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WO2003007039A1 - Terminal and connector and interface apparatus for optical cables - Google Patents

Terminal and connector and interface apparatus for optical cables Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2003007039A1
WO2003007039A1 PCT/KR2002/000515 KR0200515W WO03007039A1 WO 2003007039 A1 WO2003007039 A1 WO 2003007039A1 KR 0200515 W KR0200515 W KR 0200515W WO 03007039 A1 WO03007039 A1 WO 03007039A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
optical cable
connecting body
pair
grooves
coupled
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/KR2002/000515
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
So-Young Lee
Sun-Jong Jin
Kyu-Kang Oh
Jae-Heong Bae
Seung-Min Kang
Jae-Won Song
Chul-Kyu Kwon
Original Assignee
K Tech Infosystem Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from KR2020010021185U external-priority patent/KR200248543Y1/en
Priority claimed from KR2020010021186U external-priority patent/KR200248544Y1/en
Priority claimed from KR1020010066082A external-priority patent/KR20030033901A/en
Application filed by K Tech Infosystem Inc. filed Critical K Tech Infosystem Inc.
Publication of WO2003007039A1 publication Critical patent/WO2003007039A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
    • G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
    • G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
    • G02B6/3873—Connectors using guide surfaces for aligning ferrule ends, e.g. tubes, sleeves, V-grooves, rods, pins, balls
    • G02B6/3874—Connectors using guide surfaces for aligning ferrule ends, e.g. tubes, sleeves, V-grooves, rods, pins, balls using tubes, sleeves to align ferrules
    • G02B6/3878—Connectors using guide surfaces for aligning ferrule ends, e.g. tubes, sleeves, V-grooves, rods, pins, balls using tubes, sleeves to align ferrules comprising a plurality of ferrules, branching and break-out means
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
    • G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
    • G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
    • G02B6/381—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs of the ferrule type, e.g. fibre ends embedded in ferrules, connecting a pair of fibres
    • G02B6/3825—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs of the ferrule type, e.g. fibre ends embedded in ferrules, connecting a pair of fibres with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
    • G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
    • G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
    • G02B6/3873—Connectors using guide surfaces for aligning ferrule ends, e.g. tubes, sleeves, V-grooves, rods, pins, balls
    • G02B6/3874—Connectors using guide surfaces for aligning ferrule ends, e.g. tubes, sleeves, V-grooves, rods, pins, balls using tubes, sleeves to align ferrules
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/42—Coupling light guides with opto-electronic elements
    • G02B6/4292—Coupling light guides with opto-electronic elements the light guide being disconnectable from the opto-electronic element, e.g. mutually self aligning arrangements
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/42—Coupling light guides with opto-electronic elements
    • G02B6/4201—Packages, e.g. shape, construction, internal or external details
    • G02B6/4246—Bidirectionally operating package structures

