Optical connector

Abstract

A fiber connector includes a ferrule having a connection end face with a plurality of fiber holes arranged in a prescribed direction and a recess recessed in a direction orthogonal to the prescribed direction, a force applying member applying a force to the ferrule, an intermediate member transmitting the force of the force applying member to the ferrule, and a housing accommodating a part of the ferrule, the intermediate member, and the force applying member. The intermediate member has a main body portion in contact with the ferrule from a base end side of the ferrule, and the main body portion has an outer side portion located outward of the ferrule in the prescribed direction. The housing has a first protrusion entering the recess and a second protrusion in abutment with the outer side portion.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to optical connectors.

[0002] This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-006140 filed in Japan on January 18, 2024, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Background Technology

[0003] In recent years, miniaturization of optical connectors has been a driving force. For example, in the optical connector disclosed in Patent Document 1, a recess is formed on the inner side of the ferrule. The positional relationship of the ferrule within the housing is defined by the protrusion of the housing and the recess of the ferrule. With this construction, the ferrule can be miniaturized compared to existing MPO connectors where a flange is formed on the ferrule.

[0004] Patent Document 1: U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2023 / 161116

[0005] To reduce optical transmission loss in miniaturized optical connectors, the orientation of the ferrule relative to the optical connector it is connected to is crucial. However, with the miniaturization of optical connectors, the gaps between components also decrease. As a result, for example, when the housing and ferrule move relative to each other, the ferrule may sometimes abut against the connected object in an undesirable orientation, such as jamming in an unintended posture. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present invention was made with regard to such circumstances, and aims to provide an optical connector that enables the ferrule to abut against the connected object in an appropriate posture.

[0007] To address the aforementioned issues, the optical connector according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention comprises: a ferrule having a connecting end face and a recess, the connecting end face having a plurality of fiber optic holes arranged in a predetermined direction, and the recess being recessed in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to both the predetermined direction and the length direction of the fiber optic holes; a force-applying member for applying force to the ferrule; an intermediate member for transmitting the force applied by the force-applying member to the ferrule; and a housing for housing a portion of the ferrule, the intermediate member, and the force-applying member, the intermediate member having a main body portion that contacts the ferrule from the base end side, the main body portion having an outer portion located outside the ferrule in the predetermined direction, and the housing having a first protrusion that enters the recess and a second protrusion that abuts against the outer portion.

[0008] The second embodiment of the present invention is based on the optical connector involved in the first embodiment. Alternatively, the outer portion may have an inclined surface that extends toward the base end side as it moves outward toward the specified direction, and the second protrusion may have a corner portion that abuts against the inclined surface.

[0009] The third aspect of the present invention is based on the optical connector involved in the second aspect. Alternatively, the intermediate component may have an abutment surface that abuts against the ferrule, a portion of the abutment surface having an opening, and the inclined surface extending along the outer periphery of the portion of the abutment surface other than the opening.

[0010] The fourth embodiment of the present invention is based on the optical connector involved in any of the embodiments 1 to 3, and the ferrule may have two positioning holes, and the intermediate component may have two positioning pins inserted into the two positioning holes.

[0011] The fifth aspect of the present invention is based on the optical connector involved in the first aspect. The second protrusion has an inclined surface that extends toward the base end side as it moves outward in a predetermined direction. The outer side has a corner portion that abuts against the inclined surface.

[0012] According to the above-described manner of the present invention, it is possible to provide an optical connector that enables the ferrule to abut against the connected object in an appropriate posture. Attached Figure Description

[0013] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the optical connector involved in this embodiment.

[0014] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 View in direction II.

[0015] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 Section III-III view.

[0016] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 Enlarged view of Part IV.

[0017] Figure 5 yes Figure 3 A three-dimensional view of a single intermediate component.

[0018] Figure 6 yes Figure 4 The sectional view involved in the variation example. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The optical connector of this embodiment will be described below based on the accompanying drawings.

[0020] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the optical connector 1 includes a ferrule 10, a housing 40, a shield 50, and multiple optical fibers F. Multiple fiber optic holes 11 are formed in a single row on the ferrule 10. Alternatively, the multiple fiber optic holes 11 can be arranged in two or more rows. Figure 3As shown, the optical connector 1 also includes an intermediate component 20 and a force-applying component 30.

