JP2895764B2 - Optical line switching connector and optical line switching method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical line switching connector for switching the optical fiber line on one side and the optical fiber line on the other side by mechanical sliding movement of the connector, and a method for switching the optical line. It is.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, optical fiber cables are laid nationwide, and practical use of telephone and facsimile communication using an optical communication network is being attempted.

[0003] When performing this type of optical communication, it is necessary to switch the communication line as in the case of the electric communication. As a method for switching the optical line, for example, a male connector is attached to one side of a single optical fiber core, and a female connector is attached to the other optical fiber core. There is a method of switching the optical line by switching the connection between the female connector and the female connector, but since this method requires a connector to be attached to each of a plurality of optical fiber cores, It is uneconomical, and it is very difficult to develop a compatible connector that has a very small tolerance for axial misalignment and almost no misalignment when connecting optical fibers. Has many problems.

[0004] Therefore, there has been proposed an optical line switching connector as an optical switch suitable for switching an optical line which has solved the above-mentioned problems. This device has first and second connectors 1 and 4 as shown in FIG. 7, and an optical fiber 2a of one or more optical fibers 2 is provided on the first connector 1 side.
Are disposed in a state of being exposed on the connection end face 3, and the second connector 4 has optical fibers 5 a, 2
5b is similarly arranged in a state of being exposed on the connection end face 3, and the first
A first set of positioning holes 6 for connecting the optical fiber 2a of the first connector 1 and the optical fiber 5a of the second connector 4 are respectively provided in the connectors 1 and 4 of the first and second connectors. Similarly, a second set of positioning holes 7 for connecting the optical fiber 2a of the first connector 1 and the optical fiber 5b of the second connector 4 is formed in the through hole.

The first and second connectors 1 and 4
Is usually formed by resin molding or the like, and the positioning holes 6 and 7 are provided with positioning pins 12 at the time of connector molding.
a and 12b are formed in a size and shape that can be inserted. In some optical line switching connectors, the first and second connectors 1 and 4 are formed of ceramics or the like, and a groove for positioning for penetration is formed by machining.

As shown in FIG. 8A, for example, an optical line switching connector is provided with a first connector 1 and a first connector 1 on a guide 11 having a U-shaped cross section formed by erecting a side plate 10 from both ends of a bottom surface 8. The second connector 4 is slidably housed along the side plate 10 with the connection end faces 3 abutting each other, and the positioning pins 12a are inserted into the first set of positioning holes 6 across the connectors 1 and 4. Then, the optical fibers 2a and 5a are connected, and in this state, the positioning pins 12a are pulled out, and the connectors 1 and 4 are relatively slid to position the second set of the first connector 1 and the second connector 4. By aligning the holes 7, as shown in FIG. 8B, the positioning pins 12b are similarly straddled over the first connector 1 and the second connector 4, and
In order to switch to the connection between the optical fibers 2a and 5b by inserting the optical fibers 2a and 5b, the relative sliding of the connectors 1 and 4 and the insertion and removal of the positioning pins 12a and 12b into and out of the positioning holes 6 and 7 make the optical fiber core wire. 2, 5 optical line switching is performed.

[0007]

When the connection of the optical fiber is switched by using the above-mentioned device, the optical fiber 2a of the first connector 1 and the optical fiber 5a of the second connector 4 are required. , 5b, for example, 0.7 μ
m, and to achieve this, it is necessary to machine the positioning holes 6, 7 and the positioning pins 12a, 12b with high precision.

However, the first and second connectors 1 and 2
4 is usually formed by resin molding or the like, and it is known that the resin shrinks at the time of molding. Therefore, when the elongated through-holes 6 and 7 are made as described above, the length in the penetrating direction is reduced. Because of its long length, it is easily affected by the resin shrinkage, and it has been difficult to accurately process the positioning holes 6 and 7.

When a positioning through-groove is formed in a connector such as ceramics by machining, it is completely parallel to the optical axes of the optical fibers 2 and 5 of the first and second connectors 1 and 4. Since a long and narrow groove having a uniform shape must be formed in the penetrating direction, there is a problem that it is difficult to adjust the processing for forming such a groove with high accuracy and the cost increases.

