JP3316727B2 - Optical connector - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention comprises a set of a male connector accommodating a first ferrule and a female connector accommodating a second ferrule, and connects optical fibers fixed on the central axis of each ferrule. For the structure of an optical connector for use.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional optical connector of this type, for example, a connector described in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 61-81618 is known. FIG. 4 is a plan sectional view showing the structure of this conventional optical connector, in which 30 is an optical connector, 32 is a male connector,
34 is a female connector. Each of the connectors 32 and 34 has a ferrule 3 in which an optical fiber is fixedly held on a central axis.
6, 38, housings 42, 44 for aligning the ferrules 36, 38, fixtures 54, 56, and a plurality of parts for accommodating the other connector in a detachable manner. It is configured.

When connecting an optical fiber, the male connector 3 is positioned so that the optical fiber is positioned on the same central axis.
2 and the female connector 34 are joined. At this time, the housings 42, 4 are provided on the inclined surfaces 58 of the fixtures 54, 56.
4 are pressed, and the ferrules 36 and 38 are pressed elastically on the outer inclined surfaces of the elastic arms joined to the inner inclined surfaces of the inclined engagement portions 40 and 46. That is, the pair of ferrules 36 and 38 are pushed in the direction in which they abut each other, and are connected and fixed.

On the other hand, when the optical fiber is removed, the fixture 54 of the male connector 32 is pushed from the outside in the central axis direction to release the engagement. When the engagement between the engagement protrusion of the fixture 54 of the male connector 32 and the engagement groove of the housing 42 is released, the regulation of the inclined engagement portion 46 of the housing 42 is released, and the elastic arm of the ferrule 36 is released. The housing 42 and the ferrule 36 are separated easily from the inclined engagement portion 46.
With respect to the female connector 34, the fixture 56, the housing 44, and the ferrule 38 are formed in the same manner as the male connector 32.
Can be separated individually.

[0005]

As described above, in the conventional optical connector, the inclined engagement portions 4 are provided on the housings 42 and 44.
4 and 46 are provided so that the opposing ends of the ferrules 36 and 38 abut each other, and there is a problem that the structure is complicated. Further, since the pressing force applied to the ends of the ferrules 36 and 38 uses the elastic force of the housings 42 and 44, respectively, there is a problem that it is difficult to connect the optical fibers with sufficient accuracy. Further, since the ferrules 36 and 38 are aligned by the housings 42 and 44, the ferrules 36 and 38 are likely to be misaligned with each other, which may deteriorate the loss characteristics.

An object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the conventional structure and to maintain a sufficient connection performance of an optical fiber.
An object of the present invention is to provide an optical connector having a simplified structure.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An optical connector provided by the present invention comprises a first ferrule having an optical fiber fixed on a central axis and having a projection integrally formed at a longitudinal central portion of an outer periphery thereof. An optical connector for releasably joining an opposite end of a second ferrule having an optical fiber fixed on the same central axis as the first ferrule, wherein an elastic engaging claw is formed at an open end. A male connector accommodating the first ferrule movably along a central axis line in a bottomed cylindrical clip housing; and a locking mechanism of the elastic engaging claw formed at an open end of the second ferrule. And a female connector having a receptacle structure with a fixed base end. The male connector has an elastic body interposed between an inner bottom portion of the clip housing and a back side of the protrusion to elastically hold the first ferrule, and is provided at a predetermined position on an outer surface of the clip housing. A flange is formed to regulate the displacement of the projection toward the opening end. The clip housing is, for example, a pair of free ends in which opposing side surfaces near an open end are elastically deformed in the same plane, and the tip of each free end is bent outward to form the elastic engaging claw. The upper and lower flange portions of the first free end and the lower middle portion of the second free end are formed with the flange portions facing each other in a plane perpendicular to the elastically deformable surface. Have been. The spacing between the flanges is smaller than the outer diameter of the projection, thereby restricting the displacement of the projection toward the opening. A cylindrical split sleeve that accommodates the opposite end of the other ferrule and aligns it on the same axis is fixed to the outer periphery of either end of the first ferrule or the second ferrule.

