WO2023062934A1 - 光コネクタ - Google Patents

光コネクタ Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2023062934A1
WO2023062934A1 PCT/JP2022/030962 JP2022030962W WO2023062934A1 WO 2023062934 A1 WO2023062934 A1 WO 2023062934A1 JP 2022030962 W JP2022030962 W JP 2022030962W WO 2023062934 A1 WO2023062934 A1 WO 2023062934A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
flange
optical connector
ferrule
optical fiber
housing
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/JP2022/030962
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Japanese (ja)
Inventor
哲 森島
侑季 荒生
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd
Original Assignee
Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd filed Critical Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd
Priority to US18/698,915 priority Critical patent/US20250224571A1/en
Priority to EP22880631.1A priority patent/EP4418028A4/en
Priority to JP2023554942A priority patent/JPWO2023062934A1/ja
Priority to CN202280067311.2A priority patent/CN118056148A/zh
Publication of WO2023062934A1 publication Critical patent/WO2023062934A1/ja
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
    • G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
    • G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
    • G02B6/3869—Mounting ferrules to connector body, i.e. plugs
    • G02B6/3871—Ferrule rotatable with respect to plug body, e.g. for setting rotational position ; Fixation of ferrules after rotation
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
    • G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
    • G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
    • G02B6/381—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs of the ferrule type, e.g. fibre ends embedded in ferrules, connecting a pair of fibres
    • G02B6/3818—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs of the ferrule type, e.g. fibre ends embedded in ferrules, connecting a pair of fibres of a low-reflection-loss type
    • G02B6/3821—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs of the ferrule type, e.g. fibre ends embedded in ferrules, connecting a pair of fibres of a low-reflection-loss type with axial spring biasing or loading means
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
    • G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
    • G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
    • G02B6/3833—Details of mounting fibres in ferrules; Assembly methods; Manufacture

Definitions

  • Non-Patent Document 1 discloses an MU-type optical connector for multi-core optical fibers (hereinafter referred to as "MCF").
  • MCF multi-core optical fibers
  • the rotational positioning of the zirconia ferrule mounted on the tip of the MCF within the housing is important.
  • the optical connector described in Non-Patent Document 1 uses the flange of the holding portion that holds one end of the ferrule as a rotation angle reference.
  • the ferrule is fixed to the member having the flange by pressing one end of the ferrule into the holding portion after positioning the ferrule at a predetermined rotation angle with respect to the flange, and as a result, a ferrule assembly including the ferrule is assembled. Then, the ferrule assembly is mounted in the housing so that the structure serving as the rotation angle reference in the housing matches the rotation angle reference of the flange of the ferrule assembly assembled as described above.
  • An optical connector of the present disclosure includes an optical fiber, a front end, a rear end opposite the front end, a ferrule assembly, a housing, and an elastic member.
  • An optical fiber includes a glass fiber and a resin coating covering the glass fiber.
  • the ferrule assembly has a ferrule and a retainer. The ferrule is fixed to the tip portion of the glass fiber exposed from the resin coating of the optical fiber.
  • the retainer has a flange to which the rear end of the ferrule is fixed.
  • the housing has an inner wall surface, a reference surface, and a positioning portion. The inner wall defines an inner space in which at least the holding portion of the ferrule assembly is accommodated.
  • the reference surface forms part of the inner wall surface and is provided at a position facing part of the outer peripheral surface of the flange.
  • the positioning portion limits movement of the holding portion within the internal space.
  • an elastic member such as a spring material biases the flange toward the positioning portion so that the installation state of the holding portion in the internal space is stabilized.
  • the reference surface includes abutment portions provided at two locations spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance, with which a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the flange is abutted to limit the rotational orientation of the flange.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the schematic structure of the optical connector of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining various assembling processes of the ferrule assembly including alignment work.
  • FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the change in shape of the flange during assembly of the ferrule assembly.
  • FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a flange installation structure during rotational alignment, together with a comparative example.
  • FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the cross-sectional structure of each part of the optical connector of the present disclosure and the floating structure of the ferrule assembly housed in the housing.
  • FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a modification of the internal structure of the optical connector of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining how the flange is installed during rotational alignment within the housing.
  • the inventors discovered the following problems.
  • the flange of the ferrule assembly mounted in the housing is likely to be deformed by the press-fitting of the ferrule into the holding portion.
  • a rotation error occurs between the structure that serves as the rotation angle reference in the housing and the rotation angle reference of the flange.
  • fatness occurs, in which the flange swells around the central portion of the outer peripheral surface of the flange.
  • Deformation of the rotation angle reference of the MCF due to this "thickness" is substantially deformation of the flange, and causes an angular deviation with respect to the rotation angle reference in the housing, that is, a rotation error.
  • Non-Patent Document 1 when a zirconia ferrule is press-fitted into a metal holding portion having a flange, the central portion of the outer peripheral surface of the flange swells on the order of 100 ⁇ m. is known (hereinafter referred to as "flange 'thickness'").
  • This "fatness" of the flange deforms the rotation angle reference shape of the flange, which is supposed to be a straight line or a flat surface.
  • such deformation of the member shape causes rotational deviation of the MCF mounted in the housing, as shown, for example, in the upper part of FIG. 4 (comparative example).
  • the present disclosure has been made to solve the problems described above, and is intended to suppress fluctuations in the state of alignment of the optical fiber with respect to the housing, that is, rotational deviation of the optical fiber aligned with respect to the flange.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide an optical connector having a structure of
  • the optical connector of the present disclosure is (1) An optical fiber, a front end, a rear end opposite the front end, a ferrule assembly, a housing, and an elastic member.
  • An optical fiber includes a glass fiber and a resin coating covering the glass fiber.
  • the ferrule assembly has a ferrule and a retainer. The ferrule is fixed to the tip portion of the glass fiber exposed from the resin coating of the optical fiber.
  • the retainer has a flange to which the rear end of the ferrule is fixed.
  • the housing has an inner wall surface, a reference surface, and a positioning portion. The inner wall defines an inner space in which at least the holding portion of the ferrule assembly is accommodated.
  • the reference surface forms part of the inner wall surface and is provided at a position facing part of the outer peripheral surface of the flange.
  • the positioning portion limits movement of the holding portion within the internal space.
  • an elastic member such as a spring material biases the flange toward the positioning portion so that the installation state of the holding portion in the internal space is stabilized.
  • the reference surface includes abutments provided at two locations spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance, with which a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the flange abuts to limit the rotational orientation of the flange.
  • the area of the outer peripheral surface of the flange facing the reference surface and the reference surface are set as the reference for the rotational orientation of the flange, that is, the rotational angle reference. It is In other words, the rotational orientation of the optical fiber with the ferrule attached to the tip is also adjusted based on the rotational angle reference of the flange. At this time, the optical fiber is in a state of being aligned with the flange. With this configuration, the rotational orientation of the flange within the housing is fixed, and as a result, variations in the alignment state of the optical fiber are effectively suppressed.
  • the reference surface may include a recess.
  • the recess has a bottom portion that is provided in a region sandwiched between the contact portions and that faces the outer peripheral surface of the flange without contacting the outer peripheral surface of the flange. In this way, by providing a recess having a bottom surface that does not contact the outer peripheral surface of the flange in the region sandwiched between the contact surfaces, the deformation of the outer peripheral surface, which is the "thickness" of the flange due to the attachment of the ferrule, is absorbed. , the rotational orientation of the flange is well fixed.
  • the flange may have a structure including projections.
  • the protrusion is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the flange facing the reference plane and housed in a recess provided on the reference plane. In this case, since fluctuations in the rotational orientation of the flange within the housing are restricted, the alignment state of the optical fiber with respect to the housing is reliably maintained.
  • the optical connector may have a floating structure.
  • the installation position of the ferrule assembly within the housing is changed by pushing the ferrule from the front end toward the rear end of the optical connector.
  • the external shape of the flange may be a square when viewed from the front end to the rear end of the optical connector.
  • a "quadrilateral" is a type of polygon that indicates a portion of a plane surrounded by four straight lines.
