WO2009130160A1 - Optical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an optical connector having a cable-side first and a housing-side second connector part. The first connector part has a structure having a small external diameter such that the first connector, which is fitted on an optical cable, can be laid together with said optical cable in the case of confined conditions.

Description

 OPTICAL CONNECTOR

The present invention is in the field of optical connectors.

In home installations, connections between parabolic antennas and the satellite receivers are currently carried out with coaxial cables. Advantages of these compounds are the robustness and the safe transmission even under strongly fluctuating environmental conditions, such as e.g. Temperature and humidity. Longer coaxial connection lines are not low-loss and also relatively expensive to lay, as the cable and connector diameter are significant. The connector assembly usually takes place after the cable has been laid. In many cases, more than one coaxial cable is required, since this technology can only transmit one signal per receiver. In a house installation with several apartments, a cable is therefore required in extreme cases per apartment. In particular, when retrofitting in existing buildings, this is a significant problem, since there is often no place for laying the cable.

From WO051 14879 is known e.g. a device known to direct multiple TV channels from a parabolic antenna to a receiver. The solution is based on several coaxial cables.

For the transmission of data in home networks with comparatively low bandwidth, optical systems are known from various providers, which are based on optical fibers (optical fibers). These are usually cut to length on site and then populated with connectors or inserted directly into a media converter. For professional use, where a secure connection in strongly fluctuating environmental conditions must be ensured over a period of several years, These systems are not suitable. Another disadvantage is the system-limited data transfer rate.

For example, The company Homefibre praises on their homepage wwwjMDefιbre24xom systems for the transmission of data via optical fibers made of plastic. Unfortunately, little information is available in this context. Again, the optical fibers seem to be inserted directly into the converter without connectors.

Another supplier is the company DieMount GmbH. On the homepage wM _^ diemountde this offers a system for home networking. The optical fibers are cut off at their ends with a knife or a pair of scissors and then inserted directly into a media converter. The connections made with the very rudimentary fibers do not guarantee secure data transmission over a long period of time.

Another supplier of optical cables and connectors is the company Ratioplast Optoelectronics GmbH. On its homepage, www.ratioplast.corn, it offers various products that are used for the transmission of data via optical fibers.

A disadvantage of the known systems and devices is that they are not suitable for outdoor use, inter alia due to the lack of or nonexistent seal and also the data transmission error-prone and subject to strong fluctuations, since the coupling between the converter and fibers is not always sufficient. Em Another disadvantage is that the field Bestuckung the optical fibers with connectors is usually expensive and can not be made sure that the required coupling is right, since the ends of the optical fibers are not flat on each other. In addition, the systems created for plastic optical fibers are not suitable for use with the much more powerful glass fibers. An object of the invention is to show an optical system which is suitable as an alternative to the known from the prior art coaxial connections eg between parabolic antennas and receivers or in the field of fiber-to-home applications.

Another object of the invention is to show an optical system which is suitable for professional standards with a high data transmission rate over a long period of time.

Another object of the invention is to show an optical system which is suitable for retrofitting in existing buildings with limited space.

This object is achieved by the device defined in the claims.

Fiber optic connections, although technically advantageous, have hitherto not been used in the home field in order to transmit data via an optical waveguide between an outdoor parabolic antenna and a satellite receiver arranged in the building interior. One reason is that the conventional connector solutions are not suitable for this application (e.g., too tightly sealed, too little temperature resistant), or too expensive from an economic point of view. A further disadvantage is that the known connectors are too large or have too complicated a structure, so that they are not suitable for retrofitting in cable ducts in existing buildings.

The invention solves these problems by means of a compact and extremely robust fiber-optic connector, which has a torpedo-like design on the cable side with comparatively small external dimensions, and thus allows direct attachment without field assembly Cable to be laid routed. Equipped with an optical waveguide, the connector can be retracted together with this into existing cable ducts with limited space. Due to the high precision, the connector is preferably suitable for use with optical waveguides made of glass, but can also be provided for use with optical waveguides made of plastic. The mechanism required for the contact pressure is preferably integrated in the housing-side connector part. The housing of the cable-side connector part is preferably made of metal, but can at least partially be made of plastic.