When connecting the optical fibers, the ends of the ferrules are positioned with a split sleeve, and then the clip housing of the male connector is temporarily elastically deformed in the direction of the central axis and pushed into the female connector. Then, the elastic engaging claw is locked to the locking mechanism. At this time, the split sleeve aligns the opposing ends of the opposing first and second ferrules on the same axis, and the elastic body abuts the tips of the ferrules at a required pressure. As a result, the optical fibers in both connectors are connected on the same axis. On the other hand, when releasing the connection state of the optical fiber, the clip housing is temporarily elastically deformed in the central axis direction to release the engagement of the elastic engaging claw. As a result, the elastic body is deenergized, and the male connector is automatically removed from the female connector.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1A is a plan view before connecting the male connector 1 according to the present embodiment, FIG.
FIG. 2C is a front view, and FIG. 2 is a female connector 2 before connection.
FIG. FIG. 3A is a plan view showing a connection state between a male connector and a female connector, and FIG. 3B is a side view.

The male connector 1 is shown in FIGS. 1 (a), 1 (b) and 1 (c).
As shown in FIG. In the clip housing 11, the opposing side surface near the opening end has a central axis.
A pair of free ends 11b to elastically deform in the linear direction, the elastic engagement claws 11 the tip of each free end is bent respectively outward
c . In addition, a brim portion 11a is formed on an upper portion of a longitudinal center portion of one free end and a lower portion of a longitudinal center portion of the other free end, each of which faces a surface perpendicular to an elastically deformable surface. ing.

Inside the clip housing 11, a first ferrule 12 having a flange portion (projection) 12a formed at the center in the longitudinal direction of the outer periphery is accommodated so as to be displaceable along a central axis. The outer diameter of the flange portion 12a is larger than the interval between the two opposed flange portions 11a, and has a shape such that a predetermined portion of the peripheral edge of the front portion abuts on the side end of each flange portion 11a. A cylindrical split sleeve 13 is fixed to the outer periphery of the first ferrule 12 , and further, on the distal end side of the split sleeve 13, a second split sleeve 13 to be joined to the distal end of the first ferrule 12 is provided. A guide space for guiding the tip of the second ferrule is formed.

An elastic body, for example, a coil spring 14 is disposed between the rear side of the flange portion 12a and the inner bottom of the clip housing 11, and the first spring is provided by the coil spring 14.
Of the ferrule 12 is maintained, and the flange portion 12a is pushed toward the opening end along the central axis. On the central axis of the first ferrule 12, an optical fiber 10 to be connected is fixed with an adhesive or the like.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, the female connector 2 has a block 21 formed with a key 21a for locking the elastic engaging claw 11c at an open end. The opening end of the block 21 is large enough to insert at least the clip housing 11, and the shape of the key 21a is formed in a concave shape so that the elastic engaging claw 11c inserted from the opening end can be locked. . In addition, a portion which is located substantially at the center of the block 21 and points to the end of the split sleeve 13 is provided with a second portion.
Groove 21b for fitting the base end of ferrule 22
Are formed. An optical fiber 20 to be connected is fixed with an adhesive or the like on the central axis of the second ferrule 22 fitted and fixed in the groove 21b, thereby realizing a receptacle structure. The module 3 connected to the optical fibers 10 and 20 is provided on the back side of the block 21.

Next, a method of using the optical connector including the male connector 1 and the female connector 2 having the above structure will be described with reference to FIG. When connecting the optical fibers 10 and 20, after positioning the tip of the second ferrule 22 fixed to the block 21 so as to be accommodated in the guide space of the split sleeve 13, the free end 11b of the male connector 1 is connected. The whole clip is elastically deformed in the direction of the central axis, and the entire clip is
Push in the direction. The elastic deformation is released when the elastic engaging claw 11c is locked to the locking portion 21a of the block 21. At this time, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the split sleeve 13 aligns the opposing ends of the first and second ferrules 12 and 22 on the same center axis by an appropriate tightening force. Then, the coil spring 14 abuts the opposing ends of the ferrules 12 and 22 at a required pressure. As a result, the optical fiber 10 and the optical fiber 20 are securely connected.

On the other hand, when the connection of the optical fibers 10 and 20 is released, the free end 1 of the clip housing 11 is
1b is elastically deformed in the direction of the center axis, and the elastic engaging claw 11c is removed from the key 21b of the block 21. As a result, the coil spring 14 is deenergized, and the clip housing 11 is
1, and the opposing ends of the ferrules 12 and 22 are separated from each other.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the split sleeve 13 for aligning the opposing ends of the first and second ferrules 12 and 22 and the coil spring 14 for applying a required pressing force to the opposing ends. Are disposed in the clip housing 11, and the first and second flanges 11a face each other.
The male connector 1 is configured by restricting the displacement of the ferrule 12 to the opening end side , and the optical connector is realized by combination with the female connector 2 having the block 21 of the receptacle structure. It is possible to reduce the number of parts and to simplify and reduce the structure while maintaining the connection performance of the 20.