  • the outer diameter shape of the flange may have a D-shaped structure in which a pair of corners sandwiching at least one of the facing sides are curved. In this case, smooth movement of the flange in the floating structure becomes possible.
  • the optical fiber may be any one of a multi-core optical fiber, a polarization-maintaining optical fiber, and a bundle fiber. This is because any optical fiber requires precise control of the rotational orientation of the flange when optically connecting two optical fibers.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the schematic structure of the optical connector of the present disclosure. Specifically, an example of the appearance of a push-pull type optical connector 10 is shown at the top (denoted as “single-core connector” in FIG. 1) as an example of the optical connector of the present disclosure.
  • the second stage (referred to as “connector front face 1" in FIG. 1) shows the front face of the optical connector 10 including the end face of the optical fiber 50 to which the ferrule 110 is attached, especially the MCF 50A, which is a multi-core optical fiber that requires alignment. A diagram is shown.
  • the third stage referred to as "connector front face 2" in FIG.
  • optical fiber 50 to which the ferrule 110 is attached is the optical connector 10 including the end face of the polarization maintaining optical fiber PMF 50B.
  • a front view is shown.
  • a front view and a cross-sectional view of a bundle fiber 50C in which a plurality of single-core optical fibers are bundled are shown at the bottom (referred to as "connector front face 3" in FIG. 1).
  • a resilient member such as a spring member, is housed to maintain the tension.
  • the tip portion of the optical fiber 50 including the end face corresponds to the glass fiber 51 from which the resin coating has been removed.
  • a ferrule 110 is attached to the glass fiber 51.
  • a boot 40 is attached to protect the optical fiber 50 extending from.
  • the ferrule assembly 100 includes a ferrule 110 attached to the tip portion of the glass fiber 51 from which the resin coating has been removed, and a holding portion composed of a flange 130 and a sleeve 120. , the rear end of the ferrule is inserted into the sleeve 120 as a structure for fixing the ferrule by the holding portion.
  • the front view of the optical connector 10 shown in the second row of FIG.
  • the ferrule 110 attached to the sleeve 120 into which the ferrule 110 is inserted and the flange 130 are shown.
  • the MCF 50A includes a plurality of cores 52A each extending along the fiber axis AX, which is the central axis of the MCF 50A, and a common clad 53A surrounding each of the plurality of cores 52A.
  • Line LA indicates the reference orientation for rotational alignment of MCF 50A, that is, the orientation at a rotation angle of 0°.
  • Line L R is the installation datum of ferrule assembly 100 along the edge of flange 130, ie, the rotational angle datum of the flange. In the ferrule assembly 100 including the MCF 50A after alignment, the lines LA and LR are parallel.
  • a ferrule 110 is shown attached to, a sleeve 120 into which the ferrule 110 is inserted, and a flange 130 .
  • the PMF 50B includes a core 52B extending along the fiber axis AX, which is the central axis of the PMF 50B, stress-applying portions 54 arranged to sandwich the core 52B, and a common clad 53B surrounding the core 52B and the stress-applying portions 54, respectively. , provided.
  • the lines LA and LR are parallel.
  • the ferrule 110 integrally attached to the tip portion of the optical fiber 500, the sleeve 120 into which the ferrule 110 is inserted, and the flange 130 are shown.
  • Each of the plurality of single-core optical fibers 500 is composed of a glass fiber 510 and a resin coating, and each glass fiber 510 has a core 520 and a clad 530 .
  • a glass fiber 510 bundled by a ferrule 110 constitutes a glass fiber 51C.
  • the arrangement of the core 520 in a state in which the plurality of glass fibers 510 are bundled substantially corresponds to the core arrangement of the MCF 50A described above.
  • the line LA and the line LR are parallel.
  • FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining various assembling processes (including alignment work) of the ferrule assembly (referred to as "ferrule assembly assembling process" in FIG. 2).
  • the upper part (denoted as “type 1” in FIG. 2) is a diagram for explaining a method of aligning the optical fiber 50 with respect to the pre-assembled ferrule assembly 100 .