[0010] Further, when the optical lines are switched by the conventional optical line switching method of the optical line switching connector, as shown in FIG. The connection end faces 3 of the first and second connectors 1 and 4 and the connection end faces of the optical fibers 2 and 5 are scratched because the connection end faces 3 are slid in contact with each other. As a result, the connection loss between the optical fiber cores 2 and 5 is increased, and the optical characteristics of the optical line switching connector are degraded, and the mechanical characteristics such as the accuracy of the optical line switching are reduced. There is a problem that the property is reduced.

Further, in the conventional optical line switching method of the optical line switching connector, for example, as shown in FIG. 8, before the first and second connectors 1 and 4 are slid relative to each other, positioning holes are required. 6, the positioning pin 12 inserted across the first and second connectors 1 and 4 is removed, and after the relative sliding of the connectors 1 and 4 is completed, another positioning hole 7 is inserted into another set of positioning holes 7. Since the pin 12b is inserted across the first connector and the second connector, when the positioning pins 12a and 12b are inserted into and removed from the positioning holes 6 and 7, the pins 12b and 12b are connected to each other. Sliding friction occurs between the positioning holes 6 and 7, thereby causing damage to the positioning holes 6 and 7 and the positioning pins 12 a and 12 b. Then, there is a problem that the positioning of the first and second connectors 1 and 4 is not accurately performed, and the long-term reliability of optical characteristics, mechanical characteristics, and the like is deteriorated in the same manner as described above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to enable accurate connection and switching of an optical line such as an optical fiber or the like, and to improve the characteristics over a long period of time. It is an object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive optical line switching connector and an optical line switching method that can be maintained over a long period of time.

[0013]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is configured as follows. That is, the optical line switching connector of the present invention comprises a first connector having one or more optical fiber cores and a second connector having two or more optical fiber cores. And a plurality of positioning grooves including at least one conical groove are formed on each connection end face side of the first and second connectors, and the first connector and the second connector are The first connector and the second connector have at least one connection end face which are fitted in the positioning grooves of the mating connector, respectively. When and positioning ball and a tip end for positioning the second connector is at least collision set positioning member has one or more having one of the positioning cone pins conical, first
At least one side of the second connector and the second connector is slid relative to the other side, and the positioning member is moved.
The first by let me over the crest between each of the positioning grooves switching the positioning groove for fitting the positioning member
Forming a gap between the connection end faces of the second connectors;
An optical line switching means for switching the connection between the optical fiber core wire on the first connector side and the optical fiber core wire on the second connector side by sliding movement in the inter-formed state is provided. I have.

Further, according to the optical line switching method of the optical line switching connector of the present invention, one or more optical fiber cores are provided.
A first connector in which a plurality of positioning grooves including at least one conical groove are formed on a connection end face side, and two or more optical fiber core wires are disposed, and at least one conical shape is formed on the connection end face side; A second connector having a plurality of positioning grooves including the first groove and the second connector having the connection end faces facing each other;
Connection ends of at least one side of the first connector and the second connector
A positioning member having at least one of a positioning sphere for fitting the first connector and the second connector by fitting into the positioning grooves of the mating connectors on the surfaces and a positioning conical pin having a conical tip. one or more collision was set, the first
At least one side of the second connector and the second connector is slid with respect to the other side to move the positioning member to each position.
The first and the second are switched by switching the positioning groove for fitting the positioning member by moving over the crest between the grooves.
A gap is formed between the connection end faces of the connector and the gap is formed.
The connection between the optical fiber core wire on the first connector side and the optical fiber core wire on the second connector side is switched by sliding movement in the state .

[0015]

In the present invention having the above-mentioned structure, at least one of the first connector and the second connector arranged with the connection end faces facing each other is fitted into the positioning groove of the mating connector. And at least one positioning member having at least one positioning conical pin having a conical tip on the tip side for positioning the first connector and the second connector. It is fitted in the positioning groove of the mating connector. In this state, when at least one side of the first connector and the second connector is slid relative to the other side by the optical line switching means, the positioning causes the positioning member to The positioning groove is fitted into another positioning groove different from the positioning groove. In this way, by switching the positioning groove into which the positioning member is fitted, the optical fiber core wire on the first connector side and the optical fiber core fiber on the second connector side are switched. The connection with the line is switched.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the description of the present embodiment, the same symbols are assigned to the same parts as in the conventional example, and the detailed description thereof is omitted.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a main part of a first embodiment of an optical line switching connector according to the present invention. The second connector 4 is formed by resin molding or the like, and is arranged with the connection end faces 3 facing each other. FIG.
2 shows the first and second connectors 1 and 4 as viewed from the respective connection end faces 3 (FIG. 1 shows AA in FIG. 2).
cross section).

