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WO2025191973A1 - Pince à broche et connecteur optique - Google Patents

Pince à broche et connecteur optique

Info

Publication number
WO2025191973A1
WO2025191973A1 PCT/JP2024/045691 JP2024045691W WO2025191973A1 WO 2025191973 A1 WO2025191973 A1 WO 2025191973A1 JP 2024045691 W JP2024045691 W JP 2024045691W WO 2025191973 A1 WO2025191973 A1 WO 2025191973A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
pin clamp
ferrule
pin
locking
side portion
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status 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 status listed.)
Pending
Application number
PCT/JP2024/045691
Other languages
English (en)
Japanese (ja)
Inventor
良一 水戸部
ユンヒ キム
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Fujikura Ltd
Original Assignee
Fujikura Ltd
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
Application filed by Fujikura Ltd filed Critical Fujikura Ltd
Publication of WO2025191973A1 publication Critical patent/WO2025191973A1/fr
Pending legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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
    • 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
    • G02B6/40—Mechanical coupling means having fibre bundle mating means

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a pin clamp and an optical connector.
  • optical connectors When connecting an optical connector to another connector, optical connectors generally have a so-called floating structure to maintain a good connection between the ferrules of the optical connector and the other connector.
  • the floating structure of an optical connector includes a ferrule, a biasing member, a housing, etc. The biasing force of the biasing member presses the ferrules against each other, maintaining the connection end faces of the ferrules in proper contact with each other.
  • a pin clamp that holds a guide pin is provided between the ferrule and the biasing member.
  • a seat that receives the biasing member is provided at the base end of the pin clamp.
  • the pin clamp has a U-shaped cross section. This allows the pin clamp to elastically deform, preventing damage to the pin clamp even when the biasing force of the biasing member is strong.
  • the pin clamp has a U-shaped cross section, it is easier to assemble the optical connector than when the pin clamp is frame-shaped, for example. In other words, when the pin clamp is frame-shaped, it is not possible to position the optical fiber inside the pin clamp after it has been secured to the ferrule. On the other hand, when the pin clamp has a U-shaped cross section, it is possible to position the optical fiber inside the pin clamp even after it has been secured to the ferrule, making it easier to assemble the optical connector.
  • the present invention was made in consideration of these circumstances, and aims to provide a pin clamp and optical connector that allows the optical fiber to be placed inside the pin clamp after being fixed to the ferrule, and that can stably generate the biasing force of the biasing member.
  • the pin clamp according to aspect 1 of the present invention is used with a ferrule into which multiple optical fibers and two guide pins are inserted, and is a pin clamp that holds the guide pins. It comprises a main body that extends in the longitudinal direction and has an insertion hole through which the optical fiber is inserted.
  • the main body has a ferrule-facing surface that faces the ferrule in the longitudinal direction, and a seating surface that is located on the opposite side of the ferrule-facing surface in the longitudinal direction and abuts against a biasing member that applies a biasing force to the ferrule.
  • the main body is elastically deformable, and the elastic deformation can form an orthogonal opening through which the optical fiber can be inserted from an orthogonal direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.
  • the main body has a first long side portion, a first short side portion, a second long side portion, and a second short side portion that define the insertion hole, and the second long side portion can elastically deform to form the orthogonal opening.
  • the first short side portion and the second short side portion each hold the two guide pins.
  • the first long side portion has a first locking portion
  • the first short side portion has a second locking portion that locks with the first locking portion
  • Aspect 5 of the present invention is a pin clamp according to aspect 4, wherein the first locking portion has a locking protrusion, the second locking portion has a locking groove into which the locking protrusion fits, and the locking protrusion has an inclined surface that slides against the second locking portion when the first locking portion is locked to the second locking portion.
  • Aspect 6 of the present invention is a pin clamp according to any one of aspects 2 to 5, in which a notch is formed at the connection between the second long side and the second short side.
  • Aspect 7 of the present invention is a pin clamp according to any one of aspects 1 to 6, wherein the seat has a spring retaining portion that retains the biasing member.
  • an optical connector according to aspect 8 of the present invention comprises a pin clamp according to any one of aspects 1 to 7, the guide pin held by the pin clamp, and the ferrule into which the guide pin is inserted.
  • the above aspects of the present invention make it possible to provide a pin clamp and optical connector that allows the optical fiber to be placed inside the pin clamp after being fixed to the ferrule, and that can stably generate the biasing force of the biasing member.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an optical connector according to a first embodiment.
  • 1 is an exploded perspective view of an optical connector according to a first embodiment.
  • FIG. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pin clamp according to a first embodiment.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pin clamp according to a first embodiment.
  • FIG. 1 is a front view of a pin clamp according to a first embodiment.
  • FIG. 1 is a front view of a pin clamp according to a first embodiment.
  • FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view of the pin clamp according to the first embodiment.
  • 3A to 3C are diagrams illustrating an assembly procedure for the optical connector according to the first embodiment.
  • FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a pin clamp according to a modified example of the first embodiment.
  • FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of an optical connector according to a second embodiment.
  • FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of an optical connector according to a second embodiment.
  • FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a guide pin and a pin support plate according to a second embodiment.
  • FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a pin clamp according to a second embodiment.
  • the optical connector 1 includes a ferrule 10, a housing 50, a boot 60, and a plurality of optical fibers F. As shown in Fig. 2, the optical connector 1 further includes a pin clamp 20, two guide pins 30, and a biasing member 40.
  • the pin clamp 20 includes a main body 21.
  • the main body 21 has insertion holes 21a through which the plurality of optical fibers F are inserted.
  • the direction in which the insertion hole 21a extends is referred to as the longitudinal direction Z.
  • the ferrule 10 and the pin clamp 20 are arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction Z.
  • the side on which the ferrule 10 is arranged relative to the pin clamp 20 (the +Z side) is referred to as the front or tip side.
  • the opposite side (the -Z side) is referred to as the rear or base side.
  • a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction Z is referred to as the first direction X.
  • One side in the first direction X is referred to as the +X side, and the other side is referred to as the -X side.
  • a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction Z and the first direction X is referred to as the second direction Y.
  • One side in the second direction Y is referred to as the +Y side, and the other side is referred to as the -Y side.
  • a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction Z is referred to as a transverse cross section.
  • a transverse cross section is a cross section extending along the first direction X and the second direction Y.
  • the ferrule 10 has a plurality of fiber holes 11 arranged in a row.
  • the fiber holes 11 are aligned in the second direction Y.
  • the fiber holes 11 are aligned in a row, but they may be aligned in two or more rows.
  • the ferrule 10 has a connection end face 10a.
  • the fiber holes 11 and positioning holes 12 are open in the connection end face 10a.
  • An optical fiber F is inserted into each fiber hole 11. However, some of the fiber holes 11 may not have an optical fiber F inserted therein. In other words, the number of optical fibers F may be fewer than the number of fiber holes 11.
  • the optical fibers F are exposed at the connection end face 10a.
  • the optical connector 1 can be optically connected to another connector by abutting the connection end face of the other connector to be connected against the connection end face 10a.
  • the ferrule 10 has two positioning holes 12.
  • the positioning holes 12 penetrate the ferrule 10 in the longitudinal direction Z.
  • the two positioning holes 12 are spaced apart in the second direction Y.
  • the two positioning holes 12 are arranged so as to sandwich a plurality of fiber holes 11 between them in the second direction Y.
  • the optical connector 1 of this embodiment is a female connector, and the relative positions of the optical connector 1 and the other connector are determined by inserting a positioning pin of the other connector into the positioning hole 12.
  • the optical fiber F is inserted through the fiber hole 11 and extends from the ferrule 10 toward the base end (-Z side). Multiple optical fibers F are inserted inside the pin clamp 20 and the biasing member 40. Multiple optical fibers F are also inserted inside the boot 60.
  • the housing 50 has a tip-side member 51 and a base-side member 52. These two members 51, 52 are combined to form the housing 50. However, the housing 50 may also be a single member. A portion of the ferrule 10, the pin clamp 20, and the biasing member 40 are housed inside the housing 50. The tip end (the end on the +Z side) of the ferrule 10 protrudes from the housing 50. In other words, the connection end surface 10a protrudes from the housing 50.
  • the seating surface 21c abuts against the biasing member 40.
  • the seating surface 21c is provided with a spring holding portion 21c1 that holds the biasing member 40.
  • the spring holding portion 21c1 is a groove that accommodates the tip end of the biasing member 40.
  • the spring holding portion 21c1 may also be a protrusion that protrudes from the seating surface 21c toward the base end and is inserted into the biasing member 40.
  • the main body 21 of the pin clamp 20 is in the shape of a substantially rectangular frame.
  • the main body 21 has a first long side 22, a first short side 23, a second long side 24, and a second short side 25.
  • the first long side 22 and the second long side 24 extend in the second direction Y and face each other in the first direction X.
  • the first short side 23 and the second short side 25 extend in the first direction X and face each other in the second direction Y.
  • the -X side end of the first short side 23 is connected to the +Y side end of the second long side 24.
  • the -Y side end of the second long side 24 is connected to the -X side end of the second short side 25.
  • the +X side end of the second short side 25 is connected to the -Y side end of the first long side 22.
  • the first long side 22, first short side 23, second long side 24, and second short side 25 define a substantially rectangular insertion hole 21a.
  • Two guide pins 30 are held by the first short side 23 and second short side 25, respectively.
  • the second locking portion 28 When the locking protrusion 27a is inserted into the locking groove 28a, the second locking portion 28 is locked with the first locking portion 27. At this time, the second locking portion 28 can be slid on the inclined surface 27a1 to easily insert the locking protrusion 27a into the locking groove 28a. When the second locking portion 28 is locked to the first locking portion 27, the elastic deformation of the second long side portion 24 is restricted.
  • the main body 21 is a roughly rectangular frame with an insertion hole 21a. This prevents a gap from forming between the seating surface 21c of the pin clamp 20 and the biasing member 40, and the entire circumference of the tip of the biasing member 40 is supported by the seating surface 21c of the pin clamp 20. This stabilizes the position of the biasing member 40. As a result, the biasing force of the biasing member 40 can be generated stably, the floating function of the optical connector 1 is stabilized, and the connection state between the ferrule 10 of the optical connector 1 and the ferrule of the other connector can be maintained in good condition.
  • the pin clamp when the pin clamp was frame-shaped, the order in which it was attached to the optical fiber when assembling the optical connector was fixed. For example, if the optical fiber was secured to the ferrule and then the biasing member or housing was inserted into the optical fiber, the pin clamp could not be positioned later.