  • the middle section (denoted as “Type 2” in FIG. 2) shows a method of assembling the ferrule assembly 100 by aligning the optical fiber 50 with the ferrule 110 attached to the tip portion with respect to the flange 130 integrated with the sleeve 120. It is a figure for explaining.
  • the lower part (denoted as "type 3" in FIG.
  • the ferrule assembly 100 includes the ferrule 110 and the retaining portion 800.
  • the retaining portion 800 includes the sleeve 120 having the front end surface 120a and the rear end surface 120b, the front surface 130a and the rear surface. It is constituted by a flange 130 having 130b.
  • the rear portion of the ferrule 110 is press-fitted into the opening of the front end face 120a of the sleeve 120, and the front end face 120a side of the sleeve 120 is press-fitted into the through hole 132 of the flange 130 with the ferrule 110 attached.
  • the alignment of the optical fiber 50 is performed with the ferrule 110 attached to the glass fiber 51 corresponding to the tip portion of the optical fiber 50.
  • FIG. Specifically, this alignment is a rotational movement of the optical fiber 50 along the direction indicated by the arrow S1.
  • the optical fiber 50 passes through the through-hole of the holder 800, which is the structure composed of the sleeve 120 and the flange 130, which has already been assembled by press-fitting the sleeve 120 into the through-hole 132 of the flange 130. maintained.
  • one end of the ferrule 110 attached to the tip portion of the optical fiber 50 is press-fitted into the through hole of the sleeve 120 from the front end surface 120a side of the sleeve 120 .
  • the front view of the ferrule assembly 100 attached to the optical fiber 50 after alignment matches the front view shown in the second to bottom rows of FIG.
  • the optical fiber 50 is rotated along the direction indicated by the arrow S1.
  • the ferrule 110 is press-fitted into the opening of the front end face 120 a of the sleeve 120 while attached to the tip of the optical fiber 50 .
  • the optical fiber 50 remains through the through hole of the already assembled structure.
  • the front portion of the sleeve 120 forming the structure attached to the tip portion of the optical fiber 50 is press-fitted into the through hole 132 of the flange 130 .
  • the holding portion 800 to which the rear end portion of the ferrule 110 is fixed is configured.
  • the front view of the ferrule assembly 100 attached to the optical fiber 50 after alignment matches the front view shown in the second to bottom rows of FIG.
  • FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the shape change of the flange in the ferrule assembly 100 assembled as described above.
  • the upper part (denoted as "before press-fitting” in FIG. 3) is a diagram showing a state before the sleeve is press-fitted into the opening of the flange, and a diagram showing a flange having a different structure.
  • the lower part (denoted as "after press-fitting” in FIG. 3) shows the state after the sleeve is press-fitted into the opening of the flange.
  • the ferrule assembly 100 shown in the upper part of FIG. 3 is composed of a ferrule 110 attached to the tip portion of the optical fiber 50 and a separate holding part 800 composed of a plurality of members.
  • a separate holding part 800 is composed of a sleeve 120 into which one end of a ferrule 110 is press-fitted, and a flange 130 .
  • the sleeve 120 has a front end face 120a and a rear end face 120b, and a through hole connecting the front end face 120a and the rear end face 120b.
  • the flange 130 has a through hole 132 into which the front end surface 120a side of the sleeve 120 is press-fitted.
  • Both the front surface 130a and the rear surface 130b of the flange 130 where the opening of the through hole 132 is located are square.
  • the flange 130A having a different structure has a protrusion 133 on its outer peripheral surface for suppressing fluctuations in the rotational orientation of the flange 130A.
  • the end surface shape of the flange 130A is defined by a pair of curved corners sandwiching at least one of the facing sides. Such a configuration in which the corners are curved can also be applied to the flange 130 .
  • a holding portion is shown in which one of the flanges 130 and 130A and the sleeve 120 are separate members.
  • a unitary construction in which one of the types of flanges and the sleeve 120 are constructed from a single piece may be employed.
  • the front end face 120a side of the sleeve 120 when the front end face 120a side of the sleeve 120 is press-fitted into the through hole 132 of the flange 130, the front end face 120a of the sleeve 120 and the front face 130a of the flange 130 substantially match.