In the above description, the split sleeve 13 is provided on the male connector 1 side, but the split sleeve 13 may be provided on the female connector 2 side. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the shape of the clip housing 11 does not necessarily have to be rectangular in cross section, but may be cylindrical with a bottom or polygonal with a bottom. In addition, the elastic body is also a coil spring 14.
May be used.

[0018]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, there is provided an optical connector having a small number of parts and excellent in mass productivity with a small number of parts without impairing the connection accuracy of the optical fiber. Can be.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a structural example of a male connector which is a component of an optical connector of the present invention, wherein (a) is a plan view before connection, (b) is a side view, and (c) is a front view. FIG.

FIG. 2 is a plan structural view showing an example of the structure of a female connector which is a component of the optical connector of the present invention before connection.

3A and 3B are diagrams showing a connection state of the optical connector of the present invention, wherein FIG. 3A is a plan view and FIG. 3B is a side view.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing an example of the structure of a conventional optical connector of this type.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Male connector 10 Optical fiber on male connector side 11 Clip housing 11a Collar part (displacement restriction part) 11b Free end 12 First ferrule 12a Flange part (projection) 12b Aligned outer diameter part 13 Split sleeve 14 An example of elastic body 2 Female connector 20 Optical fiber on female connector side 21 Block 21a Locking portion 21b Groove 3 Module to which optical fiber is connected

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-63-121808 (JP, A) JP-A-7-13044 (JP, A) JP-A-4-104111 (JP, A) JP-A 61-121 226716 (JP, A) Fully open 1983-103006 (JP, U) Fully open, 64-4406 (JP, U) Fully open, 1-85703 (JP, U) Fully open, 61-61 211 (JP, U) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G02B 6/36-6/43

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] An optical fiber is fixed on a central axis, and a tip of a first ferrule in which a projection is integrally formed at a central portion in a longitudinal direction of an outer periphery, and on a same central axis as the first ferrule. An optical connector for detachably joining an opposing end of a second ferrule to which an optical fiber is fixed, wherein the first ferrule is disposed in a bottomed cylindrical clip housing having an elastic engaging claw formed at an open end. A male connector accommodating a ferrule so as to be displaceable along a central axis, and a female connector having a receptacle structure in which a locking mechanism of the elastic engaging claw is formed at an open end and a base end of the second ferrule is fixed. The male connector is configured such that an elastic body is interposed between an inner bottom portion of the clip housing and a back side of the protrusion to elastically hold the first ferrule, and that an outer surface of the clip housing is formed. In the designated part, in front A flange for restricting displacement of the projection toward the open end; and an opposing end of the other ferrule accommodated in an outer periphery of one end of the first ferrule or the second ferrule. An optical connector, wherein a cylindrical split sleeve to be aligned on the same axis is fixed. 2. The clip housing has a pair of free ends whose opposing side portions near an opening end are elastically deformed in the same plane,
The distal end of each free end is bent outward to form the elastic engaging claw, and furthermore, on the upper side of the longitudinal center of the first free end and the lower side of the longitudinal center of the second free end. 2. The light according to claim 1, wherein the flanges are formed so as to face each other in a plane perpendicular to the elastically deforming surface, and a distance between the flanges is smaller than an outer diameter of the protrusion. connector. 3. An optical fiber is fixed on a central axis, and
A first part in which a protrusion is integrally formed at the center in the longitudinal direction of the outer periphery;
The tip of the ferrule and the same as the first ferrule
Of the second ferrule in which the optical fiber is fixed on the center axis
Male connector of an optical connector that allows the opposite end to be detachably joined
A motor, the male connector, the elastic engagement claws to the open end is formed Yes
Center the first ferrule in the bottom cylindrical clip housing
And the male connector is displaceably accommodated along the
Has an elastic engagement claw locking mechanism formed at an open end thereof.
Light with a receptacle structure that fixes the base end of the ferrule
Is intended to be connected to the female connector of the connector, the male connector, the collision with the inner bottom portion of the clip housing
An elastic member is interposed between the first member and the rear surface of the first member to thereby form the first member.
While holding the ferrule elastically and outside the clip housing.
Displacement of the protruding body toward the open end is specified at a predetermined portion on the side surface.
Ri formed by forming a flange portion win, further, the outer circumference of the end portion of the first ferrule, the other off
Accommodates opposite ends of ferrule and aligns on the same axis
Light, characterized in that a tubular split sleeve is fixed
Connector male connector.