KR100340665B1 - Ultra-multiconnector ferrule for optical connector and method of inserting optical fiber in the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An ultra-multiconnector ferrule for an optical connector and method of inserting an optical fiber in the same is provided, which are applied to the end of an optical connector in order to connect over several tens optical fiber to one connector at the same time. CONSTITUTION: A connection housing(20) contains an optical fiber(40) so as be slid and has two or more micro holes(21) disposed to be penetrated in rows and columns. The connection housing comprises a plurality of guiders(23) installed on the same center line as the micro holes so as to be exposed at the exterior. The lowermost guider has the longest length, and the uppermost guider has the shortest length. A cover housing(30) is coupled with the connection housing to cover a periphery of the guiders, and has an inlet hole(22) for inserting the optical fiber in an axis direction of the guiders. The connection housing and the cover housing are connected by a plurality of concave and convex portions(24,34) installed on opposite surfaces to each other.

Description

Ultra-Multi Core Ferrules for Optical Connectors and How to Insert Fibers into the Ferrules

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical connector for optical communication, and more particularly, to a super-core ferrule installed in a connector for connecting 32 or more optical fibers with one optical connector, and a method of inserting an optical fiber into the ferrule. will be.

In general, fiber for optical communication transmits a signal using light, and there is almost no transmission resistance, and thus the use range of the fiber is wider.

The optical fiber used for the optical communication is to perform the connection work in order to branch or extend the line as necessary on the line constituting the optical path. Branching or splicing of such an optical fiber is roughly divided into two types, one of which is a mechanical connection method of mechanically aligning the ends of the optical fiber, and the other is a fusion splicing method of melting and splicing the ends of the optical fiber. The present invention relates to a mechanical splicing method in the above two splicing methods when splicing optical fibers. As described above, the mechanical connection has been mainly used for the connection work of single-core optical fibers, but recently, it has also been applied to the mechanical connection method for simultaneously connecting ribbon-type multi-core optical fibers.

A connector is used to simultaneously connect such multicore optical fibers. The connector includes ferrules for aligning the ends of the optical fiber at the ends thereof. Ferrules are divided into single-core and multi-core. Single-core ferrules are formed with micro holes 2 into which optical fibers 4 are inserted, as shown in FIG. 2A, to insert optical fibers into the holes 2. The end face of the ferrule 1 is polished. The ferrule 1 polished in this way is to face the surface exposed by the optical fiber 4 to each other to implement the optical connection. The multi-core ferrule 1 is also described in detail in Korean Patent Application No. 92-8065 (Notice 96-13800), which also has four or eight micro holes therein as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2B. In this hole, four or eight core optical fibers 4 are inserted into the holes at the same time, and the end faces of the ferrules are polished, and then the two ferrules 1 are polished against each other to realize optical connection.

However, the multi-core ferrule must process micro holes 2 penetrating the inside and disposed on its cross section, and the micro holes also have a very small diameter because an optical fiber having a diameter of about 125 μm must be inserted into the hole 2. Precision machining In addition to the multi-core ferrules, the guiders 5 which form the same axis as the micro holes 2 and guide the optical fibers 4 inside the ferrule 1 to smoothly insert the optical fibers 4 into the micro holes 2. ) Is arranged.

However, the ferrule 1 is particularly inconvenient to insert the ribbon-shaped optical fiber 4 consisting of eight cores into the micro holes 2 at the same time when the ribbon-shaped multi-core optical fiber 4 is inserted into the ferrule. For the same reason, as described above, the guider 5 is arranged in the ferrule so that a plurality of optical fibers 4 can be simultaneously inserted into the micro holes 2 when the optical fiber is inserted, but the inside of the ferrule 1 is narrow. Since the guider 5 itself is composed of very fine semi-circular grooves (diameter is about 125 to 126 μm) and the groove 5a of the guider cannot be clearly identified from the outside, the optical fiber 4 is disposed on the guider 5. Difficult to make

And, the ribbon-shaped multi-core optical fiber 4 is difficult to align the optical fiber 4 to the groove 5a of the guider when inserted in the axial direction of the micro holes 2 in the ferrule 1, the end of the optical fiber 4 This broken problem may occur.