  • the front end surface 120a of the sleeve 120 may protrude or recede from the front surface 130a of the flange 130 to some extent.
  • the flange 130 is deformed in the direction indicated by the arrow S2, and a deformed portion 220 protruding outward from the through-hole 132 side is formed.
  • FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the flange installation structure during rotational alignment, together with a comparative example.
  • a ferrule assembly 100 having a flange 130 abuts on a reference surface 300 of the inner wall surface of the housing that is set as a rotation angle reference. Indicates status.
  • the middle row shows a state in which the ferrule assembly 100 having the flange 130 is in contact with the lower reference surface 200B having the concave portion 210B of the inner wall surface of the housing.
  • the lower stage (denoted as “installation structure 2” in FIG.
  • Ferrule assembly 100 having flange 130A is shown abutted so as to be sandwiched between 200A and 200B. In this embodiment, the flange 130 may be brought into contact with at least one of the reference surfaces 200A and 200B.
  • the line L A shown in FIG. 1 as the reference orientation of the optical fiber after alignment is set parallel to the edge of the flange 130 or the flange 130A, that is, the line L R serving as the rotation angle reference.
  • the parallel relationship is maintained regardless of the installation state of the assembly.
  • the rotation angle reference of the flange 130 or flange 130A and the rotation angle reference of the reference surface in the housing match. Therefore, in FIG. 4, in order to make it easier to check the rotational deviation of the flange 130 or the flange 130A with respect to the housing, a line LA is shown so as to match the edge of the flange 130 or the flange 130A, which serves as a reference for the rotation angle within the housing.
  • Lines LR are shown to coincide with each of the reference planes 300, 200A, 200B.
  • the ferrule assembly 100 has a deformed portion 220 in the flange 130 and the flange 130 itself is deformed, as shown in the lower part of FIG.
  • Reference surface 300 against which the outer peripheral surface of flange 130 of ferrule assembly 100 abuts is not provided with a recess.
  • a rotational deviation occurs between the reference surface 300 serving as the rotational angle reference and the flange 130 .
  • the ferrule assembly 100 has a deformed portion 220 in the flange 130 as shown in the lower part of FIG. 3, and the flange 130 itself is deformed.
  • a reference surface 200B located on the lower side of the housing is provided with a recess 210B to accommodate a deformed portion 220 produced in the flange 130.
  • the bottom surface of the recessed portion 210B does not contact the deformed portion 220 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the flange 130 .
  • the ferrule assembly 100 has a flange 130A with protrusions 133 shown in the upper part of FIG. Also in the ferrule assembly 100, as shown in the lower part of FIG. 3, a deformed portion 220 occurs in the flange 130A, and the flange 130A itself is deformed. Further, the upper reference surface 200A is provided with a recessed portion 210A, and the lower reference surface 200B is also provided with a recessed portion 210B. , is installed. At this time, the protrusion 133 of the flange 130A is accommodated in the upper recess 210A and functions to suppress the rotation of the flange 130A.
  • Both of the recesses 210A and 210B accommodate the deformed portion 220 produced in the flange 130A. At least, the bottom surface of the recess 210B is not in contact with the deformed portion 220 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the flange 130A. Thus, even when the deformed portion 220 occurs in the flange 130A, the installation structure 2 also maintains the state in which the rotation angle reference of the flange 130A and the rotation angle reference of the reference surfaces 200A and 200B match.
  • FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the cross-sectional structure of each part of the optical connector of the present disclosure (referred to as "connector structure 2" in FIG. 5) and the floating structure of the ferrule assembly housed in the housing.
  • the upper part (denoted as “optical connector” in FIG. 3) is a cross-sectional view of the optical connector 10 taken along line II shown in the uppermost part of FIG.
  • the lower part (denoted as "floating state" in FIG.
  • FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a modification of the internal structure (referred to as "connector structure 3" in FIG. 6) in the optical connector of the present disclosure. Specifically, each of the upper stage (denoted as “cross-sectional structure 1" in FIG. 6) and the lower stage (“cross-sectional structure 2" in FIG. 6) is along the II line shown at the top of FIG. Also, it corresponds to a cross-sectional view of the optical connector 10 .