In one embodiment, the connector has a first and a second connector part, wherein the first connector part to the cable side and the second connector part is provided for the housing-side mounting. In one embodiment, the cable-side first connector part has an approximately torpedo-shaped configuration with a pin-shaped inner part. The design avoids strong over the major diameter of the inner part protruding elements that could hinder a pulling into an existing cable conduit. In one embodiment, the outer diameter of the cable-side connector part fixedly connected to a cable is selected such that it does not significantly exceed the outer diameter of a cable outer sheath. Depending on the field of application, the parts of the cable-side connector part fixedly connected to an optical cable have a maximum outside diameter in the range from 3 mm to 10 mm. Other values are possible. If necessary, the cable-side connector part can be designed in several parts. The pin-shaped inner part has a continuous opening in the axial direction, which serves to receive an optical waveguide, preferably made of glass. Depending on the application, resp. for lower requirements, plastic optical fibers can also be used. In one embodiment, the opening in the region of the front end is designed such that it serves for fastening a ferrule. The ferrule can be fixed by pressing or gluing. Depending on the field of application, the ferrule can be integrated into the inner part, ie with this be formed in one piece. Depending on the field of application and embodiment, the through-opening has a variable diameter over the length, which serves for receiving a ferrule in the region of the front end and for operative connection to an outer sheath of an optical cable in the rear region. In a preferred embodiment, it is a Crimphals or other means for fastening.

The optical waveguide is normally arranged rigidly in the axial direction with respect to the inner part of the cable-side connector part. The contact pressure between the end faces of the optical waveguide is ensured by the second, housing-side connector part.

In the region of the front end, the inner part usually has means for direct or indirect mechanical operative connection with the second connector part. In a preferred embodiment, it is a Cewindehülse which is rotatable relative to the inner part and at the same time can serve as protection for the ferrule. For the assembly of the ferrule and the grinding of the end face, the Cewindehülse may be arranged longitudinally displaceable. In one embodiment, the front stop for the Cewindehülse is formed by a shoulder formed on the inner part. The rear stop is a retaining ring, which is pressed or glued from behind. The retaining ring prevents the Cewindehülse can move unintentionally backwards. In another embodiment, the torpedo-shaped inner part has means for a snap connection, by means of which the inner part can be snapped on the second connector part.

Another advantage is that the cable-side connector can be constructed so that the ferrule end surface does not protrude beyond the front end of the connector housing and is therefore better protected, especially during assembly. The fiber optic cable can therefore easily and quickly when laying with pre-assembled connectors a cable duct can be pulled. The connector may be configured to be operable to operatively engage a pull-in aid. For example, by having the cable-side connector at its front end an inner or an external thread, it can be temporarily connected via an adapter piece with a Einziehseite.

If necessary, the cable-side connector part has means which prevent unintentional rotation of the first relative to the second connector part. Good results are achieved with one or more axially projecting nose. This is designed so that it aligns the connector parts against each other before the optical fibers come into contact with each other frontally.

The second, usually on the housing side arranged connector part is designed to be compatible with the first connector part. It has a housing which serve at its front end means for mechanical engagement with the first connector part. Depending on the embodiment, it is e.g. around an external thread or means for making a snap connection. In one embodiment, the housing of the second connector part has a protruding pin which has a bore in the interior. Inside the bore, a ferrule is arranged to be elastically displaceable in the axial direction against the force of a spring. In addition, centering means are present, which center the ferrules of the cable-side first connector part and the housing-side second connector part against each other. Good results are achieved by laterally slotted sleeves made of ceramic or another suitable material. In addition, the second connector part also has means which avoid unwanted twisting of the first relative to the second connector part.

For operatively connecting the first to the second connector part, the connector parts are first aligned by means of the centering in the axial direction against each other and then pushed together until the ferrules and the optical fibers located therein are pressed against each other by the spring force on the front side. In this case, the ferrule of the second connector part is pressed in the interior of the housing against the force of the spring to the rear. Subsequently, the mechanical connecting means of the first and the second Cehäuseteils are operatively connected to each other.

A connector interface according to the invention generally has fewer individual parts than the conventional standard connectors known from the prior art. In contrast to the known from the prior art standard connectors in which the ferrules are always resiliently mounted on both connector sides, an embodiment of a connector according to the invention on the cable side in the axial direction not resiliently arranged ferrule. This ensures that the connector builds much smaller. The contact pressure necessary for a secure connection is generated by a spring mechanism mounted in the region of the second connector part. This spring mechanism is e.g. housed in an existing junction box. In order to avoid that the fibers scratch during assembly in the region of the frontal contact surface, the required anti-rotation is given in one embodiment by a compact nose on the cable connector (first connector part). In certain embodiments, the contact pressure on the fibers to be joined is not generated, as usual, by an internal compression spring arranged in the interior of both connectors, but by an externally arranged spring part. As a result, cable connectors can be realized with the smallest dimensions.

