WO2005111686A1

WO2005111686A1 - Optical connector

Info

Publication number: WO2005111686A1
Application number: PCT/JP2004/006449
Authority: WO
Inventors: Shigehiro Oi
Original assignee: Honda Tsushin Kogyo Co., Ltd.; Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2004-05-13
Filing date: 2004-05-13
Publication date: 2005-11-24
Also published as: JPWO2005111686A1; JP4032074B2

Abstract

An optical connector (1) for fitting a connector plug (2) in a connector receptacle (3) to connect them together by an optical fiber (7a), comprising a fixed housing (5) which holds an optical cable (7) in such a manner as to make its optical fiber (7a) project in the direction of connection and whose front end opens to serve as a fit section for the receptacle (3), and a slide protection cover (6)slidably contained in the front end of the plug main body, controlled and held by locking means (5a, 6a, 6f) so as not to move in the direction of connection, and adapted to loosely fit the optical fiber in a protection insert hole (6c). In the optical connector, the receptacle (3) is provided with a movement release means (3a) which, when the slide protection cover (6) is inserted in the receptacle (3), allows the slide protection cover (6) to retract with respect to the fixed housing (5), thereby preventing damage to the optical fiber (7a) on the plug side and solving the problem of unstability of the optical fiber (7a).

Description

Specification

Optical connector

Technical field

The present invention relates to a protection mechanism for an optical fiber on a plug side in an optical connector.

Background art

Conventionally, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-90577, fitting of a connector plug (hereinafter simply referred to as a plug) and a connector receptacle (hereinafter simply referred to as a receptacle) in connection of an optical cable is performed. In this case, the optical fiber in the plug is known in which an optical cable is fixed to a plug housing, protrudes from a fixed portion thereof, and is protected by a cover slidably supported by the plug housing.

[0003] In conventional optical connectors, the force of fixing an optical fiber to a metal or other ferrule with an adhesive In recent years, the optical fiber is connected to the other optical fiber with a slight urging force and connected as it is There is a ferrule-less type to make. In this case, there is a case in which a box-shaped cover for protecting the optical fiber slides in the axial direction of the plug housing. However, since the cover is easily moved by hand and the optical fiber is easily exposed, the fiber may be broken. In addition, the optical fiber is unstable because there is nothing to guide the optical fiber at the time of blurring or immediate connection.

Disclosure of the invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

[0004] As described above, there is a problem in preventing damage to the optical fiber on the plug side of the optical connector and eliminating instability of the optical fiber.

Means for solving the problem

The gist of the optical connector according to the present invention is to provide an optical connector in which a connector plug and a connector receptacle are fitted and connected by one optical fiber.

A fixed housing that holds the optical cable and holds the optical fiber so as to protrude in the connection direction, and has an opening at the tip end to be a fitting portion with the receptacle. And a through hole for protecting the optical fiber, which is slidably included in the distal end side of the fixed housing and is held by the locking means so as not to move in the connection direction. Consists of a slide protection cover that fits loosely into the

The receptacle is provided with a movement releasing means for allowing the slide protection cover to retreat with respect to the fixed housing when the slide protection cover is inserted into the receptacle.

[0006] Further, the receptacle is provided with return means for returning the slide protection cover to the original position on the plug when the plug mounted on the receptacle is moved in the detaching direction;

Further, the fixed housing is provided with a release means for releasing the slide protection cover from engaging with the return means of the receptacle and preventing it from being moved in the release direction when the plug mounted on the receptacle is moved in the release direction. Being done,

Is included.

The invention's effect

[0007] According to the optical connector of the present invention, the optical fiber, which has been stripped of the optical cable power coating and exposed, is protected by being loosely fitted into the insertion hole of the slide protection cover, and even if the plug is touched by hand. Since the slide protection cover does not move in the connection direction, it is reliably protected. Then, only when the plug is fitted into the receptacle of the mating partner, the slide protection cover can move backward and move, and only then does the optical fiber move relatively forward from the through hole. And is connected to the optical fiber 1 on the receptacle side.

[0008] Further, the optical fiber on the plug side is protected by the through hole of the slide protective cover, and is guided by the through hole so as not to be shaken, thereby improving the stability of the connection of the optical fiber. Things.

Further, the slide protection cover is automatically returned to the original position when the slide protection cover is pulled out by the return means on the receptacle side, so that the optical fiber is protected, and safety is always ensured.

In addition, the release means in the fixed housing allows the slide protection cover to be returned to the original position during the removal operation and then automatically detached from the receptacle. Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is a plan view (A) of a plug 2 in an optical connector 1 according to the present invention, and a cross-sectional view (B) taken along line AA in the same figure.

