JP3813219B2 - Optical fiber connector - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an optical fiber connector that butt-connects another optical fiber to a multi-core optical fiber formed by integrating a plurality of optical fibers in parallel on the same plane with a coating material.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, an optical fiber connector has a structure in which two butted optical fibers are fixed in the same housing. As the positioning alignment structure of the optical fiber connector, (1) a structure in which an optical fiber is inserted and abutted from both ends into a precision capillary (hereinafter referred to as “microcapillary”), and (2) the optical fibers are positioned in the positioning groove. (3) a structure in which an optical fiber is supported and positioned at the center of three precision rods or three precision balls. The optical fiber connector is configured to align and abut a pair of optical fibers in the aligning mechanism, and to bond or mechanically sandwich and fix the optical fibers to the aligning mechanism.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in the case of the optical fiber connector as described above, there is a problem that the connected optical fiber cannot be reused, so that the optical fiber cannot be attached or detached, and cannot be effectively used for connection switching.
That is, when the optical fiber is bonded to the aligning mechanism, it is difficult to remove the optical fiber from the aligning mechanism, and the butt end portion is contaminated with the adhesive and is difficult to reuse. In addition, when the optical fiber is mechanically clamped, it is difficult to apply the clamping force evenly to the abutting end portion of the optical fiber. In this case, there arises a problem that the refractive index of the butt end portion varies and it becomes difficult to reuse.
In particular, in the butt connection between multi-fiber optical fibers such as a tape core wire, there is no appropriate optical fiber connector, and the above problem becomes remarkable.
[0004]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an optical fiber connector that can connect and switch a multi-core optical fiber with another optical fiber.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the optical fiber connector according to claim 1 holds the butt state by clamping between the base and the optical fibers that are butt-connected by being mounted on the upper surface of the base. A clamping lid for applying a clamping force to the base and the pressing lid, and a centering portion for aligning and positioning so that a plurality of pairs of optical fibers can be abutted and connected by an alignment mechanism between the base and the pressing lid. A taper-shaped interior groove is formed on the upper surface of the base to guide the plurality of optical fibers inserted from the opening end that opens to the end of the base to the aligning portion. A plurality of introduction grooves are formed in parallel at the bottom of the interior groove, and the optical fiber inserted into the introduction groove is guided to the alignment mechanism in the vicinity of the alignment mechanism of each introduction groove. By forming an alignment portion and pushing the optical fiber inserted into the introduction groove into the alignment mechanism through the taper portion, the optical fiber coating material is simultaneously positioned so that each optical fiber can be abutted and connected. An optical fiber connector characterized in that the optical fiber connector is configured to be installed in the interior groove is used as a means for solving the problems.
[0007]
The optical fiber connector according to claim 2, wherein in the optical fiber connector according to claim 1 , the operation means for applying and releasing the clamping force by manual operation is provided in the clamp means. It was.
The optical fiber connector according to claim 3, wherein in the optical fiber connector according to claim 1 or 2, a tape core wire, which is a multi-core optical fiber, can be installed together with a coating material in the interior groove, and the introduction The groove is capable of accommodating a bare fiber that is an optical fiber led out from the end of the tape core wire.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the optical fiber connector of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
Reference numeral 1 in the figure denotes an optical fiber connector according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the optical fiber connector 1 includes a base 2 and a tape core 4 as a multi-core optical fiber that is butt-connected by being mounted on the upper surface 3 of the base 2. A C-type spring 6 as a clamping means for providing a clamping force to the holding lid 5, the base 2 and the holding lid 5, and the base 2 and the holding lid. 5 is provided with a positioning groove 7 as an aligning mechanism for aligning and positioning the tape core wire 4 so as to be butt-connected.
[0009]
The base 2 and the pressing lid 5 are rod-shaped members having a semicircular cross section that form a rod having a substantially circular cross section by being integrated, and are housed in the C-shaped spring 6 in an integrated state. . A clamping force for clamping the tape core wire 4 is always applied between the base 2 and the pressing lid 5 by the elastic force of the C-shaped spring 6. Opening grooves 8 into which wedge-shaped opening members 6 a as operating means for separating the base 2 and the pressing lid 5 are press-fitted are formed on the outer surfaces of the integrated base 2 and the pressing lid 5, respectively. It is formed in the part facing the boundary line.
[0010]
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a half of the base 2, and reference numeral 9 in the figure denotes an aligning base (alignment). As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the aligning base 9 is formed in parallel with the aligning base 9 formed in the center in the longitudinal direction of the base upper surface 3. ing. Each positioning groove 7 is a V-groove, and penetrates the aligning base 9 along the longitudinal direction of the base 2. As the positioning groove 7, for example, a U groove or the like other than the V groove can be applied.
