WO2013180095A1

WO2013180095A1 - Optical assembly and optical connector

Info

Publication number: WO2013180095A1
Application number: PCT/JP2013/064704
Authority: WO
Inventors: 博志立石; 那倉　裕二; 加藤　清
Original assignee: 株式会社オートネットワーク技術研究所; 住友電装株式会社; 住友電気工業株式会社
Priority date: 2012-05-30
Filing date: 2013-05-28
Publication date: 2013-12-05
Also published as: JP2013250300A

Abstract

An optical assembly (30) has: a photoelectric conversion element (27); a photoelectrical conversion circuit substrate (13) on which the photoelectric conversion element is mounted; a cylindrical holding part (36) for holding a ferrule (67) containing on the inner side a hole section (36b) in which the ferrule (67) is inserted, an optical fiber (66) terminal being inserted into the ferrule; an opposing part (37) arranged at the other end side of the holding part (36) and opposing the insertion end section of the ferrule (67); a lens part (39) opposing the photoelectric conversion element (27) across a gap; a relay part (38) connecting the opposing part (37) and the lens part (39); and an element storage part (33) arranged closer to the photoelectric conversion element (27) than the lens part (39), and attached to the photoelectric conversion circuit substrate (13) such that the photoelectric conversion element (27) is stored inside. The assembly is provided with a light-permeable resin body part (32) for optically linking the optical fiber (66) terminal and the photoelectric conversion element (27), and an auxiliary cylinder (40) provided across the holding part (36) and the relay part (38) so that the insertion end section of the ferrule (67) and the opposing part (37) are both arranged internally.

Description

Optical assembly and optical connector

The present invention relates to an optical assembly for optically coupling an optical fiber terminal and a photoelectric conversion element, and an optical connector including the optical assembly.

Patent Document 1 discloses an optical connector that includes a photoelectric conversion element and is mounted on a circuit board. This type of optical connector includes an optical assembly including a photoelectric conversion element and a housing that accommodates the optical assembly, and is configured to be fitted to a mating connector provided in an optical cable terminal. .

When the optical connector is mated with the mating side, the photoelectric conversion element of the optical assembly and the optical fiber at the optical cable end of the mating side are optically connected to each other via the light-transmitting resin component provided in the optical assembly. Combined with At that time, a passage (optical path) of light moving between the end of the optical fiber and the photoelectric conversion element is formed in the resin component.

In addition, a cylindrical ferrule is attached to the end of the optical fiber provided on the other side. The optical fiber terminal is inserted into the ferrule so as to penetrate the central axis of the ferrule.

The resin component includes a cylindrical holding portion into which the ferrule is inserted and a receiving portion that is on the opposite side of the holding portion and houses the photoelectric conversion element. And the part between the said holding | maintenance part and the said accommodating part is a part in which the said optical path is formed.

In addition, a convex lens is provided at an end portion on the housing portion side of the portion where the optical path is formed. This lens is opposed to the photoelectric conversion element with a space therebetween. On the other hand, of the portion where the optical path is formed, the light output from the optical fiber terminal inserted into the ferrule is input to the end portion on the holding portion side facing the tip surface of the ferrule. Opposing portions for light and the like are provided.

For example, when light is output from an optical fiber terminal, the light output enters from the facing portion, passes through the resin component, is condensed by the lens, and reaches the photoelectric conversion element. On the other hand, when light is output from the photoelectric conversion element, the light output is collected by the lens, passes through the resin component, is emitted from the facing portion, and reaches the optical fiber terminal. As described above, the optical connector described above is optically coupled between the optical fiber terminal and the photoelectric conversion element by being fitted to the mating connector.

JP 2012-53244 A

When the above-described optical connector and the mating connector are fitted to each other, when the mating ferrule is inserted into the cylindrical holding portion, the ferrule may be placed in the holding portion (the holding portion of the holding portion) depending on the insertion angle of the ferrule. The ferrule may get caught by the inner wall and move so as to bend the inside of the holding part. Then, stress is applied to the resin component of the optical assembly, and the preset center axis position (optical axis position) of the sleeve portion is shifted, resulting in a problem that the optical coupling accuracy of the optical assembly is lowered. There was something to do.

In particular, if the optical connector is a board-mounted type, the movement (degree of freedom) of the optical connector is limited, so the fitting direction (insertion direction) with the mating connector is likely to deviate from the normal direction. In addition, a decrease in the optical coupling accuracy of the optical assembly is more problematic.

An object of the present invention is to provide an optical assembly in which a decrease in optical coupling accuracy is suppressed, and an optical connector including the optical assembly.

An optical assembly according to the present invention includes a photoelectric conversion element, a circuit board on which the photoelectric conversion element is mounted, a hole into which a ferrule into which an optical fiber terminal is inserted is inserted, and one end that holds the ferrule. An open cylindrical holding portion, a facing portion that is disposed on the other end side of the holding portion and faces the insertion end portion of the ferrule, and a lens portion that faces the photoelectric conversion element while being spaced from each other A relay portion connecting between the facing portion and the lens portion, and an element that is disposed on the photoelectric conversion element side of the lens portion and is attached to the circuit board so that the photoelectric conversion element is accommodated inside A resin main body made of a light-transmitting resin that optically couples between the optical fiber terminal and the photoelectric conversion element, and a metal cylindrical member having both ends opened, Ferrule insertion end The way and the opposite portion is both disposed inside, and a reinforcement tubular portion is provided over the relay unit from the support section and the.

In the optical assembly, a metal member that is disposed inside the element housing portion and is attached to the circuit board so as to cover the photoelectric conversion element, the photoelectric conversion element at a position facing the lens unit A shield part including a through-hole-shaped window part for exposing the metal part, and a metal cylindrical member extending from the peripheral edge of the window part toward the lens part side, and the lens part is arranged inside And a relay reinforcement cylinder part connected to the reinforcement cylinder part.