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an optical cable connection terminal, an optical cable connector and an optical cable interface device, and more particularly, to an optical cable connection terminal connected to an end of an optical cable, an optical cable connector to which the connection terminal is coupled, and an optical cable interface device for interfacing the optical cable to electronic equipment to enable optical communication.
  • a conventional optical cable connector and a conventional optical cable connection terminal are shown at a left part of FIG. 1.
  • the conventional optical cable connector 100 is defined with a first coupling groove 101 at one end thereof, in which the optical cable connection terminal is coupled.
  • the other end of the optical cable connector 100 is closed.
  • This closed end is formed with a pair of ear portions each of which is defined with a threaded hole 102 in a manner such that a screw can be coupled in the threaded hole 102.
  • the optical cable connector 100 is defined with a ferrule insertion groove 103 in which a ferrule 400 connected to an end of an optical cable is inserted.
  • a guide groove 104 for guiding movement of the optical cable connection terminal is defined m an upper wall portion of the optical cable connector 100.
  • the optical cable connector 100 is formed with a pair of first locking projections 105 for locking the connection terminal.
  • the optical cable connector 100 has a rectangular flange-shaped configuration.
  • the optical cable connector 100 can be independently used in a state in which it is attached to a communication instrument, or two optical cable connectors 100 can be simultaneously used m a state in which they are symmetrically fastened to each other
  • the conventional optical cable connection terminal 200 comprises a first connecting body 210 coupled to the connector 100, a second connecting body 220 coupled to the first connecting body 210, and a third connecting body 230 connected to the second connecting body 220
  • the first connecting body 210 has a second coupling groove 211 m which the second connecting body 220 is coupled, a guide projection 212 for guiding movement of the first connecting body 210 when the first connecting body 210 is coupled to the connector 100, and a pair of locking holes 213 defined at both side wall portions thereof, respectively.
  • the pair of first locking projections 105 formed in the connector 100 between the first coupling groove 101 and the ferrule insertion groove 103 are locked into one ends of the locking holes 213, and when the second connecting body 220 is coupled to the first connecting body 210, a pair of second locking projections 222 formed in the second connecting body 220 are locked into the other ends of the locking holes 213.
  • the second connecting body 220 is defined with a third coupling groove 221 m which the third connecting body 230 is coupled, and is formed with the pair of second locking projections 222 to be locked into the locking holes 213 of the first connecting body 210.
  • the third connecting body 230 has a ferrule insertion hole 231 for receiving the ferrule 440 and a spring 401. In opposition to the ferrule insertion hole 231, the third connecting body 230 is defined with another insertion hole (not shown) in which the optical cable is to be inserted. One end of the third connecting body 230 is inserted and coupled in the second coupling groove 221 of the second connecting body 220.
  • the reference numeral 403 represents a cover member made of elastic material, which covers the optical cable (not shown) connected to the ferrule 400 and is coupled to the other end of the third connecting body 230. Accordingly, in the conventional art, after fitting the cover member 403 around the optical cable and inserting the optical cable through the insertion hole of the third connecting body 230, the spring 401 is inserted into the third connecting body 230 and the ferrule 400 is connected to the optical cable. Then, the ferrule 400 having connected thereto the optical cable is mounted in the ferrule insertion hole 231 of the third connecting body 230. Thereafter, by coupling the cover member 403 to the third connecting body 230, connection of the optical cable to the third connecting body 230 is completed.
  • the third connecting body 230 having connected thereto the optical cable is fitted and coupled m the third coupling groove 221 of the second connecting body 220.
  • connection terminal 200 When it is necessary to connect the connection terminal 200 assembled in this way to the connector 100, by inserting the connection terminal 200 into the first coupling groove 101 of the connector 100, as the guide projection 212 formed on the first connecting body 210 of the connection terminal 200 is moved along the guide groove 104 defined in the upper wall portion of the connector 100, the first locking projections 105 of the connector 100 are snap-fitted into the locking grooves 213, respectively, of the first connecting body 210, whereby the connection terminal 200 is firmly coupled to the connector 100.
  • the conventional connection terminal 200 constructed as mentioned above suffers from defects in that, since it has a sizable number of component parts, its construction is complicated, a great deal of manufacturing cost and time are required, and the manufacturing procedure becomes quite involved.
  • Optical cable connectors according to the conventional art are divided into a first type which directly interfaces two optical fibers and a second type which interfaces connection terminals provided to ends of two optical cables
  • first type which directly interfaces two optical fibers
  • second type which interfaces connection terminals provided to ends of two optical cables
  • each optical fiber since each optical fiber has a very small diameter, careful handling is required and the connectors themselves must have considerable precision
  • the connectors because the connectors are designed in a manner such that each of them embeds a ferrule to which an optical cable is connected, the size of each connector is increased and a great deal of cost and time are required to manufacture and assembly the connector.
  • an optical cable is laid from the a telephone office to a predetermined location, and copper-based cables such as a UTP (unshielded twisted pair) cable, an STP (individually shielded twisted pair) cable and a coaxial cable are laid from the predetermined location to respective personal computers.
  • UTP unshielded twisted pair
  • STP shielded twisted pair
  • the copper-based cables while inexpensive in comparison with the optical cable, have disadvantages in that they have a slower communication speed than the optical cable, are susceptible to electronic waves and various noises which adversely affect reliable transmission of information, and maintenance and repair are not easier than in the case of the optical cable.
  • the present inventors have made attempts for developing an optical cable connection terminal and an optical cable connector which are easy to manufacture and assemble and configured to reduce a cost, and an optical cable interface device which is configured to interface an optical cable to a network interface card built in a home personal computer, an Ethernet connected to a home computer to form a communication path, a media converter for converting formats of transmitted and received data, etc., so that a communication speed is increased, and the optical cable interface device is less susceptible to electronic waves and various noises to secure communication reliability and is easy to manufacture and repair.
  • an object of the present invention is to provide an optical cable connection terminal and an optical cable connector which have a simple locking structure.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide an optical cable connector which interfaces two optical cable connection terminals adopting different optical communication methods, to enable optical communication.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide an optical cable connection terminal and an optical cable connector which have a simple locking structure and are capable of connecting a plurality of optical cables one to another.
  • Still another object of the present invention is to provide an optical cable connector which can interface two ferrules connected to ends of two optical cables, respectively.
  • Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide an optical cable interface device which is configured to interface an optical cable to various kinds of communication instruments, so that a communication speed is increased, and the optical cable interface device is less susceptible to electronic waves and various noises to secure communication reliability and is easy to manufacture and repair.
  • an optical cable connection terminal connected to an end of an optical cable, comprising: a first connecting body for allowing the optical cable connection terminal to be connected to a connector; and a second connecting body coupled to the first connecting body; the first connecting body having a first coupling groove in which the second connecting body is coupled, a guide projection engaged into a first guide groove defined m the connector, a pair of first locking holes in which a pair of locking projections formed in a second coupling groove of the connector are respectively snap- fitted, a pair of second guide grooves respectively defined on inner surfaces of upper and lower wall portions of the first connecting body to guide the second connecting body, and a pair of second locking holes respectively defined in the upper and lower wall portions of the first connecting body adjacent to proximal ends of the second guide grooves to allow the second connecting body to be snap-fitted therein after being guided along the second guide grooves; the second connecting body having upper and lower body elements connected with each other at their one sides and formed, adjacent to the other sides of them, with an engagement