As shown in these figures, the first connector 1 has an optical fiber 2 of one or more (eight) optical fibers 2 pulled out from a multi-core optical fiber tape 22.
The second connector 4 is provided with two or more (eight) optical fiber cores 5 pulled out from the multi-core optical fiber tape 25. Similarly, the optical fibers 5a and 5b are disposed so as to be exposed at the connection end face 3. Three conical positioning grooves 14, 15 and 16 are formed on the connection end face 3 side of the first and second connectors 1 and 4, respectively, and these grooves 14 to 16 are formed.
Are formed at the time of molding the connectors, and are fitted into the positioning grooves 14 and 16 of the mating connector to position the first connector 1 and the second connector 4 respectively. A positioning ball 18 functioning as a positioning member is fixedly provided.

Further, the first and second connectors 1 and 4 include:
By sliding at least one side of the first connector 1 and the second connector 4 with respect to the other side and switching the positioning grooves 15 and 16 into which the positioning balls 18 are fitted, the first connector 1 side The optical line switching means 30 such as a solenoid for switching the connection between the optical fiber core wire 2 and the optical fiber core wire 5 on the second connector 4 side is connected.

This embodiment is configured as described above.
Next, the operation will be described with reference to FIG. In addition,
FIG. 3 shows the first and second connectors 1 and 4 in a state where the optical line switching means 30 shown in FIG. 1 is omitted. Optical line switching means 30 is connected as in FIG.

When the optical line switching connector of this embodiment is in the state shown in FIG. 3A, the first and second connectors 1 and 4 are pressed against each other on the mating connector side.
The connection end faces 3 are in contact with each other, and the positioning sphere 18 fixed in the positioning groove 14 of the first connector 1 is fitted in the positioning groove 16 of the second connector 4.
The positioning ball 18 fixed to the positioning groove 14 of the connector 4 is fitted into the positioning groove 16 of the first connector 1. At this time, as shown in FIG. 2A, of the four optical fibers 2a and 2b of the optical fiber core 2 arranged on the first connector 1, Of the optical fiber 2b and the four optical fibers 5b disposed on the left side of the figure among the optical fibers 5a and 5b of the optical fiber core 5 disposed on the second connector 4 are connected ( Optical connection).

Here, as shown in FIG. 3B, at least one of the first and second connectors 1 and 4 is slid with respect to the other by the optical line switching means 30. As shown in FIG. When the first connector 1 side is moved to the right side of the second connector 4 side, a gap is generated between the connection end face 3 of the first connector 1 and the connection end face 3 of the second connector 4, The positioning sphere 18 fixed to the positioning groove 14 of the first and second connectors 1 and 4 is pulled out of the positioning groove 16 of the mating connector and climbs over the crest between the positioning groove 16 and the positioning 15. As shown in FIG. 3C, the positioning ball 18 is fitted into the other positioning groove 15 side, and the connection end faces 3 of the first and second connectors 1 and 4 are in contact with each other.

In this state, all the optical fibers 2a and 2b of the optical fiber cores 2 provided in the first connector 1 and all the optical fibers provided in the second connector 4 The optical fibers 5a and 5b of the fiber core 5 face each other, and as shown in FIGS. 3 (c) and 3 (e), four optical fibers 2a (first The connector 1) and the optical fiber 5b (the second connector 4 side) are optically connected to each other, and four optical fibers 2b (the first connector 1 side) and the optical fiber 5a ( (Second connector 4 side).

Further, at least one side of the first connector 1 and the second connector 4 is slid relative to the other side by the optical line switching means 30, and conversely, When the first connector 1 is moved to the left with respect to the second connector 4, the optical line switching connector is changed from the state shown in FIG. 3C to the state shown in FIG. 3A, and returns to the state shown in FIG.
The connection state between the optical fibers 2a and 2b on the side and the optical fibers 5a and 5b on the side of the second connector 4 also returns to the original state.

According to the present embodiment, as described above, at least one of the first connector 1 and the second connector 4 is slid relative to the other by the optical line switching means 30. Then, the positioning balls 18 are alternately fitted into the respective positioning grooves 15 and 16, and the positioning grooves 15 and 16 into which the positioning balls 18 are fitted.
Is switched, the optical fibers 2a and 2b on the first connector 1 side and the optical fibers 5a on the second connector 4 side are switched.
The connection between the optical fiber core 2 and the optical fiber core 5 can be freely switched by switching the connection between the optical fiber core 2 and the optical fiber core 5.

