JPH0232603B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an optical connector used in an optical communication line using an optical fiber, and the present invention relates to an optical connector that is used for an optical communication line using an optical fiber. The present invention relates to an optical connector that blocks laser light.

Laser light used in optical communications may cause damage to the retina and the like if it enters the human eye.
In order to prevent such a risk, it has been proposed to provide a shielding mechanism at a corresponding location in a conventional communication device. A schematic configuration of such a mechanism is shown in FIG. FIG. 1 is a side sectional view, in which an output side optical connector 1 is inserted into one side of an optical adapter 4 that is attached through a panel 3 of a device main body (not shown) and is fixed with a bag-like nut 9. The input side optical connector 8 is inserted into the other side facing the other side, and a bag-shaped nut 9 is also inserted into the other side.
By being fixed by the adapter 4, an optical connection is established via the adapter 4.

The output side optical connector 1 is equipped with a terminal member 2, and the output side optical fiber 10 is inserted and fixed through the center of the terminal member 2. The input side optical fiber 11 of the input side optical connector 8 has a similar configuration.

A U-shaped frame 5 is attached to the panel 3 surface on the side where the input side optical connector 8 is inserted and connected.
A hole through which an input side optical connector 8 can be inserted and passed is formed at the bottom of the U-shaped frame 5 facing the adapter 4, and this hole is supported so as to be openable and closable by a shaft 7 provided at one end of the hole. It is shielded by a shielding plate 6. By pushing up the shielding plate 6 to the dotted line position and inserting the input side optical connector 8 in the direction of arrow A through the hole, and inserting and fixing it into the adapter 4, the output side optical connector 1 and the input side optical connector 8 are optically connected, and the output side optical connector 8 is optically connected. An optical signal is transmitted from the side optical fiber 10 to the input side optical fiber 11.

As shown in FIG. 1, when the incident-side optical connector 8 is not inserted, the shielding plate 6 is in the solid line position and covers the hole in the frame 5. In this state, the laser light beam, which is an optical signal emitted from the end of the optical fiber 10 of the output side optical connector 1, is emitted from the opening of the adapter 4, but is blocked by the shielding plate 6 that shields the connector insertion hole. It is blocked and does not emit to the outside.

The conventional shielding mechanism described above has a large structure, and the shielding plate 6
There were problems in that it was difficult to turn the bag-shaped nut 9 of the input-side optical connector in a narrow space.

The present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, by blocking the emitted light at the optical connector itself without providing a shielding mechanism on the outside of the optical connector and without requiring special operations during the operation process. It also has a function that allows connection. For this purpose, the main feature of the present invention is to insert and fix the tips of the optical fibers on the light output side and the light input side into the terminal members, respectively, and incorporate the terminal members into the connector main body, and make the end faces of both terminal members face each other for optical connection. In the optical connector, a groove is formed along the axial direction on the inner periphery of the connector body into which the input side optical fiber terminal member is inserted, and the bottom side of the elastic shielding valve, which is approximately L-shaped in side view, is inserted into the groove. and the L-shaped upright sides are arranged so as to face and shield the light output end face of the light output end member, and the upright sides are bent and retracted into the groove in response to insertion of the light input end member. This is what I did.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the optical connector according to the present invention will be described in detail by way of embodiments with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing an embodiment of the optical connector of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 12 denotes an end member through which the output side optical fiber 10 is fixedly fixed in the center. The terminal member 12 is assembled into a connector main body 13, and the connector main body 13 has an opening with the end surface of the terminal member 12 in a retracted position so as to be able to receive an incident-side optical connector to be described later. A groove 14 along the axial direction is formed on the inner periphery of the opening of the connector body 13.
is formed in the groove 14, and the bottom side of the elastic shielding piece 15, which is approximately L-shaped in side view, is fixed with an adhesive or the like. In this way, the L-shaped upright sides face and shield the light-emitting end surface of the light-emitting side terminal member 12.

The elastic shielding piece 15 is preferably an extremely thin metal plate made of a flexible and resilient material, and the angle between the bottom side and the upright side is an acute angle of 60° to 80°.

As described above, the laser light, which is an optical signal transmitted from a light emitting source (not shown) to the output side optical connector 10, is emitted from the end face of the terminal member 12 as a beam light toward the opening direction. The upright side of the elastic shielding piece 15 blocks the radiation and prevents it from exiting the connector body 13.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the optical connector of FIG. 2 in which the input side optical connector is inserted and connected. In the figure, the input-side optical connector 8 consists of a light-input side terminal member 12 having an input-side optical fiber 11 fixed therethrough through the center thereof, and a bag-shaped nut 9. By inserting this light input side terminal member 12 into the opening of the connector body 13 and abutting it against the end face of the light output side terminal member 12, an optical connection can be made, and the signal light between the optical fibers is transmitted and the optical communication line is formed. It is fixed by screwing the bag nut 9 onto the screw of the connector body 13. In response to the insertion of the light incident end member 12, the upright side of the elastic shielding piece is folded and bent into the groove 14.

When the input side optical connector 8 is disconnected, the upright side of the elastic shielding piece 15 elastically returns to stand up, so that the light emitted from the output side optical fiber 10 is blocked by the upright side as described above.

The elastic shielding piece 15 may be a synthetic resin plate, but
It is preferable to form and apply a thin metal layer so that laser light does not pass through to a harmful extent, and for this purpose a light absorber may be applied.

As explained above, the optical connector of the present invention has a simple structure and is miniaturized by attaching an elastic shielding piece to the connector main body. In addition, since the elastic shielding piece is a narrow strip in front view when viewed from the opening side, the width of the groove in which it is accommodated may be narrow, and the fit between the light incident side terminal member and the connector body is not affected by the groove. Precise fit is guaranteed without rattling. The upright side of the elastic shielding piece is not limited to a straight line, but may be approximately L-shaped, and can be doglegged or curved to prevent concentrated stress from occurring when raised and lowered. It is.

As described above, the optical connector of the present invention has extremely significant practical effects when applied to optical communication lines.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a schematic configuration of a conventional optical connector, FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of an embodiment of the optical connector of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of an optical connector of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing a connected state. In the figure, 1 is an optical connector on the output side, 2 and 12 are terminal members, 3 is a panel, 4 is an adapter, 5 is a frame, 6 is a shielding plate, 7 is a shaft, 8 is an optical connector on the input side, and 9 is a bag-shaped nut. , 10 is an output side optical fiber,
11 is the input side optical fiber, 13 is the connector body,
Reference numeral 14 indicates a groove, and reference numeral 15 indicates an elastic shielding piece.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In an optical connector in which the tips of the optical fibers on the light output side and the light input side are inserted and fixed into a terminal member, and the terminal members are assembled into the connector body, and the end faces of both terminal members face each other for optical connection, the optical fiber on the input side is inserted and fixed. A groove along the axial direction is formed in the inner periphery of the connector body into which the terminal member is to be inserted, and the bottom side of the elastic shielding piece, which is approximately L-shaped in side view, is attached to the groove.
The raised side of the shape is provided so as to face and shield the light output end face of the light output side terminal member, and the raised side bends and retreats into the groove in response to insertion of the light input side terminal member. optical connector.