  • the first connecting body has a plurality of first coupling grooves for allowing a plurality of second connecting bodies to be coupled therein; plural pairs of second guide grooves are defined on inner surfaces of upper and lower wall portions of the first connecting body so that each pair of second guide grooves are assigned to each first coupling groove; and plural pairs of second locking holes are defined in the upper and lower wall portions of the first connecting body adjacent to proximal ends of the second guide grooves so that each pair of second locking holes are assigned to each first coupling groove .
  • an optical cable connector assembly having two optical cable connectors symmetrically fastened to each other and each having a rectangular flange-shaped configuration, each optical cable connector being defined with a coupling groove at one end thereof in which an optical cable connection terminal is coupled, each optical cable connector having the other end closed and formed with a pair of ear portions each of which is defined with a threaded hole in a manner such that a screw can be coupled m the threaded hole, each optical cable connector being further defined, in the coupling groove, with a ferrule insertion groove in which a ferrule connected to an end of an optical cable is inserted, wherein bottoms of ferrule insertion grooves defined m the two optical cable connectors are cut out to define a mounting space in which signal conversion means for interfacing two optical cables having different optical transmission and receiving modules can be inserted.
  • the optical cable connector is defined with the coupling groove at one end thereof in a manner such that a first connecting body having coupled thereto a plurality of second connecting bodies can be coupled in the coupling groove; the optical cable connector is further defined with ferrule insertion grooves the number of which corresponds to that of optical cable connection terminals to be coupled in the coupling groove; and a bottom of each ferrule insertion groove is cut out to define a mounting space in which signal conversion means is inserted.
  • an optical cable connector comprising: upper and lower connecting bodies integrally connected with each other by a connecting portion; the upper connecting body having a first ferrule groove defined on a lower surface thereof to receive upper halves of a pair of ferrules, a pair of first fastening grooves defined at both ends of the first ferrule groove to receive flange portions formed on the ferrules, respectively, and a pair of coupling projections formed on the lower surface between the pair of first fastening grooves; and the lower connecting body having a second ferrule groove defined on an upper surface thereof facing the first ferrule groove of the upper connecting body to receive lower halves of the pair of ferrules, a pair of second fastening grooves defined at both ends of the second ferrule groove to receive the flange portions formed on the ferrules, respectively, and a pair of coupling grooves defined on the upper surface between the pair of second fastening grooves in a manner such that the pair of coupling projections of the upper and lower connecting body having a first ferrule
  • an optical cable interface device including an optical cable connecting section for enabling connection of an optical cable, a transceiver module connected to the optical cable connecting section to allow data to be transmitted and received between the optical cable and predetermined electronic equipment, a signal conversion module for converting an optical signal received through the transceiver module into an electrical signal and converting an electrical signal outputted from the electronic equipment into an optical signal, a physical layer-managing module for setting, holding or interrupting physical links with respect to electrical signals inputted and outputted by the signal conversion module, and a communication control module for processing signals inputted and outputted by the physical layer-managing module,
  • the optical cable connecting section comprising: an optical cable connector assembly having two optical cable connectors symmetrically fastened to each other and each having a rectangular flange-shaped configuration, each optical cable connector being defined with a coupling groove at one end thereof in which an optical cable connection terminal is coupled, each optical cable connector having the other end closed and formed with a pair of ear portions each of which is defined with a thread
  • the communication control module comprises a media converter (MC) for converting formats of data transmitted and received between different media, a fast Ethernet switch (FES) for allowing a plurality of terminals to be connected through a plurality of transmission ports, or a network interface card (NIC) which includes therein the physical layer-managing module to connect the predetermined electronic equipment to a network.
  • MC media converter
  • FES fast Ethernet switch
  • NIC network interface card
  • FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an optical cable connection terminal and an optical cable connector in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an optical cable connection terminal and an optical cable connector in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an optical cable connector in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 4 s a block diagram illustrating an optical cable interface device in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an optical cable connection terminal and an optical cable connector m accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.
  • the optical cable connection terminal 300 according to the present invention is shown at a right part of the connector 100.
  • the optical cable connection terminal 300 includes a first connecting body 310 coupled to the connector 100 and a second connecting body 320 coupled to the first connecting body 310.
  • the first connecting body 310 has a first coupling groove 311 in which the second connecting body 320 is coupled, a guide projection 312 engaged into a first guide groove 104 defined in the connector 100, a pair of first locking holes 313 m which a pair of locking projections 105 formed in a second coupling groove 101 of the connector 100 are respectively snap-fitted, a pair of second guide grooves 314 respectively defined on inner surfaces of upper and lower wall portions of the first connecting body 310 to guide the second connecting body 320, and a pair of second locking holes 315 respectively defined in the upper and lower wall portions of the first connecting body 310 adjacent to proximal ends of the second guide grooves 314 to allow the second connecting body 320 to be snap-fitted therein after being guided along the second guide grooves 314.
  • the second connecting body 320 has upper and lower body elements 321 and 322 connected with each other by a connecting portion 323 formed at their one sides.
  • the upper and lower body elements 321 and 322 are formed, adjacent to the other sides of them, with an engagement projection 324 and an engagement groove 325, respectively, for allowing the second connecting body 320 to be opened and closed.
  • the upper and lower body elements 321 and 322 have mounting grooves 326 defined for mounting a spring 401, fastening grooves 327 defined at one ends of the mounting grooves 326 for fastening a flange portion formed at an end of an optical cable cover member 402, and fastening projections 328 respectively formed on upper and lower surfaces of the upper and lower body elements 321 and 322 so that the fastening projections 328 can be guided along the second guide grooves 314 of the first connecting body 310 and snap-fitted into the second locking holes 315 of the first connecting body 310 to allow the second connecting body 320 to be firmly coupled to the first connecting body 310.
  • an optical cable (not shown) s inserted into the optical cable cover member 402.
  • the spring 401 is fitted around the optical cable, a ferrule 400 is coupled to the optical cable, the flange portion of the optical cable cover member 402 is inserted into the fastening groove 327 of the second connecting body 320, and the upper and lower body elements 321 and 322 are closed in a manner such that the engagement projection 324 is engaged into the engagement groove 325, whereby the second connecting body 320 is coupled to the optical cable.
  • the fastening projections 328 formed on the second connecting body 320 are guided along the pair of second guide grooves 314 defined in the first connecting body 310 and snap-fitted into the pair of second locking holes 315, respectively. In this way, the optical cable connection terminal 300 is completed
  • connection terminal 300 When coupling the optical cable connection terminal 300 according to the present invention completed m this way to the connector 100, by inserting the connection terminal 300 into the second coupling groove 101 of the connector 100, as the guide projection 312 formed on the first connecting body 310 of the connection terminal 300 is guided along the guide groove 104 defined in the connector 100, the pair of locking projections 105 of the connector 100 are snap-fitted into the pair of first locking holes 313, respectively, of the first 5 connecting body 310, whereby the connection terminal 300 is coupled to the connector 100
  • the optical cable connection terminal 300 when compared to the conventional optical cable connection terminal, the optical cable connection terminal 300 according to the present invention provides
  • L0 advantages in that it has a simple construction. Also, since the second connecting body 320 can be opened and closed in the vertical direction, the second connecting body 320 can be easily coupled to the optical cable to surround the optical cable having connected thereto the ferrule 400.
  • FIG. 1 there is shown an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a structure of the optical cable connector 100 according to the present invention
  • the optical cable connector 100 is defined with the second coupling groove 101 at one end thereof, in which the optical cable connection
  • optical cable connector 100 is defined with a ferrule insertion groove 103 in which the ferrule 400 connected to an end of an optical cable is inserted.