[0021] like Figure 1 As shown, the ferrule 10 has a connection end face 10a. Fiber optic holes 11 and positioning holes 12 open on the connection end face 10a. An optical fiber F is inserted into each fiber optic hole 11. However, some fiber optic holes 11 may not have an optical fiber F inserted. That is, the number of optical fibers F may be less than the number of fiber optic holes 11. The optical fibers F are exposed on the connection end face 10a. By abutting the connection end face of another connector that is to be connected to the connection end face 10a, the optical connector 1 can be optically connected to other connectors.

[0022] (Direction definition)

[0023] In this specification, the direction in which the plurality of fiber optic holes 11 extend is referred to as the length direction Z. The side of the connection end face 10a (+Z side) in the length direction Z is referred to as the front or front end side. The opposite side (-Z side) is referred to as the rear or base end side. The direction in which the fiber optic holes 11 are arranged in a row is referred to as the first direction X or the specified direction. The first direction X is orthogonal to the length direction Z. One side of the first direction X is referred to as the +X side, and the other side is referred to as the -X side. The direction orthogonal to both the first direction X and the length direction Z is referred to as the second direction Y or the orthogonal direction. One side of the second direction Y is referred to as the +Y side, and the other side is referred to as the -Y side. Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the front end of the optical connector 1 along a direction orthogonal to the first direction X. Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of the front end of the optical connector 1 along a direction orthogonal to the second direction Y. Furthermore, in Figure 3 The diagram of fiber F is omitted in the text.

[0024] The ferrule 10 has two positioning holes 12. The positioning holes 12 open on the connection end face 10a and extend through the ferrule 10 in the longitudinal direction Z. The two positioning holes 12 are arranged at an open interval in the first direction X. The two positioning holes 12 are configured to sandwich a plurality of fiber optic holes 11 in the middle in the first direction X. In this embodiment, the optical connector 1 is the female side, and the relative position of the optical connector 1 and other connectors is determined by inserting positioning pins of other connectors into the positioning holes 12.

[0025] Fiber optic cable F is inserted into fiber optic port 11 and extends from ferrule 10 towards the base end. Multiple fiber optic cables F are inserted into the inner side of the force-applying member 30. Additionally, multiple fiber optic cables F are also inserted into the inner side of the protective cover 50. (As...) Figure 2 As shown, the insert 10 has a first end face 14 and a second end face 15 facing the second direction Y. Recesses 14a and 15a are formed on the end faces 14 and 15, respectively. The recesses 14a and 15a are recessed inward from the first end face 14 and the second end face 15 towards the second direction Y, respectively.

[0026] like Figure 3 As shown, the housing 40 has a front end member 41 and a base end member 42. The housing 40 is formed by combining the two members 41 and 42. However, the housing 40 can also be a single member. A portion of the insert 10, the intermediate member 20, and the force-applying member 30 are housed inside the housing 40. The front end (the end on the +Z side) of the insert 10 protrudes from the housing 40. A receiving hole 43 is formed inside the housing 40, which receives the force-applying member 30. The receiving hole 43 is provided across the front end member 41 and the base end member 42.

[0027] like Figure 2 As shown, two first protrusions 44 and 45 are formed at the front end of the front end member 41. The first protrusions 44 and 45 protrude inwards from the inner surface of the front end member 41 in the second direction Y. The first protrusions 44 and 45 respectively enter the inner sides of the recesses 14a and 15a of the insert. Thus, the position of the insert 10 relative to the housing 40 is determined. The first protrusions 44 and 45 function as so-called centering keys. Figure 3 As shown, the front end component 41 has a second protrusion 41a that protrudes inward toward the first direction X.

[0028] like Figure 3 As shown, the base-side component 42 has a support surface 42a facing the front end. The base end of the force-applying component 30 contacts the support surface 42a. The front end of the force-applying component 30 contacts the intermediate component 20. The force-applying component 30 is compressed between the intermediate component 20 and the support surface 42a of the base-side component 42. The force-applying component 30 has the function of applying force to the insert 10 towards the front end. The force-applying component 30 is, for example, a coil spring.

