TWI440912B - Optical fiber adapter with shutter member - Google Patents

Description

Fiber optic adapter with shading

The present invention relates to a fiber optic adapter, and more particularly to a fiber optic adapter having a light blocking member.

Since the optical fiber has the advantages of high frequency width and low loss, it has been widely used as a transmission medium for signals in recent years. In order for the signal to be transmitted to a greater distance, a high power laser diode is born, thus greatly increasing the energy coupled to the fiber. However, when the above-mentioned high-intensity infrared beam is emitted from one end of the optical fiber, the human eye cannot judge the presence or absence of the light beam. If the operator's eyes are inadvertently exposed directly to the light beam, permanent visual damage is often caused.

Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional fiber adapter 100 has a body 110. The body 110 is provided with a chamber 120 surrounded by a plurality of side walls 160, which can be respectively connected to a butted fiber connector 190. . The side wall 160 is provided with a notch 130. The notch 130 can be engaged with the protrusion 192 on the mating connector 190 to have a function of alignment. In addition, the outer side of the opposite side walls 160 is provided with a recess 140 on which a snap-up spring (not shown) can be mounted to assist in positioning the adapter 100 when assembled and used. When the fiber optic connector 190 is inserted into the chamber 120 of the adapter 100, the high power beam emerging from the end of the ferrule 196 via the pigtail 194 of the connector 190 passes through the chamber at the other end of the adapter 100. 120, if there is no obstruction, it may be directly exposed to the eyes, causing damage to vision. Generally, the chamber 120 to which the connector 190 is not inserted is plugged with a plug 180 to prevent dust contamination and to shield the light beam. When the connector 190 is to be inserted, the plug 180 is removed. However, the plug 180 described above is liable to be lost, and during the removal process, the human eye may also be exposed to the light beam transmitted by the connector 190.

Referring to FIG. 2, a conventional optical fiber adapter 200 having a light-shielding effect is provided with a cover 250 at the open end of the chamber 120, one side of which is pivotally connected to the body 110, and the cover 250 is covered by the elastic force of the torsion spring 260. The open end of the chamber 120 prevents the beam from being emitted. If the fiber optic connector 190 is to be inserted into the chamber 120, the cover 250 must be lifted before the connector 190 can be inserted. The adapter 200 with the cover 250 is required to process the body 110 to pivot the cover 250 thereto. Therefore, the manufacture of the adapter 200 is relatively complicated and the cost is relatively high.

Referring to FIG. 3, a conventional protective device 300 for the optical fiber adapter 100 is provided with a cover 350 at the open end of the hollow cover 310. One side of the cover 350 is pivotally connected to the cover 310, and the torsion spring is utilized. The spring force of 360 causes the cover 350 to cover the open end of the cover 310. The hollow cover 310 can be sleeved on the body 110 of the adapter 100 to cover the notch 130 and the opening of the chamber 120 to prevent the emission of light beams and to avoid dust contamination. However, if only the function of shading is required, the above-mentioned guard device 300 also has a complicated structure and a relatively high manufacturing cost.

In view of this, there is a need to propose a solution to solve the above problems.

The invention provides a light shielding member of a fiber optic adapter, which can shield a light beam emitted from a chamber of a fiber optic adapter, thereby preventing the beam from injuring the eye.

In one embodiment, the light shielding member of the present invention comprises: a horizontal portion; two vertical portions respectively extending from opposite sides of the horizontal portion; and two hook portions extending from the vertical portion; a light shielding portion; and a The connecting portion is connected to the horizontal portion and the light blocking portion.

The invention also provides a fiber optic adapter comprising a body and an elastic shading member. The body has an axial chamber defined by a first wall, a second wall, a third wall and a fourth wall, wherein the first wall is opposite to the third wall, and the second and the second The four walls are connected, and the second and fourth walls are respectively provided with an opening. The light shielding member comprises: a horizontal portion disposed in the chamber and located on the third wall; two vertical portions respectively extending from opposite sides of the horizontal portion; and two hook portions extending from the vertical portion respectively, and An inner wall of the opening on the second and fourth walls; a light shielding portion disposed in the chamber for interrupting a propagation path of the light beam emitted from the chamber; and a connecting portion, a horizontal portion, and a light blocking portion The parts are connected.

According to the fiber optic adapter of the present invention, the light blocking member further includes two extending portions extending from opposite sides of the horizontal portion and extending into the recesses on the second and fourth walls, respectively.

According to the optical fiber adapter of the present invention, a projection is formed on the surface of the extending portion to abut against the inner wall of the recess.

According to the fiber optic adapter of the present invention, the recesses are located at the intersection of the second, fourth and third walls, respectively.

According to the optical fiber adapter of the present invention, the hook portion has a flat shape.

According to the optical fiber adapter of the present invention, the light blocking member further includes another hook extending from the connecting portion and attached to the third wall outside the chamber.