  • the first guide groove 104 for guiding movement of the optical cable connection terminal 300 is defined m an upper wall portion of the optical cable connector 100.
  • the optical cable connector 100 is formed with the pair of locking projections 105 for locking the connection terminal 300.
  • the optical cable connector 100 has a rectangular flange-shaped configuration.
  • the optical cable connector 100 can be independently used in a state in which it is attached to a communication instrument, or two optical cable connectors 100 can be simultaneously used in a state m which they are symmetrically fastened to each other.
  • an optical cable connector assembly having two optical cable connectors 100 symmetrically fastened to each other, bottoms of ferrule insertion grooves 103 defined m the two optical cable connectors 100 are cut out to define a mounting space 106 in which signal conversion means 500 for interfacing two optical cables having different optical transmission and receiving modules can be inserted.
  • FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an optical cable connection terminal and an optical cable connector m accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.
  • This embodiment shown in FIG. 2 allows a plurality of optical cable connection terminals to be coupled to one optical cable connector.
  • an optical cable connector 100 is defined with a coupling groove 101 at one end thereof m a manner such that a first connecting body 310 having coupled thereto a plurality of second connecting bodies 320 can be coupled in the coupling groove 101.
  • the optical cable connector 100 is further defined with ferrule insertion grooves the number of which corresponds to that of optical cable connection terminals 300 to be coupled in the coupling groove 101.
  • a bottom of each ferrule insertion groove is cut out to define a mounting space in which signal conversion means is inserted
  • the first connecting body 310 has a plurality of coupling grooves 311 for allowing a plurality of second connecting bodies 320 to be coupled therein.
  • Plural pairs of guide grooves 314 are defined on inner surfaces of upper and lower wall portions of the first connecting body 310 so that each pair of guide grooves 314 are assigned to each coupling groove 311.
  • Plural pairs of locking holes 315 are defined m the upper and lower wall portions of the first connecting body 310 adjacent to proximal ends of the guide grooves 314 so that each pair of locking holes 315 are assigned to each first coupling groove 311.
  • the plurality of second connecting bodies 320 to which the ferrules 400 connected with optical cables are fitted are coupled to the first connecting body 310. Then, by inserting the first connecting body 310 having coupled thereto the plurality of second connecting bodies 320 into the connector 100, transmission of optical communication through a plurality of optical cables is enabled.
  • FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an optical cable connector m accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention
  • the optical cable connector 100 utilizes a structure of the second connecting body 320 of the aforementioned optical cable connection terminal 300 to interface two ferrules which are connected to ends of two optical cables, respectively.
  • the optical cable connector 100 has upper and lower connecting bodies 110 and 120 which are integrally connected with each other by a connecting portion 130.
  • the upper connecting body 110 has a first ferrule groove
  • the lower connecting body 120 has a second ferrule groove 121 defined on an upper surface thereof facing the first ferrule groove 111 of the upper connecting body 110 to receive lower halves of the pair of ferrules 400, a pair of second fastening grooves 122 defined at both ends of the second ferrule groove 121 to receive the flange portions 400a formed on the ferrules 400, respectively, and a pair of coupling grooves 123 defined on the upper surface between the pair of second fastening grooves 122 in a manner such that the pair of coupling projections 113 of the upper connecting body 110 can be locked into the pair of coupling grooves 123, respectively.
  • FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an optical cable interface device m accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
  • the optical cable interface device includes an optical cable connecting section 10, a transceiver module 20, a signal conversion module 30, a physical layer-managing module 40, and a communication control module 50.
  • the optical cable connecting section 10 functions to connect an optical cable.
  • the optical cable connecting section 10 may include the optical cable connector 100 and optical cable connection terminal 300 as described above in the first or second embodiment of the present invention.
  • the optical cable connector 100 has a rectangular flange-shaped configuration.
  • the optical cable connector 100 is defined with a coupling groove 101 at one end thereof in which the optical cable connection terminal 300 is coupled.
  • the optical cable connector 100 has the other end closed and formed with a pair of ear portions each of which is defined with a threaded hole 102 in a manner such that a screw can be coupled in the threaded hole 102.
  • the optical cable connector 100 is further defined, in the coupling groove 101, with a ferrule insertion groove 103 in which a ferrule 400 connected to an end of an optical cable is inserted. Therefore, by installing the optical cable connector 100 to electronic equipment and coupling the optical cable connection terminal 300 to the optical cable connector 100, the optical cable is connected to the electronic equipment .
  • the transceiver module 20 is connected to the optical cable connecting section 10 to allow data to be transmitted and received between the optical cable and the predetermined electronic equipment.
  • the signal conversion module 30 functions to convert an optical signal received through the transceiver module 20 into an electrical signal and convert an electrical signal outputted from the electronic equipment into an optical signal .
  • the physical layer-managing module 40 functions to set, hold or interrupt physical links with respect to electrical signals inputted and outputted by the signal conversion module
  • the physical layer-managing module 40 can set the physical links in a manner such that an electrical signal inputted thereto after being converted by the signal conversion module 30 is transmitted to the electronic equipment as a combined signal of 0 and 1 which are lowermost level signals associated with electrical, functional and procedural characteristics among data transmission protocols, or can hold or interrupt the signal transmission. Also, the physical layer-managing module 40 can set the physical links in a manner such that data outputted from the electronic equipment is transmitted to the signal conversion module 30 as a combined signal of 0 and 1 which are lowermost level signals associated with electrical, functional and procedural characteristics among data transmission protocols, or can hold or interrupt data transmission.
  • the communication control module 50 functions to process signals inputted and outputted by the physical layer-managing module 40. In other words, the communication control module 50 receives and processes a signal outputted from the optical cable through the physical layer- managing module 40, or receives and controls a signal outputted from the electronic equipment to be outputted to the optical cable through the physical layer managing-module 40.
  • the communication control module 50 may comprise a media converter (MC) for converting formats of data transmitted and received between different media, a fast Ethernet switch (FES) for allowing a plurality of terminals to be connected through a plurality of transmission ports, or a network interface card (NIC) which includes therein the physical layer-managing module 40 to connect the predetermined electronic equipment to a network.
  • MC media converter
  • FES fast Ethernet switch
  • NIC network interface card
  • data transmitted and received through the optical cable connected by the optical cable connecting section 10 can be transmitted to and received from the predetermined electronic equipment through the transceiver module 20.
  • the signal conversion module 30 an optical signal received through the transceiver module 20 is converted into an electrical signal and an electrical signal outputted from the electronic equipment is converted into an optical signal .
  • the physical layer-managing module 40 changes an electrical signal converted by and inputted from the signal conversion module 30 into a lowermost level signal among protocols for data transmission and then, outputs the lowermost level signal to the electronic equipment. Also, the physical layer-managing module 40 changes an electrical signal outputted from the electronic equipment into a lowermost level signal among protocols for data transmission and then, outputs the lowermost level signal to the optical cable.
  • the communication control module 50 functions to process signals inputted and outputted by the physical layer-managing module 40.
  • the optical cable connection terminal, the optical cable connector and the optical cable interface device according to the present invention provide advantages in that they have simple locking structures when compared to the conventional art, are easily coupled one to another to reduce a manufacturing cost and simplify an assembling procedure, and are capable of interfacing two optical cables adopting different optical communication methods, of simultaneously connecting a plurality of optical cables and of further interfacing ferrules connected to ends of optical cables.
  • the optical cable connection terminal, the optical cable connector and the optical cable interface device according to the present invention accomplish excellent workability and assemblability, and economic efficiency.
  • a communication speed is increased, and they are less susceptible to electronic waves and various noises to secure communication reliability and are easy to manufacture and repair.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Coupling Of Light Guides (AREA)

