JPS59125711A - Branching/combining connector of light - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an optical branching/merging connector capable of branching or merging optical signals with a simple structure.

In recent years, automobiles have been equipped with numerous electrical components to improve performance. For this reason, a large amount of signal data is transmitted between electrical components such as tube shaft rungs and switches that operate these electrical components, as well as between sensors that measure and diagnose various devices and display devices that display diagnostic results from the sensors. Being sent and received. Therefore, optical fibers are used as wire harnesses for transmitting signal data to reduce the weight and weight of wire harnesses.
We are trying to simplify it.

FIG. 1 shows a conventional signal transmission system for automobiles using optical fibers. In the figure, 1 to 3 are terminals that transmit and receive optical signals, and each terminal 1 to 3 has a light emitting diode LED 1 to 3 that transmits an optical signal.
3 and a photodiode PD 1 to receive an optical signal.
3 are provided. Also, l, ~18 is an optical fiber, 0
1 to C4 are optical connectors. In this example, for example, the optical signal σ sent out from the light emitting diode LED 1 reaches the photodiode PD2 via the optical fiber 11 + connector C8 and the optical fiber 12, as indicated by the arrow in the figure. The optical signal sent out from the light emitting diode LED2.3 is also transmitted through the path indicated by the arrow in the figure. Note that the first sentence shows an outline of the system to explain the principle, but in an actual system, a large number of light emitting elements, light receiving elements, and optical fibers are used.

By the way, in the conventional technology shown in Fig. 1, the light emitting diode LE
Two optical fibers i4.4 are connected to D2, and two optical fibers +16 are connected to photodiode PD2, but in order to reduce the amount of optical fiber used,
Optical fibers 4, 18 and optical fibers 2. la
It may be possible to make one each so that they can be shared. As shown in Figure 2, one optical fiber is connected to the photodiode 2, and one optical fiber is connected to the light emitting diode LED 2. Moreover, optical fiber +4 and optical fiber 9
are connected by an optical combiner 4, and the optical fibers lJs and lf and the optical fiber 10 are connected by an optical splitter 5.

Although the configuration shown in FIG. 2 certainly reduces the amount of optical fiber used, since the optical combiner 4 and optical splitter 5 are used, the total cost increases. The reason for this is that optical splitters and optical combiners are generally expensive because they are constructed using interference films, rotation elements, prisms, polarization filters, etc. The present invention has been developed in view of the above-mentioned circumstances. An object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive optical branching/merging connector capable of branching/merging optical signals with a simple structure.

The present invention achieves this object by fixing the end of one optical fiber to one of the plug and receptacle of the optical connector that are coupled to each other, and fixing the end of one optical fiber to the other nine of the plug and receptacle. At least the ends of a plurality of bundled optical fibers each having a small diameter are fixed to the other end thereof.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below based on the drawings. Note that parts that are the same as those in the prior art are given the same numbers and redundant explanations will be omitted.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the invention. As shown in the figure, the optical branching and merging connector 6 according to this embodiment consists of a receptacle 6a and a plug 6b, and the ends of two optical fibers 7.8 are fixed to the receptacle 6a, and the plug 6bK
The end of one optical fiber 9 is fixed. Furthermore, the ends of the optical fibers 7.8 are formed to have a small diameter and are bundled together, and the combined area of the end surfaces of both optical fibers 7.8 is approximately equal to the area of the end surface of the optical fiber 9. Therefore, when the receptacle 6a and the plug 6b are connected,
The end face of the optical fiber 7.8 and the end face of the optical fiber 9 face each other, and an optical signal is transmitted between the optical fiber 7.8 and the optical fiber 9. In other words, this optical branching/merging connector transfers the optical signal emitted from the optical fiber 9 to the two optical fibers 7.
It has a function as an optical splitter in which the optical signals are inputted into the optical fiber 9, and a function as an optical combiner in which the optical signals emitted from the two optical fibers 7 and 8 are inputted into the optical fiber 9. Note that the optical fiber 7.8 may be formed to have a small diameter not only at the end but also over its entire length.

FIG. 4 shows a specific example in which the optical branching/merging connector shown in FIG. 3 is applied to an optical signal transmission system.

As shown in this example, two optical branching/merging connectors 6 connect optical fibers 1. , l15 and optical fiber l.

and the wall, and further the optical fibers 13, 1711: optical fiber 11o are connected. In other words, it is possible to branch and combine optical signals without using an expensive optical branch/combiner.

In addition, fix the end of one optical fiber to the receptacle,
The end of a thin optical fiber may be fixed to the plug.

As specifically explained above in conjunction with the embodiments, according to the present invention, a plurality of optical fibers each having at least one end formed with a small diameter are fixed to one of the plug and the receptacle. It is possible to realize an inexpensive optical branching/merging connector that can branch/combine signals.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 and 2 are schematic diagrams showing an optical signal transmission system for an automobile according to the prior art, FIG. 3 is a front view showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is an optical signal transmission to which the present embodiment is applied. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the system. In the drawings, 6 is an optical connector, 6a is its receptacle, 6b is its plug, and 7.8.9 is an optical fiber. Patent applicant Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. Representative Patent attorney Shibu Mitsuishi (and 1 other person)

Claims (1)

[Claims] An end of one optical fiber is fixed to one of the plug and receptacle of the optical connector to be coupled to each other, and at least the end of the optical fiber is formed to have a small diameter on the other of the plug and receptacle. 1. An optical branching connector characterized in that the ends of a number of bundled optical fibers are fixed.