected to the input/output fibers on the outlet side. The optical plug is still inserted between the end faces of the input and output fibers that separate in response to the insertion operation, and is coupled to the main optical transmission line.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As is clear from the above explanation, the present invention is designed to prevent unnecessary transmission loss when the input/output fibers of optical outlets are normally directly connected, and are not in use. It is extremely advantageous to arrange them in series and connect them with plugs as needed.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the configuration of an embodiment of the optical outlet according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the state when the optical plug is inserted into the optical outlet shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. b) is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of an optical plug, and Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the connection arrangement of a conventional optical outlet. In the figure, 6 is an optical outlet, 7 is an outer casing of the outlet, and 8 is an input optical fiber, 9 is an output optical fiber, 10 and 11 are couplers,
12 and 13 are levers, 14 and 15 are connection bars, 16
17 is a link mechanism, 17 is a plug insertion port, 18 is a spring, 20 is an optical plug, 21 is a half mirror, and 122 is an optical fiber for branching and taking out.

Claims (1)

[Claims] The end face of the input fiber (8) and the end face of the output fiber (9) are arranged to face each other so that at least one of them can be moved back and forth, and the end face of the input fiber (8) and the end face of the output fiber (9) are arranged to face each other so that at least one of them can be moved back and forth, and the end face of the input fiber (8) and the end face of the output fiber (9) are arranged to face each other so that at least one of them can move back and forth. The input and output fibers are placed in a directly coupled state, and an optical plug (20) capable of optical coupling is inserted between their end faces at a separated position, and an optical plug (20) is inserted into the end of the movable fiber. a moving mechanism (
12, 13, 14, and 15) connected to each other.