JPH1172653A - Optical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an optical connector capable of easily switchably connecting multiple optical fibers to each other. SOLUTION: This optical connector 20 includes optical connector plugs 24a, 24b housing the multifiber optical connector ferrules 22 and a housing 25 in which the optical connector ferrules 22 are butted and connected against each other by the insertion of the optical connector plugs 24a, 24b from both sides. The engagement of the housing 25 with engaging pieces 30 is disengaged and the optical connector plugs 24a, 24b may be withdrawn from the housing 25 by operating a detachment lever 29 projecting to the outer side from the housing 25 when the optical connector plugs 24a, 24b are inserted into the housing 25.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical connector, and more particularly, to an optical connector plug containing an optical connector ferrule for butt-connecting an optical fiber and internally connecting the optical connector plug. The present invention relates to an optical connector including a housing in which optical connector ferrules are butt-connected.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an optical connector for switchably connecting optical fibers, for example, a so-called SC optical connector has been conventionally provided. FIG. 4 shows an example of the SC optical connector 1. In FIG. 4, an SC type optical connector 1 includes an optical connector plug 4 containing an optical connector ferrule 3 for terminating and connecting a single-core optical fiber 2 and a housing 5 into which the optical connector plug 4 can be inserted and withdrawn. (Optical connector adapter). Inside the housing 5, another optical connector ferrule is butt-connected to the optical connector ferrule 3 on the optical connector plug 4 side inserted into the housing 5.

In the SC type optical connector 1, since the optical connector ferrule 3 needs to be positioned with high precision and butt-connected, high precision is secured between the optical connector plug 4 and the housing 5 (optical connector). The accuracy is lower than that between the connector ferrules), and the insertion / extraction resistance between the two is increased, which may cause inconvenience in operations such as switching connection. FIG. 5 shows an optical connector 6 developed in view of the above problems. In FIG. 5, the optical connector 6 includes optical connector plugs 8 and 9 for accommodating optical connector ferrules (not shown) each having a single-core optical fiber 7 butt-connectable thereto. A housing 10 (optical connector adapter) which is inserted from both sides and connected inside. Optical connector plug 8,
When the housing 9 is inserted into the housing 10, the housing 10
It has an engaging claw (not shown) that engages with the engaging member so as to be disengageable.
An elastic lever 1 for disengaging the housing 10 by displacing the engaging claw from the optical connector plugs 8 and 9.
1, 12 are protrudingly provided. These elastic levers 11 and 12
When the optical connector plugs 8 and 9 are inserted into the housing 10, they protrude outside the housing 10, so that the engagement between the engaging claw and the housing 10 can be easily released by manual operation. Housing 1
The optical connector plugs 8 and 9 can be easily pulled out from 0.

[0004]

The above-mentioned optical connector 6 corresponds to a single core, and a plurality of optical fibers are required to be connected in order to accommodate a large number of optical fibers.
It is difficult to reduce the cost and increase the density. In view of the above problem, in recent years, as shown in FIG.
The optical connector plugs 14a, 1a each have a shape in which an elastic lever 13 for detachment is protruded from the optical connector ferrule set to 1.
A so-called RJ type optical connector using 4b has been proposed. The optical connector plugs 14a and 14b can correspond to multiple cores, and even when inserted into the housing 14c, the elastic lever 13 is operated to release the engagement between the housing 14c and the engaging piece 15. By doing
From the housing 14c to the optical connector plugs 14a, 14b
Can be easily pulled out.