  • the main body 21 of the pin clamp 20 is able to form an orthogonal opening O by elastically deforming the second long side 24.
  • the optical fiber F can be inserted through the orthogonal opening O from a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction Z. This allows the optical fiber F to be inserted through the biasing member 40 and secured to the ferrule 10, after which the optical fiber F can be positioned inside the pin clamp 20. This facilitates assembly of the optical connector 1.
  • the pin clamp 20 is used with a ferrule 10 into which multiple optical fibers F and two guide pins 30 are inserted, and holds the guide pins 30.
  • the pin clamp 20 includes a main body 21 that extends in the longitudinal direction Z and has an insertion hole 21a through which the optical fiber F is inserted.
  • the main body 21 has a ferrule-facing surface 21b that faces the ferrule 10 in the longitudinal direction Z, and a seating surface 21c that is positioned on the opposite side of the ferrule-facing surface 21b in the longitudinal direction Z and abuts against a biasing member 40 that applies a biasing force to the ferrule 10.
  • the main body 21 is elastically deformable, and this elastic deformation can form an orthogonal opening O through which the optical fiber F can be inserted from an orthogonal direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction Z.
  • the main body 21 has a first long side 22, a first short side 23, a second long side 24, and a second short side 25 that define the insertion hole 21a.
  • the second long side 24 can be elastically deformed to form the orthogonal opening O. According to the above configuration, the second long side portion 24 is elastically deformed, so that the orthogonal opening O can be easily formed.
  • first short side portion 23 and the second short side portion 25 each hold two guide pins 30 . According to the above configuration, even if the second long side portion 24 is elastically deformed, the pin clamp 20 can reliably hold the guide pin 30 .
  • the first locking portion 27 has a locking projection 27a
  • the second locking portion 28 has a locking groove 28a into which the locking projection 27a fits.
  • the locking projection 27a has an inclined surface 27a1 that slides against the second locking portion 28 when the first locking portion 27 is locked to the second locking portion 28. According to the above configuration, it is possible to provide the first locking portion 27 and the second locking portion 28 with a simple configuration. In addition, by sliding the second locking portion 28 on the inclined surface 27a1, the locking protrusion 27a can be easily inserted into the locking groove 28a.
  • the seat surface 21 c also has a spring holding portion 21 c 1 that holds the biasing member 40 . According to the above configuration, the position of the biasing member 40 can be more reliably stabilized, and the biasing force of the biasing member 40 can be generated more stably.
  • a notch 26a may be formed in a connection portion 26 between the second long side portion 24 and the second short side portion 25.
  • the notch 26a is formed so as to be recessed from the outer surface of the main body 21 facing the ⁇ X side toward the +X side. The provision of the notch 26a makes it easier for the second long side portion 24 to elastically deform in the first direction X with the connection portion 26 as a base point.
  • the guide pin 30A is inserted into the positioning hole 12 of the ferrule 10. At this time, the tip 31 of the guide pin 30A protrudes from the connection end face 10a of the ferrule 10 toward the tip side (+Z side).
  • the tip 31 of the guide pin 30A is inserted into the positioning hole of the other connector, the relative positions of the optical connector 1A and the other connector are determined.
  • the pin support plate 70 can be made of an elastic material such as sheet metal.
  • the pin support plate 70 supports the guide pin 30A. As shown in FIG. 10, the front surface 70a of the pin support plate 70 abuts against the ferrule 10. The rear surface 70b of the pin support plate 70 abuts against the ferrule-facing surface 21b of the pin clamp 20A.
  • the guide pin 30A is generally cylindrical.
  • the guide pin 30A is made of, for example, metal.
  • the guide pin 30A has a tip portion 31, a groove portion 32, and a rear end portion 33 located rearward of the groove portion 32.
  • the guide pin 30A is supported by the pin support plate 70 at the groove portion 32.
  • the rear end portion 33 is held by the pin clamp 20A.
  • the pin support plate 70 has two support body portions 71 spaced apart in the second direction Y, and a connecting portion 72 that connects the support body portions 71.
  • a slit 71a is formed in the support body portion 71 to accommodate the groove portion 32 of the guide pin 30A.
  • the guide pin 30A is supported by the pin support plate 70 with the groove portion 32 accommodated in the slit 71a.
  • the main body 21 of the pin clamp 20A has a substantially rectangular frame shape.
  • the main body 21 has a first long side 22, a first short side 23, a second long side 24, and a second short side 25.
  • the first long side 22, the first short side 23, the second long side 24, and the second short side 25 define a substantially rectangular insertion hole 21a.
  • the main body 21 can form an orthogonal opening O by the second long side 24 elastically deforming toward the -X side.
  • An optical fiber F can be inserted through the orthogonal opening O from an orthogonal direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction Z.
  • two guide pin holding holes 29 are formed in the ferrule-facing surface 21b of the pin clamp 20A.
  • the two guide pin holding holes 29 are formed in the first short side portion 23 and the second short side portion 25, respectively.
  • the rear end portion 33 of the guide pin 30A is inserted into the guide pin holding hole 29, thereby holding the guide pin 30A in the pin clamp 20A.
  • the two support body portions 71 of the pin support plate 70 are positioned to overlap the first short side portion 23 and the second short side portion 25, and the connecting portion 72 is positioned to overlap the second long side portion 24.
  • the pin support plate 70 is formed to avoid the first long side portion 22. As a result, even when the pin support plate 70 is provided, the optical fiber F can be easily inserted through the orthogonal opening O from an orthogonal direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction Z.
  • a notch 26a may be formed in the connection portion 26 between the second long side portion 24 and the second short side portion 25.
  • the seat surface 21c does not necessarily have to have the spring holding portion 21c1.

