JP6573472B2 - Optical connector optical coupling structure - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical coupling structure of an optical connector.

  Conventionally, a member that emits light, such as an optical fiber, is accommodated in the optical connector. The other optical connector fitted to such an optical connector accommodates an optical fiber or the like that receives light from the member. For this reason, when the connectors are fitted together, the light from the member is received by the optical fiber in the other optical connector.

  Moreover, about the above optical connectors, since light will be radiate | emitted from a connector opening (fitting side with the other party connector), light may enter into eyes of the operator etc. which fit a connector. is there. Thus, for example, as described in Patent Document 1, an optical connector having a shutter has been proposed. According to this optical connector, since light is blocked by the shutter, it is possible to prevent light from entering the eyes of an operator or the like without being emitted to the outside from the connector opening.

JP 2009-139804 A

  However, since the optical connector described in Patent Document 1 includes a shutter, the structure becomes complicated. Furthermore, when an operator opens the shutter, light is emitted from the connector opening to the outside, and it becomes impossible to prevent light from entering the eyes of the operator.

The present invention has been made in order to solve such a conventional problem, and an object of the present invention is to prevent a situation in which light is emitted from a connector opening while preventing a complicated configuration. An object of the present invention is to provide a coupling structure for an optical connector.

An optical connector coupling structure according to the present invention includes: a first optical connector having an emission side optical fiber that emits light; and a second optical connector having a light reception side optical fiber that receives light, and the first optical connector. wherein in the case where the second optical connector is fitted, the light from the emission-side optical fiber to an optical coupling structure of the optical connector to be received by the photodetection side optical fiber, the first optical connector, wherein the an opening for the second optical connector and the fitting is formed, provided on the distal end surface of the light emitting side of the emission-side optical fiber, the light direction change for changing the direction of light emission from the emission-side optical fiber have a member, the light direction change member, the light from the emission-side optical fiber, than the self emitted toward the connector inner wall of the opening side, the second optical connector, the light receiving side optical fiber End face is the light It is parallel to the light exit surface of the change member, characterized by receiving the direct light.

According to the coupling structure of the optical connector of the present invention, the first optical connector has a light direction changing member on the light emitting side of the emission-side optical fiber for emitting light, the light direction changing member is the output side optical fiber the light from, than the self you emitted toward the connector inner wall of the opening side. For this reason, the situation where light is emitted from the connector opening can be prevented. Further, in order to prevent a situation where light is emitted from the connector opening , it is not necessary to provide a shutter, and there is no situation where the shutter is opened and light is emitted from the connector opening . Therefore, it is possible to provide an optical coupling structure of an optical connector that can prevent a situation in which light is emitted from the connector opening while preventing complication of the configuration.

According to this optical connector coupling structure, the light direction changing member emits light from the emission side optical fiber toward the inner wall of the connector closer to the opening than itself, and therefore the position of the light direction changing member is set to the first light. It is possible to prevent a situation in which light is emitted from the connector opening by being recessed with respect to the connector. In addition, since the light is emitted toward the opening direction, the optical coupling with the optical fiber provided in the second optical connector can be facilitated.

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the connection structure of the optical connector which can prevent the situation where light is radiate | emitted from a connector opening can be provided, preventing complication of a structure.

It is sectional drawing which shows the optical coupling structure of the optical connector which concerns on embodiment of this invention, (a) shows the cross section of the 1st optical connector, (b) has shown the cross section of the 2nd optical connector. It is sectional drawing which shows the mode of the optical coupling when the 1st and 2nd optical connectors shown in FIG. 1 are fitted. It is sectional drawing which shows the optical coupling structure of the optical connector which concerns on 2nd Embodiment, (a) shows the cross section of the 1st optical connector, (b) has shown the cross section of the 2nd optical connector. It is sectional drawing which shows the mode of optical coupling when the 1st and 2nd optical connectors shown in FIG. 3 are fitted.

  Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an optical coupling structure of an optical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein (a) shows a cross section of a first optical connector, and (b) shows a cross section of a second optical connector. Yes. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the state of optical coupling when the first and second optical connectors shown in FIG. 1 are fitted together.

  A first optical connector 10 shown in FIG. 1A has an optical fiber (member) 11 that emits light, and a second optical connector 20 shown in FIG. 1B has an optical fiber 21 that receives light. Have. The optical coupling structure of the optical connector described in the present embodiment is such that when the first optical connector 10 and the second optical connector 20 are fitted, the light from the optical fiber 11 of the first optical connector 10 is transmitted to the second light. The optical fiber 21 of the connector 20 receives light.

  First, as shown in FIG. 1A, the optical fiber 11 of the first optical connector 10 has a core and a clad having a refractive index lower than that of the core, and the core is covered with the clad to cover the core. It is a fibrous member that confines light inside and transmits light. The optical fiber 21 of the second optical connector 20 has the same configuration.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, the first optical connector 10 includes a first prism (light direction changing member) 12 formed of a transparent member such as glass or quartz at the tip of the optical fiber 11. ing. The first prism 12 changes the light emission direction in a direction in which light is not emitted from the opening of the first optical connector 10. In other words, the light is transmitted along the direction A of the front end of the first optical connector 10 in the optical fiber 11, but after being emitted from the optical fiber 11, the first prism 12 transmits the light from the first optical connector 10. The light emission direction is changed in a direction in which light is not emitted from the frontage.

  Specifically, the first prism 12 has a cross section of a right isosceles triangle, for example. The first prism 12 is provided with a first surface 12a on the side corresponding to one of the isosceles sides in contact with or close to the end surface of the optical fiber 11, and the other one of the isosceles sides. The second surface 12 b on the side corresponding to is directed to the lower side of the first optical connector 10. For this reason, the third surface (first reflective surface) 12c on the side corresponding to the side excluding the isosceles side is inclined 45 ° with respect to the front (direction A of the front edge of the first optical connector 10) (the surface 12c is 45 degrees upward). That is, the third surface 12c is set to an angle that reflects light from the optical fiber 11 at a right angle to the frontage direction A.

  The second optical connector 20 shown in FIG. 1B has a second prism (light receiving member) 22 at the tip of the optical fiber 21. The second prism 22 is the same as the first prism 12, is formed of a transparent member such as glass or quartz, and has a cross section of, for example, a right-angled isosceles triangle. The second prism 22 is provided such that the first surface 22a side corresponding to one of the isosceles sides in the cross section is in contact with or close to the end surface of the optical fiber 21, and the other one of the isosceles sides. The second surface 22b on the side corresponding to is directed to the upper side of the second optical connector 20. For this reason, the third surface (second reflecting surface) 22c on the side corresponding to the side excluding the isosceles side is inclined 45 ° with respect to the rear side (direction B of the front end of the second optical connector 20) (the surface 22c is 45 degrees downward).

  Further, when the first optical connector 10 and the second optical connector 20 are normally fitted, as shown in FIG. 2, the second surface 12 b of the first prism 12 and the second surface 22 b of the second prism 22. And face each other. In this state, the optical fiber 21 of the second optical connector 20 is positioned so as to receive light in the direction changed by the first prism 12. That is, the light incident from the second surface 22 b of the second prism 22 is reflected by the third surface 22 c and guided to the optical fiber 21 side, and is received by the optical fiber 21.

  Hereinafter, how the optical fiber 21 receives light will be described with reference to FIG. First, an optical signal is transmitted in the optical fiber 11 of the first optical connector 10, and light is emitted from the end face of the optical fiber 11. This light is incident on the first prism 12.

  The first prism 12 has a third surface 12 c that is set to an angle that reflects light received from the optical fiber 11 at a right angle to the frontage direction A. Therefore, the light that has entered the first prism 12 is reflected by the third surface 12c in a direction perpendicular to the frontage direction A (downward). Then, the light exits from the second surface 12b to the outside of the first prism 12.

