WO2000067055A1

WO2000067055A1 - Plug-in connector for optical waveguides

Info

Publication number: WO2000067055A1
Application number: PCT/IB2000/000518
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dirk Reifel; Michael Ferstl; Carsten Buck
Original assignee: Tyco Electronics Logistics Ag
Priority date: 1999-04-29
Filing date: 2000-04-26
Publication date: 2000-11-09
Also published as: DE19919591A1; DE19919591C2

Abstract

The invention relates to a plug-in connector for optical waveguides. The connector comprises a plug part (1) which has at least one socket (3) for receiving a plug pin (4) and has a mating plug (2), e.g. a pin strip, for receiving the plug part (1). A protective device (7) for protecting the face of the plug pin (4) is arranged on the plug part (1). Said protective device can be moved from a closed position, in which the face of the plug pin (4) is covered, into an opened position, in which the face is exposed. The protective device (7) is moved into the opened position when the plug part (1) is linearly inserted into the mating plug (2), and is moved into the closed position when the plug is removed. The protective device (7) is displaced perpendicularly to the direction of connecting by means of a guide part and a control path situated between the protective device (7) and the mating plug (2).

Description

description

Plug connection for optical waveguide

The invention relates to a plug connection for optical fibers with a socket plug, which has at least one socket for receiving a plug pin and a mating connector, such as. B. a pin header for receiving the socket plug, a protective device for protecting the end face of the plug pin being arranged on the plug part, which can be moved from a closed position with a hidden end face of the plug pin into an open position with an exposed end face and the protective device when the plug part is inserted linearly into the mating plug is moved into the open position and when pulling out into the closed position and the movement of the protective device is effected by the interaction of a guide part and a control path between the protective device and the mating connector.

Such a connector is known from EP 0 570 652 B1. With this plug-in connection, the protective device consists of a cover which is pivotably mounted on the plug part, which according to one embodiment variant is simply opened when the plug part is inserted into the mating connector, and according to a second embodiment variant is opened and at the same time is displaced in the direction of the plug part.

The design of the protective device as a pivotable cover has the disadvantage that it can easily open when handling the plug part. According to a further development, this is biased by a spring in the closed position, which means that it cannot be prevented, however, that the lid opens unintentionally when handling and contaminants thus reach the end face of the plug pin. From US-PS 4,775,327 a similar connector is known, here the protective device consists of two plates with openings, which are mutually displaced so that the two plates mutually cover their openings when unplugged. Both plates can be moved in the direction of insertion and are biased in their position by springs. The one of the two plates, the openings of which are not aligned with the connector pins, can also be moved transversely to the direction of insertion and is also pretensioned by springs and is pushed over a guide link when the connector part is inserted into the mating connector until the openings of the two plates are aligned with the connector pins. At the same time, the two plates are also pressed in the direction of the connector pins, so that they can enter the mating connector through the openings in the plates.

This version of the protective device has the disadvantage that, in the case of multipole plugs, the plug pins cannot be arranged close to one another, since otherwise the openings in the two plates would be too large so that they could cover one another.

Another disadvantage is that the springs, which preload the plates in their closed position, wear out over time and thus a secure closure or a safe functioning of the mechanism is no longer guaranteed.

The invention is therefore based on the object of developing a generic plug connection in such a way that the risk of unintentional opening of the protective device when handling the plug part is minimized and nevertheless safe operation of the protective device is ensured over a large number of plug-in operations. This object is achieved in that the protective device is displaceable perpendicular to the direction of insertion via a linear movement.

By designing the protective device as a slide, the risk of unintentional opening compared to the flap solution is significantly reduced. The simple lateral linear displacement of the protective device can be done in a simple manner by the interaction of a guide part and a control path between the protective device and mating connector and without the use of any springs which limit the service life. Since the protective device is laterally displaced relative to the connector pins, these can also be arranged as closely as desired.

An advantageous further development provides that when the plug part is inserted into the mating connector, the protective device can first be displaced linearly perpendicular to the plug direction and then counter to the plug direction in the direction of the plug part.

The advantage of this design is that the protective device no longer protrudes beyond the end face of the plug pin in the open state.

The design is particularly advantageous if the plug pin is designed to lead in the plugging direction with respect to the plug part and a socket is formed in the mating plug, which projects inwards in the receiving direction. In this constellation, the protective device is displaced by the two linear movements so that it does not hinder insertion of the connector pins into the receptacle sockets in the mating connector.

In order to further reduce the risk of unintentional opening of the protective device, a locking device is provided in the latter. Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the subclaims.

