WO2007017948A1

WO2007017948A1 - Flexible optical waveguide connector

Info

Publication number: WO2007017948A1
Application number: PCT/JP2005/014751
Authority: WO
Inventors: Shigehiro Oi; Masahiro Yamada; Koichiro Yoshimura
Original assignee: Honda Tsushin Kogyo Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2005-08-11
Filing date: 2005-08-11
Publication date: 2007-02-15
Also published as: JPWO2007017948A1; JP4625500B2

Abstract

A flexible optical waveguide connector (1) is provided with an optical device module (2); a slider (4), which moves forward and backward by sliding toward a light emitting section end plane or a light receiving section end plane (2a) of the optical device module (2), and engages with a flat cable (3) having an optical waveguide; and a cover member (5), which maintains the flat cable (3) being bent, by having the slider (4) advance a necessary quantity toward the optical device module (2). Thus, the flexible optical waveguide connector for surely connecting the flat cable (3) to a connecting end plane of the optical device module (2) is provided.

Description

Specification

Flexible optical waveguide connector

Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a flexible optical waveguide connector for connecting a flexible cable having an optical cable and an optical device module or a contact used in a small electronic device such as a mobile phone.

Background art

A connector for a flexible cable according to a conventional example is known that connects an electric signal flat cable, a flexible substrate, or the like. For example, an electrical connector is known in which the flexible substrate or the like is sandwiched and pressed by a contact member of a housing and a rotating lid member to make an electrical connection (for example, JP-A-07-220829, and JP-A-09-35828).

Disclosure of the invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

[0003] However, in recent electronic devices represented by light, thin, and small mobile phones, the space for housing components is further reduced despite the increase in the amount of information. Instead of transmitting and receiving optical signals, it has been considered. In this case, flexible optical signal cables are required, and optical connectors that connect multiple optical waveguides or those that mix optical waveguides and electrical signal lines are used. Although what is to be connected is required, there is currently no connector for handling such optical waveguides. The present invention has been proposed to solve such problems.

Means for solving the problem

[0004] A gist for solving the above-mentioned problems of the flexible optical waveguide connector according to the present invention and achieving the above-described object is a connector for connecting a flexible flat cable having at least an optical waveguide, and an optical device module and The optical device module slides toward the light-emitting part end face or the light-receiving part end face and advances and retreats to the flat cable. A slider to be engaged, and a lid member for holding the flat cable by holding the slider toward the optical device module and moving the slider forward by a required amount.

[0005] The slider is provided with a notch, a concave and convex portion provided in the flat cable, or a locking portion that locks into the hole, and when the slider is advanced through the locking portion. In addition, it is preferable to force the flat cable, which has the tip surface close to or abutted against the light emitting unit end surface or the light receiving unit end surface of the optical device module, to move forward.

Further, it is preferable that the lid member is made of metal and cooperates with a metal cover that covers a portion where the optical device module is disposed to be a member for electrical shielding of the connector.

The invention's effect

[0006] According to the flexible optical waveguide connector according to the present invention, when the lid member of the connector is closed, the flat cable is forcibly advanced by the slider, and the tip surface thereof is the light emitting portion end surface of the optical device module. Or, since it hits the end face of the light receiving section, this flat cable is squeezed in the middle and the state is maintained. Therefore, the state where the front end surface of the flat cable having the optical waveguide is in contact with the light emitting unit end surface or the light receiving unit end surface of the optical device module is maintained. Thus, the end face distance between the optical waveguide and the optical device module can be made constant.

[0007] Since the slider is provided with a locking portion for locking to a part of the flat cable, the flat cable can be surely advanced, and the flat cable is displaced in the backward direction. Can be prevented.

By using a metal cover as a means for advancing the slider, the electrical shielding action of the connector is exhibited and the performance of the connector is improved.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1A is a plan view of a flexible optical waveguide connector 1 according to the present invention.

FIG. 1B is a side sectional view of the flexible optical waveguide connector 1 with a cover member opened.