In addition, in recent years, due to the rapid spread of optical communication, optical communication networks have been rapidly expanded, so that a large number of optical fibers can be optically connected through one optical connector, for example, an optical connector capable of optically connecting 32 or more optical fibers at once. Was required.

However, as described above, the conventional 8-core optical connector ferrule 1 has an inconvenient problem of inserting an 8-core optical fiber into the micro-holes 2, and thus, the optical fibers are inserted into the ultra-multi-core ferrule as described above. Efforts to insert simply and easily are actively underway.

Accordingly, the present invention has been invented as part of an effort to meet the above-mentioned problems and demands. The main object of the present invention is to provide an end of an optical connector for simultaneously connecting tens or more of optical fibers to one connector. It is to provide a super multi-core ferrule employed in.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for easily inserting an optical fiber into an ultra multi-core ferrule for an optical connector to simultaneously connect tens or more of optical fibers to one connector.

1 is a perspective view illustrating a conventional ferrule for a multi-core optical connector,

Figure 2a is an internal cross-sectional view of a conventional ferrule for single-core optical connector,

Figure 2b is an internal cross-sectional view of a conventional ferrule for multi-core optical connector,

3 is a perspective view illustrating a ferrule for an ultra multi-core optical connector according to the present invention;

4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a ferrule for an ultra multi-core optical connector according to the present invention;

5 is a cross-sectional view of a ferrule for an ultra multi-optic connector according to the present invention.

*** Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawing ***

10: Super multi-core ferrule 20: Connection housing

21: Microhole 22: Guide groove

23: guider 24: yo

30: cover housing 31: entrance

32: space part 33: resin inlet

34: iron part 40: optical fiber

As an implementation means for implementing the multi-core ferrule for optical connection according to the first aspect of the present invention,

A connecting housing including a plurality of guiders slidably accommodating the optical fiber and having two or more micro holes penetrating laterally and longitudinally, forming a same central axis as the micro holes and being exposed to the outside; A ferrule comprising a cover housing, the cover housing being formed to cover the circumference of the guider and to insert the optical fiber in the axial direction of the guider;

The connecting housing and the cover housing can be achieved by forming a matching means for aligning each other.

In a preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned forming means, the concave-convex is arranged on a surface where the connection housing and the cover housing are in contact with each other, so that the connection housing and the cover housing are aligned with each other and aligned.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the body of the ultra multi-core ferrule is separated and manufactured by the connecting housing and the cover housing, respectively, the optical fiber is placed on the guider without any interference when the optical fiber is placed on the exposed guider. This makes it easier to insert the optical fiber into the micro holes.

As an implementation means for implementing the method for inserting an optical fiber into the ultra-multi-core ferrule according to the second aspect of the present invention, a multi-stage micrometer is disposed so as to penetrate in the transverse direction and the longitudinal direction to receive the optical fiber in the cross section according to the first aspect. In inserting the optical fiber into the ferrule for the ultra-concentric optical connector consisting of a connecting housing having a hole, an open guider having a guide groove extending with the axis of the micro-hole and a cover housing which is joined to the connecting housing to cover the guider. This can be achieved by separating the cover housing from the splice housing and then placing the optical fiber sequentially from the bottom to the top of the exposed guider and inserting the fiber into the micro hole.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, as described in the first aspect, in locating the optical fiber on the multi-stage guide of the connection housing independently manufactured, the optical fibers are sequentially positioned from the lowermost to the uppermost guider. Insert the optical fiber into the micro hole. The optical fiber inserted into each micro hole covers the guider with a cover housing, and when the resin is filled and cured on the guider where the optical fiber is located, the connecting housing, the cover housing, and the optical fibers are formed into one body.