Abstract

Disclosed are an optical cable connection terminal, an optical cable connector, and an optical cable interface device. The optical cable connection terminal and the optical cable connector are easy to manufacture and assemble and configured to reduce a cost. The optical cable interface device is configured to interface an optical cable to a network interface card built in a home personal computer, an Ethernet connected to a home computer to form a communication path, a media converter for converting formats of transmitted and received data, etc., so that a communication speed is increased, and the optical cable interface device is less susceptible to electronic waves and various noises to secure communication reliability and is easy to manufacture and repair.

Description

TERMINAL AND CONNECTOR AND INTERFACE APPARATUS FOR OPTICAL CABLES
Technical Field
The present invention relates to an optical cable connection terminal, an optical cable connector and an optical cable interface device, and more particularly, to an optical cable connection terminal connected to an end of an optical cable, an optical cable connector to which the connection terminal is coupled, and an optical cable interface device for interfacing the optical cable to electronic equipment to enable optical communication.
Background Art
A conventional optical cable connector and a conventional optical cable connection terminal are shown at a left part of FIG. 1.
The conventional optical cable connector 100 is defined with a first coupling groove 101 at one end thereof, in which the optical cable connection terminal is coupled. The other end of the optical cable connector 100 is closed. This closed end is formed with a pair of ear portions each of which is defined with a threaded hole 102 in a manner such that a screw can be coupled in the threaded hole 102. In the first coupling groove 101, the optical cable connector 100 is defined with a ferrule insertion groove 103 in which a ferrule 400 connected to an end of an optical cable is inserted. A guide groove 104 for guiding movement of the optical cable connection terminal is defined m an upper wall portion of the optical cable connector 100. Between the first coupling groove 101 and the ferrule insertion groove 103, the optical cable connector 100 is formed with a pair of first locking projections 105 for locking the connection terminal. The optical cable connector 100 has a rectangular flange-shaped configuration. The optical cable connector 100 can be independently used in a state in which it is attached to a communication instrument, or two optical cable connectors 100 can be simultaneously used m a state in which they are symmetrically fastened to each other The conventional optical cable connection terminal 200 comprises a first connecting body 210 coupled to the connector 100, a second connecting body 220 coupled to the first connecting body 210, and a third connecting body 230 connected to the second connecting body 220 The first connecting body 210 has a second coupling groove 211 m which the second connecting body 220 is coupled, a guide projection 212 for guiding movement of the first connecting body 210 when the first connecting body 210 is coupled to the connector 100, and a pair of locking holes 213 defined at both side wall portions thereof, respectively. The pair of first locking projections 105 formed in the connector 100 between the first coupling groove 101 and the ferrule insertion groove 103 are locked into one ends of the locking holes 213, and when the second connecting body 220 is coupled to the first connecting body 210, a pair of second locking projections 222 formed in the second connecting body 220 are locked into the other ends of the locking holes 213.
The second connecting body 220 is defined with a third coupling groove 221 m which the third connecting body 230 is coupled, and is formed with the pair of second locking projections 222 to be locked into the locking holes 213 of the first connecting body 210.
The third connecting body 230 has a ferrule insertion hole 231 for receiving the ferrule 440 and a spring 401. In opposition to the ferrule insertion hole 231, the third connecting body 230 is defined with another insertion hole (not shown) in which the optical cable is to be inserted. One end of the third connecting body 230 is inserted and coupled in the second coupling groove 221 of the second connecting body 220.
In the drawing, the reference numeral 403 represents a cover member made of elastic material, which covers the optical cable (not shown) connected to the ferrule 400 and is coupled to the other end of the third connecting body 230. Accordingly, in the conventional art, after fitting the cover member 403 around the optical cable and inserting the optical cable through the insertion hole of the third connecting body 230, the spring 401 is inserted into the third connecting body 230 and the ferrule 400 is connected to the optical cable. Then, the ferrule 400 having connected thereto the optical cable is mounted in the ferrule insertion hole 231 of the third connecting body 230. Thereafter, by coupling the cover member 403 to the third connecting body 230, connection of the optical cable to the third connecting body 230 is completed.
Next, the third connecting body 230 having connected thereto the optical cable is fitted and coupled m the third coupling groove 221 of the second connecting body 220.
Thereupon, by inserting the second connecting body 220 having coupled thereto the third connecting body 230 into the second coupling groove 211 of the first connecting body 210, as the second locking projections 222 of the second connecting body 220 are snap-fitted into the locking holes 213, respectively, of the first connecting body 210, the second connecting body 220 having coupled thereto the third connecting body 230 is coupled to the first connecting body 210, whereby assembly of the optical cable connection terminal 200 is completed.
When it is necessary to connect the connection terminal 200 assembled in this way to the connector 100, by inserting the connection terminal 200 into the first coupling groove 101 of the connector 100, as the guide projection 212 formed on the first connecting body 210 of the connection terminal 200 is moved along the guide groove 104 defined in the upper wall portion of the connector 100, the first locking projections 105 of the connector 100 are snap-fitted into the locking grooves 213, respectively, of the first connecting body 210, whereby the connection terminal 200 is firmly coupled to the connector 100. However, the conventional connection terminal 200 constructed as mentioned above suffers from defects in that, since it has a sizable number of component parts, its construction is complicated, a great deal of manufacturing cost and time are required, and the manufacturing procedure becomes quite involved.
Optical cable connectors according to the conventional art are divided into a first type which directly interfaces two optical fibers and a second type which interfaces connection terminals provided to ends of two optical cables In the case of directly interfacing the optical fibers, since each optical fiber has a very small diameter, careful handling is required and the connectors themselves must have considerable precision Also, in the case of interfacing the connection terminals, because the connectors are designed in a manner such that each of them embeds a ferrule to which an optical cable is connected, the size of each connector is increased and a great deal of cost and time are required to manufacture and assembly the connector.
Meanwhile, in the conventional art, in order to install communication lines, an optical cable is laid from the a telephone office to a predetermined location, and copper-based cables such as a UTP (unshielded twisted pair) cable, an STP (individually shielded twisted pair) cable and a coaxial cable are laid from the predetermined location to respective personal computers.
The copper-based cables, while inexpensive in comparison with the optical cable, have disadvantages in that they have a slower communication speed than the optical cable, are susceptible to electronic waves and various noises which adversely affect reliable transmission of information, and maintenance and repair are not easier than in the case of the optical cable.
In these considerations, the present inventors have made attempts for developing an optical cable connection terminal and an optical cable connector which are easy to manufacture and assemble and configured to reduce a cost, and an optical cable interface device which is configured to interface an optical cable to a network interface card built in a home personal computer, an Ethernet connected to a home computer to form a communication path, a media converter for converting formats of transmitted and received data, etc., so that a communication speed is increased, and the optical cable interface device is less susceptible to electronic waves and various noises to secure communication reliability and is easy to manufacture and repair.
Disclosure of the Invention
Accordingly, the present invention has been made in an effort to solve the problems occurring in the related art, and an object of the present invention is to provide an optical cable connection terminal and an optical cable connector which have a simple locking structure.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an optical cable connector which interfaces two optical cable connection terminals adopting different optical communication methods, to enable optical communication.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an optical cable connection terminal and an optical cable connector which have a simple locking structure and are capable of connecting a plurality of optical cables one to another.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an optical cable connector which can interface two ferrules connected to ends of two optical cables, respectively. Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide an optical cable interface device which is configured to interface an optical cable to various kinds of communication instruments, so that a communication speed is increased, and the optical cable interface device is less susceptible to electronic waves and various noises to secure communication reliability and is easy to manufacture and repair.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical cable connection terminal connected to an end of an optical cable, comprising: a first connecting body for allowing the optical cable connection terminal to be connected to a connector; and a second connecting body coupled to the first connecting body; the first connecting body having a first coupling groove in which the second connecting body is coupled, a guide projection engaged into a first guide groove defined m the connector, a pair of first locking holes in which a pair of locking projections formed in a second coupling groove of the connector are respectively snap- fitted, a pair of second guide grooves respectively defined on inner surfaces of upper and lower wall portions of the first connecting body to guide the second connecting body, and a pair of second locking holes respectively defined in the upper and lower wall portions of the first connecting body adjacent to proximal ends of the second guide grooves to allow the second connecting body to be snap-fitted therein after being guided along the second guide grooves; the second connecting body having upper and lower body elements connected with each other at their one sides and formed, adjacent to the other sides of them, with an engagement projection and an engagement groove, respectively, for allowing the second connecting body to be opened and closed; and the upper and lower body elements having mounting grooves defined for mounting a spring, fastening grooves defined at one ends of the mounting grooves for fastening a flange portion formed at an end of an optical cable cover member, and fastening projections respectively formed on upper and lower surfaces of the upper and lower body elements so that the fastening projections can be guided along the second guide grooves of the first connecting body and snap-fitted into the second locking holes of the first connecting body to allow the second connecting body to be firmly coupled to the first connecting body.