JPH09197195A - Multi-core optical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the assembling manhour of a connector and to simplify assembling work. SOLUTION: An elastomer member 30 is inserted and molded on a part opposed to fiber holes 24 in a ferrule 20 so that optical fibers 10 inserted into the fiber holes 24 are pressedly stuck and fixed by the elastically deformed elastomer member 30. Since the connector is assembled only by inserting optical fibers 12 into the fiber holes 24 without using adhesives, the assembling manhour of the connector is reduced, the assembling work is simplified and the number of parts is reduced.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multi-fiber optical connector such as an MT connector, and more particularly to an optical connector which simplifies the assembly of a ferrule and an optical tape core wire and facilitates assembly at the site or in an emergency. Is.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As one of the methods for connecting a multi-core optical fiber, a square type M molded with resin (mainly epoxy resin) is used.
There is a T connector, which has been put to practical use. [Conventional MT Connector] An example thereof is shown in FIGS. 20 is the whole ferrule, 22 is the main body, 2
Reference numeral 4 is a fiber hole (inserting an optical fiber), 26 is a guide pin hole, and 28 is a window (injecting an adhesive).

The assembly of this connector is performed through the following steps (see FIG. 5). The coating of the tape core wire 10 is removed and the optical fiber 12 is exposed. An adhesive 29 (a thermosetting epoxy resin or the like) is filled in the ferrule 20. The tape core wire 10 is inserted into the ferrule 20. The adhesive 29 is cured by heating. Then, the end surface of the ferrule 20 is polished.

[0004]

Since the thermosetting adhesive 29 is used for fixing the tape core wire 10 to the ferrule 20, it takes a long time to heat-cure in the above steps, and the working time becomes long. Further, it is necessary to open the fiber hole with high accuracy so that there is no eccentricity and the gap with the optical fiber is reduced. Therefore, connection work between the tape core wire and the connector at the connection site is extremely difficult.

[0005]

As illustrated in FIG. 1, an elastic member such as an elastomer member 30 is present at a portion facing the fiber hole 24, and an optical fiber 12 inserted into the fiber hole 24 is The elastomer member 30 elastically deformed by the insertion of the optical fiber is pressed and fixed.

The term "elastomer" means a polymeric substance having rubber-like elasticity at room temperature (JIS glossary). "Rubber-like elasticity" refers to the tendency of an object to undergo a fairly large deformation with a small stress and rapidly return to its original shape from the deformation (JIS glossary). Therefore, in addition to the “elastomer”, it can be expressed as an elastic member containing rubber.

[0007]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 (a) to 1 (c), a portion above the fiber hole 24 of a ferrule 20 is composed of an elastomer member 30. Therefore, the lower half of the fiber hole 24 having the conventional circular cross section becomes the half round groove 240. A reverse V groove 300 is formed on the lower surface of the elastomer member 30 as shown in FIG. 1C, and the reverse V groove 300 and the semicircular groove 240 form the fiber hole 24 (where the optical fiber 12 is inserted). ) Is formed.

The size of the fiber hole 24 is designed so that the inserted optical fiber 12 is pressed and fixed so as not to move when no deformation force is applied to the elastomer member. That is, the fiber hole diameter is preferably smaller than the optical fiber diameter. However, even if the width of the ferrule in the lateral direction is small, it can be fixed by pressing.

[Manufacturing Method] When the ferrule 20 is molded (transfer molding), it can be manufactured by insert molding the elastomer member 30. Alternatively, the elastomer member 30 may be fixed by adhesion after molding the ferrule.

[Usage] The same procedure as in the conventional assembly described above is performed until the coating of the tape core wire 10 is removed and the optical fiber 12 is exposed. The optical fiber 12 is pushed into the above fiber hole 24 without using an adhesive at the time of assembly (FIG. 1D). With the optical fiber 12 pushed in,
The hypotenuse of the inverted V-shaped groove 300 of the elastomer member 30 is elastically deformed while being pushed outward (FIG. 1E), and the optical fiber 12 is pressure-bonded and fixed by the stress that tries to restore this deformation. . If the optical fiber 12 and the ferrule 20 are simply fixed by pressure bonding, then the adhesive is sealed from the window 28 as needed to improve the environmental resistance and mechanical stability. Is also good.

[Another Embodiment] As shown in FIG. 2, a shallow semi-circular groove 302 may be provided on the lower surface of the elastomer member 30, and the semi-circular groove 240 and the semi-circular groove 240 may constitute the fiber hole 24. In addition, the cross section of the groove on the lower surface of the elastomer member 30 can be any shape that can be elastically deformed by inserting the optical fiber 12.

The various elastomer members 30 may be provided below the fiber hole 24 as shown in FIG.

When the deformation amount of the elastomer member 30 is small, it may be difficult to insert the optical fiber into the fiber hole 24. In that case, for example, a tip wedge-shaped opening plate material is used from the connection surface side, and the opening plate material is pushed into the gap between the elastomer member and the ferrule body 22 to deform the elastomer member and widen the gap. If the gap is wide, insertion of the optical fiber becomes easy. As the elastic member, various types other than the elastomer can be adopted.

[0014]

The number of connector assembling steps is reduced, and the assembling work is simplified. The ferrule is inexpensive because the precision of the fiber hole is not required. The number of parts is reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 relates to an embodiment of the present invention, (a) is a perspective view of a ferrule, (b) is an explanatory view of a partially enlarged cross section, and (c) is a C cross section of (b). Explanatory drawing, (d) explanatory drawing of an assembly state, (e) explanatory drawing of the E cross section of (d).

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of yet another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of a conventional ferrule.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of a conventional connector assembly.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Tape Core Wire 12 Optical Fiber 20 Ferrule 22 Ferrule Main Body 24 Fiber Hole 240 Half Round Groove 26 Guide Pin Hole 28 Window 29 29 30 Elastomer Member 300 Reverse V Groove 302 Shallow Half Round Groove

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A ferrule main body is provided with a plurality of fiber holes for inserting an optical fiber, an elastic member is present at a portion facing the fiber hole, and the optical fiber inserted into the fiber hole is A multi-fiber optical connector, wherein the elastic member is elastically deformed to be pressure-bonded and fixed.