Hereinafter, described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment according to the present invention as follows. For reference, in order to clarify the present invention, first, the ultramulti-core ferrule according to the first aspect of the present invention will be described first, and then the optical fiber is inserted into the ultra-multicore ferrule, which is the second aspect of the present invention. Will be.

Referring to FIG. 3, FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an exploded view of an ultra multi-core ferrule according to a first aspect of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an exploded view of the ferrule shown in FIG. 3. 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the ultra multi-core ferrule shown in FIG. 3, wherein reference numeral 10 is a super multi-core ferrule, 20 is a connection housing constituting a part of the ultra multi-core ferrule 10, 30 Is a connection housing constituting a part of the ultra multi-core ferrule 10. And reference numeral 40 denotes a multicore optical fiber for optical transmission.

The above components will be described in more detail. As described above, the ferrule 10 includes a connecting housing 20, a cover housing 30, and a joining means for joining the two housings 20 and 30 into one body.

As shown in the figure, the connection housing 20 has a microhole 21 penetrating into one side thereof and into which the optical fiber 40 is inserted. The micro holes 21 are arranged such that one or more holes 21 penetrate laterally and longitudinally at equal intervals. The spacing between the micro holes 21 arranged in the transverse direction is arranged at the same interval as the spacing between the center points of one optical fiber 40 manufactured in a ribbon form from the center point of the adjacent optical fibers 40. In addition, the longitudinal arrangement intervals of the micro holes 21 need not be limited to specific intervals, but are preferably arranged at intervals similar to the horizontal intervals of the micro holes 21.

In addition, the guider 23 having a guide groove 22 in which the diameter of the micro holes 21 gradually increases on the other side of the micro holes 21, that is, the optical fiber 40 enters the micro holes 21. ) Is extended. The guider 23 is arranged to be recessed in multiple stages on the inner side of the connecting portion. The guide groove 22 has a substantially semicircular shape when viewed in cross section, and the diameter of the end thereof is at least larger than or equal to the diameter of the clad layer of the optical fiber 40. This is to facilitate the alignment of the entry position of the optical fiber when the optical fiber enters the guider 23.

The cover housing 30 is an element constituting the ferrule 10 in combination with the connection housing 20. The cover housing 30 covers the upper portion of the guider 23 and enters into the micro hole 21 through the guider 23. Covering the optical fiber 40, an entrance port 31 through which the optical fiber 40 can enter the guider 23 in a substantially straight line is formed, the entrance port 31 is matched with the recessed space of the guider 23 described above. To form the space part 32. The space 32 is passed through the resin inlet 33 so that the multi-stage guider 23 can be seen from the outside.

The fitting means is for joining the two housings 20 and 30 into one body with each other, and in a preferred embodiment, the concave-convex 24 corresponding to each other on the surface where the connection housing 20 and the cover housing 30 are in contact with each other. 34 are formed to align the two housings 20 and 30 into one body through the unevenness 24 and 34. When the two housings are joined together, a resin, preferably an epoxy resin, is filled into the resin inlet 33 and the space 32 through which the epoxy resin is cured, and the connection housing 20 and Allow the cover housing 30 to be permanently mated.

As described above, since the ferrule for the ultra multi-core optical connector according to the present invention is manufactured by separating the connection housing and the cover housing, the optical fiber 40 is placed in the guide groove 22 in the state where the cover housing 30 is removed. Becomes easy. Therefore, when the optical fiber 40 linearly placed on the guide groove 22 enters into the micro hole 21, the optical fiber 40 can be entered while looking directly to the naked eye. When the optical fiber 40 is inserted into all the micro holes 21 by inserting the optical fiber 40 into the multi-stage micro hole 21 in this way, the cover housing 30 is connected to the housing through the forming means as described above. Align by superimposing to the top of. At this time, the optical fiber 40 is discharged through the inlet, and when the epoxy resin is filled with the resin inlet, the two housings joined when the epoxy resin is cured are permanently bonded to each other. As such, the ferrule integrated into one body is employed as an optical connecting element of the optical connector assembly.

