JPH08240746A - Optical multi-core connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a multi-fiber optical connector which is small-sized, facilitates attaching and detaching operation and hardly damages optical fiber. CONSTITUTION: A plug 12 is provided with a plug main body 14 fixing the core wire part of the optical fiber 11 and a leaf spring 15 press-holding an optical fiber part to the plug main body. An adaptor is provided with an adaptor main body 18 to be fitted to the plug main body, and a projecting part 22 where a precision V-shaped groove 19 having the optical fiber inserted is fixed and pushing up the leaf spring 15 is formed on the upper surface of the adaptor main body.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical multicore connector, and more particularly to an optical multicore connector for directly connecting optical fibers.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a multicore optical connector for collectively connecting a plurality of optical fibers, an optical fiber or a ferrule fixed to the optical fiber is aligned and connected to a member having a V-groove array. Things are known. Such a multi-core optical connector is shown in FIG.

The multi-core optical connector of FIG. 3 has a connector housing 31, a fixing member 33 for fixing the optical fiber core wire 32 to the connector housing 31, and a spring member for pressing and holding an optical fiber element wire 34 extending from the optical fiber core wire 32. Three
5 and 5. A V-shaped groove 36 is formed on the surface of the connector housing 31, and the spring member 35 is
In a state where the optical fiber element wire 34 is housed in the groove 36, the optical fiber element wire 34 is pressed and held.

Another optical multicore connector is one in which a ferrule fixed to an optical fiber is inserted into an aligning member such as a sleeve for connection.

[0005]

In the conventional connector in which the optical fibers are arranged and held in the V-shaped groove formed in the connector housing, the optical fibers are inserted into the V-shaped groove,
After that, the optical fiber is held (fixed) by the fixing member 33.
However, there is a problem that it takes time to connect.

If the optical fiber element wire is connected while being pressed by the spring member, the optical fiber element wire is likely to be scratched, causing a breakage.

Further, both of the connector having the V-shaped groove and the connector using the sleeve have a problem that the size becomes large when the ferrule is used. The outer diameter of the ferrule generally used for the optical connector is 2.5 mm or 1.25 mm.

An object of the present invention is to provide a multi-core optical connector which is small in size, can be easily attached and detached, and is unlikely to damage an optical fiber.

[0009]

According to the present invention, two plugs for fixing and holding the ends of a plurality of optical fibers, respectively, and the plurality of plugs fitted to the two plugs and one of which is fixed and held. In an optical multicore connector having an optical fiber and an adapter for connecting the plurality of optical fibers fixedly held by the other plug, the plug has a point in which the plurality of optical fibers are separated from the tip by a predetermined distance. The optical fiber has fixing means for fixing and pressing means for pressing and holding the optical fiber at a point closer to the tip than the point separated by the predetermined distance, and when the adapter is fitted with the plug, the optical fiber Aligning means for receiving the tip of the and performing alignment,
An optical multicore connector is obtained, which has a releasing means for releasing the optical fiber from the pressure holding of the pressing means by pushing up the pressing means.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a multi-core optical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1A, the multi-core optical connector of the present embodiment holds a plurality of optical fibers 11 fixedly.
One plug 12 and these two plugs 12 are fitted,
It has an adapter 13 for connecting a plurality of optical fibers 11 to each other.

As shown in FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b), the plug 12 is provided with a clamp (see FIG. 2) for fixing and holding the optical fiber 11 at the core portion (the portion having the UV coating). A main body 14; a leaf spring 15 fixed to the plug main body 14 to press and hold the bare optical fiber portion (a bare optical fiber consisting of a core and a clad at the tip) of the optical fiber to the plug main body 14; And a plug cover 17 on which a hook 16 for maintaining the fitted state is formed.

On the other hand, the adapter 13 is arranged and fixed at a predetermined interval on the plug body 18 into which the plug body 14 is inserted, and the plug 12 and the adapter 13 are fixed.
It has a precision V-groove 19 for alignment that connects the tips of the optical fibers 11 to each other when they are fitted together, and an adapter cover 21 having a hook window 20 for hooking the hook 16. . In addition, the adapter body 18 has a plug 12
When the is inserted, a convex portion 22 for pushing up the leaf spring 15 is formed. A guide plate 23 is attached to the upper part of the precision V groove 19 for alignment.

The plug body 14 has a convex cross section, and when fitted to the adapter body 18, the surface on which the optical fiber is placed and the upper surface of the adapter body 18 form substantially the same plane.

