JPS5921369Y2 - Lens type fiber optic connector - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an optical fiber connector, and more particularly to a lens-type optical fiber connector in which a lens is provided on the end face of the optical fiber.

In an optical communication system, as a means of connecting optical fibers, a lens is installed at the end of the optical fiber, and the ends of the optical fibers to be connected are held facing each other in a coupling adapter, and both optical fibers are optically connected. A lens type optical fiber connector has been proposed.

In conventional optical fiber connectors, a cylindrical plug is attached to the end of the optical fiber, a recess corresponding to the shape of the lens is formed at the end of the plug, and the lens is inserted into the recess to connect the optical fiber and the lens. optically connected.

However, the optical axis of the lens and the optical axis of the optical fiber must be aligned with high accuracy on the order of microns. Therefore, the manufacturing of the plug requires extremely high accuracy, which requires a lot of effort and costs. It was also disadvantageous.

Further, when the plugs are brought into contact with each other, the stress on the plugs acts directly on the lens, and there is a risk that the lens may be misaligned and damaged.

An object of the present invention is to provide an optical fiber connector that has a simple structure, is easy to manufacture, and has a reliable lens protection effect.

Therefore, the lens-type optical fiber connector according to the present invention is a connector that attaches plugs to the ends of two optical fibers to be connected, and holds the end surfaces of the plugs facing each other to optically connect the two optical fibers. A lens to be optically connected to the optical fiber is arranged on the end face of the plug, a lens holder that is thicker than the lens is held around the lens, and a guard ring is further thicker than the lens holder. is provided on the end face of the plug between the lens holders.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

An insertion hole 1a corresponding to the shape of the plug 2 is provided in the coupling adapter 1 (FIG. 1).

The plugs 2 attached to the ends of the optical fibers 3 are inserted from both sides of the insertion hole 1a, and the end surfaces of both plugs are butted against each other.

The optical fiber 3 is arranged on the central axis of the cylindrical plug 2, as shown in FIG. 2, and is connected to a lens 6' at its end.

The periphery of this lens 6 is held by a lens holder 5 which is thicker than the lens 6.

A guard ring 4 that is thicker than the lens holder 5 by d is provided on the end face of the plug around the lens holder 5.

The lens holder 5 and guard ring 4 are bonded onto the end surface of the plug 2 using a suitable adhesive.

In the optical fiber connector configured as described above, the lens 6 can be provided on the end face of the optical fiber 3 by bonding the lens holder 5 that holds the lens 6 onto the end face of the plug 2, and the manufacture of the plug 2 can be simplified. becomes easier.

When the plugs 2 are butted against each other in the adapter 1, the lens 6 is protected by the thicker lens holder 5 and further protected by the guard ring 4, which is thicker than the lens holder 5. Damage to the lens due to contact between the lenses is reliably prevented.

Further, since the lens holders that directly hold the lenses do not come into contact with each other, no force is applied to the lens holders, and therefore, problems such as misalignment of the lens holders do not occur even after long-term use.

In addition, when the guard rings of the facing plugs come into contact with each other and receive stress, it is desirable that the contact surface of the guard ring 4 be relatively large in order to disperse this stress and reduce the influence on the plug. It is desirable to provide the guard ring 4 and lens holder 5 separately so that the stress of the guard ring 4 is not transmitted to the lens holder 5.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of the optical fiber connector according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the plug tip of the optical fiber connector according to the present invention. 1...Adapter, 2...Plug, 3.
...Optical fiber, 4...Guard ring,
5... Lens holder, 6... Lens.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A connector that attaches plugs to the ends of two optical fibers to be connected and holds the end surfaces of the plugs facing each other to optically connect both optical fibers, and a lens that optically connects the optical fibers. is placed on the end face of the plug, the periphery of the lens is held by a lens holder thicker than the lens, and a guard ring is further provided that is thicker than the lens holder and has an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the lens holder. A lens type optical fiber connector, characterized in that it is provided on the end face of the plug around the lens holder.