  • the optical connector 10 has a structure that is attached to the adapter 600 by inserting the ferrule 110 into the alignment sleeve 710 inside the adapter 600 .
  • the optical connector 10 has a housing for stably housing the ferrule assembly 100 attached to the tip portion of the optical fiber 50 .
  • the housing of the optical connector 10 is composed of a front housing 20 and a rear housing 30 fitted into the front housing 20.
  • a boot 40 is fixed to the rear housing 30 with an optical fiber 50 penetrating therethrough.
  • a front end of a ferrule 110 that constitutes a part of the ferrule assembly 100 protrudes from the front opening of the front housing 20 .
  • the inner wall surface of the front housing 20 is provided with positioning portions 20A and 20B having inclined surfaces with which the edge of the flange 130 of the ferrule assembly 100 to be housed contacts.
  • the inner wall surface of the front housing 20 is provided with reference surfaces 200A and 200B against which the outer peripheral surface of the flange 130 of the ferrule assembly 100 abuts.
  • a recess 210A is provided on the upper reference surface 200A, and a recess 210B is also provided on the lower reference surface 200B.
  • the recess 210A provided on the upper reference surface 200A and the recess 210B provided on the lower reference surface 200B can be easily realized by injection molding, which is a typical housing manufacturing method, and the present disclosure. Optical connectors make it possible to achieve both low connection loss characteristics and manufacturability. Also, the portion functioning as the positioning portion may be provided with only the positioning portion 20A as shown in the upper part of FIG. 6, or may be provided with only the positioning portion 20B as shown in the lower part of FIG. may
  • a spring member 140 is housed as an elastic member.
  • the ferrule assembly 100 is housed in the rear housing 30 and contracted by being sandwiched between the front portion of the rear housing 30 .
  • a through hole for drawing out the optical fiber 50 is provided in the rear portion of the rear housing 30 .
  • the ferrule assembly 100 receives elastic force due to the restoring force of the spring material 140 from the spring material 140, and the flange 130 is biased. That is, the edge of the end surface located on the front surface 130a of the flange 130 is pressed against the positioning portion 20A and the positioning portion 20B of the front housing 20. As shown in FIG.
  • the adapter 600 to which the optical connector 10 is attached has a first opening into which the front end of the mating optical connector is inserted, and a front end of the optical connector 10 . It has a second opening into which the part is inserted. Further, the adapter 600 accommodates an alignment sleeve 710 that is a split sleeve and a sleeve holder 700 that holds it. After the front end of the optical connector 10 is completely inserted into the second opening of the adapter 600, that is, after the ferrule 110 is inserted into the alignment sleeve 710, the ferrule 110A of the mating optical connector is inserted through the first opening.
  • the ferrule assembly 100 in the optical connector 10 is in a flange-back state. That is, the ferrule assembly 100 retreats within the housing of the optical connector 10 along the direction indicated by the arrow S3 in the lower part of FIG. As a result, the ferrule assembly 100 is in a floating state in which it is installed at a position away from the inner wall surface inside the optical connector 10 while being energized.
  • FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining how the flange is installed during rotational alignment within the housing.
  • the upper part shows a state in which the flange 130 of the ferrule assembly 100 is placed on the lower reference surface 200B provided with the recess 210B.
  • the middle row shows a state in which the flange 130 of the ferrule assembly 100 is placed on the upper reference surface 200A provided with the recess 210A.
  • the lower stage (denoted as “four-point contact” in FIG. 7) is where the flange 130 of the ferrule assembly 100 sandwiched between the upper reference surface 200A provided with the recess 210A and the lower reference surface 200B provided with the recess 210B. Indicates the installed state.
  • a flange 130 having a deformed portion 220 shown in the lower part of FIG. 3 is placed against the housing shown in the upper part of FIG. 6 having a lower reference surface 200B provided with a recess 210B. be done.