FIG. 2 is a plan view (A), a sectional view (B), a left side view (C), a right side view (D), and a bottom view (E) of the fixed housing 5 in the optical connector 1 of the present invention. .

FIG. 3 is a plan view (A), a front view (B), a left side view (C), a right side view (D), and a bottom view (E) of the slide protection cover 6 in the optical connector 1 of the present invention. is there.

FIG. 4 is a plan view (A) and a sectional view (B) of the receptacle 3 in the optical connector 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view (A) and a cross-sectional view (B) showing a part of the optical connector 1 according to the present invention during insertion of the plug 2 into the receptacle 3 and showing a part of the plug 2 cut away.

FIG. 6 is a plan view (A) and a cross-sectional view (B) showing a state where the plug 2 is completely inserted into the receptacle 3 in the optical connector 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view (A) showing the use state of the optical connector 1 of the present invention in the middle of detachment, and a sectional view showing a state in which the slide protection cover 6 can be detached by means for releasing the fixing housing ( B).

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0010] The optical connector 1 according to the present invention comprises a connector plug 2 and a connector receptacle 3 made of synthetic resin. First, the plug 2 is shown in FIGS. 1 (A) and 1 (B). As described above, the boot housing 4 for gripping and fixing the optical cape 7 and the optical cable 7 and the optical fiber 1a are protruded and held in the connecting direction, and the distal end portion is opened and the fitting portion with the receptacle 3 is provided. The connection direction a is provided by the fixed housing 5 and the upper end of the fixed housing 5 which is slidably included on the distal end side of the fixed housing 5 and is provided with the upper locking projections 5a, 6a and 6f serving as locking means. And a slide protection cover 6 which is held so as not to move in the detaching direction b and which holds the optical fiber 7a loosely in the protection through hole 6c.

[0011] The boot housing 4 has a through hole 4a through which an end of the optical cable 7 is inserted, and is pressed into the fixed housing 5 and fixed. There is a locking claw 4b that locks to the receptacle 3 side and a release button 4c that releases the locking action. As shown in FIGS. 2 (A)-(E), the fixed housing 5 cannot move in the detaching direction because the slide protection cover 6 is engaged with the projection 3 b which is the return means of the receptacle 3. A locking projection 5b is provided as a releasing means for releasing.

[0013] Further, a cable holding plate 5c extending obliquely downward is provided on the boot housing insertion side of the fixed housing 5, and through holes 5d for passing optical fibers are provided at two locations along the connection direction a. There is 5e. Further, there are two through holes 5f for one optical fiber also on the receptacle fitting side.

Further, trapezoidal concave wall surfaces 5g and 5h for sliding contact with the slide protection cover 6 are provided on left and right inner wall surfaces on the receptacle fitting side.

As shown in FIG. 1, the slide protection cover 6 is slidably contained in the internal space on the receptacle fitting side of the fixed housing 5 along the connection direction a and the disengagement direction b. It is. In the structure, as shown in FIG. 3, two through holes 6c for protecting the optical fiber 17a are provided in the front body portion. On the upper part, an arm portion extending rearward is provided with a locking projection 6a as a locking means and a release projection 6d for releasing the locking action on the left and right sides.

[0016] A flat plate-shaped arm extends rearward from below the front body, and a locking projection 6b is provided. On the left and right side walls of the front body, trapezoidal protrusions 6e are provided which are slidably guided by the wall surfaces 5g and 5h of the fixed housing 5. The upper tapered projection 6f is in contact with the upper engaging portion 5i (see FIG. 2D) of the fixed housing 5 to prevent the fixed housing 5 from coming off.

As shown in FIG. 4, the receptacle 3 is a transparent box having one side open, and the slide protection cover 6 is inserted into the receptacle 3 in an internal space of the box. When the slide protection cover 6 is moved, the slide protection cover 6 is provided with a movement releasing means 3a which allows the slide protection cover 6 to retreat along the detaching direction b with respect to the fixed housing 5. The movement releasing means 3a is, specifically, a projection 3a projecting inward from the left and right side walls near the opening.

Further, the receptacle 3 is provided with a return means 3b for returning the slide protection cover 6 to the original position when the plug 2 mounted on the receptacle 3 is moved in the detaching direction b. I have. This is, specifically, an internal space provided at the center of the opening on the bottom plate. Tapered projections 3b that allow "in" and prevent "out" in between.

[0019] In addition, two fitting projections 3c are provided at two locations for alignment with the insertion hole 6c of the slide protection cover 6 for connection with the optical fiber 7a on the plug side. The through hole 3d in the upper part is for locking and locking the locking claw 4b.