The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the embodiments of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, a conventional SC-type fiber optic connector 400 has a generally rectangular outer shape and includes a hollow and rectangular outer casing 410 having a top side wall 411, a bottom side wall 412, and a right side wall 413. And a left side wall 414, wherein the right side wall 413 is opposite to the left side wall 414 and is connected to the top side wall 411 and the bottom side wall 412. In addition, a protrusion 430 is disposed on the top sidewall 411, and an opening 418 is defined in each of the left side wall 414 and the right side wall 413. In addition, a hollow inner casing 450 is disposed in the outer casing 410, and the inner casing 450 can move back and forth through an opening 416 at the front end of the outer casing 410. In addition, a ferrule 440 is located in the inner casing 450 and extends from an opening 456 at the front end of the inner casing 450 and an opening 416 at the front end of the outer casing 410. A spring (not shown) is also disposed within the inner housing 450 to allow the sleeve 440 to move back and forth through the openings 416, 456.

Referring to Figures 5 and 6, the optical fiber adapter 500 having the light shielding member of the first embodiment of the present invention comprises a light-shielding member 570 integrally formed of metal and elastic, and a body 510 which is formed by plastic molding and is substantially rectangular. . The body 510 has a top side wall 511, a bottom side wall 512, a right side wall 513 and a left side wall 514, which together define an axial chamber 515. Further, in the axial chamber 515, an inner casing 560 is provided, such as a clamping assembly, which includes a substantially rectangular flange 562 having a pair of retaining clips 564 and a surface on the surface of the flange 562. A circular hollow cylinder 568 between the two retaining clips 564. On the left and right side walls 514, 513 of the body 510, an opening 518 is formed. At the interface between the left and right side walls 514, 513 and the bottom side wall 512, a recess 519 is formed, respectively, which extends from the edge of the bottom side wall 512 toward the axial chamber 515.

The elastic light-shielding member 570 is integrally formed of metal, and includes a light-shielding portion 572, a fixing portion 582, and a connecting portion 574 connected to the light-shielding portion 572 and the fixing portion 582. The connecting portion 574 is substantially C-shaped, that is, the connecting portion 574 has an arcuate surface and has a notch 576. The light shielding portion 572 can be formed by a flat plate or by two flat plates, and the light shielding portion 572 can be moved relative to the fixing portion 582 with an angle of less than 90 degrees therebetween. When the light shielding portion 572 receives a thrust, it will be close to the fixing portion 582; and when the thrust disappears, the light blocking portion 572 will return to the original position due to its own elastic force.

The fixing portion 582 includes a horizontal portion 584 having a flat shape and a pair of extending portions 586 extending from opposite side parallel plates of the horizontal portion 584. The horizontal portion 584 is connected to the connecting portion 574, and the extending portion 586 is On the surface, a plurality of protrusions 588 are formed. Further, a pair of vertical portions 592 which are flat in shape are further extended from opposite sides of the horizontal portion 584. A hook portion 594 having a flat shape is formed on each of the vertical portions 592, and the distance between the front ends of the hook portions 594 is greater than the distance between the left and right side walls 514, 513.

Referring to Fig. 7, when the light blocking member 570 is to be mounted in the body 510, the extending portion 586 is pushed toward the concave portion on the left and right side walls 514, 513 with the vertical portion 592 being forward and the extending portion 586 being rearward. Within 519. Since the distance between the front ends of the two hook portions 594 is greater than the distance between the left and right side walls 514, 513, the hook portion 594 is compressed during the installation of the light blocking member 570, and the front end thereof touches the left side. The right side walls 514, 513 move toward the opening 518. When the hook portion 594 is moved to the opening 518, since the left and right side walls 514, 513 are no longer pressed, the hook portion 594 will return to its original shape due to its own elastic force, and its front end will extend to the opening. Within 518. When the shade 570 is pushed to the position, the horizontal portion 584 will be attached to the bottom side wall 512, the extension 586 will be moved into the recess 519, and the protrusion 588 thereon will abut the inner wall of the recess 519. on. If a pulling force is applied to the light blocking member 570 at this time, the front end of the hook portion 594 will abut against the inner wall of the opening 518, thereby preventing the light blocking member 570 from being pulled out of the body 510.