According to the present embodiment, the positioning groove 1 for positioning the first connector 1 and the second connector 4 is provided.
4, 15 and 16 are formed in a conical shape, and are less susceptible to resin shrinkage during molding of connectors than conventional elongated through holes. Since the first connector 1 and the second connector 4 can be processed accurately, the optical fibers 2a and 2b on the first connector 1 side and the second connector 4 can be accurately positioned. Optical fiber 5a, 5 on connector 4 side
The connection with b can be performed with high accuracy. Further, since the positioning grooves 14, 15, 16 can be formed at the time of resin molding of the first and second connectors 1, 4, the cost can be reduced unlike the conventional formation of through grooves by machining ceramics. .

Further, according to this embodiment, when the first and second connectors 1 and 4 are slid (moved relative to each other), the positioning ball 18 is moved between the positioning groove 15 and the positioning groove 16. Positioning sphere 18 over positioning grooves 15 and 16 over mountain
Are switched, and at this time, a gap is generated between the connection end face 3 of the first connector 1 and the connection end face 3 of the second connector 4, so that the first and second connection points are different from those of the related art. The optical fibers 2a, 2b, 5a, 5b may be damaged during the above-mentioned movement, or may be damaged, unlike the case where the connection end faces 3 of the two connectors 1, 4 are kept in contact with each other.
Can be prevented from being damaged.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, the first and second
Of the connection end faces 3 of the connectors 1 and 4 and the optical fiber 2
The connection loss and the return loss between the end faces of the optical fibers are not increased by the use of the optical line switching connector due to the scratches on the end surfaces of the optical line switching connectors a, 2b, 5a, and 5b. Long-term reliability can be improved.

In addition, in the conventional optical line switching connector, the positioning pins 12a and 12b must be inserted into and removed from the positioning holes 6 and 7 before and after the connection is switched. The holes 6 and 7 may be scratched, thereby lowering the accuracy of the positioning holes 6 and 7, thereby reducing the long-term reliability of the optical and mechanical characteristics of the optical line switching connector. However, according to the present embodiment, the above-described operation of inserting and removing the positioning pin is not necessary, and the positioning groove of the positioning ball 18 is used in the operation of switching the positioning grooves 15 and 16 into which the positioning ball 18 is fitted. Since the amount of movement with respect to 15 and 16 is very small, the positioning ball 18
And the positioning grooves 15 and 16 are hardly damaged, and the processing accuracy of the positioning grooves 15 and 16 can be maintained with high accuracy. Performance can be improved.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a main part of an optical line switching connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention and its optical line switching operation. This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the first and second connectors 1 and 4 are provided with through-holes 6 instead of the positioning grooves 14 and are provided instead of the positioning balls 18. The configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment except that a positioning conical pin 19 having a conical shape on the distal end side is provided. The positioning conical pins 19 are fixed to the positioning holes 6 of the first and second connectors 1 and 4, respectively. Although not shown in FIG. 4, in the present embodiment, the first and second connectors 1 and 4 are similar to the first embodiment.
Is connected to the optical line switching means 30.

This embodiment is configured as described above.
In this embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the optical line switching means is provided.
When at least one side of the first connector 1 and the second connector 4 is slid relative to the other side by 30, the first and second optical connectors 1 and 4 become ( a)
Through the state shown in (b) from the state shown in, it is moved to the state shown in FIG. 4 (c), also, on the contrary, the state shown in the state shown in (c) of FIG. 4 (b) Via FIG. 4
(A). During this movement, each positioning conical pin 19 goes over the peak between the positioning grooves 15 and 16 and fits into each of the positioning grooves 15 and 16 as shown in FIG. At this time, the connection end face 3 of the first connector 1 and the second connector 4
A gap is created between the connection end face 4 and the connection end face 4.

As described above, by sliding the first connector 1 and the second connector 4, the optical fibers 2 a and 2 b on the first connector 1 side are provided in the same manner as in the first embodiment. And the optical fiber 5a on the second connector 4 side,
5b is alternately switched.

According to this embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained by the above operation.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a main part of an optical line switching connector according to a third embodiment of the present invention and its optical line switching operation. This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the first and second connectors 1 and 4 are different.
A cylindrical positioning groove (positioning concave portion) 17 is formed instead of the positioning groove 14, and the positioning ball 18 is housed in the positioning groove 17 via a spring 21. The configuration is the same as in the example.