In one embodiment, the cabling is from a VSAT antenna to the receiver or receivers with pre-terminated cable assemblies. Another application of the robust connector is the laying of optical fibers to and in the apartment of a participant (Fiber-To-The-Home). One embodiment of the invention relates to an optical connector having a cable-side first and a housing-side second connector part for frontally connecting a first optical waveguide of an optical cable attached to the first connector part to an axially displaceable in the second connector part against the force of a spring second optical waveguide. The cable-side first connector part has a torpedo-shaped inner part, at the front end of which a ferrule for receiving the first optical waveguide is fastened and which has means for fastening a sleeve of the optical cable in the rear region. The inner part has at its front end means for mechanically operatively connecting with the second connector part. In one embodiment, it is Cewindehülse which is operatively connected to a correspondingly formed thread on the second connector part. The Cewindehülse protects the front end of the optical fiber against external influences. The operative connection means can also be configured as a snap connector. The first and / or the second connector part may have one or more protruding lugs at the front end which engage correspondingly configured openings of the other connector part and, in the operatively connected state, prevent the first against turning over the second connector part. In order not to hinder the laying, the outer diameter of the inner part connected to the optical cable is not more than 25% larger than the outer diameter of the optical cable.

With reference to the following figures, embodiments of the invention will be described. Show it

1 shows a first embodiment of a connector in operatively connected state.

FIG. 2 shows the connector according to FIG. 1 in a separate state; FIG.

FIG. 3 shows the connector according to FIG. 1 in a front view; FIG. 4 shows the connector according to FIG. 3 in a sectional illustration;

5 shows a second embodiment of a second connector part;

6 shows a third embodiment of a second connector part;

7 shows a fourth embodiment of a second connector part;

8 shows a fifth embodiment of a second connector part;

9 shows a sixth embodiment of a second connector part;

10 shows a seventh embodiment of a second connector part;

Fig. 1 1 an eighth embodiment of a second connector part;

Fig. 1 2 shows a ninth embodiment of a second connector part;

Fig. 1 3 a tenth embodiment of a second connector part.

Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of an inventive connector 1 in a perspective view obliquely from above. The connector 1 has a cable-side first connector part 2 and a housing-side second connector part 3. Both connector parts 2, 3 are cut open in the front region over an angle of 90 °, so that the internal structure becomes apparent. The connector parts 2, 3 are shown in Figure 1 in operatively connected state.

FIG. 2 shows the connector 1 according to FIG. 1 with non-actively connected connector parts 2,

3. The connector parts 2, 3 are shown spaced apart from each other in the axial direction, as they would be located shortly before assembly or after separation. Also in

Figure 2, the connector parts 2, 3 shown cut, so that the inner structure better becomes visible. Figure 3 shows a plan view of the connector 1 and Figure 4 shows a sectional view taken along the section line AA according to Figure 3. In all figures, corresponding elements are provided with identical reference numerals.

The cable-side first connector part 2 has a torpedo-like, pin-shaped inner part 4 with a through opening 5 with sections of variable diameter. At the front end is a ferrule 6 of the opening 5, e.g. attached by pressing or gluing. The ferrule 6 is arranged coaxially with respect to the pin-shaped inner part 4 in the embodiment shown. Below the ferrule 6 protrudes a nose 7 in the axial direction to the front. This engages in the mounted state in a recess 33 provided for this purpose in the region of the second connector part 3 and thereby prevents accidental rotation of the front side operatively connected to each other, inside the ferrules 6, 26 arranged glass fibers.

A Cewindehülse 8 serves to fasten the first connector part 2 relative to the second connector part 3. The Cewindehülse 8 has an internal thread 9, which cooperates in the assembled state with a corresponding external thread 24 on the second connector part 3. A retainer ring 1 1 serves as a rear stop for the Cewindehülse 8. The retaining ring 1 1 is pressed from behind on the inner part, glued or snapped. Other types of fastening are possible. Before the retaining ring 1 1 is fixed, the Cewindehülse 8 can be moved so far back in the embodiment shown that the ferrule 6 and the optical waveguide located therein can be edited. In the illustrated front position, the Cewindehülse 8 surrounds the ferrule 6 and serves as protection thereof, for example, during transport or when laying the cable. An optical cable 1 5 has an optical waveguide 16 in the interior, which is surrounded by an adjacent protective jacket 17. An outer jacket 18 serves to protect the sensitive optical waveguide 1 6 against external influences. The outer shell 18 is operatively connected via a crimp sleeve 1 9 with the rear end of the inner part 4 and serves as a strain relief. Other types of fastening are possible depending on the application. If necessary, the first connector part can be protected in the region of the connection of the outer jacket 18 by a shrink tube against external influences.

The second connector part 3 is operatively connected to the first connector part 2. It has a housing 20 which has a continuous opening 21 in the longitudinal direction.