In this optical connector, when the plug 12 and the adapter 13 are fitted together, the tip of the optical fiber 11 is
The tips of the optical fibers 11 are arranged in advance at a predetermined interval so that they can be smoothly inserted into the precision V-grooves 19 for alignment, and the leaf springs 15 press and hold them. In this state, plug 1
When the adapter 2 and the adapter 13 are fitted together, the optical fiber 1
The tip of No. 1 is inserted into the precision V groove 19 for alignment. After that, the convex portion 22 formed on the adapter body 18 contacts a part of the leaf spring 15 and lifts the leaf spring 15. As a result, the tip of the optical fiber 11 is released from the leaf spring 15. The other plug 12 can also be fitted with the adapter 13 in the same manner as the above plug. A longitudinal sectional view of the optical connector in a state where the two plugs 12 are fitted with the adapter 13 is shown in FIG. 2 (a), and a transverse sectional view thereof is shown in FIG. 2 (b).

When the two plugs 12 are fitted to the adapter 13, the end faces of the two optical fibers must be in close contact with each other within the precision alignment V-groove 19. Therefore, the optical fiber is set to be slightly longer than the length required for the connection, and as shown in FIG. 2A, the optical fiber 11 is provided between the precision V-groove 19 for alignment and the clamp 24. Make sure that there is bending. The restoring force of the optical fiber due to this bending brings the end faces of the two optical fibers into close contact with each other.

[0016]

According to the present invention, since the optical fibers are connected by using the aligning means, the optical fiber strands can be connected to each other, and a compact optical multicore connector can be obtained. Further, since the vicinity of the tip of the optical fiber is pressed and held by the pressing means, the optical fiber can be easily and surely inserted into the aligning means.

Further, after the plug is connected to the adapter, the release means for releasing the optical fiber from the pressing means is provided, so that the optical fiber can be prevented from being damaged and the breakage can be prevented.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1A is a perspective view and FIG. 1B is a partial sectional perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

2A is a longitudinal sectional view and FIG. 2B is a transverse sectional view of the optical multicore connector of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of a conventional optical multicore connector.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Optical Fiber 12 Plug 13 Adapter 14 Plug Body 15 Leaf Spring 16 Hook 17 Plug Cover 18 Adapter Body 19 Precision V-groove for Alignment 20 Hook Window 21 Adapter Cover 22 Convex 23 Guide Plate 24 Clamp 31 Connector Housing 32 Optical Fiber Core Wire 33 fixing member 34 optical fiber element wire 35 spring member 36 V-shaped groove

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. Two plugs for fixing and holding the ends of a plurality of optical fibers, respectively, and a plurality of optical fibers fitted to the two plugs, one of which is fixed and held, and the other of which is fixed and held. In the optical multi-core connector having an adapter for connecting the plurality of optical fibers, the fixing means for fixing the plurality of optical fibers at a point separated from the tip by a predetermined distance, and the predetermined distance. And a pressing unit that presses and holds the optical fiber at a point closer to the tip than a point spaced apart from the point, and when the adapter is fitted to the plug, the tip of the optical fiber is received and alignment is performed. An optical multi-core connector comprising: a core means; and a releasing means that pushes up the pressing means to release the optical fiber from the pressure holding of the pressing means. 2. The optical multi-core connector according to claim 1, wherein the pressing means is a leaf spring, and the releasing means is a convex portion that pushes up the leaf spring. 3. The optical multiple according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined distance is determined such that when the two plugs and the adapter are fitted together, the plurality of optical fibers are bent. Core connector. 4. Two plugs for fixing and holding the ends of a plurality of optical fibers, respectively, and a plurality of optical fibers fitted to the two plugs, one of which is fixed and held, and the other of which is fixed and held. In the optical multi-core connector having an adapter for connecting the plurality of optical fibers, the plug has a plug body fitted to the adapter, and the tips of the plurality of optical fibers are projected in front of the plug body. And a fixing member for fixing a predetermined portion of the plurality of optical fibers to the first surface of the plug body, and an elastic member for pressing the plurality of optical fibers to the first surface at a tip side of the predetermined portion. And an adapter body having a second surface, wherein the adapter is fitted to the plug body in a state where the upper surface of the plug body is exposed, and has a second surface that is substantially flush with the first surface, Before The second groove that is fixed to the second surface and into which the plurality of optical fibers are inserted, and the elastic member is pushed up to release the optical fibers when the plug is fitted to the adapter. An optical multi-core connector having a convex portion formed on a surface thereof.