However, in this optical connector, the size of the optical connector plugs 14a and 14b is small, and there is a limit in increasing the size of the elastic lever 13, so that there is a limit in the workability of detachment from the housing 14c. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, in the connection between the optical connector plugs 14a and 14b, a guide pin 17 protruding from the joint end face 16 of one optical connector plug 14a is inserted into the other optical connector plug 14b. It is necessary to fit the pin holes 18 to precisely position them, and the optical connector plugs 14a, 14b
By operating the guide pin 17 directly in the housing 14c.
If this is to be fitted into the guide pin hole 18, there is also a problem that the work is troublesome. Furthermore, an optical connector plug 1
In 4a and 14b, bare fibers (not shown) exposed at the tips of the multi-core optical fibers 19a and 19b (optical fiber ribbons) are arranged in parallel and fixed, and an optical connector is used to connect the desired bare fibers. Plugs 14a, 14b
The optical connector plugs 14a, 14b
The direction of the elastic levers 13 is up and down between them (up and down in FIG. 6)
In some cases, the situation is reversed. That is, in this type of optical connector, in order to determine the connection order of the bare fibers arranged in the optical connector plugs 14a and 14b, it is possible to connect the optical connector plugs 14a and 14b in a relatively opposite direction. Normal, each optical connector plug 1
The elastic bars 13 of 4a and 14b project in opposite directions from the housing 14c. In addition, practical R-
In the J-type optical connector, the elastic bar 1 is attached to the housing 14c.
Since the positioning groove and the engaging portion are normally formed, the optical connector plugs 14a and 14b are always in their normal directions (the direction in which the elastic lever 13 projects from the housing 14c is relatively opposite). ). When the projecting direction of the elastic lever 13 from the housing 14c is relatively opposite, each optical connector plug 14
Since the insertion and removal operations of the housings 14a and 14b with respect to the housing 14c are performed in the opposite directions, there is a complaint that the workability is reduced. In addition, an operation space for the elastic levers 13 must be secured around the housing 14c, which hinders high-density mounting of the housing 14c. In order to solve this, the assembly direction of the optical connector plugs 14a and 14b at the ends of the optical fibers 19a and 19b needs to be set in advance corresponding to the bare fibers to be connected. Adjusting the assembling direction of the optical connector plugs 14a and 14b requires much time and labor, and disadvantages such as inability to reduce costs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems. (A) By simply inserting an optical connector plug into a housing, multi-core optical connector ferrules can be easily butted and connected to each other. (B) The detachment levers of the two optical connector plugs inserted into the housing both protrude outward from one side wall of the housing, thereby reducing the size. It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical connector that can easily connect the target optical fibers with each other simply by adjusting the storage direction of the optical connector ferrule at each optical connector plug. .

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided an optical connector plug for accommodating a multi-core optical connector ferrule formed by butt-connecting optical fibers, and the optical connector plug is provided on one or both sides. And a housing in which the optical connector ferrules are butt-connected inside by being inserted from the optical connector plug, and the optical connector plug is inserted into the housing and simultaneously detachably engages with the housing. Forming an engagement piece, projecting a release lever for displacing the engagement piece from the side, and operating the release lever protruding outward from the housing when the optical connector plug is inserted into the housing. An optical connector characterized in that the engagement between the housing and the engagement piece can be released. It was solutions of the problems. The optical connector ferrule terminates a plurality of single-core optical fibers or one or a plurality of multi-core optical fibers in a butt-connectable manner. The engagement piece only needs to be able to be disengaged from the housing, and various configurations can be adopted. Further, the release lever only needs to be able to release the engagement of the engagement piece with the housing, and various configurations can be adopted.

According to the present invention, in the optical connector, the optical connector plug is inserted into and connected to the housing from opposite sides of the optical connector plug.
In the optical connector ferrule of one optical connector plug, a plurality of optical fibers terminated in a butt-connectable manner are arranged in parallel, and in the optical connector ferrule of the other optical connector plug, the optical connector ferrule of the one optical connector plug is used. A plurality of other optical fibers to be connected to the arranged optical fibers are arranged in parallel, and the release levers of both optical connector plugs inserted into the housing project outward from one side wall of the housing. It is more preferable to adopt a configuration.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an optical connector according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 (a), 1 (b) and 1 (c) to FIG. In FIG. 1A, an optical connector 20 of the present invention accommodates an optical connector ferrule 22 terminating and connecting a multi-core optical fiber 21 (four-core optical cord in FIG. 1) in a plug housing 23. Optical connector plugs 24a and 24b
a and 24b are inserted from both sides and a housing 25 (optical connector adapter) is connected inside.
The optical fiber 21 can adopt various configurations such as a configuration in which a four-core optical fiber ribbon is accommodated in a sheath tube, and a configuration in which four single-core optical fibers are accommodated in a sheath tube.