  • the outer peripheral surface of the flange 130 and the reference surface 200B are in direct contact at the two points of the contact portion P1 and the contact portion P2 shown in the upper part of FIG. That is, by matching the rotation angle reference of the flange 130 and the rotation angle reference of the reference surface 200B, the rotation orientation of the optical fiber 50 having the ferrule 110 attached to the tip portion will match the reference orientation.
  • Both the contact portion P1 and the contact portion P2 are regions having an area that allows the flange 130 to be stably installed.
  • a flange 130 with a deformed portion 220 shown in the bottom of FIG. 3 is installed against the housing shown in the bottom of FIG. 6 having an upper reference surface 200A with a recess 210A. be.
  • the outer peripheral surface of the flange 130 and the reference surface 200A are in direct contact at two points, the contact portion P3 and the contact portion P4 shown in the middle of FIG. That is, when the rotation angle reference of the flange 130 and the rotation angle reference of the reference plane 200A match, the rotation orientation of the optical fiber 50 having the ferrule 110 attached to the tip portion matches the reference orientation.
  • Both the contact portion P3 and the contact portion P4 are regions having an area that allows the flange 130 to be stably installed.
  • the housing shown in the top of FIG. 5 has an upper reference surface 200A with a recess 210A and a lower reference surface 200B with a recess 210B.
  • a flange 130 is installed having a deformed portion 220 as shown.
  • the outer peripheral surface of the flange 130 sandwiched between the reference surfaces 200A and 200B contacts both the reference surfaces 200A and 200B from the contact portion P1 shown in the lower part of FIG. They are in direct contact with each other at the four points of the portion P4. That is, by matching the rotation angle reference of the flange 130 and the rotation angle reference of the reference surface 200B, the rotation orientation of the optical fiber 50 having the ferrule 110 attached to the tip portion will match the reference orientation.
  • Optical connector 20 Front housing 20A, 20B... Positioning part 30... Rear housing 40... Boot 50... Optical fiber 50A... MCF (multi-core optical fiber) 50B...PMF (polarization maintaining optical fiber) 50C... Bundle fibers 51, 51A, 51B, 510... Glass fibers 52A, 52B, 520... Cores 53A, 53B... Common clad 54... Stress applying part 100... Ferrule assembly 110... Ferrule 120... Sleeve 120a... Front end face 120b...
  • MCF multi-core optical fiber
  • PMF polarization maintaining optical fiber

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Coupling Of Light Guides (AREA)
PCT/JP2022/030962 2021-10-13 2022-08-16 光コネクタ Ceased WO2023062934A1 (ja)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US18/698,915 US20250224571A1 (en) 2021-10-13 2022-08-16 Optical connector
EP22880631.1A EP4418028A4 (en) 2021-10-13 2022-08-16 Optical connector
JP2023554942A JPWO2023062934A1 (https=) 2021-10-13 2022-08-16
CN202280067311.2A CN118056148A (zh) 2021-10-13 2022-08-16 光连接器

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JP2017161836A (ja) * 2016-03-11 2017-09-14 オリンパス株式会社 光コネクタ
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JP2019066771A (ja) * 2017-10-04 2019-04-25 住友電気工業株式会社 光コネクタおよび光接続構造
JP2021167986A (ja) 2018-07-18 2021-10-21 住友電気工業株式会社 センサ共有システム、センサ共有装置、センサ共有方法、及びコンピュータプログラム

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JP2008165003A (ja) * 2006-12-28 2008-07-17 Kyocera Corp フェルール保持部材、光レセプタクル及び光モジュール
JP2017161836A (ja) * 2016-03-11 2017-09-14 オリンパス株式会社 光コネクタ
WO2019044079A1 (ja) * 2017-08-30 2019-03-07 住友電気工業株式会社 コネクタプラグ、光コネクタ及び光接続構造
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JP2021167986A (ja) 2018-07-18 2021-10-21 住友電気工業株式会社 センサ共有システム、センサ共有装置、センサ共有方法、及びコンピュータプログラム

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See also references of EP4418028A4

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EP4418028A1 (en) 2024-08-21
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CN118056148A (zh) 2024-05-17
US20250224571A1 (en) 2025-07-10

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