[0029] An intermediate component 20 is disposed between the force-applying component 30 and the insert 10 in the longitudinal direction Z. The intermediate component 20 is disposed on the side opposite to the connecting end face 10a relative to the insert 10. The intermediate component 20 contacts the base end of the insert 10, holding the insert 10 in place. The intermediate component 20 has the function of transmitting the force applied by the force-applying component 30 to the insert 10.

[0030] like Figure 3 As shown, the intermediate component 20 has a main body 21 and two positioning pins 22. The main body 21 is located on the base end side (-Z side) of the ferrule 10. The two positioning pins 22 protrude from the main body 21 toward the front end side (+Z side). The relative position of the ferrule 10 and the intermediate component 20 is determined by inserting the two positioning pins 22 into the positioning holes 12 of the ferrule 10. In this embodiment, the optical connector 1 is female, so the positioning pins 22 do not protrude from the ferrule 10 toward the front end side. If the optical connector 1 is male, the positioning pins 22 may protrude from the ferrule 10 toward the front end side.

[0031] like Figure 4As shown, the main body 21 has an outer portion 21a. The outer portion 21a refers to the portion of the main body 21 located outside the insert 10 in the first direction X. An inclined surface 21b is formed on the outer portion 21a. The inclined surface 21b extends towards the base end side (-Z side) as it moves outward in the first direction X.

[0032] like Figure 5 As shown, the main body 21 of the intermediate component 20 is C-shaped when viewed in the longitudinal direction Z and has an opening 23. The intermediate component 20 has an abutment surface 21c that abuts against the insert 10. When viewed in the longitudinal direction Z, the abutment surface 21c is also C-shaped. An inclined surface 21b extends along the outer periphery of the portion of the abutment surface 21c other than the opening 23.

[0033] Next, the function of the optical connector 1 configured as described above will be explained.

[0034] like Figure 2 As shown, the position of the insert 10 relative to the housing 40 is determined by the first protrusions 44 and 45 entering the recesses 14a and 15a. Additionally, as... Figure 4 As shown, the position of the intermediate component 20 relative to the housing 40 is determined by the contact between the corner 41b of the second protrusion 41a and the inclined surface 21b. Furthermore, the relative position of the intermediate component 20 and the insert 10 is determined by the positioning hole 12 and the positioning pin 22. Therefore, the corner 41b and the inclined surface 21b also indirectly determine the relative position of the insert 10 and the housing 40.

[0035] For example, when the insert 10 shifts from the target position towards the -X side, the corner 41b abuts against the middle portion of the inclined surface 21b in the first direction X. A force is applied from the force-applying member 30 towards the front end of the intermediate member 20. At the point of contact between the inclined surface 21b and the corner 41b, a component of the force acts in the direction that moves the intermediate member 20 towards the +X side. Through this component force, the intermediate member 20 and the insert 10 move towards the +X side. As a result, the insert 10 moves to the target position.

[0036] Here, the positioning performed by the first protrusions 44 and 45 and the recesses 14a and 15a is performed near the front end of the ferrule 10. In contrast, the positioning performed by the second protrusion 41a and the inclined surface 21b is performed near the rear end of the ferrule 10. That is, the ferrule 10 is positioned relative to the housing 40 at both the front and rear ends. By doing so, the tilt of the ferrule 10 relative to the Z-axis (the axis along the length direction Z) can be controlled. By properly controlling the tilt (or orientation) of the ferrule 10, connection loss when connecting the optical connector 1 to other optical connectors can be improved.

[0037] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the two first protrusions 44 and 45 enter the two recesses 14a and 15a. However, the first protrusion and the recess may each be a single entity.

[0038] As described above, the optical connector 1 of this embodiment includes: a ferrule 10 having a connecting end face 10a and recesses 14a and 15a, the connecting end face 10a having a plurality of fiber optic holes 11 arranged in a predetermined direction (first direction X), and the recesses 14a and 15a being recessed in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to both the predetermined direction and the length direction Z of the fiber optic holes 11; a force-applying member 30 for applying force to the ferrule 10; an intermediate member 20 for transmitting the force applied by the force-applying member 30 to the ferrule 10; and a housing 40 for housing a portion of the ferrule 10, the intermediate member 20, and the force-applying member 30. The intermediate member 20 has a main body portion 21 that contacts the ferrule 10 from the base end side (-Z side), the main body portion 21 having an outer portion 21a located outside the ferrule 10 in the predetermined direction, and the housing 40 having a first protrusion 44 and 45 that enter the recesses 14a and 15a, and a second protrusion 41a that abuts against the outer portion 21a. According to this embodiment, an optical connector 1 that can abut against a connected object in an appropriate posture can be provided.