The reinforcing cylinder part, the relay reinforcing cylinder part, and the shield part may be provided as a unitary metal part.

The reinforcing cylinder portion may be provided in a state of being fitted from the holding portion to the relay portion.

The reinforcing cylinder part may include a crack part provided along the axial direction thereof.

The optical connector according to the present invention is the optical assembly and a cylindrical container having one end open and the other end closed, the ferrule being inserted from the outside into the hole included in the holding portion. A housing in which the optical assembly is accommodated in a state in which the orientation of the opening end of the container and the orientation of the opening end of the holding portion are aligned with each other.

The optical connector may be a board mounted type that is used by being mounted on another circuit board.

The optical connection component according to the present invention includes a cylindrical holding portion that includes a hole portion into which a ferrule into which an optical fiber terminal is inserted is inserted and that has one end opened to hold the ferrule, and the other end side of the holding portion. A facing portion facing the insertion end of the ferrule, a lens portion facing the photoelectric conversion element in a state of being spaced, and a relay portion connecting the facing portion and the lens portion A resin main body made of light-transmitting resin for optically coupling between the optical fiber terminal and the photoelectric conversion element, and a metal cylindrical member having both ends opened, and inserting the ferrule And a reinforcing cylinder portion provided from the holding portion to the relay portion so that the end portion and the facing portion are both disposed inside.

In the optical connection component, the resin main body portion may be disposed closer to the photoelectric conversion element than the lens portion, and may include an element housing portion including a space in which the photoelectric conversion element can be housed. .

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an optical assembly in which a decrease in optical coupling accuracy is suppressed, and an optical connector including the optical assembly.

The perspective view of the optical connector which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention Exploded perspective view of optical connector Sectional drawing of the optical connector cut | disconnected by the plane containing the axis line of the optical connection component for light emission Sectional view of the optical assembly cut by a plane including the axis of the optical connection component for light emission Perspective view of light-emitting optical connection parts Perspective view of reinforcing cylinder Sectional drawing of the optical connector cut | disconnected by the plane containing the axis line of the optical connection component for light emission in the state fitted with the connector of the other party Sectional drawing of the optical assembly which concerns on Embodiment 2. FIG. Sectional drawing of the optical assembly which concerns on Embodiment 3. FIG. The perspective view of the metal component with which the optical assembly of Embodiment 3 is provided

<Embodiment 1>
Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an optical connector 10 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the optical connector 10, and FIG. 3 is a plane including an axis of an optical connection component for light emission. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a cut optical connector 10. FIG. The optical connector 10 according to the present embodiment is used in a state of being mounted on an external circuit board 11 on which a conductive path (not shown) is formed by a printed wiring technique. In the following description, the upper part in FIG. Further, the left side in FIG. 3 is assumed to be the front and the right side is assumed to be the rear. The optical connector 10 is used by being mounted on a vehicle. The optical connector 10 mainly includes a housing 12 made of synthetic resin, an optical assembly 30 accommodated in the housing 12, and a metal outer shield portion 20 fitted on the housing 12.

The housing 12 generally has a box shape with an open front. The housing 12 is composed of two parts, and includes a housing body 15 having an opening 14 that opens upward, and a lid 16 that is assembled to the housing body 15 and closes the opening 14. The housing main body portion 15 has a hood portion 17 that opens forward and into which a mating connector, which will be described later, is fitted from the front.

The outer shield part 20 is formed by pressing a metal plate into a predetermined shape, and is externally fitted to the housing 12 so as to cover an area excluding the hood part 17. The outer shield part 20 has a shape in which a front surface and a lower surface are opened, and the surface of the housing 12 excluding the front surface and the lower surface is electromagnetically shielded by the external shield part 20. A claw portion 21 (see FIG. 2) protrudes from the lower end edge of the outer shield portion 20, and the claw portion 21 is folded back to the lower surface side of the housing 12, so that the outer shield portion 20 is attached to the housing 12. It can be assembled. In addition, a plurality of connecting leg portions 22 projecting downward are formed at the lower edge of the outer shield portion 20. The connection leg portion 22 penetrates the external circuit board 11 and is connected to the conductive path of the external circuit board 11 by a known method such as soldering.

The optical assembly 30 mainly includes an optical connection component 130, a photoelectric conversion element 27, a photoelectric conversion circuit board 13, a flexible board 26, an internal circuit board 23, and the like.

As shown in FIG. 3, an internal circuit board 23 is accommodated in the housing body 15. The internal circuit board 23 is arranged behind the optical assembly 30, and conductive paths are formed on the surface of the insulating board on both the upper and lower surfaces of the flexible board (FlexibleｉPrinted Circuit Board) 26 by the printed wiring technique. The

circuit boards

23a and 23b are laminated. Electronic components are mounted on the upper surface of the circuit board 23 a formed on the upper side of the flexible board 26 and the lower surface of the circuit board 23 b formed on the lower side of the flexible board 26, respectively.

At a position near the rear end of the internal circuit board 23, the conductive material formed on the internal circuit board 23 with one end of the plurality of rod-shaped metal terminals 24 penetrating the internal circuit board 23. Connected to the road. The other end of the terminal 24 is press-fitted into a terminal insertion hole 25 formed in the bottom wall of the housing body 15 and protrudes downward from the bottom wall of the housing body 15. The other end of the terminal 24 is further connected to a conductive path formed in the external circuit board 11 through the external circuit board 11 by a known method such as soldering.