On the other hand, a method of inserting the optical fiber 40 into the ultra multi-core ferrule according to the second aspect of the present invention will be described.

As described in the first aspect of the present invention, the optical fiber 40 is positioned on the lowermost multi-stage guide groove 22 in a state in which the cover housing 30 is removed from the connection housing, and then the optical fiber 40 is placed in the micro holes 21. When moved into the), the end of the optical fiber 40 enters into the micro hole 21 along the guide groove 22 to protrude out of the micro hole 21 to the end thereof. In this manner, the optical fiber 40 is sequentially inserted into the micro holes 21 starting from the lowermost guider 23 and the uppermost guider 23. Therefore, when inserting the optical fiber 40 into the micro-holes 21, the optical fiber 40 can be inserted into the micro-holes 21 while visually seeing as described above, so that the optical fiber 40 can be easily inserted. Will be. Subsequently, as described in the first aspect, the cover housing 30 and the connecting housing are joined together, and then injected into the space part with an epoxy resin to permanently join the two housings.

For reference, the optical fiber 40 may be a single-core optical fiber 40, but using the ribbon-type multi-core optical fiber 40, the optical fiber can be inserted into the guide groove 22 arranged on the same line at the same time.

As described above, the ferrule for the ultra multi-core optical connector according to the first aspect of the present invention is manufactured by separating the connection housing and the cover housing, so that the optical fiber is easily positioned in the guide groove 22 in the state where the cover housing is removed. Will be lost. Therefore, it can be seen that the optical fiber placed in a linear shape on the guide groove 22 can be directly seen while entering the micro holes 21, and the optical fiber 40 is inserted into the ferrule according to the second point of view. The method starts from the lowest guider 23 and sequentially inserts the optical fiber 40 into the upper guider 23 and inserts the optical fiber 40 into the micro hole 21 while watching the entry of the optical fiber 40 with the eye. It will be appreciated that the fiber insertion can be easily implemented because it can be inserted into the hole 21.

In the above description, the present invention has been described for exemplary purposes only through exemplary embodiments, and those skilled in the art may understand that various applications or modifications may be made through the present specification. It is to be understood that the present invention belongs to the true spirit and scope of the intention and the scope of the claims.

Claims (5)

A multi-stage type that slidably receives an optical fiber and is disposed so that two or more micro holes penetrate laterally and longitudinally and are exposed to the outside on the same center line as the micro holes, and have the longest length at the bottom and the shortest length at the top. Connection housing having a plurality of guiders composed of, And a cover housing which is combined with the connection housing to cover the circumference of the guider and has an entrance for inserting the optical fiber in the axial direction of the guider. The connecting housing and the cover housing are ferrule for the ultra-multi-optical connector, characterized in that they are joined to each other by a plurality of irregularities provided on the corresponding surface in contact with each other. The ferrule of claim 1, wherein the diameter of the guide groove constituting the guider is larger than the diameter of the cladding layer of the optical fiber. The ferrule of claim 1, wherein a space portion is formed on an upper surface of the guider when the connection housing and the cover housing are combined, and a resin inlet is formed in the cover housing so as to communicate with the space portion. A connecting housing having an open guider having micro holes arranged in multiple stages in the transverse direction and the longitudinal direction so as to receive the optical fiber in the cross section and a guide groove extending along the axis of the micro holes and the connecting housing to cover the guider. In inserting the optical fiber into the ferrule for the ultra-multi-optic connector consisting of a cover housing, the cover housing is separated from the connection housing, and then the optical fibers are sequentially inserted from the bottom of the exposed guider to the top to insert the optical fiber into the micro holes. To insert the optical fiber into the super multi-ferrule ferrule. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the optical fiber inserted into the guider is a ribbon multi-core optical fiber.

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