[0011]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the base upper surface 3, there are recessed grooves 10 formed on the base upper surface 3 from the positioning grooves 7, and an interior groove 10 capable of interiorizing the tape core 4 with the covering material 4a. Is provided. One end of the interior groove 10 opens in the longitudinal direction both end surfaces 11 (end portions) of the base 2, and the other end faces the aligning base portion 9. A plurality of introduction grooves 14 into which a bare fiber (optical fiber) 12 led out from the end of the tape core wire 4 is inserted from the opening end 13 of the interior groove 10 are formed in parallel at the bottom of the interior groove 10. The introduction groove 14 can accommodate not only the bare fiber 12 but also a covering portion (not shown) formed at the base end portion of the bare fiber 12. An opening end portion 14 a of the introduction groove 14 is opened at the opening end portion 13 of the interior groove 13. As shown in FIG. 6, the introduction groove 14 is a square groove whose opening width is wider than a communication groove 17 described later.
[0012]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a taper that guides the bare fiber 12 inserted into the introduction groove 14 from the opening end portion 14 a side to the positioning groove 7 is provided at the end of each introduction groove 14 facing the aligning base 9. A portion 15 is formed. 2, 3, and 7, the tapered portion 15 corresponds to the introduction hole 14 and the introduction groove 14 that partitions the interior groove 10 from the inclined bottom portion 16 that continues from the introduction groove 14 to the positioning groove 7. And a partition wall 18 that forms a communication groove 17 that communicates with the positioning hole 7. The communication groove 17 is a rectangular groove whose opening width gradually decreases from the introduction hole 14 side toward the positioning hole 7 side, and the minimum opening width is slightly larger than the diameter of the bare fiber 12. The entrance of the tapered portion 15 on the opening end portion 14a side is formed in such a size that the covered portion of the bare fiber 12 restricts insertion and only the bare fiber 12 can be inserted.
[0013]
The opening end 13 of the interior groove 10 is expanded so as to expand in a direction away from the alignment line of the alignment axis of each positioning groove 7 toward the longitudinal end of the base 2. Therefore, the opening end 14 a of the introduction groove 14 that opens to the opening end 13 is inclined with respect to the alignment axis of the positioning groove 7, so that the bare fiber 12 is drawn from the longitudinal end of the optical fiber connector 1. Easy to insert.
[0014]
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a positioning projection 19 for positioning the presser lid 5 with respect to the base 2 is projected from a side portion of the base upper surface 3 facing the opening groove 8. The positioning protrusion 19 is a ridge extending along the longitudinal direction of the base upper surface 3, and when the opening groove 8 is opened by inserting the opening member 6 a, the base 2 and the pressing lid 5 can be rotated relative to each other. It plays the role of a hinge that supports it.
[0015]
As shown in FIG. 2, the presser lid 5 is arranged in series between the center member 20 that clamps the bare fiber 12 between the centering base 9 and the both ends of the center member 20. And an end member 21 for clamping the tape core wire 4 disposed in the interior groove 10. The central member 20 and the end member 21 are integrated by placing mounting protrusions 22 protruding from both ends of the central member 20 on receiving protrusions 23 protruding from one end of the end member 21 and engaging with each other. It has come to be.
[0016]
As shown in FIG. 1, the opening end portion 14a of the introduction groove 14 is exposed on the end surface of each end member 21 exposed on the longitudinal direction end surface of the optical fiber connector 1, and the introduction groove is advanced toward the back side. 14 is formed. As shown in FIG. 6, an interior groove 26 is formed on the inner surface side of the end member 21. The interior groove 26 forms an interior portion 25 that houses the covering material 4 a of the tape core wire 4 together with the interior groove 10 of the base 2. As shown in FIG. 7, a taper groove 27 that guides the bare fiber 12 inserted into the taper portion 15 from the opening end portion 14 a side of the introduction groove 14 to the positioning groove 7 is formed on the inner surface side of the receiving protrusion 23. . The tapered groove 27 is formed shallower than the interior groove 26.
[0017]
On the inner surface side of the central member 20, as shown in FIG. 5, corresponding to each bare fiber 12 inserted into the positioning groove 7, a fiber groove 28 that houses the upper part of the bare fiber 12 is formed corresponding to the positioning groove 7. Has been. The fiber groove 28 is formed in a semicircular cross section and extends along the positioning groove 7.
The interior groove 26, the taper groove 27, and the fiber groove 28 are appropriately formed according to the size of the tape core wire 4, and can be omitted.