The manner in which the optical fiber of the optical connector 1 is connected by the plug 2 and the receptacle 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7.

In connection of the optical connector 1, an optical cable 7 is connected like a plug 2 shown in FIG. 1, a boot housing 4 is pressed into a fixed housing 5, and a slide protection cover 6 is attached to the fixed housing 5.

Then, the locking projection 6a abuts on the locking projection 5a, and the upper engagement portion 5i abuts on the projection 6f, so that the locking projection 6a cannot be moved in the connection direction a and the disengagement direction b. The plug 2 in this state is inserted from the opening of the receptacle 3 with the slide protection cover 6 at the top.

As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, when the slide housing 6 enters the internal space of the receptacle 3, the release protrusion 6d is forcibly moved inward by the protrusion 3a of the movement release means. As a result, the locking action in which the locking projection 6a is in contact with the locking projection 5a of the fixed housing 5 is released, and the fixed housing 5 can further enter the connection direction a. Further, the locking projection 6b of the slide housing 6 is located on the connection side beyond the projection 3b which is a return means of the receptacle 3.

Further, when the plug 2 enters the connection direction a, as shown in FIG. 6, the tip of the slide housing 6 engages with the fitting projection 3 c of the receptacle 3, and the front end of the fixed housing 5. Penetrates deep into the receptacle 3, the locking claw 4b is locked in the hole 3d, and the plug 2 is locked so as not to come off. The optical fiber 7a advances and advances near the opening at the front end of the slide protection cover 6, and comes into contact with the end face of the optical fiber 1 on the receptacle side with a slight urging force. Thus, the optical connection is completed.

Next, in order to remove the plug 2 from the receptacle 3, from the connection completed state shown in FIG. 6, the button 4c is pushed down by hand, and the locking claw 4b is removed from the hole 3d. In the release direction b. As a result, the locking force is released, and the plug 2 retreats as shown in FIG. [0025] Since the locking projection 6d is engaged with the locking projection 5a of the fixed housing 5 that moves backward, the slide protection cover 6 is pulled in the detaching direction b and retreats. The tip of the slide protection cover 6 is separated from the fitting projection 3c. Further, the locking projection 6b at the lower part of the slide protection cover 6 comes into contact with the projection 3b.

[0026] The slide protection cover 6 stops moving, but the fixed housing 5 further retreats, and the protrusion 6d moves over the locking protrusion 3a (see FIG. 5 (A)), returns to the original position, and locks. The projection 6a comes into contact with the locking projection 5a. The optical fiber 7a is retracted with respect to the slide protection cover 6, and is safely protected. In this state, the slide protection cover 6 cannot move with respect to the fixed housing 5 in the detaching direction b. In the connection direction a, the projection 6f cannot move because the projection 6f comes into contact with the upper engagement projection 5i.

Next, as shown in FIG. 7B, when the fixed housing 5 is pulled out in the detaching direction b, the locking projection

5b pushes the locking projection 6b upward with the flat arm of the slide protection cover 6 radiused. Then, the engagement of the locking projection 6b with the projection 3b is released, and the slide protection cover 6 is detached from the opening of the receptacle 3 together with the fixed housing 5. Thus, the plug 2 returns to the original state shown in FIG.

Industrial applicability

[0028] As described above, the optical connector according to the present invention is useful for use in a connection portion of an optical cable. In fitting the connector plug and the connector receptacle in the connection of the optical cable, the optical connector on the plug side is used. Since the optical fiber is prevented from being damaged and the instability of the optical fiber is eliminated, it is particularly suitable as an optical connector of a ferruleless type or the like.

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] In an optical connector in which a connector plug and a connector receptacle are fitted and connected by an optical fiber,

A fixed housing that holds the optical cable and holds the optical fiber so as to protrude in the connection direction, and has an opening at the tip end to serve as a fitting portion with the receptacle;

A slide which is slidably contained on the distal end side of the fixed housing and is held by the locking means so as not to move in the connection direction, and which loosely fits the optical fiber into the through hole for protection. Consisting of a protective cover,

The receptacle is provided with a movement releasing means for allowing the slide protection cover to retreat with respect to the fixed housing when the slide protection cover is inserted into the receptacle. connector.

[2] The receptacle is provided with a return means for returning the slide protection cover to the original position on the plug when the plug mounted on the receptacle is moved in the detaching direction. Optical connector according to 1.

[3] In the fixed housing, when the plug attached to the receptacle is moved in the release direction, the slide protection cover is engaged with the return means of the receptacle and cannot be moved in the release direction. 3. The optical connector according to claim 1, wherein means is provided.