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the first connecting body has a plurality of first coupling grooves for allowing a plurality of second connecting bodies to be coupled therein; plural pairs of second guide grooves are defined on inner surfaces of upper and lower wall portions of the first connecting body so that each pair of second guide grooves are assigned to each first coupling groove; and plural pairs of second locking holes are defined in the upper and lower wall portions of the first connecting body adjacent to proximal ends of the second guide grooves so that each pair of second locking holes are assigned to each first coupling groove . According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical cable connector assembly having two optical cable connectors symmetrically fastened to each other and each having a rectangular flange-shaped configuration, each optical cable connector being defined with a coupling groove at one end thereof in which an optical cable connection terminal is coupled, each optical cable connector having the other end closed and formed with a pair of ear portions each of which is defined with a threaded hole in a manner such that a screw can be coupled m the threaded hole, each optical cable connector being further defined, in the coupling groove, with a ferrule insertion groove in which a ferrule connected to an end of an optical cable is inserted, wherein bottoms of ferrule insertion grooves defined m the two optical cable connectors are cut out to define a mounting space in which signal conversion means for interfacing two optical cables having different optical transmission and receiving modules can be inserted.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the optical cable connector is defined with the coupling groove at one end thereof in a manner such that a first connecting body having coupled thereto a plurality of second connecting bodies can be coupled in the coupling groove; the optical cable connector is further defined with ferrule insertion grooves the number of which corresponds to that of optical cable connection terminals to be coupled in the coupling groove; and a bottom of each ferrule insertion groove is cut out to define a mounting space in which signal conversion means is inserted.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical cable connector comprising: upper and lower connecting bodies integrally connected with each other by a connecting portion; the upper connecting body having a first ferrule groove defined on a lower surface thereof to receive upper halves of a pair of ferrules, a pair of first fastening grooves defined at both ends of the first ferrule groove to receive flange portions formed on the ferrules, respectively, and a pair of coupling projections formed on the lower surface between the pair of first fastening grooves; and the lower connecting body having a second ferrule groove defined on an upper surface thereof facing the first ferrule groove of the upper connecting body to receive lower halves of the pair of ferrules, a pair of second fastening grooves defined at both ends of the second ferrule groove to receive the flange portions formed on the ferrules, respectively, and a pair of coupling grooves defined on the upper surface between the pair of second fastening grooves in a manner such that the pair of coupling projections of the upper connecting body can be locked into the pair of coupling grooves, respectively. According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical cable interface device including an optical cable connecting section for enabling connection of an optical cable, a transceiver module connected to the optical cable connecting section to allow data to be transmitted and received between the optical cable and predetermined electronic equipment, a signal conversion module for converting an optical signal received through the transceiver module into an electrical signal and converting an electrical signal outputted from the electronic equipment into an optical signal, a physical layer-managing module for setting, holding or interrupting physical links with respect to electrical signals inputted and outputted by the signal conversion module, and a communication control module for processing signals inputted and outputted by the physical layer-managing module, the optical cable connecting section comprising: an optical cable connector assembly having two optical cable connectors symmetrically fastened to each other and each having a rectangular flange-shaped configuration, each optical cable connector being defined with a coupling groove at one end thereof in which an optical cable connection terminal is coupled, each optical cable connector having the other end closed and formed with a pair of ear portions each of which is defined with a threaded hole in a manner such that a screw can be coupled in the threaded hole, each optical cable connector being further defined, in the coupling groove, with a ferrule insertion groove in which a ferrule connected to an end of an optical cable is inserted, bottoms of ferrule insertion grooves defined in the two optical cable connectors being cut out to define a mounting space in which signal conversion means for interfacing two optical cables having different optical transmission and receiving modules can be inserted; and an optical cable connection terminal having a first connecting body coupled to the optical cable" connector assembly and a second connecting body coupled to the first connecting body; the first connecting body having a first coupling groove in which the second connecting body is coupled, a guide projection engaged into a first guide groove defined in the connector, a pair of first locking holes in which a pair of locking projections formed in a second coupling groove of the connector are respectively snap- fitted, a pair of second guide grooves respectively defined on inner surfaces of upper and lower wall portions of the first connecting body to guide the second connecting body, and a pair of second locking holes respectively defined in the upper and lower wall portions of the first connecting body adjacent to proximal ends of the second guide grooves to allow the second connecting body to be snap-fitted therein after being guided along the second guide grooves; the second connecting body having upper and lower body elements connected with each other at one sides of them and formed, ad acent to the other sides of them, with an engagement projection and an engagement groove, respectively, for allowing the second connecting body to be opened and closed; and the upper and lower body elements having mounting grooves defined for mounting a spring, fastening grooves defined at one ends of the mounting grooves for fastening a flange portion formed at an end of an optical cable cover member, and fastening projections respectively formed on upper and lower surfaces of the upper and lower body elements so that the fastening projections can be guided along the second guide grooves of the first connecting body and snap-fitted into the second locking holes of the first connecting body to allow the second connecting body to be coupled to the first connecting body
According to yet still another aspect of the present invention, the communication control module comprises a media converter (MC) for converting formats of data transmitted and received between different media, a fast Ethernet switch (FES) for allowing a plurality of terminals to be connected through a plurality of transmission ports, or a network interface card (NIC) which includes therein the physical layer-managing module to connect the predetermined electronic equipment to a network.
Brief Description of the Drawings
The above objects, and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent after a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an optical cable connection terminal and an optical cable connector in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an optical cable connection terminal and an optical cable connector in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an optical cable connector in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 4 s a block diagram illustrating an optical cable interface device in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
Reference will now be made in greater detail to a preferred embodiment of the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts .
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an optical cable connection terminal and an optical cable connector m accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the optical cable connection terminal 300 according to the present invention is shown at a right part of the connector 100.
The optical cable connection terminal 300 according to the present invention includes a first connecting body 310 coupled to the connector 100 and a second connecting body 320 coupled to the first connecting body 310.
The first connecting body 310 has a first coupling groove 311 in which the second connecting body 320 is coupled, a guide projection 312 engaged into a first guide groove 104 defined in the connector 100, a pair of first locking holes 313 m which a pair of locking projections 105 formed in a second coupling groove 101 of the connector 100 are respectively snap-fitted, a pair of second guide grooves 314 respectively defined on inner surfaces of upper and lower wall portions of the first connecting body 310 to guide the second connecting body 320, and a pair of second locking holes 315 respectively defined in the upper and lower wall portions of the first connecting body 310 adjacent to proximal ends of the second guide grooves 314 to allow the second connecting body 320 to be snap-fitted therein after being guided along the second guide grooves 314.
The second connecting body 320 has upper and lower body elements 321 and 322 connected with each other by a connecting portion 323 formed at their one sides. The upper and lower body elements 321 and 322 are formed, adjacent to the other sides of them, with an engagement projection 324 and an engagement groove 325, respectively, for allowing the second connecting body 320 to be opened and closed. The upper and lower body elements 321 and 322 have mounting grooves 326 defined for mounting a spring 401, fastening grooves 327 defined at one ends of the mounting grooves 326 for fastening a flange portion formed at an end of an optical cable cover member 402, and fastening projections 328 respectively formed on upper and lower surfaces of the upper and lower body elements 321 and 322 so that the fastening projections 328 can be guided along the second guide grooves 314 of the first connecting body 310 and snap-fitted into the second locking holes 315 of the first connecting body 310 to allow the second connecting body 320 to be firmly coupled to the first connecting body 310. Accordingly, when connecting the optical cable connection terminal 300 according to the present invention, an optical cable (not shown) s inserted into the optical cable cover member 402. Then, the spring 401 is fitted around the optical cable, a ferrule 400 is coupled to the optical cable, the flange portion of the optical cable cover member 402 is inserted into the fastening groove 327 of the second connecting body 320, and the upper and lower body elements 321 and 322 are closed in a manner such that the engagement projection 324 is engaged into the engagement groove 325, whereby the second connecting body 320 is coupled to the optical cable.
By inserting the second connecting body 320 having coupled thereto the optical cable into the first coupling groove 311 of the first connecting body 310, the fastening projections 328 formed on the second connecting body 320 are guided along the pair of second guide grooves 314 defined in the first connecting body 310 and snap-fitted into the pair of second locking holes 315, respectively. In this way, the optical cable connection terminal 300 is completed
When coupling the optical cable connection terminal 300 according to the present invention completed m this way to the connector 100, by inserting the connection terminal 300 into the second coupling groove 101 of the connector 100, as the guide projection 312 formed on the first connecting body 310 of the connection terminal 300 is guided along the guide groove 104 defined in the connector 100, the pair of locking projections 105 of the connector 100 are snap-fitted into the pair of first locking holes 313, respectively, of the first 5 connecting body 310, whereby the connection terminal 300 is coupled to the connector 100
Therefore, when compared to the conventional optical cable connection terminal, the optical cable connection terminal 300 according to the present invention provides
L0 advantages in that it has a simple construction. Also, since the second connecting body 320 can be opened and closed in the vertical direction, the second connecting body 320 can be easily coupled to the optical cable to surround the optical cable having connected thereto the ferrule 400.
L5 In FIG. 1, there is shown an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a structure of the optical cable connector 100 according to the present invention The optical cable connector 100 is defined with the second coupling groove 101 at one end thereof, in which the optical cable connection
_0 terminal 300 is coupled The other end of the optical cable connector 100 is closed This closed end is formed with a pair of ear portions each of which is defined with a threaded hole 102 in a manner such that a screw can be coupled m the threaded hole 102. In the second coupling groove 101, the