[0018]
The C-type spring 6 is made of a material such as beryllium copper. In the case of beryllium copper, it may be one that has been subjected to age hardening treatment after molding into a target shape, or one that has been coated with a fluororesin or the like after heat treatment. The C-type spring 6 is formed with a locking hole 30 for positioning with respect to the base 2 and the pressing lid 5 by engaging with a locking projection 29 protruding from the outer surface of the base 2 and the pressing lid 5. ing. The locking hole 30 is a slit-like opening that makes one round of the C-type spring 6 in the circumferential direction, and is formed at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the C-type spring 6. The C-type spring 6 is mounted on the outside of the base 2 and the pressing lid 5 with the opening 31 aligned with the boundary between the integrated base 2 and the pressing lid 5. In a plurality of locations in the longitudinal direction of the opening 31, expansion holes 31 a formed by expanding the opening 31 are formed at positions that coincide with the opening groove 8. The expansion hole 31a is formed in a shape that allows the opening member 6a to be inserted into the opening groove 8 to obtain a sufficient opening amount at many times.
[0019]
Hereinafter, the operation and effect of the present embodiment will be described.
The optical fiber connector 1 pushes each bare fiber 12 led out from the end of the tape core wire 4 from the opening end portion 14a of the introduction groove 14 into the positioning groove 7 through the taper portion 15, thereby connecting the bare fibers 12 to each other. At the same time as aligning and positioning so as to be butt-connected, the covering material 4a of the tape core wire 4 is housed in the interior groove 10.
[0020]
In order to butt-connect the tape core wires 4 within the optical fiber connector 1, the opening member 6 a is inserted to maintain the opening state of the opening groove 8, and the opening of the introduction groove 14 at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the base 2. The bare fiber 12 is pushed into the positioning groove 7 from the end portion 14a. At this time, the opening end portion 14a of the introduction groove 14 approaches the alignment axis of the positioning groove 7 from the longitudinal end surface 11 of the optical fiber connector 1 toward the back side. Insertion into the introduction groove 14 is facilitated. Further, each bare fiber 12 pushed from the opening end portion 14a is guided to the positioning groove 7 via the taper portion 15, and if the lengths of the bare fibers 12 are aligned, all the bare fibers 12 are almost all. At the same time, it is abutted against the bare fiber 12 of the tape core wire 4 inserted from the opposite side in the positioning groove 7. Since the covered portion of the bare fiber 12 is restricted from being inserted into the positioning groove 7 at the entrance of the tapered portion 15, the bare fiber 12 is formed to be longer than half the distance between the entrances of both the tapered portions 15. deep.
[0021]
Simultaneously with the butting of the bare fibers 12, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the covering material 4 a of the tape core wire 4 is housed in the interior portion 25. At this time, the covering material 4 a of the tape core wire 4 is supported on the upper edge portion 14 b (bottom portion of the interior groove) of the introduction groove 14, and the bare fiber 12 inserted into the positioning groove 7 and the tape core in the interior portion 25. Since the covering material 4a of the wire 4 is on the alignment axis of the bare fiber 12 in the positioning groove 7, the bare fiber 12 is stably held without any stress such as bending.
[0022]
When the matching of the bare fibers 12 is completed, the opening member 6a is pulled out from the opening groove 8 to close the opening groove 8, and the tape core wire 4 is clamped to maintain the butt state. At this time, the covering material 4a of the tape core 4 is slightly crushed and clamped between the interior grooves 10 and 26 of the base 2 and the pressing lid 5, so that the influence of the tensile force does not act on the bare fiber 12. It has become. The opening groove 8 is opened / closed by inserting / removing the opening member 6a, and the clamping and releasing of the tape core 4 can be freely switched, so that the connection of the tape core 4 clamped in the butt connection state can be freely switched. It can be carried out.
[0023]
Therefore, according to the optical fiber connector 1 of the present embodiment, the bare fiber 12 is adjusted to the positioning groove 7 simply by pushing the bare fiber 12 led out from the end of the tape core wire 4 toward the positioning groove 7 from the introduction groove 14. At the same time as supporting in a centering manner, the coating material 4a of the tape core wire 4 is provided in the interior portion 25 formed in the alignment axis direction of the positioning groove 7, and the bare fiber 12 is contained in the coating material 4a provided in the interior portion 25. Therefore, the tape core wires 4 can be butt-connected to each other stably and easily. In addition, since the clamping and releasing of the tape core 4 can be repeated any number of times simply by opening and closing the opening groove 8, operations such as connection switching of the tape core 4 can be easily performed.
[0024]
The multi-core optical fiber may be other than the tape core.
The optical fiber connector 1 of the embodiment can be used as a single-fiber branching device for the tape core wire 4 if the tape core wire 4 and a plurality of single-core optical fibers are optically connected. In this case, it is possible to change the insertion side of the single-core optical fiber to a structure advantageous for positioning of the single-core optical fiber in correspondence with the single-core optical fiber.