The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings. The drawings show:

Figure 1 is an oblique view of the plug part with closed protection device and one

Mating connector in a first embodiment;

Figure 2 shows the plug part in an oblique view with the protective device closed;

FIG. 3 shows an oblique view of the plug part with the protective device pushed upwards;

Figure 4 shows the plug part with the protective device open and moved in an oblique view;

Figure 5 shows the plug part in an oblique view without a protective device;

6a and 6b are oblique views of the protective device;

Figures 7a to 7c different sections of the connector part and the mating connector with the protective device still closed;

FIGS. 8a to 8c the views according to FIGS. 2a to 2c with the protective device pushed upwards; FIGS. 9a to 9c show the sections according to FIGS. 2a to 2c with the protective device fully open;

10a to 10c show the sections according to FIGS. 2a to 2c with the protective device completely open and displaced in the plugging direction;

Figure 11 is an exploded view of a second

Design variant;

FIG. 12 shows a cross section of the second embodiment variant in the plugged-in state with the protective device opened and moved;

Figure 13 is an exploded view of a third

Design variant with a two-part protective device;

FIG. 14 shows a cross section of the third embodiment variant with the protective device closed; and

FIG. 15 shows a cross section of the third embodiment variant with the protective device opened and moved.

Figures 1 to 10 show a first embodiment of a connector for optical fibers.

The plug connection consists of a plug part 1 and a mating plug 2. The plug part 1 has a number of sockets 3, which serve to receive a plug pin 4 (see eg FIG. 6). The optical waveguides, not shown, are held in the connector pins 4. The mating connector 2 has a number of receptacles 5 in which in each case the connector pins 4 are inserted during the plugging process. The receptacles 5 protrude from the front inner wall 6 to a certain extent against the direction of insertion.

In order to protect the front side of the plug pin 4 from damage and contamination when unplugged, a protective device 7 is provided on the plug part 1. The protective device 7 is designed such that it opens when the plug part 1 is inserted into the mating plug 2 and closes again when the plug part 1 is pulled out of the mating plug 2. According to this first exemplary embodiment, a control track 8 is formed on the protective device 7 and a corresponding guide part 9 is formed on the mating connector. In this exemplary embodiment, the control track 8 consists of a control bead which projects laterally on the protective device and which is guided between two inwardly projecting pins which represent the guide part 9 when it is inserted into the counter-scanner.

Figures 2 to 4 each show the plug part 1 in an oblique view, with the protective device 7 closed in Figure 2, half open in Figure 3 and already fully open in Figure 4.

FIG. 5 also shows the plug part 1 in an oblique view, but without a protective device 7.

In FIGS. 6a and 6b, the protective device 7 is shown in isolation in an oblique view. The protective device 7 is essentially U-shaped from above and has on its side walls 10 on the inside protruding cylinders 11 which are mounted in a corresponding control groove 12 on the plug part 1 (see for example FIG. 5) Condition. On the outside of the side walls 10 of the protective device 7, the control track 8 designed as a control bead is arranged. The middle section of the Protective device 7 is essentially L-shaped in cross section, so that in the closed state it shields the front ends of the plug pins 4 from above and at the end. On the inside of the middle part of the protective device 7, cutouts 13 are provided on the front side, into which the foremost end of the plug pins 4 is received when the protective device is closed.

In order to reduce the risk of inadvertent opening of the protective device 7 when handling the plug part 1, a locking device is formed between the protective device 7 and the plug part 1. The locking device consists in each case of a detent spring 14, which is integrated in the side walls 10 of the protective device 7 and projects downward beyond the underside of the protective device 7. This locking spring 14 engages in the closed state of the protective device 7 (see FIG. 2) in a recess 15 on the plug part 1, so that the nose of the locking spring engages behind the recess edge. To unlock the detent spring, a rib 16 is provided in the mating connector 2, which, when the plug part 1 is inserted into the mating connector 2, presses the nose of the detent spring 14 inwards, so that the detent spring 14 is unhindered with the protective device 7 from the recess 15 in the plug part 1 can be moved out.

The movement of the protective device 7 during the opening process takes place via two linear movements. FIG. 2 shows the initial situation with the protective device 7 closed. The first linear movement is a vertical lifting of the protective device, the end position of which is shown in FIG. 3. In the second linear movement, the protective device is moved horizontally in the direction of the plug part 1. FIG. 4 shows the plug part 1 with the protective device 7 fully open, that is to say in the end position after both linear movements. The course of the movement of the two linear movements can be clearly seen from the course of the control groove 12 in FIG.

The movement sequence and the movement mechanism of the protective device 7 are explained in more detail below by means of FIGS. 7a to 10c.

FIG. 7a shows the mating connector 2 with the connector part 1 not yet inserted in a section along the lateral inner wall of the mating connector 2. In its first horizontal section, the control track 8 of the protective device 7 is already between the two pins which represent the guide part 9, added.