The optical connector ferrule 22 is JIS C
An optical connector ferrule (so-called MT connector; Mechanicaliy Transferable) established in 5981,
It has a rectangular joining end surface 26. As shown in FIG. 1 (b), a guide pin hole 27 is opposed to the longitudinal end of the joint end surface 26 of the optical connector ferrule 22 of the optical connector plug 24a. As shown in FIG.
Similarly, a guide pin hole (not shown) is opened in the optical connector ferrule 22 of the other optical connector plug 24b, and a guide pin 28 is fitted in the guide pin hole. When connecting the optical connector ferrules 22 of the optical connector plugs 24a and 24b, the guide pins 28 are fitted into the guide pin holes 27 to position them.

In each of the optical connector plugs 24a and 24b, the plug housing 23 is provided with an optical connector ferrule 22.
The optical connector ferrule 22 accommodates the optical connector ferrule 22 such that the optical connector ferrule 22 can move back and forth in the butting connection direction (in the direction from the optical connector plugs 24a and 24b to the housing 25 in FIG. 1A). FIG.
FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the internal configuration of the optical connector plugs 24a and 24b of FIG. In FIG. 2, the plug housing 23
The inside thereof accommodates an urging means 23b (coil spring) that urges the optical connector ferrule 22 and applies an urging force forward in the connection direction. The urging force of the urging means 23b is
This acts as a butt force when the optical connector ferrules 22 are butt-connected. Further, a pin clamp 28a for clamping and holding the guide pin 28 is housed in the plug housing 23 on the optical connector plug 24b side. In the optical connector plug 24b, the urging force of the urging means 23b is transmitted to the optical connector ferrule 22 via the pin clamp 28a. In addition, various configurations such as a leaf spring and the like other than the coil spring can be adopted as the urging means.

As shown in FIG. 1A, a detachment lever 29 protrudes from one side wall 23a of the optical connector plug 24a located at one end in the longitudinal direction of the cross section of the plug housing 23. The plug housing 23 is made of a synthetic resin such as plastic, and the release lever 29 is an elastically deformable protrusion integrally formed with the plug housing 23.
It protrudes rearward from the one side wall 23a in the butt connection direction. At the center of the release lever 29 in the protruding direction, an engagement piece 3 that is detachably engaged with the inner surface of the housing 25.
0 is protruding. The release lever 29 is normally slightly separated from the outer surface of the plug housing 23, and the engaging piece 30 is also at a position slightly separated from the outer surface of the plug housing 23. When the optical connector plug 24a is inserted into the housing 25, Are adapted to engage with the inner surface of the housing 25. As shown in FIG. 3, when the optical connector plug 24a is inserted into a predetermined position of the housing 25, the release lever 29 enters a notch 25b (described later) formed in the housing 25, and the distal end of the release lever 29 extends outward from the housing 25. Protrude. And release lever 2
9, when the tip protruding from the housing 25 is manually operated to be pressed against the plug housing 23 and elastically deformed, the engagement piece 30 is also displaced from the inner surface of the housing 25 toward the plug housing 23, and The engagement is released.

As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, a housing 25 is provided on one side wall 23a of the plug housing 23 and another side wall 23c opposed to the one side wall 23a.
Guide groove 2 which enters a guide portion (not shown) formed in the inside
3d is formed. Therefore, when the optical connector plug 24a is inserted into the housing 25, the release lever 29 enters the notch 25b, and furthermore, the guide groove 23d.
Is stably supported in the housing 25 by entering the guide portion on the housing 25 side. Thus, as shown by the phantom line in FIG. 3, for example, even when the optical fiber 21A is pulled in the direction of arrow A and an external force is applied to the optical connector plug 24a in the lateral direction (so-called side pull), the The insertion state of the connector plug 24a can be stably maintained. The above-described configuration of the optical connector plug 24a is the same for the optical connector plug 24b.

As shown in FIG. 1A, one side wall 23a of the plug housing 23 is close to one longitudinal end of the joining end surface 26 of the optical connector ferrule 22 housed in the plug housing 23. As shown in FIG. 1B, four bare fibers 21 a to 21 d are positioned and fixed in parallel on the same plane on the joint end face 26 of the optical connector ferrule 22. The optical connector ferrule 22 is housed in the plug housing 23 such that the bare fiber 21d is arranged close to one side wall 23a of the plug housing 23. As shown in FIG. 1C, the other optical connector plug 24b also has
A plug housing 23 is provided with a release lever 29 projecting therefrom. The plug housing 23 has a bare fiber 21e connected to the bare fibers 21a to 21d of the optical connector ferrule 22 on the one optical connector plug 24a. To 21 h are arranged and fixed in parallel to the joint end surface 26. In this optical connector plug 24b, the optical connector ferrule 22 is housed in the plug housing 23 such that the bare fiber 21h is arranged close to the one side wall 23a. The bare fibers 21a to 21d, 2
1e to 21h correspond to the optical fiber according to the second aspect.