.5 optical cable connector 100 is defined with a ferrule insertion groove 103 in which the ferrule 400 connected to an end of an optical cable is inserted. The first guide groove 104 for guiding movement of the optical cable connection terminal 300 is defined m an upper wall portion of the optical cable connector 100. Between the second coupling groove 101 and the ferrule insertion groove 103, the optical cable connector 100 is formed with the pair of locking projections 105 for locking the connection terminal 300. The optical cable connector 100 has a rectangular flange-shaped configuration. The optical cable connector 100 can be independently used in a state in which it is attached to a communication instrument, or two optical cable connectors 100 can be simultaneously used in a state m which they are symmetrically fastened to each other. In an optical cable connector assembly having two optical cable connectors 100 symmetrically fastened to each other, bottoms of ferrule insertion grooves 103 defined m the two optical cable connectors 100 are cut out to define a mounting space 106 in which signal conversion means 500 for interfacing two optical cables having different optical transmission and receiving modules can be inserted.
In other words, due to the fact that the signal conversion means 500 for interfacing two optical cable connection terminals adopting different optical communication methods with an aim of enabling optical communication is mounted in the connector assembly, compatibility is rendered.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an optical cable connection terminal and an optical cable connector m accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.
This embodiment shown in FIG. 2 allows a plurality of optical cable connection terminals to be coupled to one optical cable connector.
In this second embodiment of the present invention, an optical cable connector 100 is defined with a coupling groove 101 at one end thereof m a manner such that a first connecting body 310 having coupled thereto a plurality of second connecting bodies 320 can be coupled in the coupling groove 101. The optical cable connector 100 is further defined with ferrule insertion grooves the number of which corresponds to that of optical cable connection terminals 300 to be coupled in the coupling groove 101. A bottom of each ferrule insertion groove is cut out to define a mounting space in which signal conversion means is inserted The first connecting body 310 has a plurality of coupling grooves 311 for allowing a plurality of second connecting bodies 320 to be coupled therein. Plural pairs of guide grooves 314 are defined on inner surfaces of upper and lower wall portions of the first connecting body 310 so that each pair of guide grooves 314 are assigned to each coupling groove 311. Plural pairs of locking holes 315 are defined m the upper and lower wall portions of the first connecting body 310 adjacent to proximal ends of the guide grooves 314 so that each pair of locking holes 315 are assigned to each first coupling groove 311.
Accordingly, m this case, the plurality of second connecting bodies 320 to which the ferrules 400 connected with optical cables are fitted are coupled to the first connecting body 310. Then, by inserting the first connecting body 310 having coupled thereto the plurality of second connecting bodies 320 into the connector 100, transmission of optical communication through a plurality of optical cables is enabled.
Also, because bottoms of ferrule insertion grooves of the first connecting body 310 are cut out to define mounting spaces and signal conversion means are inserted into the mounting spaces, respectively, plural pairs of optical cables adopting different optical communication methods can be interfaced to receive and transmit optical communication. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an optical cable connector m accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention
The optical cable connector 100 according to this third embodiment of the present invention utilizes a structure of the second connecting body 320 of the aforementioned optical cable connection terminal 300 to interface two ferrules which are connected to ends of two optical cables, respectively. The optical cable connector 100 has upper and lower connecting bodies 110 and 120 which are integrally connected with each other by a connecting portion 130.
The upper connecting body 110 has a first ferrule groove
111 defined on a lower surface thereof to receive upper halves of a pair of ferrules 400, a pair of first fastening grooves
112 defined at both ends of the first ferrule groove 111 to receive flange portions 400a formed on the ferrules 400, respectively, and a pair of coupling projections 113 formed on the lower surface between the pair of first fastening grooves 112.
The lower connecting body 120 has a second ferrule groove 121 defined on an upper surface thereof facing the first ferrule groove 111 of the upper connecting body 110 to receive lower halves of the pair of ferrules 400, a pair of second fastening grooves 122 defined at both ends of the second ferrule groove 121 to receive the flange portions 400a formed on the ferrules 400, respectively, and a pair of coupling grooves 123 defined on the upper surface between the pair of second fastening grooves 122 in a manner such that the pair of coupling projections 113 of the upper connecting body 110 can be locked into the pair of coupling grooves 123, respectively. Thus, in a state in which the upper connecting body 110 is opened from the lower connecting body 120, after inserting the ferrules 400 into the second ferrule groove 121 of the lower connecting body 120 in a manner such that the flange portions 400a of the ferrules 400 are inserted into the second fastening grooves 122, respectively, defined at both ends of the second ferrule groove 121 of the lower connecting body 120, by closing the upper connecting body 110 with respect to the lower connecting body 120, the ferrules 400 are inserted into the first ferrule groove 111 and the first fastening grooves 112 of the upper connecting body 110. At the same time, as the coupling pro ections 113 of the upper connecting body 110 are fitted into the coupling grooves 123 of the lower connecting body 120, the ferrules 400 are firmly coupled to the connector 100.
Accordingly, the optical cable connector according to this third embodiment of the present invention provides advantages in that it has a simple construction and is easy to assemble . FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an optical cable interface device m accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
The optical cable interface device according to this embodiment of the present invention includes an optical cable connecting section 10, a transceiver module 20, a signal conversion module 30, a physical layer-managing module 40, and a communication control module 50.
The optical cable connecting section 10 functions to connect an optical cable. The optical cable connecting section 10 may include the optical cable connector 100 and optical cable connection terminal 300 as described above in the first or second embodiment of the present invention.
The optical cable connector 100 has a rectangular flange-shaped configuration. The optical cable connector 100 is defined with a coupling groove 101 at one end thereof in which the optical cable connection terminal 300 is coupled. The optical cable connector 100 has the other end closed and formed with a pair of ear portions each of which is defined with a threaded hole 102 in a manner such that a screw can be coupled in the threaded hole 102. The optical cable connector 100 is further defined, in the coupling groove 101, with a ferrule insertion groove 103 in which a ferrule 400 connected to an end of an optical cable is inserted. Therefore, by installing the optical cable connector 100 to electronic equipment and coupling the optical cable connection terminal 300 to the optical cable connector 100, the optical cable is connected to the electronic equipment .
As for concrete structures of the optical cable connector 100 and the optical cable connection terminal 300, since they are described with reference to the first and second embodiments, detailed explanation thereof shall be omitted.
The transceiver module 20 is connected to the optical cable connecting section 10 to allow data to be transmitted and received between the optical cable and the predetermined electronic equipment.
The signal conversion module 30 functions to convert an optical signal received through the transceiver module 20 into an electrical signal and convert an electrical signal outputted from the electronic equipment into an optical signal .
The physical layer-managing module 40 functions to set, hold or interrupt physical links with respect to electrical signals inputted and outputted by the signal conversion module
30.
That is to say, the physical layer-managing module 40 can set the physical links in a manner such that an electrical signal inputted thereto after being converted by the signal conversion module 30 is transmitted to the electronic equipment as a combined signal of 0 and 1 which are lowermost level signals associated with electrical, functional and procedural characteristics among data transmission protocols, or can hold or interrupt the signal transmission. Also, the physical layer-managing module 40 can set the physical links in a manner such that data outputted from the electronic equipment is transmitted to the signal conversion module 30 as a combined signal of 0 and 1 which are lowermost level signals associated with electrical, functional and procedural characteristics among data transmission protocols, or can hold or interrupt data transmission.
The communication control module 50 functions to process signals inputted and outputted by the physical layer-managing module 40. In other words, the communication control module 50 receives and processes a signal outputted from the optical cable through the physical layer- managing module 40, or receives and controls a signal outputted from the electronic equipment to be outputted to the optical cable through the physical layer managing-module 40.
The communication control module 50 may comprise a media converter (MC) for converting formats of data transmitted and received between different media, a fast Ethernet switch (FES) for allowing a plurality of terminals to be connected through a plurality of transmission ports, or a network interface card (NIC) which includes therein the physical layer-managing module 40 to connect the predetermined electronic equipment to a network.
Accordingly, data transmitted and received through the optical cable connected by the optical cable connecting section 10 can be transmitted to and received from the predetermined electronic equipment through the transceiver module 20. At this time, by the signal conversion module 30, an optical signal received through the transceiver module 20 is converted into an electrical signal and an electrical signal outputted from the electronic equipment is converted into an optical signal .
Meanwhile, the physical layer-managing module 40 changes an electrical signal converted by and inputted from the signal conversion module 30 into a lowermost level signal among protocols for data transmission and then, outputs the lowermost level signal to the electronic equipment. Also, the physical layer-managing module 40 changes an electrical signal outputted from the electronic equipment into a lowermost level signal among protocols for data transmission and then, outputs the lowermost level signal to the optical cable. The communication control module 50 functions to process signals inputted and outputted by the physical layer-managing module 40. By these facts, the optical cable interface device according to the present invention is configured to interface an optical cable to various kinds of communication instruments, so that a communication speed is increased, and the optical cable interface device is less susceptible to electronic waves and various noises to secure communication reliability and is easy to manufacture and repair.
Industrial Applicability
As apparent from the above description, the optical cable connection terminal, the optical cable connector and the optical cable interface device according to the present invention provide advantages in that they have simple locking structures when compared to the conventional art, are easily coupled one to another to reduce a manufacturing cost and simplify an assembling procedure, and are capable of interfacing two optical cables adopting different optical communication methods, of simultaneously connecting a plurality of optical cables and of further interfacing ferrules connected to ends of optical cables. Also, the optical cable connection terminal, the optical cable connector and the optical cable interface device according to the present invention accomplish excellent workability and assemblability, and economic efficiency. Moreover, due to the fact that they are configured to interface an optical cable to various kinds of communication instruments, a communication speed is increased, and they are less susceptible to electronic waves and various noises to secure communication reliability and are easy to manufacture and repair.
In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed typical preferred embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