The second connector part 3 is operatively connected to the first connector part 2. It has a housing 20 which has a continuous opening 21 in the longitudinal direction. A flange 22 is preceded by a pin 23 which carries on the outside an external thread 24, which serves for the operative connection with the threaded sleeve 8 of the first connector part 2. Inside the pin 23 there is a cavity 25, which serves to actively connect the connector parts 2, 3 for receiving the ferrule 6 of the first connector part 2. Inside the cavity, a second ferrule 26 is slidably disposed in the axial direction (x-direction) against the force of a spring 27. The ferrule 26 is arranged in a ram 28 serving as a holder, which produces the operative connection between the ferrule 26 and the spring 27. The plunger 28 is formed to fit the bore 21. The plunger 28 has a through hole 29, which serves to receive an optical waveguide. An external thread 36 serves for mounting the second housing part 3 from the front in a corresponding opening of a housing. Other types of fastening are possible.

In the interior of the opening 21, a retaining sleeve 31 is arranged in the region of the pin 23 which serves for fixing a centering sleeve 32. By means of the centering sleeve 32, the ferrules 6, 26 of the first and second connector part 2, 3 centered to each other. The centering sleeve 32 is shown slotted in the longitudinal direction in the embodiment shown.

In the embodiment shown, the holding sleeve 31 has a recess 33 in the front region into which the nose 7 of the first connector part 2 engages when it is actively connected.

In the front region, the inner part 4 has a cylindrical shoulder 34 of reduced diameter, which is formed in a corresponding manner with the front end of the opening 21 of the second connector part 2. In the region of the shoulder 34, an annular seal 35 is arranged, which cooperates sealingly with the inner wall of the opening 21.

In the rear area, the spring 27 of the plunger 28 are held by a closure cap 30. The closure cap 30 is snapped into the housing 20 in the embodiment shown. Further embodiments of second connector parts 3 with substantially similar structures are shown in FIGS. 5 to 13.

FIGS. 5 to 13 show further embodiments of second connector parts 3, which do not differ substantially from the functional principle, but are designed for different fields of application. The embodiments differ in the arrangement of the parts and the associated space savings.

Figures 5 a) to 13 a) each show a second connector part in a perspective view obliquely from the front and top. FIGS. 5 b) to 1 3 b) each show a frontal view of the respective connector part 3 and FIGS. 5 c) to 13 c) each show a longitudinal section along the associated section lines AA to EE. All connector parts 3 have a housing 20 with a front end projecting pin 23 with an opening 21 in the interior of a ferrule 26 is held by a plunger 28. By means of a spring 7, the ferrule 26 is resiliently mounted in the axial direction. In the operatively connected state, the spring serves to maintain the frontal contact force between the ferrules 26, 6 of the connector parts 2, 3.

X _C)

LIST OF SIGNATURE SIGNS

1 connector 20 1 9 Cπmphülse

2 Cable-side connector part 20 housing (second connector part)

3 Cee side connector part 21 Opening 4 inner part (first connector part) 22 Flange

5 cavity (first connector part) 23 pins

First ferrule 25 24 male thread

7 nose 25 cavity

8 Cewind sleeve 26 Second ferrule 9 Female thread 27 Spring

10 shoulder 28 pestles

1 1 retaining ring 30 29 bore

12 30 cap

13 31 Holding sleeve 14 32 Centering sleeve

1 5 Optical cable 33 recess

16 optical fiber 35 34 paragraph

17 Protective jacket 35 Annular seal

18 outer sheath 36 external thread for assembly

Claims

1 . An optical connector having a cable-side first and a housing-side second connector part for frontally connecting a first optical waveguide of an optical cable attached to the first connector part to a second optical waveguide displaceable axially in the second connector part against the force of a spring, wherein the cable-side first connector part a torpedo-shaped inner part, at the front end of a ferrule for receiving the first optical waveguide is attached and having in the rear region means for attaching a sheath of the optical cable. 2. An optical connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the Inner part has at its front end means for mechanically operatively connecting with the second connector part. 3. Optical connector according to claim 2, characterized in that the Means a Cewindehülse is operatively connected to a correspondingly formed thread on the second connector part. 4. An optical connector according to claim 3, characterized in that the Cewindehülse protects the front end of the optical fiber against external influences. 5. An optical connector according to claim 2, characterized in that the Operational connection means for producing a snap connection is used. 6. Optical connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first connector part at the front end of a projecting Na se has the operatively connected state prevents rotation of the first against the second connector part. 7. An optical connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first and the second connector part, a seal is arranged. 8. An optical connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer diameter of the operatively connected to the optical cable inner part is not more than 25% greater than the outer diameter of the optical cable. 9. An optical connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second connector part has a housing with a through opening, in the interior of a against the force of a spring slidably mounted in the axial direction ram is arranged, which serves to hold a second ferrule , and means for centering a arranged in the cable-side connector part first ferrule relative to the second ferrule serve.