JPS63214710A - Optical connector jack - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To mount a jack equipped with an array sleeve which fits ferrules with added optical fibers double, a hood, etc., on an external housing as an optical connector element and to improve connector characteristics by fixing the jack through a fixing spring. CONSTITUTION:The jack is inserted into the external housing 9 and then while the ferrules 1 with the added optical fibers 8 are coupled with end surfaces of ferrules of plugs on end surfaces by the array sleeve 2, the reference surfaces of the ferrules 1 and frame 4 abut on each other with the compressive force of the spring 3 by the hood 6 bayonet-coupled wit a holder 5 to attain double fitting. Consequently, the jack is fixed and mounted excellently on the external housing 9 by the fixing spring 7 and thus mounted on the external housing together with a connector element such as a coaxial connector. Further, when the plug is mounted, the play between housings is absorbed with the pressing force of the spring 3 while the double fitting is maintained, thereby improving the connector characteristics. Further, the decomposition and cleaning of the ferrules are facilitated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to the structure of an optical connector jack that is used by being attached to an external housing together with a coaxial connector or the like.

[Conventional technology]

Conventional optical connectors, such as FC type optical connector plugs and adapters, have an optical fiber attached to the plug side.
Generally, plugs are connected to each other via an adapter that has a plug insertion part on both ends and an alignment sleeve installed inside, and cannot be mounted on a board or installed in the same housing as a coaxial connector, etc. It was impossible.

In addition, related to this type of device.

For example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 58-55482 can be mentioned.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

The above-mentioned FC type connectors cannot be mounted on a board or used for 0/E sharing with electrical connectors using external housings, and therefore there is a large demand for telephone exchanges and other devices that require small size and high-density mounting. There were problems with its adoption in prospective communication systems.

An object of the present invention is to eliminate the problems of the prior art described above;
It can be installed as an optical connector element in an external housing, and can be installed together with an electrical connector element for coaxial connectors, etc., and can also be used to solve various factors that affect connector characteristics, such as absorbing positional deviation tolerances due to mating of external housings. It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical connector jack that does not increase the number of parts and connector cost.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following configuration.Firstly, in order to be able to be mounted on the external housing, the outer diameter dimension is matched with the inner diameter of the housing, and furthermore, the structure is such that it is inserted from the rear end of the external housing using a fixed spring. First, the structure of the element part of the optical connector jack is such that it has the functions of a conventional optical connector plug and adapter, so it contains an alignment sleeve, inserts a ferrule, and has a hood that also protects the optical fiber. is pressed through. The spring also serves to absorb the looseness of the mating stroke when mated with the plug-side connector. In order to stabilize the connector characteristics, the holder and frame form a mechanical reference plane, and the dimensions are set to ensure double fitting. Since the hood is bayonet-fixed to the holder, it is possible to disassemble it and take out the ferrule, making it easy to clean the ferrule end face, which is a difficult point with optical connectors, and achieving stable characteristics.

[Effect]

First, when the plug-side connector is mated, both ferrules abut against the end face of the ferrule, which is the optical reference surface. When pushed further, the double mating ends when they abut against the mechanical reference surface, and a constant force is applied. The ferrule is held in place by pressure, ensuring stable characteristics. Furthermore, the play in the mating stroke caused by mating the external housing mounted on the board, etc. and a similar housing on the plug side of the frame can be absorbed by moving the frame on the jack side backward while maintaining double mating. In other words, the backlash of the housing is absorbed by the spring being compressed.

〔Example〕

The first @ is a half-sectional view of one embodiment of the present invention.

The ferrule 1 made of ceramic or metal is wired with an optical fiber 8 in advance, and after its end face is polished, it is temporarily inserted into an alignment sleeve 2 such as a split sleeve, and then inserted into a substantially cylindrical frame 4 made of metal or synthetic resin. It will be installed. The inner convex portion at the tip of the frame 4 (on the right side in Figure 1) has a ring-shaped captive portion 4C to prevent the sleeve 2 from moving forward, and there is a notch 1σ in the collar of the ferrule 1 inside. A step 4b is provided as a step 4σ for accommodating the collar portion (flange portion) so as to prevent rotation at the flange portion.