Figure 7b shows the same position as shown in Figure 7a, but in section through the control groove 12 in the connector part 1. The two cylinders 11 on the inside of the side wall 10 of the protective device 7 are in the control groove 12 in the position which the closed protective device 7 corresponds.

In this view it can also be seen very clearly how the front end of the plug pin 4 is received in the recess 13 of the protective device 7.

FIG. 7c shows the connector part 1 and the mating connector 2 in the same position as shown in FIG. 7a and FIG. 7b, but in a section which runs through the axis of a connector pin 4. It can be seen very clearly that the protective device 7 is essentially L-shaped in cross-section and protects the front end of the plug pin 4 both on the front side and from above.

The plug pin 4 is designed such that its front end projects beyond the end face of the plug part 1. The extent to which the connector pin 4 projects beyond the end face of the connector part 1 is selected so that when the connector is completely inserted plug part 1, the end face of the connector pin 4 runs almost flush with the outside of the mating connector 2. This is crucial for good optocoupling.

FIGS. 8a to 8c show the sections according to FIGS. 7a to 7c, the connector part 1 being inserted into the mating connector 2 so far that the protective device 7 is in the vertical opening movement. In Figure 8a it can be seen that the two pins, which the

Form guide part 9, are located in the central diagonal section of the control track 8. When the plug part 1 is inserted into the mating connector 2, the protective device 7 is thus raised above the diagonally extending section of the control track 8, which slides onto the pin of the guide part 9. In order to ensure an exact vertical lifting movement, the protective device 7 is guided over the two cylinders 11 in the control groove 12 (see FIG. 8b).

FIGS. 9a to 9c likewise show the views of FIGS. 7a to 7c, the plug part 1 having already been pushed into the mating connector to such an extent that the protective device 7 has already been raised completely via the control track 8 and thus the third horizontal region of the control track 8 is located between the two pins which form the guide part 9. As can also be seen particularly well from FIGS. 9b and 9c, the connector pins 4 are completely released by the protective device 7 and can therefore be pushed further into the receptacle sockets 5 of the mating connector 2. From the position of the cylinders 11 in FIG. 9b it can be clearly seen that the protective device 7 has so far only been raised perpendicular to the direction of insertion of the plug part 1 into the mating connector 2.

FIGS. 10a to 10c likewise show the sections according to FIGS. 7a to 7c, the plug part 1 now being fully inserted into the mating plug 2. When inserting the Plug part 1 from the position shown in Figures 9a to 9c to the position shown in Figures 10a to 10c, the protective device 7 abuts with its end face against the inner wall of the mating connector 2 and is then along the third horizontal section of the control track 8 in the connector part 1 moved in. As can be seen very well in FIG. 10b, the cylinders 11 on the inside of the side wall 10 of the protective device 7 are simultaneously pushed into the horizontal sections of the control groove 12. The protective device 7 is thus moved back both behind the end face of the plug pin 4 and behind the end face of the plug part 1 in the open state.

By means of the two linear movements, that is to say lifting and moving the protective device 7 into the plug part 1, it is also possible to protect the plug pins 4 protruding over the end face of the plug part 1 and nevertheless to guide them into a mating connector 2 such that the forehead - Side of the connector pins 4 runs almost flush with the outside of the mating connector 2.

To secure the connector part 1 in the mating connector 2, a manually operable latching lever 17 is arranged on the top of the connector part 1, which engages with its latching projection 18 in a corresponding mating latch 19 in the mating connector when the connector part 1 is inserted into the mating connector 2. To pull out the plug part 1, it is only necessary to press on the latching lever 17 in order to move the latch 18 out of the counter latch 19.

FIGS. 11 and 12 show a second exemplary embodiment of the invention. FIG. 11 shows the second exemplary embodiment in an exploded view. All features which correspond in function to those of the first exemplary embodiment are provided with the same reference symbols and are not explained in more detail.

In this embodiment, the plug part 1 has only two sockets 3 for receiving the plug pins 4. In the mating connector 2 there are also two receptacles 5 (see FIG. 12), which project against the plugging direction over the inner wall 6 of the mating connector 2.

The difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment according to Figures 1 to 10 is that the control track is not designed as a control bead, but as a control groove, and as a guide part 9 in the mating connector, only an inwardly projecting pin is provided, which in the control groove engages. The control groove also has only a horizontal section for inserting the pin 9 and a diagonal section. A third horizontal section in the control path, as in the first embodiment, is not provided. The protective device 7 is also pushed into the plug part 1 after lifting, but here it slides on a projection 20 in the plug part 1. The plug part 1 has slots 21 on both sides in the housing, through which the pins 9, which form the guide part , engage inwardly in the control path 8 of the protective device, which is designed as a control groove.