Landscapes

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

Abstract

L'invention concerne une pince à broche (20) qui est utilisée dans une ferrule (10) dans laquelle une pluralité de fibres optiques (F) et deux broches de guidage (30) sont insérées, et qui maintient les broches de guidage (30). La pince à broche (20) est pourvue d'une section de corps (21) qui s'étend dans la direction longitudinale et a un trou d'insertion à travers lequel les fibres optiques (F) sont insérées. La section de corps (21) a une surface faisant face à la ferrule (21b) qui fait face à la ferrule dans la direction longitudinale, et une surface d'assise (21c) qui est disposée sur le côté opposé à la surface faisant face à la ferrule dans la direction longitudinale et qui vient en contact avec un élément de sollicitation qui applique une force de sollicitation à la ferrule. La section de corps (21) est élastiquement déformable, et peut constituer une ouverture orthogonale (O) à travers laquelle les fibres optiques (F) peuvent être insérées à partir d'une direction orthogonale orthogonale à la direction longitudinale par déformation élastique.
PCT/JP2024/045691 2024-03-13 2024-12-24 Pince à broche et connecteur optique Pending WO2025191973A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2024039328 2024-03-13
JP2024-039328 2024-03-13

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2025191973A1 true WO2025191973A1 (fr) 2025-09-18

Family

ID=97063481

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/JP2024/045691 Pending WO2025191973A1 (fr) 2024-03-13 2024-12-24 Pince à broche et connecteur optique

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2025191973A1 (fr)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2000292652A (ja) * 1999-04-02 2000-10-20 Furukawa Electric Co Ltd:The 光コネクタ
JP2008292604A (ja) * 2007-05-22 2008-12-04 Hakusan Mfg Co Ltd 光コネクタ
JP2008292836A (ja) * 2007-05-25 2008-12-04 Fujikura Ltd 光コネクタ用スペーサ部品および光コネクタ
JP2018534632A (ja) * 2015-10-12 2018-11-22 スリーエム イノベイティブ プロパティズ カンパニー ケーブル保持具を備える光学アセンブリ

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2000292652A (ja) * 1999-04-02 2000-10-20 Furukawa Electric Co Ltd:The 光コネクタ
JP2008292604A (ja) * 2007-05-22 2008-12-04 Hakusan Mfg Co Ltd 光コネクタ
JP2008292836A (ja) * 2007-05-25 2008-12-04 Fujikura Ltd 光コネクタ用スペーサ部品および光コネクタ
JP2018534632A (ja) * 2015-10-12 2018-11-22 スリーエム イノベイティブ プロパティズ カンパニー ケーブル保持具を備える光学アセンブリ

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