Next, it is attached to a substantially cylindrical metal or synthetic resin holder 5 from behind. Inside the holder 5, there is provided a portion 5σ that matches the outer circumferential step 4b of the frame 4, which constitutes a mechanical reference plane. Incidentally, the rear end of the holder θ 5 is provided with a notch 5 b so that it can be bayonet connected to the outer circumferential polished portion 6σ of the hood I made of metal or synthetic resin.

Furthermore, a cylindrical coil-shaped spring 3 inserted into the fiber 8 side is pressed against the rear end portion 1σ of the ferrule 1,
While pressing the spring 3 with a constant force with the hood 6, the outer peripheral protrusion 6σ of the hood 6 is pressed into the notch 5 of the holder 5.
By half-twisting it according to b, the two are bayonet connected and the optical connector jack of the present invention is completed.
Since the crystal is fitted through the external housing 9, the front outer periphery 5C of the holder 5 can be attached to the housing 9.
A cut-and-raised type fixed spring 7 is attached to the holder. Second
The figure shows an embodiment of an optical connector plug on the frame side that fits into this optical connector jack, and like the jack side, it includes an external housing 19, a ferrule 11 which is an optical connector plug element, a spring 13. The optical connector jack shown in FIG. 1 is inserted from the left side of the plug shown in FIG. The end faces are optically coupled.

This optical connector is shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Of course, it is designed so that A-A'>O, B'-Boo.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, while having the functions of a conventional optical connector plug and adapter, a double fitting method is adopted, and a single spring is used to reduce the pressing force of the ferrule and the external housing of the plug-side connector. Because it has a mechanism that absorbs the backlash caused by mounting, the optical connector characteristics are stable even though there are many complicated factors involved in mating. In addition, the number of parts is kept to the minimum necessary, making it economical. Also, once assembled, the connector can be disassembled, the ferrule can be taken out, and the end face cleaned, eliminating the problem of dust buildup, which is the biggest problem with optical connectors. It is resistant to the problem of characteristic deterioration, and is particularly effective when using convex spherical polished ferrules, which are expected to become popular in the future.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a half-sectional view of an embodiment of the optical connector jack of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a half-sectional view of essential parts showing an embodiment of the optical connector plug to be fitted into the optical connector jack of the present invention. It is. 1.11... Ferrule, 2... Alignment sleeve, 3
゜13...Spring, 4...Frame, 5.15...
holder. 6...Hood, 7...Fixing spring, 8, 18...Optical fiber, 9.19...External housing, A, A'・
・Distance between mechanical reference plane and ferrule end face, B, B'
...Distance from the mechanical reference plane to the tip of the optical connector area 528 on the plug side.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In an optical connector jack mated with a plug-side connector having a ferrule to which an optical fiber is attached, the ferrule to which the optical fiber is attached, surrounding the ferrule on the jack side and the above-mentioned plug side. an alignment sleeve having a ferrule accommodating portion; a frame that accommodates the jack-side ferrule and the alignment sleeve; a spring that presses and biases the jack-side ferrule against the frame; A holder that defines the accommodation position and accommodates the spring; a hood that is housed and locked on one end of the holder and receives the other end of the spring; and an external housing that is fixed to the outer periphery of the holder by a fixed spring. The spring is configured to press the ferrule on the jack side in the axial direction and to absorb play that occurs when mating with the plug side connector to ensure a constant mating state. optical connector jack. 2. The sleeve is attached to the tip of the ferrule on the jack side, and the ferrule is inserted into the frame, and the tip of the frame has a ring-shaped protrusion on the inner surface so that the sleeve is attached to the front of the sleeve. 2. The optical connector jack according to claim 1, wherein the optical connector jack has a structure in which the flange portion of the ferrule is used to prevent the ferrule from moving in the opposite direction. 3. The optical connector according to claim 1, wherein the hood is locked with the holder by a bayonet mechanism to press against the spring contained within the hood. Jack.