FIG. 12 shows a cross section of the second embodiment variant in the completely assembled state. As in the first embodiment variant, the protective device 7 is raised upwards and pushed so far into the plug part 1 that the end face of the plug pins 4 is in alignment with the outside of the mating plug 2 when inserted. Figures 13 to 15 show a third embodiment of the invention, in which the protective device 7 is formed in two parts.

All features which correspond to those of the first two embodiments are also provided with the same reference numerals and are not explained in more detail.

Figure 13 shows the third embodiment of the connector in an exploded view. In this embodiment, the protective device 7 is formed in two parts, the upper half being moved upward and the lower half being moved downward during the opening process and then both halves of the protective device being pushed into the plug part 1.

Figure 14 shows a cross section of the third embodiment with the protective device 7 still closed. The protective device 7 is designed such that the two halves of the protective device 7 lie flat on one another in the plane of the plug pins 4 and thus the plug pins 4 from above, below, on the end face and from protect the side against contamination and damage.

FIG. 15 shows the plug connection of the third embodiment in cross section, the plug part 1 having already been pushed completely into the mating plug 2 and the two halves of the protective device 7 being pushed upwards or downwards into the plug part 1.

As can be seen from FIG. 13, the control tracks 8 are also designed here as control grooves, into which pins 9 designed as guide parts engage on the inside of the mating connector 2 during the plug-in process, and thus the protective device 7 first perpendicular to the plug-in direction and then into the plug part move in.

Claims

claims

1. Plug connection for optical fibers with a plug part (1) which has at least one socket (3) for receiving a plug pin (4) and a mating connector (2), such as. B. a pin header, for receiving the plug part (1), a protective device (7) for protecting the end face of the plug pin (4) being arranged on the plug part (1), which from a closed position with a concealed end face of the plug pin (4) into a Opening position with the exposed end face is movable, and the protective device (7) when the plug part (1) is linearly inserted into the mating connector (2) is moved into the open position and when pulled out into the closed position, and the movement of the protective device (7) by the interaction of a guide part (9) and a control track (8) between the protective device (7) and mating connector (2), characterized in that the protective device (7) can be displaced by a linear movement perpendicular to the direction of insertion.

2. Connector according to / claim 1, characterized in that the protective device (7) when inserting the plug part (1) into the mating connector (2) first perpendicular to the plug direction and then against the plug direction in the direction of the plug part (1) is displaceable.

3. Plug connection according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the plug pin (4) protrudes over the end face of the plug part (1) and the protective device (7) is first displaceable transversely to the longitudinal axis of the plug part (1) and then in the area is displaceable above or below the plug pin (4), so that the protective device (7) no longer protrudes beyond the end face of the plug pin (4).

4. Plug connection according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the protective device (7) in the open state behind the end face of the plug part (1) is displaceable.

5. Plug connection according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the mating connector (2) has a receptacle (5) for receiving the plug pin (4) and the receptacle (5) in

Projection direction of the connector pin (4) projects over the inner wall (6).

6. Plug connection according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the protective device (7) in cross section along the plug-in direction is substantially L-shaped and in the closed state covers the at least one plug pin (4) on the front and from above.

7. Plug connection according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the protective device (7) is formed from above substantially U-shaped and has at least one projecting cylinder (11) on its side parts (10) on the inside which engages in a corresponding control groove (12) on the plug part (1) in the assembled state, the geometry of the control groove (12) corresponding to the movement of the cylinder (11).

8. Plug connection according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the protective device (7) is closed in the closed state via a locking device.

9. Plug connection according to claim 8, characterized in that the locking device is designed as a detent spring (14) on the protective device (7), which in the closed state engages in a recess (15) on the plug part (1) and which has a rib (16) in the mating plug (2) when the plug part is inserted (1) is unlocked in the mating connector (2).

10. Plug connection according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the control track (8) in each case in the side wall (10) of the protective device (7) is formed and the guide part (9) is provided on the inner side walls of the mating connector (2) is.

11. Plug connection according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the control track (8) is designed as a control groove and the guide part (9) each as an inwardly projecting pin.

12. Plug connection according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the control track (8) as a projecting control bead and the guide part (9) are each formed as two inwardly projecting pins between which the control bead is guided.

13. Plug connection according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the protective device (7) consists of two halves which are displaceable in opposite directions when the plug part (1) is inserted into the mating connector (2).

14. Plug connection according to claim 13, characterized in that the two halves of the protective device (7) the plug pin or one or more rows of plug pins in the closed Senen ^Z ustand enclose so that the _S or ^S teckerstift teckerstif e ⁽⁴⁾ from above, are protected un _d laterally below.