According to the fiber optic adapter 500 of the present invention, when the light blocking member 570 reaches the positioning, the light shielding portion 572 can be positioned in front of the opening of the hollow cylinder 568, thereby blocking the light beam emitted therefrom, thereby preventing the light beam from injuring the eye.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, when the optical fiber connector 400 is to be docked with the optical fiber adapter 500 of the present invention, the light blocking member 570 need not be removed first, and the connector 400 can be directly inserted into the axial cavity 515 of the body 510. At this time, the light shielding portion 572 will be squeezed into the gap between the connector 400 and the bottom wall 512 of the casing. When the connector 400 is pulled out of the adapter 500, the light shielding portion 572 returns to the original position due to its own return elastic force, and has a function of blocking the light beam. In addition, when the optical fiber connector 400 is inserted into the body 510, since the light shielding portion 572 is pressed by the connector 400, the root portion thereof is lifted upward by the elastic force, so that the horizontal portion 584 is pulled to the edge of the horizontal portion 584. Will tilt up. In order to solve the above problem, the extending portion 586 extending from the horizontal portion 584 is disposed in the concave portion 519 and abuts against the inner wall of the concave portion 519 by the protrusion 588 thereon, thereby preventing the horizontal portion 584 from being blocked by the light blocking portion 572. Pull and lift.

In accordance with the fiber optic adapter 500 of the present invention, the apertures 518 in the left and right side walls 514, 513 can be blind holes or through holes. When the opening 513 is a through hole, the elongated hook can be used to compress the two hook portions 594 through the opening 518. At this time, the light blocking member 570 can be pulled out of the body 510.

Referring to Fig. 10, a fiber optic adapter 600 having a light-shielding member according to a second embodiment of the present invention comprises a light-shielding member 670 integrally formed of metal and elastic, and a body 610 formed of a plastic mold and having a substantially rectangular shape. The shade 670 is substantially identical to the shade 570, and the same reference numerals are used to designate the same elements. Different from the light blocking member 570, the light blocking member 670 of the embodiment is not provided with the extending portion 586 and the protrusion 588, but a hook 696 is extended from the connecting portion 574. The hook 696 is generally L-shaped and includes a downwardly extending vertical portion 697 and a horizontal portion 698 extending horizontally from the vertical portion 697 toward the connecting portion 574. The remaining components of the light shielding member 670 are the same as those of the light shielding member 570, and will not be described herein.

The body 610 of the present embodiment is substantially identical to the body 510, and the same reference numerals are used to designate the same elements. Different from the body 510, since the light shielding member 670 of the embodiment is not provided with the extending portion 586, the body 610 of the embodiment does not need to have a concave portion at the boundary between the left and right side walls 514, 513 and the bottom side wall 512. 519. Additionally, a recess 517 is formed in the bottom side wall 512 outside of the axial chamber 515 that extends to the edge of the bottom side wall 512 for receiving the horizontal portion 698 of the hook 696. The remaining components of the body 610 are the same as those of the body 510 and will not be described again.

Referring to Fig. 11, there is shown a perspective view of the light blocking member 670 mounted on the body 610. The hook portion 594 of the light blocking member 670 of the present embodiment extends into the opening 518 of the body 610, and the horizontal portion 584 of the light blocking member 670 is also attached. On the bottom side wall 512 of the body 610. In addition, when the light blocking member 670 is pushed into position, the horizontal portion 698 of the hook 696 abuts against the bottom side wall 512 outside the axial chamber 515, for example, the recess 517 attached to the bottom side wall 512. Inside. Therefore, when the optical fiber connector 400 is inserted into the body 610 and the light shielding portion 572 of the light shielding member 670 is pressed down, the hook 696 of the light shielding member 670 is hooked on the bottom side wall 512 outside the axial cavity 515, and the connecting portion 574 is allowed. Therefore, it is impossible to lift up, and the problem that the connection portion 574 of the shade 670 and the horizontal portion 584 are lifted up are solved.

Similarly, according to the optical fiber adapter 600 of the present invention, when the light shielding member 670 reaches the positioning, the light shielding portion 572 is positioned in front of the opening of the hollow cylinder 568, thereby blocking the light beam emitted therefrom, thereby avoiding beam damage. And eyes.

Although the present invention is exemplified by an SC type fiber optic adapter, it should be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the fiber optic adapter according to the present invention may be other types of fiber optic adapters, such as the LC shown in FIG. Type fiber optic adapter 700. Since the light shielding member 770 included in the optical fiber adapter 700 is similar in structure to the light shielding member 570 and is also mounted on the optical fiber adapter 700, the optical fiber adapter 700 will not be described in detail.

The present invention has been disclosed in the foregoing embodiments, and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any of the ordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains can be modified and modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. . Therefore, the scope of the invention is defined by the scope of the appended claims.