As shown in FIG. 2, from the front edge of the internal circuit board 23, a flexible board 26 divided into two forks extends forward. The flexible substrate 26 divided into two forks is bent in a downward direction. On the front surface of each flexible substrate 26 bent downward, the photoelectric conversion circuit substrate 13 on which the photoelectric conversion element 27 is mounted is laminated. As described above, the flexible substrate 26 is a relay member that electrically connects the internal circuit substrate 23 and the photoelectric conversion circuit substrate 13. A sub-board 28 is laminated on the rear surface of each flexible board 26 bent downward. An electronic component (not shown) is mounted on the rear surface of the sub-board 28.

A photoelectric conversion element 27 is mounted on the front surface of the photoelectric conversion circuit board 13. The flexible substrate 26 is laminated so as to cover the entire rear surface of the photoelectric conversion circuit substrate 13 (surface opposite to the surface on which the photoelectric conversion element 27 is mounted). Although not shown, the flexible substrate 26 is formed with two layers of conductive paths insulated from each other by an insulating film. Of these, one of the conductive paths functions as a shield layer formed over the entire surface of the flexible substrate 26. In the present embodiment, a conductive path formed on the back side of the flexible substrate 26 is used as a shield layer. The back of the photoelectric conversion element 27 is electromagnetically shielded by the shield layer made of this conductive path. In other embodiments, a conductive path formed on the front side of the flexible substrate 26 may be used as a shield layer.

The photoelectric conversion element 27 includes a light receiving element (not shown) and a light emitting element 27B. A photodiode is used as the light receiving element, and a VCSEL (Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting LASER) is used as the light emitting element 27B. The photoelectric conversion circuit board 13 includes a light receiving circuit board 13A on which a light receiving element is mounted and a light emitting circuit board 13B on which a light emitting element 27B is mounted. The light receiving circuit board 13A and the light emitting circuit board 13B are formed separately and are separated from each other. As shown in FIG. 2, the light receiving circuit board 13A is arranged on the right side as viewed from the front, and the light emitting circuit board 13B is arranged on the left side.

A light receiving element is mounted on the front surface of the light receiving circuit board 13A, and a transimpedance amplifier (not shown) electrically connected to the light receiving element is mounted. Further, a light-transmitting synthetic resin (polyetherimide (hereinafter referred to as PEI), polycarbonate (hereinafter referred to as PC), polymethyl methacrylate (hereinafter referred to as A light receiving optical connecting part 130A having a light receiving resin main body 32A (32) made of PMMA) and a reinforcing cylinder made of a metal cylindrical member is attached. In this specification, “light transmittance” is defined as a transmittance of 90% or more with respect to the wavelength of light used for optical communication (usually in the range of 0.4 μm to 2 μm).

On the other hand, a light emitting element 27B is mounted on the front surface of the light emitting circuit board 13B, and a driver (not shown) electrically connected to the light emitting element 27B is mounted. In addition, on the front plate surface of the light emitting circuit board 13B, a light emitting resin main body 32B made of a light-transmitting synthetic resin (PEI, PC, PMMA, etc.) and a metal cylinder so as to cover the light emitting element 27B. A light emitting optical connection component 130B including a reinforcing cylinder portion 40B made of a member is attached.

As described above, the optical connection component 130 is composed of two types of light reception optical connection components 130A and light emission optical connection components 130B. Here, the optical connecting component 130 will be described by taking the light emitting optical connecting component 130B as an example. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the optical assembly 30 cut along a plane including the axis (optical axis) L of the light-emitting optical connection component 130B, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the light-emitting optical connection component 130B. 6 is a perspective view of the reinforcing cylinder portion 40B. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the optical connector 10 cut along a plane including the axis L of the light-emitting optical connection component 130B in a state of being fitted to the mating connector 60. It is sectional drawing.

The light emitting resin main body 32B (32) included in the light emitting optical connection component 130B is attached to the light emitting circuit board 13B (13), and an element housing portion 33B (33) for housing the light emitting element 27B as the photoelectric conversion element 27. And a substantially cylindrical sleeve portion 34B (34) formed to project forward from the element housing portion 33B. The element accommodating portion 33B is formed so as to protrude in the radial direction of the sleeve portion 34B and has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. In the element accommodating portion 33B, a surface facing the light emitting circuit board 13B is recessed, and a space for accommodating the light emitting element 27B is formed. An internal shield part 35B (35) formed by pressing a metal plate into a predetermined shape is disposed in the element housing part 33B. The inner shield part 35B and the light emitting resin main body part 32B are fixed to each other at the time of insert molding. The light emitting resin main body 32B including the sleeve portion 34B and the element housing portion 33B is made of a light-transmitting synthetic resin (for example, PEI, PC, PMMA) using a predetermined mold at the time of insert molding. It consists of what was integrally molded (integral molded product).

The internal shield portion 35B includes a top plate portion 35a that covers the light emitting element 27B and the like from the front side, and a side plate portion 35b that extends from the top plate portion 35a toward the light emitting circuit board 13B. The top plate portion 35a has a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the front. The top plate portion 35a is opposed to the light emitting element 27B and is provided with a through-hole-shaped window portion 35c at a portion opposed to a lens portion 39B (39) described later. ing. A board connecting portion 35d extending downward is formed at the lower edge of the side plate portion 35b. In a state where the board connecting portion 35d is inserted into the through hole 51 provided in the laminated board including the light emitting circuit board 13B, the flexible board 26, and the sub board 28, the conductive path and land (not shown) of the through hole 51 are provided. And soldered. The through-hole 51 is filled with solder 53 that is solidified after melting.

The front surface of the light emitting element 27B and the electronic components such as the driver described above is electromagnetically shielded by the internal shield part 35B disposed in the light emitting resin main body part 32B. In other embodiments, the inner shield part 35B may be configured to electromagnetically shield only the light emitting element 27B.