As the aligning mechanism, it is also possible to apply a aligning structure using a positioning groove other than the V groove or the V groove provided with the microcapillary, a precision rod, and a precision ball.
[0025]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the optical fiber connector of the present invention, the optical fiber connector that has been butt-connected by being mounted on the base and the upper surface of the base is clamped between the bases to maintain the butt state. A clamping lid for applying a clamping force to the base and the pressing lid, and a centering portion for aligning and positioning so that a plurality of pairs of optical fibers can be abutted and connected by an alignment mechanism between the base and the pressing lid. And a plurality of optical fibers inserted from the opening end opening at the end of the base are formed on the upper surface of the base. Each optical fiber can be positioned and aligned so that it can be abutted and connected by an alignment mechanism simply by pushing the optical fiber toward the alignment section. It can be efficiently butt connection.
It is characterized by that.
[0026]
In addition, according to the optical fiber connector of the present invention, a plurality of introduction grooves into which the optical fiber is inserted from the opening end that opens at the end of the base are formed in parallel at the bottom of the interior groove, and each introduction groove is adjusted. A taper portion for guiding the optical fiber inserted into the introduction groove to the alignment mechanism is formed in the vicinity of the center mechanism, and the optical fiber inserted into the introduction groove is pushed into the alignment mechanism via the taper portion, whereby each of the other optical fibers The optical fiber coating material is arranged in the interior groove at the same time as aligning positioning so that it can be butt-connected, and at the same time, the optical fiber coating material is installed in the interior groove while supporting the optical fiber so that it can be butt-connected. In addition, since the optical fiber including the part in the coating material can be stably supported, the butt connection between a plurality of pairs of optical fibers can be performed stably and easily. It was an effect.
[0027]
According to a second aspect of the optical fiber connector of the present invention, in the optical fiber connector of the first aspect , the clamping means is provided with operating means for applying and releasing the clamping force by manual operation, and the operating means is operated. As a result, it is possible to repeat the clamping and unclamping of the multi-fiber optical fiber and the other optical fibers as many times as possible, so that it is possible to easily perform operations such as connection switching between the optical fibers.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of an optical fiber connector of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the optical fiber connector of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the optical fiber connector of the present invention, and is a perspective view showing a base.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the optical fiber connector of the present invention, and is a plan view showing a base.
5 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the optical fiber connector of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG.
6 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the optical fiber connector of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG.
7 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the optical fiber connector of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view taken along line DD of FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Optical fiber connector, 2 ... Base, 3 ... Upper surface, 4 ... Multi-fiber optical fiber (tape core wire), 4a ... Cover material, 5 ... Holding lid, 6 ... Clamp means (C-type spring), 6a ... Operation Member (opening member), 7 ... Aligning means (positioning groove), 9 ... Aligning part (aligning base part), 10 ... Interior groove, 11 ... End face, 12 ... Optical fiber (bare fiber), 14 ... Introducing groove , 14a ... open end, 14b ... bottom (upper edge) of the interior groove, 15 ... taper.

Claims (3)

An optical fiber connector (1) for butt-connecting another optical fiber (4) to the optical fiber (4),
A base (2), a pressing lid (5) that holds the butt-connected state by clamping the optical fibers butt-connected by being mounted on the base upper surface (3), and the base and the pressing lid A clamping means (6) for applying a clamping force to the base and a centering part (9) for aligning and positioning so that a plurality of pairs of optical fibers can be abutted and connected by a centering mechanism (7) between the base and the pressing lid Comprising
A taper-shaped interior groove (10) for guiding a plurality of optical fibers inserted from the opening end (14a) that opens to the end (11) of the base to the alignment portion is formed on the upper surface of the base ,
Light off Aiba is formed in a plurality in parallel introduction groove which is inserted from the open end which opens into the end of the base (14) in the bottom of the interior groove (14b), said introduction groove near alignment mechanism of each guide grooves A tapered part (15) for guiding the optical fiber inserted into the alignment mechanism is formed, and the optical fiber inserted into the introduction groove is pushed into the alignment mechanism via the tapered part, so that each optical fiber can be butt-connected to each other. An optical fiber connector characterized in that the optical fiber coating material is arranged in the interior groove at the same time as aligning and positioning. 2. An optical fiber connector according to claim 1 , wherein the clamping means is provided with operating means (6a) for applying and releasing the clamping force by manual operation. A tape core wire, which is a multi-core optical fiber, can be installed in the interior groove together with the covering material (4a), and a bare fiber (12) that is an optical fiber led out from the end of the tape core wire is provided in the introduction groove. The optical fiber connector according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that:

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