The housing 25 is cylindrical and has one axial end 25a into which one optical connector plug 24a is inserted.
In this embodiment, a notch 25b into which the release lever 29 enters is formed on one side wall 25c. The notch 25b also functions to position the optical connector plug 24a with respect to the housing 25 when the detachment lever 29 enters, so that the operation of inserting the optical connector plug 24a into a predetermined position of the housing 25 is facilitated. Thereby, the work of fitting the guide pin 28 into the guide pin hole 27 can be performed efficiently. At the other end 25d in the axial direction of the housing 25, a cutout 25e is formed in one side wall 25c. The release lever 29 of the other optical connector plug 24b is inserted into the notch 25e.

In this optical connector 20, as shown in FIG. 3, both optical connector plugs 24a and 24b are
The optical fibers 21A and 21B are connected to each other by inserting the optical connector ferrules 22 and 22 inside and butt-connecting the ferrules 22 to each other. At this time, one of the optical connector plugs 24a connects the release lever 29 to the cutout 2.
5b and into the housing 25,
The other optical connector plug 24b is also inserted so that the release lever 29 is inserted into the notch 25b. By doing so, the bare fibers 21a and 21e positioned and fixed to the joint end face 26 of each optical connector ferrule 22 can be used.
The bare fibers 21a to 21d and 21e to 21h corresponding to each other are connected at the same time, such as b and 21f (see FIG. 1).

The bare fibers 21a and 21h, 21b and 21
g ... bare fibers 21a-21d, 21e-2
In the case where 1h is connected in the reverse order, the storage direction of the optical connector ferrule 22 may be reversed in the plug housing 23 of one of the optical connector plugs 24a and 24b. For example, referring to FIG. 1B, the optical connector ferrule 22 is housed in the plug housing 23 with one optical connector plug 24a turned left and right, and the bare fiber 21a is placed on one side wall 23a of the plug housing 23. Are arranged close to each other. Thus, there is no need to change the operation of assembling the optical connector ferrule 22 in the optical fiber 21A or 21B terminal. At this time, the operation of connecting the optical connector ferrules 22 and 22 is the same as before the inversion of the optical connector ferrule 22, and the release levers 29 of the optical connector plugs 24a and 24b are inserted into the cutout portions 25b and 25e of the housing 25. So that the optical connector ferrule 22,
The optical connector plugs 24a and 24b can be connected to the housing
, And connecting the optical connector ferrules 22, 22 to each other, the desired bare fibers 21a to 21d, 21
e to 21 ch can be correctly connected to each other.

As described above, according to the optical connector 20, the release lever 29 of each optical connector plug 24a, 24b can be connected to the housing regardless of whether the optical connector ferrules 22, 22 are connected in either forward or reverse direction. 25, the release levers 29 of both optical connector plugs 24a, 24b are arranged on one side wall 25c of the housing 25. For this reason, in this optical connector 20, it is sufficient to secure the operation space for the release lever 29 only near the one side wall 25c.
High-density mounting is possible. In addition, the connection direction between the optical connector ferrules 22 and 22 of the optical connector plugs 24a and 24b can be adjusted only by adjusting the storage direction of the optical connector ferrule 22 in the plug housing 23. Bare fiber 21a ~
Even in the case where 21d, 21e to 21h are connected in reverse order, it is not necessary to change the assembly work of the optical connector ferrule 22 in the optical fiber 21A or 21B terminal, so that high assembly workability can be secured, and the optical connector 20 can be secured. Can be reduced in cost. Furthermore, notch 2
The detachment lever 29 and the guide groove 23d inserted into the housing 5b or 25e increase the strength of the optical connector plugs 24a and 24b inserted into the housing 25 against the side pulls. Displacement is prevented, whereby the connection state can be stably maintained, and low connection loss can be obtained stably and reliably.