100. . . Fiber optic adapter

110. . . Ontology

120. . . Room

130. . . gap

140. . . Concave

160. . . Side wall

170. . . Groove

180. . . plug

190. . . The optical fiber connector

192. . . Protrusion

194. . . Pigtail

196. . . casing

200. . . Fiber optic adapter

250. . . Cover

260. . . Torsion spring

300. . . defensive equipment

310. . . Cover

350. . . Cover

360. . . Torsion spring

400. . . The optical fiber connector

410. . . Outer casing

411. . . Top side wall

412. . . Bottom side wall

413. . . Right side wall

414. . . Left side wall

416. . . Opening

418. . . Opening

430. . . Protrusion

440. . . casing

450. . . Inner casing

456. . . Opening

500. . . Fiber optic adapter

510. . . Ontology

511. . . Top side wall

512. . . Bottom side wall

513. . . Right side wall

514. . . Left side wall

515. . . Axial chamber

517. . . Concave

518. . . Opening

519. . . Concave

560. . . Inner casing

562. . . Flange

564. . . Securing clip

568. . . Hollow cylinder

570. . . Shading

572. . . Shading

574. . . Connection

576. . . gap

582. . . Fixed part

584. . . Horizontal department

586. . . Extension

588. . . Protrusion

592. . . Vertical part

594. . . Hook

600. . . Fiber optic adapter

610. . . Ontology

670. . . Shading

696. . . Hook

697. . . Vertical part

698. . . Horizontal department

700. . . Fiber optic adapter

770. . . Shading

Figure 1: A perspective view of a conventional fiber optic adapter and fiber optic connector.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a conventional fiber optic adapter having a light blocking effect.

Figure 3: A perspective view of a conventional protective device for a fiber optic adapter.

Figure 4: is a perspective view of a conventional SC type fiber optic connector.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of an SC-type fiber optic adapter according to a first embodiment of the present invention, wherein the shading member is separated from the body of the fiber optic adapter.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the body of the SC type optical fiber adapter of the first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing an SC type optical fiber adapter according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Figures 8 to 9 show the insertion of a fiber optic connector into the SC-type fiber optic adapter of the first embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a SC-type fiber optic adapter according to a second embodiment of the present invention, wherein the shading member is separated from the body of the fiber optic adapter.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of an SC type optical fiber adapter according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view showing an LC type optical fiber adapter of a third embodiment of the present invention.

510. . . Ontology

511. . . Top side wall

513. . . Right side wall

514. . . Left side wall

518. . . Opening

519. . . Concave

564. . . Securing clip

570. . . Shading

572. . . Shading

574. . . Connection

576. . . gap

584. . . Horizontal department

594. . . Hook

Claims (11)

A fiber optic adapter includes: a body having an axial chamber defined by a first wall, a second wall, a third wall and a fourth wall, wherein the first wall and the first The three walls are opposite to each other and are connected to the second and fourth walls, and the second and fourth walls are respectively provided with an opening; and an elastic shading member comprises: a horizontal portion disposed in the chamber, and Positioned on the third wall; two vertical portions are integrally formed with the horizontal portion and respectively extend from opposite sides of the horizontal portion; the two hook portions are respectively extended from the vertical portions and abut An inner wall of the opening in the second and fourth walls; a light shielding portion disposed in the chamber for blocking a propagation path of the light beam emitted from the chamber; and a connecting portion and the horizontal portion And the light shielding portion is connected. The fiber optic adapter of claim 1, wherein the second and fourth walls are respectively formed with a recess, the elastic shading member further comprising: two extending portions respectively extending from opposite sides of the horizontal portion, And extending into the recesses. The fiber optic adapter of claim 2, wherein the two extensions are respectively formed with protrusions on the surfaces thereof to abut against the inner walls of the recesses. The fiber optic adapter of claim 2, wherein the recesses are respectively located at a boundary between the second and fourth walls and the third wall. The fiber optic adapter of claim 1, wherein the hook portions are flat. The optical fiber adapter of claim 1, wherein the light shielding member further comprises another hook extending from the connecting portion and attached to the third wall outside the housing. The optical fiber adapter of claim 1, wherein the third wall of the outdoor space is formed with a recess, the light blocking member further comprises another hook extending from the connecting portion and attached to the concave portion. Inside. A light shielding member for a fiber optic adapter, the fiber optic adapter comprising a body having an axial chamber defined by a first wall, a second wall, a third wall and a fourth wall, The first wall is opposite to the third wall and is connected to the second and fourth walls, and the second and fourth walls are respectively provided with an opening, the light shielding member comprises: a horizontal portion; two vertical portions, Respectively extending from opposite sides of the horizontal portion; the two hook portions are respectively extended by the vertical portions; a light shielding portion; and a connecting portion connected to the horizontal portion and the light shielding portion, wherein the horizontal portion For arranging in the chamber, the hook portions are for abutting the inner walls of the openings in the second and fourth walls, the light shielding portions are configured to be disposed in the chamber to block The propagation path of the light beam emitted from the chamber. The light-shielding member of claim 8, further comprising: two extending portions respectively extending from opposite sides of the horizontal portion, and a protrusion is formed on a surface of each of the extending portions. The light-shielding member of claim 8, wherein the light-shielding member further comprises another hook extending from the connecting portion for attaching to the third wall of the outdoor chamber. The light-shielding member according to claim 8, wherein the hook portions are flat.