FIG. 1C is a front view of the flexible optical waveguide connector 1. FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the flexible optical waveguide connector 1.

FIG. 3A is a plan view showing a part of the insulating member 8 in the flexible optical waveguide connector 1 in cross section.

FIG. 3B is a longitudinal side view showing a part of the insulating member 8 in the flexible optical waveguide connector 1 in cross section.

FIG. 3C is a side view of the insulating member 8 in the flexible optical waveguide connector 1.

FIG. 3D is a front view of the insulating member 8 in the flexible optical waveguide connector 1.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of an insulating member 8 in the flexible optical waveguide connector 1.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a part of the insulating member 8 in the flexible optical waveguide connector 1 in cross section.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a flat cable 3 having an optical waveguide.

FIG. 7A is a bottom view of the slider 4 in the flexible optical waveguide connector 1.

FIG. 7B is a side view of the slider 4 in the flexible optical waveguide connector 1.

FIG. 7C is a rear view of the slider 4 in the flexible optical waveguide connector 1.

FIG. 7D is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 7A.

FIG. 8A is a longitudinal side view of the flexible optical waveguide connector 1 in a state where the lid member 5 for explaining the usage state is opened.

FIG. 8B is a longitudinal side view of the flexible optical waveguide connector 1 in a state in which the lid member 5 for explaining the usage state is closed.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the flexible optical waveguide connector 1 in use.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

As shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C to 2, the flexible optical waveguide connector 1 according to the present invention is directed to the optical device module 2 and the light emitting unit end surface 2a or the light receiving unit end surface 2a of the optical device module 2. The slider 4 that slides forwards and backwards and engages the flat cable 3 (see FIG. 6) so as to be sandwiched between the contacts 6, and the slider 4 is advanced toward the optical device module 2 by the required amount. In this way, the metal lid member 5 for deflecting and maintaining the flat cable 3, the electrical signal contact 6, the metal cover 7 covering the part of the optical device module 2, and the synthetic resin equipped with these members Insulation member 8 and Are generally configured.

[0010] As shown in FIGS. 3A to 3D to 4, the insulating member 8 includes a contact press-fitting portion 8a at a substantially central portion, a light emitting device module 8b in the left-right direction, and a flat cable. Receptacle portion 8c for receiving 3; positioning boss 8d for mounting printed circuit board A; swing shaft 8e serving as a swing center of the cover member 5; locking hole 8f for locking and advancing the slider; and lid member 5 locking projections 8g and the like are provided.

[0011] As shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 5, the locking hole 8f is a force that is a hole that penetrates the left and right side walls of the insulating member 8 inward and outward. 8h is provided. The guide walls 8h are disposed to face each other in the left-right direction, and the width therebetween is slightly wider than the left-right width of the slider 4, and the width is narrow just before the locking hole 8f. As a result, the slider 4 is locked to the insulating member 8 and can be moved by the gap in the front-rear direction between the locking hole 8f and the locking protrusion 4a of the slider 4.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 6, the flat cable 3 has two electrical signal circuit paths 3d each having two optical signal circuit paths 3c centered on the optical communication optical waveguide 3c along the longitudinal direction. Is provided. A pad 3e for connection with the contact 6 is provided at the end of the electric circuit 3d. Another example is a case where there are a plurality of optical waveguides and one or more electrical paths.

[0013] As shown in FIGS. 7A to 7D, the slider 4 is made of a synthetic resin having a substantially U-shape as a whole, and the locking projections 4a are provided on both side walls thereof. Further, a locking portion that locks into a notch, an uneven portion or a hole provided in the flat cable 3, such as a notch 3a provided in the middle of both edges in this embodiment. 4b is provided. Further, the connecting body 4c at the center presses the flat cable 3 along the printed board A substantially horizontally. The slider 4 is guided and attached substantially horizontally to the receptacle portion 8c of the insulating member 8.