The sleeve portion 34B extends forward from the element housing portion 33B. The axial direction of the sleeve portion 34B is arranged in the front-rear direction and is arranged perpendicular to the plate surface of the light emitting circuit board 13B. Note that the axial direction of the sleeve portion 34 B is arranged in parallel to the plate surface of the external circuit board 11. The sleeve portion 34B includes a cylindrical holding portion 36B (36) that is disposed in the foremost and has an open front end, a facing portion 37B (37) that is disposed on the rear end side of the holding portion 36B, and the facing portion 37B ( 37) a relay portion 38B (38) disposed on the rear end side, and a lens portion 39B (39) disposed on the rear end side of the relay portion 38B.

The holding portion 36B (36) has a substantially cylindrical shape extending in the front-rear direction as a whole. An insertion port 36a including an opening is provided at the tip of the holding portion 36B. Further, a hole 36b extending backward from the insertion port 36a is provided inside the holding portion 36B. A ferrule 67 provided in the mating connector 60 is inserted into the hole 36b. And the ferrule 67 inserted in the hole 36b is hold | maintained by the inner wall side of the holding | maintenance part 36B.

The facing portion 37B is disposed on the rear end side of the holding portion 36B, and is a portion that closes the other end of the cylindrical holding portion 36B. The facing portion 37B is a portion facing the tip (insertion end) of the ferrule 67 held by the holding portion 36B. The facing portion 37B includes an annular surface portion 37a arranged perpendicular to the axial direction of the sleeve portion 34B. The surface portion 37 a is a portion that comes into contact with the front end surface of the ferrule 67. Moreover, the opposing part 37B is provided with the recessed part 37b hollowed in the rear side in the center of the surface part 37a. The concave portion 37 b is a portion where the end of the optical fiber 66 exposed from the tip surface of the ferrule 67 is disposed.

The lens portion 39B (39) is disposed on a position on the axis of the sleeve portion 34B and facing the light emitting element 27B at a predetermined interval. The lens portion 39B is formed to protrude in a convex shape toward the light emitting element 27B on the surface of the light emitting resin main body 32B (sleeve portion 34B) facing the light emitting element 27B. The optical axis of the lens portion 39B is disposed on the axis of the sleeve portion 34B. The lens unit 39B is configured to collect the light output emitted from the light emitting element 27B on the end face of the optical fiber 66 included in the ferrule 67 held by the holding unit 36B. The light emitting element 27B may be mounted on the light emitting circuit board 13B so as to be disposed on the axis of the sleeve portion 34B, and if it is disposed at a position facing the lens portion 39B, the light emitting element 27B may be mounted on the axis. It may be mounted at a position deviated from.

The relay portion 38B (38) is a portion connecting the facing portion 37B and the lens portion 39B, and has a substantially cylindrical shape extending in the front-rear direction. The light output emitted from the light emitting element 27B is collected by the lens portion 39B, and then moves to the facing portion 37B through the relay portion 38B. That is, an optical path is formed in the relay unit 38B.

The sleeve portion 34B includes a cylindrical root portion 41B (41) extending from the periphery of the lens portion 39B toward the element housing portion 33B. The front end portion of the base portion 41B is disposed on the periphery of the lens portion 39B, and the rear end portion is connected to the element housing portion 33B so as to surround the window portion 35c of the internal shield portion 35B. ing.

On the outer surface of the root portion 41B of the sleeve portion 34B, an engagement rib 42B (42) is formed that protrudes outward in the radial direction of the sleeve portion 34B. A groove 43B (43) is formed between the engagement rib 42B and the front surface of the element housing portion 33B along the circumferential direction of the sleeve portion 34B. The bottom wall of the housing main body 15 is formed with a lower holding rib 15 a that protrudes upward and fits with a groove 43 B that is disposed on the lower side in the housing 12. The upper surface of the lower holding rib 15a is a portion that comes into contact with the lower outer surface (circumferential surface) of the root portion 41B of the sleeve portion 34B, and is formed in a semicircular shape. Further, on the inner surface of the lid portion 16, an upper holding rib 16 a that fits with the groove portion 43 B disposed on the upper side in the housing 12 is formed. The lower surface of the upper holding rib 16a is a portion that comes into contact with the upper outer surface (circumferential surface) of the base portion 41B of the sleeve portion 34B, and is formed in a semicircular shape.

When the lid 16 is attached to the housing main body 15 in a state where the light emitting resin main body 32B (light emitting optical connection component 130B) is housed in the normal position inside the housing main body 15, the lower holding rib 15a is attached. The upper holding rib 16a is inserted into the groove 43B between the engaging rib 42B and the front surface of the element housing portion 33B. The space surrounded by the upper surface of the lower holding rib 15a and the lower surface of the upper holding rib 16a has a circular cross section when viewed from the front-rear direction, and the surface formed by these upper and lower surfaces emits light. The shape follows the outer surface of the sleeve portion 34B (root portion 41B) of the resin main body portion 32B. Between the upper surface of the lower holding rib 15a and the lower surface of the upper holding rib 16a, the light emitting resin main body 32B (light emitting optical connection component 130B) is fixed in a state of being sandwiched in the housing 12. Yes.

The reinforcement cylinder part 40B (40) consists of a cylindrical member made of metal with both ends opened as shown in FIG. The reinforcing cylinder portion 40B has a function of reinforcing the sleeve portion 34B of the light emitting resin main body portion 32B. The reinforcing cylinder portion 40B and the light emitting resin main body portion 32B are fixed to each other at the time of insert molding, like the above-described inner shield portion 35B. The reinforcing cylinder portion 40B is attached to the sleeve portion 34B so that the axial position thereof coincides with the axial position of the sleeve portion 34B. A front portion of the reinforcing cylinder portion 40B is disposed on the holding portion 36B side, and a rear portion thereof is disposed across the facing portion 37B and the relay portion 38B. That is, the reinforcing cylinder portion 40B is provided from the holding portion 36B to the relay portion 38B along the axial direction of the sleeve portion 34B. And the lens part 39B is distribute | arranged behind the reinforcement cylinder part 40B.