  The light emitted from the first prism 12 enters the second prism 22 from the second surface 22b. The second prism 22 has a third surface 22c set to an angle at which the light reflected by the third surface 12c of the first prism 12 is reflected again. Therefore, the light incident on the second prism 22 is reflected by the third surface 22c and guided forward (direction A).

  Since the optical fiber 21 is provided in front of the second prism 22, the light reflected by the third surface 22 c of the second prism 22 is received by the optical fiber 21.

  Thus, according to the optical coupling structure of the optical connector according to the present embodiment, the first optical connector 10 has the first prism 12 on the light emitting side of the optical fiber 11, and the first prism 12 The light emission direction is changed in a direction in which light from the fiber 11 is not emitted from the opening of the first optical connector 10. For this reason, the situation where light is emitted from the connector front end can be prevented. Further, in order to prevent the situation where light is emitted from the connector opening, it is not necessary to provide a shutter, and the situation where the shutter is opened and light is emitted from the connector opening does not occur. Therefore, it is possible to provide an optical coupling structure of an optical connector that can prevent a situation in which light is emitted from the connector opening while preventing the configuration from becoming complicated.

  In addition, since the first prism 12 has the third surface 12c that is set to reflect at right angles to the direction A of the frontage after receiving light from the optical fiber 11, light is emitted from the connector frontage. Can be reliably prevented. Further, the second optical connector 20 fitted to the first optical connector 10 has a third surface 22c set to an angle at which the light reflected by the third surface 12c of the first prism 12 is reflected again. A second prism 22 is provided. For this reason, even light reflected at right angles to the frontage direction A is reflected again by the third surface 22c and appropriately guided to the optical fiber 21 of the second optical connector 20 fitted in the frontage direction A. Can do. Therefore, it is possible to provide an optical connector structure for an optical connector that can prevent a situation in which light is emitted from the connector opening more appropriately.

  In the present embodiment, the first prism 12 has a third surface 12c that reflects light at a right angle with respect to the direction A of the frontage. However, the third surface 12c is not limited to a right angle, and the direction of the frontage. You may set so that it may reflect in the opposite direction side with respect to A. FIG. It is because the optical coupling structure of the optical connector which can prevent the situation where light will be radiate | emitted from a connector front opening more appropriately similarly by this.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The optical coupling structure of the optical connector according to the second embodiment is the same as that according to the first embodiment, but the state of the optical coupling structure is partially different. Hereinafter, differences from the first embodiment will be described.

  3A and 3B are cross-sectional views illustrating the optical coupling structure of the optical connector according to the second embodiment. FIG. 3A illustrates a cross-section of the first optical connector, and FIG. 3B illustrates a cross-section of the second optical connector. . FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the state of optical coupling when the first and second optical connectors shown in FIG. 3 are fitted together.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the first optical connector 10 according to the second embodiment includes an optical fiber 11 and a first prism 12 as in the first embodiment. Among these, the 3rd surface 12c of the 1st prism 12 does not function as a surface which reflects light from the relationship of an inclination angle. That is, the light from the optical fiber 11 is refracted from the third surface 12c of the first prism 12 and emitted on the side of the frontage direction A with an angle θ (see FIG. 4) with respect to the same direction A. The As a result, the first prism 12 changes the direction of the light in a direction that is not emitted from the front opening of the first optical connector 10.

  Here, since the light is emitted toward the frontage direction A, when the first prism 12 is positioned in the vicinity of the frontage of the first optical connector 10, the light is emitted from the frontage to the outside of the first optical connector 10. . Therefore, in the second embodiment, the first optical connector 10 is provided with the first prism 12 at a recessed position where it is not emitted from the frontage. As a result, light is not emitted to the outside of the first optical connector 10 from the frontage.

  It should be noted that the recessed position, that is, the pull-in amount from the frontage, can be calculated from the relationship with the angle θ with respect to the direction A.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3B, since the light is emitted toward the frontage direction A, the second optical connector 20 does not need to include the second prism 22 that changes the direction of the light by reflection. The light may be received directly by the optical fiber 21. In this case, it is preferable that the end surface of the optical fiber 21 is parallel to the third surface 12 c of the first prism 12.