The optical connector of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be variously modified. For example, it is possible to use an optical connector plug or housing having a configuration other than that shown in the above-described embodiment, or to change the shape of the release lever or the engagement piece. The optical connector plug is
It is more preferable to adopt a configuration in which the optical connector ferrule is housed so that the optical connector ferrule can be taken out, thereby simplifying the operation of inverting the housing direction of the optical connector ferrule, and combining the optical fibers connected by connecting the optical connector ferrules. Can be easily changed. The optical connector ferrule shown in the above embodiment is for four cores, but an optical connector ferrule that can cope with two, three, five or more cores other than four cores is also possible.

[0020]

As described above, according to the optical connector of the present invention, (a) multi-core optical connector ferrules can be connected only by inserting an optical connector plug containing a multi-core optical connector ferrule into the housing from both sides. Can be easily butted and connected, whereby a plurality of optical lines terminated by the optical connector ferrule can be connected at a time. (B) The disconnection lever can be used to easily perform the disconnection operation. (C) By simply selecting the direction in which the optical connector ferrule is stored in the optical connector plug, it is possible to connect the optical connector ferrules in the housing and simultaneously connect the desired optical lines.
According to (c), since there is no need to change the work of assembling the optical connector ferrule at the optical fiber terminal, it is possible to maintain an excellent workability in assembling the optical connector ferrule and to achieve an excellent effect of reducing costs. .

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the release levers of the two optical connector plugs inserted into the housing are both protruded outward from one side wall of the housing. The protrusion space of the release lever to be secured and the operation space of the release lever are small, and high-density mounting of this optical connector becomes possible. (F) The insertion direction of the optical connector plug with respect to the housing can be determined by the release lever. Since it is easy to achieve, there is an excellent effect that the target optical lines related to the optical fiber can be easily connected to each other.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIGS. 1A and 1B are views showing a first embodiment of an optical connector according to the present invention, in which FIG. 1A is an exploded perspective view, and FIG. 1B is a view showing an end of a plug housing containing an optical connector ferrule into which a guide pin is not inserted. FIG. 3C is an enlarged perspective view showing a tip end of a plug housing containing an optical connector ferrule into which a guide pin is inserted.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an internal configuration of the optical connector of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a connection state of the optical connector of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the SC optical connector.

FIG. 5 is a front view showing a single-core optical connector provided with a detachable elastic lever on the optical connector plug.

FIG. 6 is a front view showing a multi-core optical connector in which an optical connector plug is provided with a detachable elastic lever.

[Explanation of symbols]

20 optical connector, 21A, 21B optical fiber (multi-core optical fiber, 4-core optical cord), 21a, 21b, 21
c, 21d, 21e, 21f, 21g, 21h ... optical fiber (bare fiber), 22 ... optical connector ferrule, 2
4a, 24b: optical connector plug, 25: housing (optical connector adapter), 25c: one side wall, 29: release lever, 30: engagement piece.

Claims (2)

[Claims] An optical connector plug (24a, 24a, 21b) accommodating a multi-core optical connector ferrule (22) formed by butt-connecting optical fibers (21A, 21B).
24b) and a housing (25) in which the optical connector ferrules are butt-connected inside by inserting the optical connector plug from both sides, wherein the optical connector plug is attached to the housing. At the same time as the insertion, the engagement piece (30) which engages with the housing in a detachable manner and the release lever (29) for displacing the engagement piece are protruded from the side, and the optical connector plug is inserted into the housing. An optical connector (20), wherein the engagement between the housing and the engagement piece can be released by operating a release lever protruding outward from the housing at that time. 2. In the optical connector ferrule of one optical connector plug, a plurality of optical fibers (21a, 21b, 21c, 21d) terminated in a butt-connectable manner are arranged in parallel, and the optical fiber of the other optical connector plug is arranged. In the connector ferrule, a plurality of other optical fibers (21e, 21f, 21g, 21h) connected to the optical fibers arranged in the optical connector ferrule of the one optical connector plug are arranged in parallel, and further inserted into the housing. 2. The optical connector according to claim 1, wherein both release levers of the optical connector plugs project outward from one side wall of the housing.