JPS59195609A - Optical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To execute positioning accurately by forming projected and recessed parts for positioning of a rotating direction in two steps on a ferrule to use one projected and recessed part for rough positioning of the body of an optical connector and the other for fine positioning of an aligned sleeve. CONSTITUTION:Two steps of notches 17 and projections 18 are formed on the ferrule 12 as the projected and recessed parts for positioning to the body and the aligned sleeve respectively and the ferrule 12 is inserted into a flange for fixing the body and energized in the arrow direction P by a spring 16. Projections 19 for roughly positioning the ferrule 12 are formed on the body fixing flange 15 as engaging parts to be engaged with the notches 17 of the ferrule 12 and a ferrule aligning hole 20 and notches 21 for positioning the ferrule accurately as engaging parts to be engaged with the projections 18 of the ferrule 12 are formed on the aligning sleeve 14. When connected bodies 10, 10' are to be coupled with an adaptor 13, the ferrule 12 is roughly positioned on the connector bodies 10, 10' through the body fixing flange 15 at first and then finely positioned by the aligning sleeve 14.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] Technical Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical connector for connecting optical fibers together;
In particular, the present invention relates to an optical connector whose ferrule can be precisely positioned in the rotational direction.

Prior Art and Problems Figure 1 is a diagram for explaining a conventional optical connector.
In the figure, 1 and 1' are optical fiber couples, '2'
, 2' are the optical fibers, 3 and 3' are ferrules for aligning and fixing the optical fibers, 4 is an alignment sleeve member, and 5 and 5' are cap nuts, respectively.0 This optical connector has ferrules 3 and 3'. Optical fiber 2.2 respectively
' are aligned and fixed, inserted into the alignment sleeve member 4, and removably fixed with a cap nut 5.5', and the optical fiber 2
．． 2' connection is being made.

Conventionally, such optical connectors or multi-connectors for connecting a plurality of optical fibers usually do not have a mechanism for positioning the individual ferrules in the rotational direction. Further, even if such a mechanism is provided, it is a method of positioning the ferrule on the connector body, and it is extremely difficult to improve the positioning accuracy of the opposing ferrule in the rotational direction. Therefore, it has been difficult to connect polarization-constant fibers that require high positioning accuracy in the rotational direction of the optical fibers, or to connect optical fibers whose tips are polished diagonally to prevent reflections.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide an optical connector in which the rotational direction of opposing ferrules can be precisely positioned.

According to the present invention, a ferrule for fixing an optical fiber has two concave and convex portions for positioning in the rotational direction.
The ferrule is provided in stages, and one uneven part of the ferrule is used for positioning with respect to the main body of the optical connector, and the other uneven part is used for positioning with respect to an alignment sleeve that holds the ferrule in alignment, the former for coarse positioning and the latter for precise positioning. This is achieved by providing an optical connector characterized by the following.

Examples of the invention Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the optical connector according to the present invention. In the same figure, 10.10' is a connector main body;
11 and 11' indicate a cap nut, 12 a ferrule, 13 an adapter, and 14 an alignment sleeve, respectively.

This embodiment is a multi-connector, and the connector main body 10.
10' is provided with a plurality of seven ferrules 12, and a number of alignment sleeves 14 corresponding to the ferrules.
It is adapted to be connected to an adapter 13 having a cap nut 10.10'. In this case the alignment sleeve 14
Ferrules 12 to which the original fibers are fixed are inserted from the left and right sides so that their end surfaces abut each other to optically couple the optical fibers.

Figure 3 shows the 7 errule 12 and alignment sleeve 14 in Figure 2.
This is an enlarged perspective view of each one of the ferrules, and in the same figure, 12 is a ferrule, 15 is a flange for fixing the main body, 16 is a spring, 17 is a notch for positioning the main body provided in the ferrule, and 18 is a ferrule. 19 is a projection for ferrule positioning provided on the flange for fixing the main body; 14 is an alignment sleeve; 20 is a hole for ferrule alignment provided in the alignment sleeve; 2P;
Indicates the notch for positioning the ferrule.

As shown in FIG. 3, the ferrule 12 of this embodiment is provided with notches 17 and protrusions 18 in two stages as unevenness for positioning to the main body and for positioning to the alignment sleeve. It is inserted and biased in the direction of arrow P by a spring 16. Body fixing flange 1
5 is formed with a protrusion 19 that serves as a fitting portion that fits into a notch 17 of the ferrule and roughly positions the ferrule. Further, the alignment sleeve 14 is formed with a hole 20 for ferrule alignment and a notch 21 that serves as a fitting portion that fits into the protrusion 18 of the ferrule and precisely positions the ferrule.

The ferrule 12 and alignment sleeve 14 thus formed are fixed to the connector body 10.degree. 10' and the adapter 13, respectively, as shown in FIG.

In the optical connector of this embodiment configured as described above, when connecting the connector main body 10.10' to the adapter 13, the ferrule 12 is first roughly positioned on the connector main body 10.10' via the main body fixing flank 15. and then positioned by alignment sleeve 14. Therefore, if the protrusion 18 of the ferrule and the notch 21 of the alignment sleeve are precisely machined, the ferrule 12 can be positioned precisely. Note that these precision machinings can be easily performed using conventional techniques.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the ferrule and the alignment sleeve, in which 30 indicates the ferrule and 31 indicates the alignment sleeve. This embodiment differs from the previous embodiment shown in FIG. 3 in that the projections and depressions 32 and 33 of the fitting portion for positioning the ferrule and alignment sleeve are reversed.
The effect is the same as in the previous embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the optical connector.
0 indicates a plug, and 41 indicates a jack. In this embodiment, a ferrule 42 is provided on the plug 40, and an alignment sleeve 43 is provided on the jack 41.The method for positioning the ferrule 42 is the same as in the previous embodiment, and the effects are also the same.

As described in detail above, the optical connector of the present invention has a rough positioning structure in which each ferrule floats to some extent with respect to the main body, and furthermore, each ferrule has a precise positioning structure with respect to the alignment sleeve. This has a great effect in that the optical fiber can be precisely positioned in the rotational direction.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a diagram for explaining a conventional optical connector, Fig. 2 is a diagram for explaining an optical connector according to the present invention, Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the ferrule and alignment sleeve, and Fig. 4 is a diagram for explaining the optical connector according to the present invention.
The figure shows another embodiment of the ferrule and the alignment sleeve, and FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the optical connector. In the drawing, 10.10' is the connector body, 11.1
1' is a cap nut, 12 is a ferrule, 13 is an adapter,
14 is an alignment sleeve ＼ 15 is a flange for fixing the main body, 1
6 is a spring, 17 is a body positioning notch provided on the ferrule, 18 is a final positioning protrusion provided on the ferrule, 19 is a ferrule positioning protrusion provided on the body fixing flange, and 20 is an alignment sleeve. 21 indicates a hole for aligning the rale ferrule, and 21 indicates a notch for positioning the ferrule. Patent Applicant Fujitsu Limited Patent Application Agent Patent Attorney Akira Aoki Patent Attorney Kazuyuki Nishidate 1) Yukio Patent Attorney Akira Yamaguchi Figure 4

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. The ferrule that fixes the optical fiber is provided with two stages of uneven parts for positioning in the rotational direction, one uneven part of the ferrule is used for positioning the optical connector with respect to the connector body, and the other uneven part is used to hold the ferrule in alignment. An optical connector @ 2 is used for positioning with respect to an alignment sleeve, the former for rough positioning, and the latter for precise positioning. The optical connector 6 according to claim 1, wherein the optical connector 6 is configured to have the same number of alignment sleeves as ferrules.