The front portion of the reinforcing cylinder portion 40B disposed in the holding portion 36B has an outer peripheral surface in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the holding portion 36B. That is, the hole 36b of the holding part 36B is arranged inside the reinforcing cylinder part 40B. And the peripheral surface of the edge part (insertion edge part) of the ferrule inserted in the hole part 36b becomes the form which the inner peripheral surface of the reinforcement cylinder part 40B surrounds. Moreover, the front-end | tip (front end) position of the reinforcement cylinder part 40B is distribute | arranged back rather than the insertion port 36a of the holding | maintenance part 36B.

On the other hand, the reinforcing cylinder portion 40B in the rear portion is embedded in the sleeve portion 34B in the axial direction. That is, the inner side and the outer side of the reinforcing cylinder portion 40B in the rear portion are each covered with the light transmissive resin constituting the sleeve portion 34B. In this manner, the opposing portion 37B and the relay portion 38B are arranged inside the reinforcing cylinder portion 40B so as to fill the inside of the reinforcing cylinder portion 40B inside the portion of the reinforcing cylinder portion 40B embedded in the sleeve portion 34B. The reinforcing cylinder portion 40B reinforces the sleeve portion 34B, thereby optically coupling between the optical fiber terminal at the insertion end of the ferrule inserted into the holding portion 36B and the facing portion 37B (concave portion 37b). It is something to protect.

In such a light-emitting optical connection component 130B, the light output from the light-emitting element 27B is collected by the lens unit 39B and is incident on the light-emitting resin main body 32B from the lens unit 39B. The incident light output passes through the relay portion 38B inside the reinforcing cylinder portion 40B, and further moves to the facing portion 37B. Then, the light output is emitted from the concave portion 37b of the facing portion 37B toward the tip surface of the mating ferrule housed inside the holding portion 36B (reinforcing cylinder portion 40B). The emitted light output enters from the end face of the optical fiber at the front end face of the ferrule and travels through the optical fiber.

In contrast to the light-emitting optical connection component 130B, the light-receiving optical connection component 130A includes a light-receiving resin main body portion 32A and a light-receiving reinforcing cylinder portion (not shown). As described above, a light receiving element (not shown) is mounted as the photoelectric conversion element 27 on the light receiving circuit board 13A attached to the light receiving resin main body 32A. The optical assembly 30 including the light receiving optical connection component 130A is different from that for light emission in the types of photoelectric conversion elements (light receiving elements) used and circuit boards (light receiving circuit boards 13A) on which the photoelectric conversion elements are mounted. The light travel direction is reversed. In addition, the light receiving optical connection component 130A has a mirror image symmetrical structure with respect to the light emitting optical connection component 130B. However, in other respects, the light receiving optical connecting component 130A and the light emitting optical connecting component 130B basically have a common structure. Therefore, detailed description of the light receiving optical connection component 130A is omitted.

Here, the optical connector 10 in a state in which the mating connector 60 is fitted will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the counterpart connector 60 will be described. The connector 60 includes a terminal portion of the optical cable 61 and a mating housing 62 that is inserted into the hood portion 17 of the optical connector 10 while accommodating the terminal portion. The housing 62 includes an upper housing portion 63 made of synthetic resin that constitutes the upper portion, and a lower housing portion 64 made of synthetic resin that constitutes the lower portion and is assembled to the upper housing portion 63. At the end portion of the optical cable 61, the sheath 65 is peeled off, and the optical fiber 66 is exposed from the sheath 65. A ferrule 67 is attached to the tip (terminal) of the optical fiber 66 so as to be fitted. The ferrule 67 is a substantially cylindrical member and includes a through hole along its axis. The end of the optical fiber 66 is inserted and attached to the through hole. The end portion (end surface) of the optical fiber 66 is exposed from the front end surface of the ferrule 67. A flange portion 68 is attached to the rear end side of the ferrule 67. The flange portion 68 is provided so as to protrude outward in the radial direction of the ferrule 67. Further, a concave portion for accommodating the rear end portion of the ferrule 67 is provided at the front end of the flange portion 68. A hole portion through which the optical fiber 66 is inserted is provided at the bottom portion of the concave portion. The ferrule 67 is sandwiched between the inner surfaces of the

housing portions

63 and 64 while being attached to the flange portion 68, and is fixed at a predetermined position in the housing 62. A caulking ring 69 made of metal is fitted on the end of the portion of the optical cable 61 that is covered with the sheath 65. The ferrule 67 is fixed in the housing 62 with its tip portion facing the open end of the housing 62.

The counterpart connector 60 is inserted into the optical connector 10 from the open hood portion 17. In FIG. 7, it is inserted from the left side to the right side. When the leading end portion of the mating housing 62 is inserted into the hood 17 and the leading end portion further advances to the back side (rear side) of the housing 12, the leading end of the light emitting optical connection component 130 B in the housing 12. The portion (holding portion 36 B) is inserted into the counterpart housing 62 from the open end of the housing 62. When the mating connector 60 is further inserted into the housing 12 so as to advance toward the back side (rear side), the tip portion of the ferrule 67 is located at the tip of the light emitting optical connection component 130B. 36B is inserted.