This embodiment is configured as described above.
This embodiment operates almost in the same manner as the first embodiment, but
In the present embodiment, since the positioning ball 18 is housed in the positioning groove 17 via the spring 21, the positioning ball 18 is located at the peak between the positioning grooves 15, 16 as shown in FIG. The spring 21 contracts when moving over the positioning ball 18.
Is partially inserted into the depth side of the positioning groove 17, and the gap between the connection end face 3 of the first connector 1 and the connection end face 3 of the second connector 4 is the first gap in the first embodiment. , Smaller than the gap between the connection end faces 3 of the second connectors 1 and 4.

This embodiment can provide the same effects as those of the first and second embodiments. In this embodiment, the positioning ball 18 is housed in the positioning groove 17 via the spring 21, and when the first connector 1 and the second connector 4 are relatively moved, the spring 21 contracts. Positioning ball 18
Is moved in a state in which the first connector 1 and the second connector 4 are moved in a state in which the first connector 1 and the second connector 4 are moved into the positioning groove 17 side.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can adopt various embodiments. For example, in the above embodiment, the first and second connectors 1 and 4 are each formed by disposing eight optical fiber cores 2 and 5, but the first and second connectors , 4 are not particularly limited in the number of optical fiber cores 2, 5 provided.
One or more optical fiber cores may be provided on the first connector 1 side, and two or more optical fiber cores 5 may be provided on the first connector 4 side.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the optical line switching connector is formed by providing the positioning conical pin 19 as the positioning member as in the second embodiment, the first and second positioning pins are used. In each of the connectors 1 and 4, a cylindrical positioning groove 17 that does not penetrate is formed.
Insert the short positioning cone pin 19 that fits into the positioning groove
The positioning conical pin 19 having a shorter length and a spring 21 may be provided, and the positioning conical pin 19 may be received in the positioning groove 17 via the spring 21. .

Further, instead of accommodating the positioning ball 18 in the positioning groove 17 via the spring 21 as in the third embodiment, a commercially available ball plunger or the like may be provided.

Further, the number of positioning grooves and positioning holes formed in the first and second connectors 1 and 4 is not particularly limited, and may be appropriately set. , 4, a plurality of positioning grooves including at least one conical groove are formed on the connection end face 3 side,
The connection between the optical fiber core 2 on the first connector 1 side and the optical fiber core 5 on the second connector 4 side may be switched.

Further, in the above embodiment, the first and second connectors 1 and 4 are formed of resin, and the positioning grooves 14 to 16 are formed at the time of molding the first and second connectors 1 and 4. The first and second connectors 1 and 4 may be formed of ceramics or the like, and the positioning grooves 14 to 16 may be formed by machining the first and second connectors 1 and 4. Also in such a case, the positioning groove is shorter than the conventional positioning groove, so that the groove can be processed with high accuracy, and the same effect as the above embodiment can be obtained.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of conical positioning grooves 13 to 13 are formed on the connection end face 3 side of the first connector 1.
16 and the second connector 4 side has a plurality of through-positioning holes 6 as in the prior art.
The positioning conical pins 19 are fixedly provided on the first connector 1, respectively.
The optical line switching connector may be configured so as to be fitted to # 16. When configured in this manner, the first and second
The optical line switching means 30 is connected to the connectors 1 and 4 of (a), (b) and (c) of FIG. 6 or (c) and (b) of FIG. By moving at least one side of the first connector 1 and the second connector 4 relatively to the other side as in (a), it is possible to operate in the same manner as in the above embodiment. ,
Similar effects can be obtained.

[0042]

According to the present invention, the first connector and the second connector
By making the positioning groove for positioning the connector into a conical shape, it is possible to minimize the adverse effect on the formation of the positioning groove due to shrinkage of the resin during molding of the first and second connectors, and the like. , The positioning groove can be easily formed by machining,
Since the positioning groove can be machined with high accuracy, the connection between the optical fiber core wire on the first connector side and the optical fiber core wire on the second connector side, which is performed by positioning with the positioning groove, is performed with high accuracy. It can be carried out.