  As shown in FIG. 4, in the second embodiment, the third surface 12 c of the first prism 12 and the end surface of the optical fiber 21 face each other and are optically coupled. In this case, when the first prism 12 and the optical fiber 21 are separated from each other, at least one position of the first prism 12 and the optical fiber 21 is displaced in the vertical direction according to the angle θ. Is required.

  Next, how the optical fiber 21 receives light in the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. First, an optical signal is transmitted in the optical fiber 11 of the first optical connector 10, and light is emitted from the end face of the optical fiber 11. This light is incident on the first prism 12.

  After receiving the light from the optical fiber 11, the first prism 12 emits the light toward the frontage direction A through the third surface 12c. At this time, the light is refracted by the angle θ by the third surface 12c. In addition, the first prism 12 is provided at a position where an appropriate pull-in amount is obtained in relation to the angle θ, and light is not directly emitted from the opening of the first optical connector 10 when the optical connector is not fitted. Become.

  When the optical connector is fitted, the optical fiber 21 of the second optical connector 20 is positioned in front of the first prism 12. Therefore, the light emitted from the first prism 12 is received by the optical fiber 21.

  As described above, according to the optical coupling structure of the optical connector according to the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the situation in which light is emitted from the connector opening while preventing the configuration from becoming complicated. An optical coupling structure of an optical connector that can be prevented can be provided.

  Further, according to the second embodiment, the first prism 12 changes the direction of the light so that the first prism 12 emits light with an angle θ with respect to the same direction A toward the frontage direction A side. Since the first prism 12 is provided at a recessed position where the light is not emitted from the opening of the first optical connector 10, the light is transmitted from the connector opening by making the position of the first prism 12 deep with respect to the first optical connector 10. The situation where it is emitted can be prevented. In addition, since the light is emitted toward the front direction A, the optical coupling with the optical fiber provided in the second optical connector 20 can be facilitated.

  As described above, the present invention has been described based on the embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and may be modified without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  For example, in the optical coupling structure of the optical connector according to the present embodiment, the optical fiber 11 is exemplified as a member that emits light. However, the optical fiber 11 is not limited to the optical fiber 11, and other members that emit light (such as FOT and lenses) are used. Optical member).

  In the drawing, in the first embodiment, the first and second prisms 12 and 22 are separated when the optical connector is fitted, and in the second embodiment, the first prism 12 and the optical fiber 21 are separated when the optical connector is fitted. But not limited to this, they may be designed to touch

  In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the first and second optical connectors 10 and 20 have one optical fiber 11 and 21. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of optical fibers 11 and 21 are included. There may be.

10: First optical connector 11: Optical fiber (member)
12: 1st prism (light direction change member)
12a: 1st surface 12b: 2nd surface 12c: 3rd surface (1st reflective surface)
20: Second optical connector 21: Optical fiber 22: Second prism (light receiving member)
22a: 1st surface 22b: 2nd surface 22c: 3rd surface (2nd reflective surface)
A: Frontage direction θ: Angle

Claims (1)

A first optical connector having an emission-side optical fiber that emits light; and a second optical connector having a light-receiving optical fiber that receives light; and the first optical connector and the second optical connector are fitted together In this case, an optical coupling structure of an optical connector that causes the light receiving side optical fiber to receive light from the emission side optical fiber ,
The first optical connector is formed with an opening for fitting with the second optical connector, and is provided at a front end surface of the light emitting side of the light emitting side optical fiber so that light from the light emitting side optical fiber can be transmitted . have a light direction changing member for changing the radiation direction,
The light direction changing member emits the light from the emission side optical fiber toward the connector inner wall on the opening side than the self,
The second optical connector has an end face of the light receiving side optical fiber parallel to a light emitting surface of the light direction changing member, and directly receives light.

Images