Thereafter, when the connector 60 is further inserted toward the back side, the front end surface of the ferrule 67 contacts the surface portion 37a of the facing portion 37B on the back side (rear side) of the holding portion 36B. In the light-emitting optical connection component 130B, the tip surface of the ferrule 67 is in a state of being attached to the facing portion 37B. Then, the end portion (end face) of the optical fiber 66 inserted into the ferrule 67 and the concave portion 37b of the facing portion 37B face each other, and the axis (optical axis) of the optical fiber 66 and the light emission The axis line (optical axis) of the optical connecting component 130B coincides. That is, the end of the optical fiber 66 and the light emitting element 27B are optically coupled via the light emitting optical connection component 130B. Although not shown in FIG. 7, on the light receiving side, another ferrule into which another optical fiber included in the mating connector 60 is inserted is held by the holding portion of the light receiving optical connection component 130A. Thus, the end portion of the other optical fiber and the light receiving element are optically coupled via the light receiving optical connection component 130A.

Note that the rear end portion of the counterpart housing 62 has a locking portion 70 protruding upward. When the locking portion 70 comes into contact with and locks with the distal end portion of the housing 12 of the optical connector 10, the connector 60 is stationary with respect to the optical connector 10. In this manner, the mating connector 60 is fitted into the optical connector 10, and the optical fiber 66 and the photoelectric conversion element 27 are optically coupled to each other.

By the way, when the mating connector 60 is fitted to the optical connector 10, depending on the insertion angle of the ferrule 67, the ferrule 67 may be caught in the cylindrical holding portion 36 (36 B) and bend inside the holding portion 36. May move. Since the optical connector 10 is mounted on the external circuit board 11, the movement of the optical connector 10 is limited. Therefore, when the movement (degree of freedom) of the mating connector 60 is also restricted, the fitting direction (insertion direction) between the connector 60 and the optical connector 10 is likely to deviate from the normal direction. The ferrule 67 may move so as to pry inside the holding portion 36 when inserted.

Conventionally, in this type of optical connector, depending on the insertion angle of the mating connector (ferrule), the axial position of the ferrule (optical fiber) and the axial position of the sleeve portion (resin body portion) are displaced from each other. In some cases, the mating connector may be attached to the optical connector. In that case, the sleeve portion was pushed by the insertion end portion of the ferrule and was slightly deformed to bend.

However, in the optical connector 10 of the present embodiment, the reinforcing cylinder portion 40 (40B) is provided from the holding portion 36 (36B) of the optical connection component 130 (130B) to the relay portion 38 (38B). The sleeve portion 34 of the optical connection component 130 is difficult to deform. Further, since the sleeve portion 34 is reinforced by the reinforcing cylinder portion 40 (40B), even if it is slightly deformed, it can be restored and easily returned to a preset normal position.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the optical coupling between the optical fiber 66 provided on the counterpart side and the photoelectric conversion element 27 (27B) provided on the optical connector 10 can be maintained with high accuracy. In particular, the ferrule 67 has a shape in which the tip end portion (end portion on the insertion side) of the ferrule 67 and the facing portion 37 (37B) are housed and protected inside the reinforcing cylinder portion 40 (40B). The position of the axis (optical axis) of the (optical fiber 66) and the position of the axis of the facing portion 37 (position of the concave portion 37b) are difficult to shift from each other. That is, the optical coupling between the end portion of the optical fiber 66 inserted into the ferrule 67 and the concave portion 37b of the facing portion 37 (37B) can be maintained with particularly high accuracy. In the case of the present embodiment, the position where the tip surface of the ferrule 67 and the facing portion 37 are attached to each other inside the reinforcing cylinder portion 40 is set at a substantially central portion in the longitudinal direction of the reinforcing cylinder portion 40.

Further, in the present embodiment, the sleeve portion 34 is prevented from being deformed and interfering with the inner surface of the housing 12, so that the sleeve portion 34 is cracked and the sleeve portion 34 is prevented from being damaged by providing the reinforcing cylinder portion 40. Has been.

<Embodiment 2>
Next, Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, the optical assembly 30X is illustrated. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the optical assembly 30X according to the second embodiment. The structure of the optical assembly 30X shown in FIG. 8 corresponds to the structure of the optical assembly 30 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. In the optical assembly 30X shown in FIG. 8, parts having the same structure as those of the optical assembly 30 of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals (or the same type) as those of the first embodiment, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

The optical assembly 30X of this embodiment is used in place of the optical assembly 30 of the first embodiment. FIG. 8 shows the light assembly 30X on the light emitting side including the light emitting element 27B, as in the first embodiment. The optical assembly 30X includes a light emitting element 27B as a photoelectric conversion element, a light emitting circuit board 13B on which the light emitting element 27B is mounted, and a light emitting optical connection component 130X.

The light-emitting optical connection part 130X includes a light-emitting resin main body 32X and a reinforcing cylinder 40X, as in the first embodiment. However, in the case of this embodiment, the reinforcement cylinder part 40X is attached in the form fitted outside with respect to the sleeve part 34 of the resin main body part 32X for light emission. That is, the sleeve portion 34 and the reinforcing cylinder portion 40X are fixed to each other such that the outer surface of the sleeve portion 34 is in contact with the inner surface of the reinforcing cylinder portion 40X. The inner surface on the rear end side of the reinforcing cylinder portion 40X includes an annular convex portion 40Xa that swells in an annular shape toward the inner side, and the annular convex portion 40Xa is formed on the sleeve portion 34 (relay portion 38). The sleeve portion 34 and the reinforcing cylinder portion 40X are fixed to each other so as to be fitted into a groove portion 38a provided to circulate around the outer surface.