The lid member 5 is a lid member that is swingably attached to the swing shaft 8e of the insulating member 8. The lid member 5 is made of metal, and cooperates with the metal cover 7 that covers the periphery of the place where the optical device module 2 is disposed to become a member for electrical shielding of the connector 6. ! /

Further, the rear side wall 5a of the lid member 5 acts to advance the slider 4. That is, The lower end portion of the rear side wall 5a abuts on the inclined portion 4d (see FIGS. 7B and 7D) of the slider 4 and is further forcibly closed to move the lower end portion downward, thereby The slider 4 is moved forward by the component force in the portion 4d.

In this way, the optical device module 2, the slider 4, the contact 6, and the lid member 5 are each assembled on the insulating member 8, thereby completing the flexible optical waveguide connector 1. Then, as shown in FIG. 8A, the flexible optical waveguide connector 1 is surface-mounted on the printed circuit board A, and the lid member 5 is opened.

Next, the end portion of the flat cable 3 is passed through the slider 4, the receptor cable portion 8 c of the insulating member 8 is passed through, and the flat cable 3 is inserted close to or abutted against the end face of the optical device module 2. Then, as shown in FIG. 9, the locking portion 4b of the slider 4 enters the notch 3a of the flat cable 3 and is locked. Then, as shown in FIG. 8B, the lid member 5 is closed around the sliding shaft 8e.

[0018] The rear side wall 5a of the lid member 5 comes into contact with the inclined portion 4d of the slider 4 and pushes the slider 4 forward by its component force. Since the locking portion 4b of the slider 4 is locked to the notch 3a of the flat cable 3, the flat cable 3 is pushed forward.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 8B, the flat cable 3 is forcibly advanced to the end face 2a of the light emitting part or the light receiving part end face 2a of the optical device module 2, and the tip part comes into contact therewith. A part of the stagnation part 3b is formed. The stagnation portion 3b is formed between the locking portion 4b of the slider 4 and the coupling body 4c. That is also a force that the receptacle portion 8c holds the flat cable 3 between the light emitting portion end surface or the light receiving portion end surface 2a and the coupling body 4c.

[0020] When the lid member 5 is closed, the lid member 5 is engaged with the locking projection 8g of the insulating member 8 and locked. Thus, the lid member 5 is positioned so that the slider 4 does not move backward in the front-rear direction, and the flat cable 3 is always kept in the state of the stagnation part 3b, and the tip part thereof is always the optical device module 2 It is maintained in a state of being urged so as to contact the light emitting portion end face or the light receiving portion end face 2a.

In this way, the end face distance between the optical device module 2 and the optical waveguide is integrally held. This flexible optical waveguide connector 1 maintains good optical signal performance. It will be.

[0022] In addition to that shown in this embodiment in which the lid member 5 is swingable, the lid member 5 is inserted from the vertical direction or from the horizontal direction to be engaged and locked with the insulating member 8, Any slider may be used as long as the slider is advanced to form and maintain the stagnation portion 3b in the flat cable 3, and further to be electrically shielded.

Industrial applicability

[0023] The flexible optical waveguide connector 1 can be widely applied to flexible flat cables for connecting electrical signals and connecting optical signals. In particular, the present invention contributes as a preferred connector for easily connecting optical signals with a simple structure in electronic devices and the like mounted at high density.

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] A connector for connecting a flexible flat cable having at least an optical waveguide, and slides forward and backward with an optical device module and a light emitting unit end surface or a light receiving unit end surface of the optical device module. And a slider that engages with the flat cable, and a lid member that holds the flat cable in place by advancing the slider toward the optical device module by a required amount.

A connector for a flexible optical waveguide.

[2] The slider is provided with a notch provided in the flat cable, a locking portion that locks into the uneven portion or the hole, and the slider is advanced by the lid member via the locking portion. The flat cable, whose tip surface is brought close to or abutted against the light emitting unit end surface or the light receiving unit end surface of the optical device module,

The connector for a flexible optical waveguide according to claim 1, wherein:

[3] The lid member is made of metal, and is provided with an optical device module, and cooperates with a metal cover that covers the part to be an electrical shield member of the connector. The connector for a flexible optical waveguide according to claim 1 or 2,