[0039] Furthermore, the outer portion 21a has an inclined surface 21b that extends towards the base end side (-Z side) as it moves outward in the first direction X, and the second protrusion 41a has a corner portion 41b that abuts against the inclined surface 21b. According to this structure, the intermediate member 20 and the housing 40 in the first direction X can be positioned by the inclined surface 21b and the corner portion 41b.

[0040] Furthermore, the intermediate component 20 has an abutment surface 21c that abuts against the ferrule 10. A portion of the abutment surface 21c has an opening 23, and an inclined surface 21b extends along the outer periphery of the portion of the abutment surface 21c other than the opening 23. With this structure, the intermediate component 20 can be positioned toward target positions in both the first direction X and the second direction Y. Therefore, the posture of the ferrule 10 can be controlled with higher precision.

[0041] Furthermore, the insert 10 has two positioning holes 12, and the intermediate component 20 has two positioning pins 22 inserted into the two positioning holes 12. According to this structure, the insert 10 and the intermediate component 20 are integrated. Therefore, the posture of the insert 10 can be controlled by determining the position of the intermediate component 20. However, other structures can also be used to integrate the insert 10 and the intermediate component 20. For example, the insert 10 and the intermediate component 20 can be fixed by adhesive bonding or threaded fastening.

[0042] Furthermore, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0043] For example, in the above embodiment, the intermediate component 20 has an inclined surface 21b, and the housing 40 has a corner 41b. However, as... Figure 6 As shown, the second protrusion 41a of the housing 40 may have an inclined surface 41c, and the intermediate member 20 may have a corner portion 21d. In this case, the position of the intermediate member 20 relative to the housing 40 can also be determined by the corner portion 21d abutting against the inclined surface 41c.

[0044] In addition, without departing from the spirit of the present invention, the constituent elements of the above-described embodiments can be appropriately replaced with known constituent elements, and the above-described embodiments and variations can also be appropriately combined.

[0045] Industrial availability

[0046] According to the above-described manner of the present invention, it is possible to provide an optical connector that enables the ferrule to abut against the connected object in an appropriate posture.

[0047] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0048] 1… Optical connector; 10… Flange; 10a… Connecting end face; 11… Fiber optic hole; 12… Positioning hole; 14a… Recess; 20… Intermediate component; 21… Main body; 21a… Outer side; 21b, 41c… Inclined surface; 21c… Abutting surface; 22… Positioning pin; 23… Opening; 30… Force-applying component; 40… Housing; 41a… Second protrusion; 21d, 41b… Corner; 44… First protrusion; X… First direction (specified direction); Y… Second direction (orthogonal direction); Z… Length direction.

Claims

1. An optical connector, characterized in that, have: A ferrule has a connecting end face and a recess, the connecting end face having a plurality of fiber optic holes arranged in a predetermined direction, and the recess being recessed in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to both the predetermined direction and the length direction of the fiber optic holes; The force-applying component applies force to the insert. The intermediate component transmits the force applied by the force-applying component to the insert. as well as The housing houses a portion of the insert, the intermediate component, and the force-applying component. The intermediate component has a main body portion that contacts the ferrule from the base end side. The main body has an outer portion located on the outer side of the ferrule in the predetermined direction. The housing has a first protrusion that enters the recess and a second protrusion that abuts against the outer side.

2. The optical connector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer portion has an inclined surface that extends towards the base end side as it moves outward in the predetermined direction. The second protrusion has a corner portion. The corner abuts against the inclined surface.

3. The optical connector according to claim 2, characterized in that, The intermediate component has an abutting surface that abuts against the ferrule. A portion of the contact surface has an opening. The inclined surface extends along the outer periphery of the portion of the abutment surface other than the opening.

4. The optical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The ferrule has two positioning holes. The intermediate component has two locating pins inserted into the two locating holes.

5. The optical connector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second protrusion has an inclined surface that extends outward toward the base end side as it faces the predetermined direction. The outer portion has a corner. The corner abuts against the inclined surface.

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