The reinforcing cylinder portion 40X of the present embodiment is also provided from the holding portion 36 of the sleeve portion 34 to the relay portion 38 as in the first embodiment, and a mating connector is provided on the inside thereof. The ferrule insertion end and the facing portion 37 are both arranged on the inner side. Accordingly, the optical assembly 30X of this embodiment also has high optical coupling accuracy between the optical fiber terminal provided in the counterpart ferrule and the photoelectric conversion element 27, as in the first embodiment. Yes.

The reinforcing cylinder portion 40X is provided with one cut (not shown) provided along the direction of the axis L, and has a so-called split sleeve structure. In the case of the present embodiment, the reinforcing cylinder portion 40X is separately attached to the sleeve portion 34 after the light emitting resin main body portion 32X is formed by insert molding together with the inner shield portion 35B. In that case, the reinforcement cylinder part 40X is expanded to some extent so that the peripheral walls of the reinforcement cylinder part 40X may be separated from each other with the crack part as a boundary. Then, the sleeve portion 34 is inserted inside the expanded reinforcing cylinder portion 40 X, and the reinforcing cylinder portion 40 X is disposed at a predetermined position of the sleeve portion 34. In addition, the crack part of the reinforcement cylinder part 40X may be closed by welding, soldering, etc. after attachment of the reinforcement cylinder part 40X as needed.

Thus, the reinforcing cylinder portion 40X of the present embodiment can be retrofitted to the light emitting resin main body portion 32X. Therefore, the reinforcement cylinder part 40X can be attached with respect to the resin main body part 32X for light emission as needed. Moreover, since it is not necessary to prepare a predetermined mold or the like as compared with the case where the reinforcing cylinder portion is attached by insert molding, the manufacturing cost of the light emitting optical connection component 130X can be greatly reduced.

<Embodiment 3>
Next, Embodiment 3 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. In this embodiment, the optical assembly 30Y is illustrated. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the optical assembly 30Y according to the third embodiment. The structure of the optical assembly 30Y shown in FIG. 9 corresponds to the structure of the optical assembly 30 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. In the optical assembly 30Y shown in FIG. 9, parts having the same structure as those of the optical assembly 30 of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals (or the same type) as those of the first embodiment, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

The optical assembly 30Y of this embodiment is used in place of the optical assembly 30 of the first embodiment. FIG. 9 shows the light assembly 30Y on the light emitting side including the light emitting element 27B, as in the first embodiment. The optical assembly 30Y includes a light emitting element 27B as a photoelectric conversion element, a light emitting circuit board 13B on which the light emitting element 27B is mounted, and a light emitting optical connection component 130Y.

The light-emitting optical connection component 130Y includes a light-emitting resin main body 32Y and a reinforcing cylinder 40Y, as in the first embodiment. However, in the case of this embodiment, the reinforcement cylinder part 40Y is comprised as a part of metal component 141Y. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a metal component 141Y provided in the optical assembly 30Y according to the third embodiment. The metal component 141Y has a structure in which a cylindrical metal member is attached to the inner shield part 35Y. In this cylindrical metal member, the reinforcing cylinder part 40Y is assigned to the front end side (front side), and the relay reinforcing cylinder part 40Ya connecting the reinforcement cylinder part 40Y and the internal shield part 35Y is assigned to the base side (rear side). It has been. In addition, the reinforcement cylinder part 40Y and the relay reinforcement cylinder part 40Ya are seamless, and are comprised from the one cylindrical metal member. In the case of this embodiment, the boundary position between the reinforcing cylinder part 40Y and the relay reinforcing cylinder part 40Ya corresponds to the boundary position between the relay part 38 and the lens part 39.

The relay reinforcing cylinder part 40Ya is attached to the inner shield part 35Y so as to rise from the periphery of the window part 35Yc provided in the top plate part 35Ya of the inner shield part 35Y toward the lens part 39 side. A window portion 35Yc is arranged inside the relay reinforcing cylinder portion 40Ya on the rear end side, and a lens portion 39 is arranged inside the front end side of the relay reinforcing cylinder portion 40Ya. The reinforcing cylinder portion 40Y is provided from the holding portion 36 to the relay portion 38, as in the first embodiment, and is opposed to the ferrule insertion end portion inside the reinforcing cylinder portion 40Y, as in the first embodiment. The portion 37 is arranged together.

The metal part 141Y provided with the reinforcing cylinder part 40Y, the relay reinforcing cylinder part 40Ya, and the inner shield part 35Y is integrally formed. The light emitting optical connection component 130Y of the present embodiment is manufactured by fixing the light emitting resin main body 32Y and the metal component 141Y to each other by insert molding. In the case of the present embodiment, the inner peripheral surface on the front side of the reinforcing cylinder portion 40Y is covered with a light transmissive resin. That is, the front side of the reinforcing cylinder part 40Y is in a state of being buried in the cylindrical peripheral wall of the holding part 36.

The relay reinforcing cylinder portion 40 Ya is provided from the element housing portion 33 to the lens portion 39. The front end side of the relay reinforcing cylinder portion 40 Ya is arranged around the lens portion 39 so as to surround the lens portion 39. In addition, the inside of the relay reinforcing cylinder portion 40Ya located behind the portion surrounding the lens portion 39 is not filled with resin and is hollow. The light emitting element 27B and the lens portion 39 are opposed to each other across a space inside the relay reinforcing cylinder portion 40Ya.

As in the first embodiment, the side plate portion 35Yb extends from the top plate portion 35Ya of the inner shield portion 35Y toward the light emitting circuit board 13B, and the lower end edge of the side plate portion 35Yb has a lower side. An extending board connecting portion 35Yd is provided.

