JPH0550722B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an optical fiber connector, and more particularly to an optical fiber connector equipped with a magnifying lens.

(Prior Art) In recent years, optical fibers have been increasingly used in communication equipment and the like. Optical fibers must be connected to other optical fibers not only when connecting long distances, but also in order to input data light delivered through the optical fibers into each device. Naturally, when making this connection, the data light must not leak or be attenuated.

There are various methods for connecting conventional optical fibers as follows. For example, the rod connection method involves attaching three rods to an optical fiber and fixing them with adhesive after alignment, the sleeve connection method involves connecting the optical fibers within a sleeve, and the fiber connection method involves butting the ends of the optical fibers together and heating them at approximately 1800°C. There is a fusion adhesion method in which the optical fiber is heated and fused at a high temperature, and a V-groove connection method in which the optical fiber is clamped and fixed by a plate portion provided with a V-shaped guide groove for accommodating the end of the optical fiber.

By the way, no matter which of the above methods is adopted, in the actual connection work of optical fibers,
Thin (generally the outer diameter of the fiber is 100 to 300 μm)
(The core wire diameter is 5 to 100 .mu.m) A fragile optical fiber core wire must be placed at a predetermined location of each connector. Moreover, since the core wire of the optical fiber must be fixed while confirming that it is in the specified position relative to the connecting tool used to connect it, considerable care must be taken when performing the connection work. It requires strength.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and the problem to be solved is the difficulty in connecting optical fibers that are thin and easily broken. .

It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical fiber connector equipped with a magnifying lens that allows this type of optical fiber connection work to be easily performed.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The means taken by the present invention to solve the above problems will be explained using the symbols attached to the drawings.
The ends of the pair of optical fibers are held by sandwiching the ends of each optical fiber between the plate portions 11 that are opposite to each other and have grooves 12 on at least one of the sides for accommodating the ends of the pair of optical fibers. In the optical fiber connector to be connected, the plate portions 11 facing each other are integrally formed so as to be continuous at one end thereof, and are biased into a closed state by their own elastic force. This optical fiber connector 10 is characterized in that a magnifying lens 14 is provided at a position facing the connecting end of the optical fiber.

(Function of the invention) In the case of such an optical fiber connector, the free end sides of the opposing plate parts are opened, a pair of optical fibers to be connected are inserted between the opposing plate parts, and the optical fibers are provided in the plate parts. Connecting the optical fibers is carried out with the connection ends of the optical fibers to be connected enlarged through a magnifying lens, and the connected optical fibers are returned by the elastic plate that is biased into the closed state. It acts to hold the . This makes it possible to proceed with the optical fiber connection work while checking visually, and since the opposing plate parts are integrally formed, there is no need to remove or attach the plate parts during the optical fiber connection work. No work is required, and since the plate part is biased into the closed state by its own elastic force, the connected optical fiber is clamped and fixed as it is, and the simple structure makes the work extremely easy. be able to.

(Example) Next, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an optical fiber connector 1 according to the present invention.
A perspective view of one embodiment of the fiber optic connector 10 is shown, in which the fiber optic connector 10 is connected to a fiber optic (not shown).
It is provided with a pair of plate parts 11 in which a groove part 12 is formed for storing the . In this optical fiber connector 10, a pair of plate parts 11 are formed so as to be continuous at one end thereof. Both plate parts 11 are in a closed state due to their own elastic force at their continuous ends, but by opening both plate parts 11 with an opening/closing screw 15 provided at the center, it is possible to insert the optical fiber. Fixation is automatically performed by closing. A magnifying lens 14 is formed on the upper surface of the plate portion 11 of the optical fiber connector 10A, and this magnifying lens 14 allows easy alignment of the connecting ends of each optical fiber. .

The optical fiber connector 10B shown in FIG.
It has a pair of upper and lower grooves 12, and in this optical fiber connector 10B, a magnifying lens 14 is provided on each of the upper and lower plate parts 11 that constitute this.

The magnifying lens 14 is provided integrally or removably with the plate portion 11, and when each plate portion 11 is formed by a mold or the like, the magnifying lens 14 is attached to the mold in advance. It can be easily formed by forming the corresponding portion. Of course, the magnifying lens 14 is used by the operator to check the condition between the plate parts 11, so the thickness of the plate part 11 on which it is installed can be checked visually. Although the focal length is determined by taking into account the following factors, such precision is not required. Each magnifying lens 14 is formed at a portion of the plate portion 11 corresponding to the connecting end of each optical fiber.

Further, each magnifying lens 14 is formed in such a manner that its upper surface does not protrude outward from the upper surface of the plate portion 11, as shown in FIG. This is done in order to prevent the lens surface of the magnifying lens 14 from being scratched during transportation of the plate portion 11 and the like. Note that each magnifying lens 14 may be formed on the inner surface of each plate portion 11.

The magnifying lens 14 is not limited to being formed integrally with the plate part 11; it can also be implemented by forming a predetermined recess in the plate part 11 so that it can be removably fitted into the recess. Good too.

Further, each magnifying lens 14 may be formed on both of a pair of plate portions 11, both of which are made of transparent or semi-transparent material. By forming magnifying lenses 14 on both sides, the state of the end of each optical fiber held between both optical fiber connectors 10 can be checked from both sides of the optical fiber connectors 10, which makes the connection work more convenient. be.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, the case where each magnifying lens 14 is circular is taken as an example, but of course the present invention is not limited to this. Each magnifying lens may be formed into a so-called semi-cylindrical magnifying lens 14. In this case, by aligning the long axis direction of the magnifying lens 14 with the axial direction of the optical fiber, the state of the connecting ends of both optical fibers can be visually observed over the entire long axis direction of the magnifying lens 14. It is something.

(Effects of the Invention) As detailed above, in the present invention, since the magnifying lens is provided at a position facing the connection end of the optical fibers of the mutually opposing plates, the optical fibers to be connected can be connected through the magnifying lens. You can proceed with the optical fiber connection work while visually checking the end with the end enlarged.
Since the opposing plate parts are integrally formed, there is no need for the troublesome work of removing and attaching the plate parts when connecting optical fibers, and the plate parts can be closed by their own elastic force. Since it is energized, the connected optical fibers are clamped and fixed as they are, and the simple structure makes the work extremely easy.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of an optical fiber connector according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the present invention. Further, FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the shape of the magnifying lens. Explanation of symbols, 10A, 10B...Optical fiber connector, 11...Plate portion, 12...Groove portion, 14...
Magnifying lens, 20...optical fiber.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. By sandwiching the ends of each of the optical fibers by a plate part which faces each other and has a groove part on at least one of the sides for storing the ends of the pair of optical fibers. In an optical fiber connector for connecting ends of optical fibers, the mutually opposing plate parts are integrally formed so as to be continuous at one end thereof, and are biased into a closed state by their own elastic force. . An optical fiber connector equipped with a magnifying lens, characterized in that a magnifying lens is provided at a position of the plate portion corresponding to the connecting end of the optical fiber.