Further, according to the present invention, the positioning groove is provided in the first position.
And a plurality of connection end faces of each of the second connectors are formed.
The positioning member that fits into the positioning groove is the same as the first connector.
At least one on the connection end face on at least one side of the second connector
Since it is protruded , a positioning member is fitted into any of the plurality of positioning grooves, and then at least one side of the first connector and the second connector is slid relative to the other side. when switching positioning groove for fitting the positioning member so moved, the positioning member,
Moves over the peak between the positioning grooves
Then, the positioning groove for fitting the positioning member is switched, and at this time, a gap is generated between the connection end surface of the first connector and the connection end surface of the second connector. Therefore first as in the conventional optical path switching connector, unlike the being in contact with connecting end care workers of the second connector the first connector and the second connector relative sliding is performed When the first connector and the second connector are moved relative to each other, the connection of the optical fiber cores can be switched without damaging the connection end face side of each optical fiber core.

Moreover, in the conventional optical line switching connector, the positioning pin must be inserted into and removed from the positioning hole before and after the connection is switched. May reduce the accuracy of the positioning hole, thereby reducing the long-term reliability of the optical and mechanical characteristics of the optical line switching connector. It is not necessary to remove and insert the positioning pin as in the above, and the amount of movement of the positioning member relative to the positioning groove at the time of switching the positioning groove for fitting the positioning member is very small. There is almost no damage and the processing accuracy of the positioning groove can be maintained at high accuracy.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the connection between the optical fiber core of the first connector and the optical fiber core of the second connector is accurately performed, and the optical characteristics and the mechanical characteristics of the optical line switching connector are achieved. Can be maintained with high accuracy, and an epoch-making optical line switching connector having high long-term reliability can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a main part of a first embodiment of an optical line switching connector according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing first and second connectors 1 and 4 of the optical line switching connector of the first embodiment as viewed from the connection end face 3 side.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation of the optical line switching connector of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a main part configuration and operation of an optical line switching connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a main part configuration and operation of an optical line switching connector according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a main part configuration and operation of another embodiment of the optical line switching connector according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory perspective view of a first connector and a second connector of a conventional optical line switching connector.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration and operation of a conventional optical line switching connector.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 1st connector 2,5 Optical fiber core wire 2a, 2b Optical fiber 4 2nd connector 5a, 5b Optical fiber 13,14,15,16,17 Positioning groove 18 Positioning ball 19 Positioning conical pin 30 Optical line switching means

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Mikitake Ishihara 2-6-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Inside Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hideo Kobayashi 1-6-1, Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (56) References JP-A-4-21809 (JP, A) JP-A-3-64719 (JP, A) JP-A-3-64718 (JP, A) JP-A-3-51811 (JP, A) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G02B 26/08 G02B ⁶ /36-6/40

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] A first connector provided with at least one optical fiber core; and a second connector provided with two or more optical fiber cores. 1st and 2nd
A plurality of positioning grooves including at least one conical groove are formed on each connection end face side of the connector, and the first connector and the second connector are arranged with their connection end faces facing each other. At least one connection end face of the first connector and the second connector is fitted into a positioning groove of the mating connector to position the first connector and the second connector. sphere and the distal end side are at least collision set positioning member has one or more having one of the positioning cone pins conical, the first connector and the second
At least one side of the connector is slid relative to the other side and the positioning member is moved between the positioning grooves.
First and second respective connectors by switching the positioning groove for fitting the positioning member allowed over the crest
A gap is formed between the connection end faces of the
An optical line switching connector, comprising: optical line switching means for switching a connection between an optical fiber core wire on a first connector side and an optical fiber core wire on a second connector side by ride movement . 2. A first connector in which one or more optical fiber core wires are provided, and a plurality of positioning grooves including at least one conical groove are formed on the connection end face side, and two or more optical fibers. A second connector having a plurality of positioning grooves including at least one conical groove on the connection end face side, the connection end faces being opposed to each other; Positioning spheres and tips that fit into at least one of the connection end surfaces of the connector and the second connector, respectively, and are positioned in the positioning grooves of the mating connector to position the first connector and the second connector. side is at least crash set one or more positioning members having one of the positioning cone pins conical, the positioning member for at even one side of the first connector and the second connector is slidingly moved relative to the other side The each positioning
The first and second cores are switched by moving over the crests between the grooves and switching the positioning grooves into which the positioning members are fitted.
A gap is formed between the connection end faces of the connector and the gap is formed.
Switching the connection between the optical fiber core wire on the first connector side and the optical fiber core wire on the second connector side by sliding movement of the optical line switching connector.