In the optical assembly 30Y of this embodiment, the strength of the sleeve portion 34 is improved as compared to the first embodiment because the reinforcing cylinder portion 40Y is connected to the inner shield portion 35Y via the relay reinforcing cylinder portion 40Ya. Therefore, compared with the thing of Embodiment 1, the optical assembly 30Y of this embodiment has a still higher optical coupling precision between the optical fiber terminal with which the other party ferrule is equipped, and the photoelectric conversion element 27. It has become.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7 and the like of the first embodiment, the optical assembly 30Y is fixed in a state of being sandwiched between the lower holding rib 15a and the upper holding rib 16a in the housing 12 as in the first embodiment. (See Embodiment 1). A slight gap (clearance) is provided between the sleeve portion 34 and the inner surface of the housing 12. For this reason, when the ferrule is inserted, the sleeve portion 34 extends from the inside to the outside of the holding portion 36 so as to bend with the base side portion (engagement rib 42) fixed by the

ribs

15a and 16a of the housing 12 as a fulcrum. A force is applied toward it. However, as described above, the light-emitting optical connection component 130Y of the present embodiment includes the metal component 141Y. Therefore, the sleeve portion 34 may be deformed with the root side as a fulcrum, and the sleeve portion 34 may be destroyed. It is suppressed.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

(1) In the above embodiment, the optical connector 10 including the light receiving and light emitting optical assemblies is illustrated. However, in other embodiments, either the light receiving or light emitting optical assemblies are provided. An optical connector may be used.

(2) In the above embodiment, the board-mounted optical connector 10 is illustrated, but in other embodiments, an optical connector that is not mounted on the board may be used. However, as in each of the above-described embodiments, the structure in which the sleeve portion 34 is reinforced by the reinforcing cylinder portion 40 is a particularly preferable structure in a board-mounted optical connector in which movement during fitting is limited.

(3) In each of the embodiments described above, the photoelectric conversion circuit board has a structure divided into light emission (light emission circuit board) and light reception (light reception circuit board). In other embodiments, a photoelectric conversion circuit board in which light emission and light reception are combined on one board may be used.

(4) In each of the above-described embodiments, the resin main body part constituting the optical connecting component has a structure that is divided into a light emitting part and a light receiving part. In another embodiment, the resin main body for light emission and the resin main body for light reception may be connected to each other. For example, the element housing portions may be connected to each other, and the light emitting resin main body and the light receiving resin main body may be combined into one.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Optical connector (female type), 11: External circuit board, 12: Housing, 13: Photoelectric conversion circuit board, 13A: Light receiving circuit board, 13B: Light emitting circuit board, 14: Opening part, 15: Housing main-body part, 16 : Lid part, 17: hood part, 20: external shield part, 21: claw part, 22: connection leg part, 23: internal circuit board, 24: terminal, 25: terminal insertion hole, 26: flexible board, 27: photoelectric Conversion element, 27B: Light emitting element, 28: Sub-board, 30, 30X, 30Y: Optical assembly, 32, 32A, 32B, 32X, 32Y: Resin body part, 33, 33A, 33B: Element housing part, 34, 34A, 34B: Sleeve portion, 35, 35B, 35Y: Inner shield portion, 36, 36A, 36B: Holding portion, 36a: Insertion port, 36b: Hole portion, 37, 37B: Opposing portion, 37a: Surface portion, 3 b: Concave part, 38, 38B: Relay part, 39, 39B: Lens part, 40, 40B, 40X, 40Y: Reinforcement cylinder part, 40Ya: Relay reinforcement cylinder part, 41, 41B: Root part, 42, 42B: Engagement Rib, 43, 43B: groove, 51: through hole, 53: solder, 60: mating connector, 61: optical cable, 66: optical fiber, 67: ferrule, 130: optical connection component, 141Y: metal component

Claims

A photoelectric conversion element;
A circuit board on which the photoelectric conversion element is mounted;
A cylindrical holding portion that includes a hole portion into which a ferrule into which an optical fiber terminal is inserted is inserted and that has an opening at one end that holds the ferrule, and an insertion end portion of the ferrule that is disposed on the other end side of the holding portion A facing portion that faces the photoelectric conversion element, a lens portion that faces the photoelectric conversion element at a distance, a relay portion that connects the facing portion and the lens portion, and the photoelectric conversion than the lens portion. An element accommodating portion that is disposed on the element side and is attached to the circuit board so that the photoelectric conversion element is accommodated inside, and optically couples between the optical fiber terminal and the photoelectric conversion element A resin body made of light-transmitting resin;
A reinforcing cylindrical portion provided from the holding portion to the relay portion so that both ends of the ferrule and the facing portion are arranged on the inner side; A light assembly comprising:
A metal member disposed on the inside of the element housing portion and attached to the circuit board so as to cover the photoelectric conversion element, for exposing the photoelectric conversion element to a position facing the lens unit A shield portion including a through-hole-shaped window portion;
A relay reinforcing cylinder part that is made of a metal cylindrical member extending from the periphery of the window part toward the lens part side, and is connected to the reinforcing cylinder part in such a manner that the lens part is arranged on the inside. The light assembly of claim 1.
The optical assembly according to claim 2, further comprising a metal part in which the reinforcing tube portion, the relay reinforcing tube portion, and the shield portion are integrated.
2. The optical assembly according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing cylinder portion is provided in a state of being fitted from the holding portion to the relay portion.
The optical assembly according to claim 4, wherein the reinforcing tube portion includes a crack portion provided along an axial direction thereof.
A light assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A cylindrical container having one end opened and the other end closed, and the ferrule can be inserted into the hole included in the holding part from the outside, and the direction of the opening end of the cylindrical container, An optical connector comprising: a housing in which the optical assembly is accommodated in a state where the directions of the open ends are aligned with each other.
The optical connector according to claim 6, wherein the optical connector is a board mounting type used by being mounted on another circuit board.