Claims

Claims
1 An optical cable connection terminal connected to an end of an optical cable, comprising a first connecting body for allowing the optical cable connection terminal to be connected to a connector, and a second connecting body coupled to the first connecting body, the first connecting body having a first coupling groove in which the second connecting body is coupled, a guide projection engaged into a first guide groove defined in the connector, a pair of first locking holes in which a pair of locking projections formed m a second coupling groove of the connector are respectively snap-fitted, a pair of second guide grooves respectively defined on inner surfaces of upper and lower wall portions of the first connecting body to guide the second connecting body, and a pair of second locking holes respectively defined m the upper and lower wall portions of the first connecting body adjacent to proximal ends of the second guide grooves to allow the second connecting body to be snap-fitted therein after being guided along the second guide grooves , the second connecting body having upper and lower body elements connected with each other at their one sides and formed, adjacent to the other sides of them, with an engagement projection and an engagement groove, respectively, for allowing the second connecting body to be opened and closed; and the upper and lower body elements having mounting grooves defined for mounting a spring, fastening grooves defined at one ends of the mounting grooves for fastening a flange portion formed at an end of an optical cable cover member, and fastening projections respectively formed on upper and lower surfaces of the upper and lower body elements so that the fastening projections can be guided along the second guide grooves of the first connecting body and snap- fitted into the second locking holes of the first connecting body to allow the second connecting body to be firmly coupled to the first connecting body.
2. The optical cable connection terminal as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first connecting body has a plurality of first coupling grooves for allowing a plurality of second connecting bodies to be coupled therein; plural pairs of second guide grooves are defined on inner surfaces of upper and lower wall portions of the first connecting body so that each pair of second guide grooves are assigned to each first coupling groove; and plural pairs of second locking holes are defined in the upper and lower wall portions of the first connecting body adjacent to proximal ends of the second guide grooves so that each pair of second locking holes are assigned to each first couplmg groove .
3. An optical cable connector assembly having two optical cable connectors symmetrically fastened to each other and each having a rectangular flange-shaped configuration, each optical cable connector being defined with a coupling groove at one end thereof in which an optical cable connection terminal is coupled, each optical cable connector having the other end closed and formed with a pair of ear portions each of which is defined with a threaded hole in a manner such that a screw can be coupled the threaded hole, each optical cable connector being further defined, the coupling groove, with a ferrule insertion groove which a ferrule connected to an end of an optical cable is inserted, wherein bottoms of ferrule insertion grooves defined in the two optical cable connectors are cut out to define a mounting space in which signal conversion means for interfacing two optical cables having different optical transmission and receiving modules can be inserted.
4. The optical cable connector assembly as set forth in claim 3 , wherein the optical cable connector is defined with the coupling groove at one end thereof in a manner such that a first connecting body having coupled thereto a plurality of second connecting bodies can be coupled in the coupling groove; the optical cable connector is further defined with ferrule insertion grooves the number of which corresponds to that of optical cable connection terminals to be coupled in the coupling groove; and a bottom of each ferrule insertion groove is cut out to define a mounting space in which signal conversion means is inserted.
5 An optical cable connector comprising: upper and lower connecting bodies integrally connected with each other by a connecting portion; the upper connecting body having a first ferrule groove defined on a lower surface thereof to receive upper halves of a pair of ferrules, a pair of first fastening grooves defined at both ends of the first ferrule groove to receive flange portions formed on the ferrules, respectively, and a pair of coupling projections formed on the lower surface between the pair of first fastening grooves; and the lower connecting body having a second ferrule groove defined on an upper surface thereof facing the first ferrule groove of the upper connecting body to receive lower halves of the pair of ferrules, a pair of second fastening grooves defined at both ends of the second ferrule groove to receive the flange portions formed on the ferrules, respectively, and a pair of coupling grooves defined on the upper surface between the pair of second fastening grooves in a manner such that the pair of coupling projections of the upper connecting body can be locked into the pair of coupling grooves, respectively.
6. An optical cable interface device including an optical cable connecting section for enabling connection of an optical cable, a transceiver module connected to the optical cable connecting section to allow data to be transmitted and received between the optical cable and predetermined electronic equipment, a signal conversion module for converting an optical signal received through the transceiver module into an electrical signal and converting an electrical signal outputted from the electronic equipment into an optical signal, a physical layer-managing module for setting, holding or interrupting physical links with respect to electrical signals inputted and outputted by the signal conversion module, and a communication control module for processing signals inputted and outputted by the physical layer-managing module, the optical cable connecting section comprising an optical cable connector assembly having two optical cable connectors symmetrically fastened to each other and each having a rectangular flange-shaped configuration, each optical cable connector being defined with a coupling groove at one end thereof in which an optical cable connection terminal is coupled, each optical cable connector having the other end closed and formed with a pair of ear portions each of which is defined with a threaded hole in a manner such that a screw can be coupled in the threaded hole, each optical cable connector being further defined, in the coupling groove, with a ferrule insertion groove in which a ferrule connected to an end of an optical cable is inserted, bottoms of ferrule insertion grooves defined in the two optical cable connectors being cut out to define a mounting space in which signal conversion means for interfacing two optical cables having different optical transmission and receiving modules can be inserted, and an optical cable connection terminal having a first connecting body coupled to the optical cable connector assembly and a second connecting body coupled to the first connecting body, the first connecting body having a first coupling groove in which the second connecting body is coupled, a guide projection engaged into a first guide groove defined in the connector, a pair of first locking holes in which a pair of locking projections formed in a second coupling groove of the connector are respectively snap- fitted, a pair of second guide grooves respectively defined on inner surfaces of upper and lower wall portions of the first connecting body to guide the second connecting body, and a pair of second locking holes respectively defined in the upper and lower wall portions of the first connecting body adjacent to proximal ends of the second guide grooves to allow the second connecting body to be snap-fitted therein after being guided along the second guide grooves ; the second connecting body having upper and lower body elements connected with each other at one sides of them and formed, adjacent to the other sides of them, with an engagement projection and an engagement groove, respectively, for allowing the second connecting body to be opened and closed; and the upper and lower body elements having mounting grooves defined for mounting a spring, fastening grooves defined at one ends of the mounting grooves for fastening a flange portion formed at an end of an optical cable cover member, and fastening projections respectively formed on upper and lower surfaces of the upper and lower body elements so that the fastening projections can be guided along the second guide grooves of the first connecting body and snap-fitted into the second locking holes of the first connecting body to allow the second connecting body to be coupled to the first connecting body.
7. The optical cable interface device as set forth in claim 6, wherein the communication control module comprises a media converter for converting formats of data transmitted and received between different media.
8 The optical cable interface device as set forth in claim 6, wherein the communication control module comprises a fast Ethernet switch for allowing a plurality of terminals to be connected through a plurality of transmission ports
9. The optical cable interface device as set forth m claim 6, wherein the communication control module comprises a network interface card which includes therein the physical layer-managing module to connect the predetermined electronic equipment to a network.
PCT/KR2002/000515 2001-07-12 2002-03-26 Terminal and connector and interface apparatus for optical cables WO2003007039A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
KR2001/21186U 2001-07-12
KR2020010021185U KR200248543Y1 (en) 2001-07-12 2001-07-12 Terminal and Connecter for optical fiber cable
KR2020010021186U KR200248544Y1 (en) 2001-07-12 2001-07-12 Connecter for Ferrule
KR2001/21185U 2001-07-12
KR1020010066082A KR20030033901A (en) 2001-10-25 2001-10-25 Interface apparatus for optical fiber
KR2001/66082 2001-10-25

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2003007039A1 true WO2003007039A1 (en) 2003-01-23

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ID=27350452

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/KR2002/000515 WO2003007039A1 (en) 2001-07-12 2002-03-26 Terminal and connector and interface apparatus for optical cables

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2003007039A1 (en)

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5082344A (en) * 1990-03-09 1992-01-21 Mulholland Denis G Adapter assembly with improved receptacle for a push-pull coupling type of optical fiber connector
EP0803750A1 (en) * 1996-04-23 1997-10-29 Lucent Technologies Inc. Optical connector with immovable ferrule
JPH11211937A (en) * 1998-01-21 1999-08-06 Fujitsu Ltd Receptacle module

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5082344A (en) * 1990-03-09 1992-01-21 Mulholland Denis G Adapter assembly with improved receptacle for a push-pull coupling type of optical fiber connector
EP0803750A1 (en) * 1996-04-23 1997-10-29 Lucent Technologies Inc. Optical connector with immovable ferrule
JPH11211937A (en) * 1998-01-21 1999-08-06 Fujitsu Ltd Receptacle module

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