Optical connector plug

Abstract

To guarantee safety while reducing the size of an optical connector plug.SOLUTION: An optical connector plug comprises at least: a ferrule that holds an optical fiber; a plug frame that holds the ferrule; an adapter connection member that accommodates the plug frame and is slidable relative to the plug frame; and a pinch member that accommodates the adapter connection member when the adapter connection member slides backward in an axial direction. The adapter connection member includes a shield plate on an inner peripheral side of the adapter connection member. A part of the shield plate is displaced to a position where it covers an apical surface of the ferrule and a position where it does not cover the apical surface of the ferrule, according to the slide of the adapter connection member.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an optical connector plug equipped with a shielding plate that blocks light emitted from a ferrule at the tip of an optical fiber. [Background technology]

[0002] The optical signal emitted from the end of the optical fiber affects the human eyes. To prevent such effects, an optical connector plug has been disclosed that has a shielding plate (also called a "shutter") on the tip side of the ferrule that houses the optical fiber (for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2016-188927 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the case of an optical connector plug as disclosed in Patent Document 1, the shutter member fixed to the inside of the housing member opens and closes in the axial direction of the optical connector, making it difficult to achieve miniaturization of the optical connector plug. The present disclosure has been made in consideration of these points, and has as its objective to provide an optical connector plug that is equipped with a plurality of shielding plates, and that ensures safety by reducing the impact on the human body of optical signals irradiated from optical fibers, while also enabling miniaturization. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, one aspect of the present disclosure is an optical connector plug comprising at least a ferrule that holds an optical fiber, a plug frame that holds the ferrule, an adapter connection member that accommodates the plug frame and is slidable relative to the plug frame, and a knob member that accommodates the adapter connection member when the adapter connection member slides axially rearward, wherein the adapter connection member has a shielding plate on its inner side, and a portion of the shielding plate is displaced between a position that shields the tip face of the ferrule and a position that does not shield the tip face of the ferrule in response to the sliding of the adapter connection member. Effect of the Invention

[0006] According to the present disclosure, an optical connector plug having a shielding plate can be realized that can reduce the impact of the optical signal irradiated from the optical fiber on the human body, thereby ensuring safety and enabling miniaturization. Furthermore, by providing multiple shielding plates and doubly protecting the tip surface of the ferrule, the function of blocking the light irradiated from the ferrule can be improved. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is an external view of an optical connector plug according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 1 is an external view of an optical connector plug and an optical connector adapter according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] 1A and 1B are an example of a top view and a cross-sectional view of an optical connector plug according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 4A and 4B are a top view and a cross-sectional view of another example of the optical connector plug according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] 5A and 5B are still another example of a top view and a cross-sectional view of an optical connector plug according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the optical connector plug according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7]FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the optical connector plug according to the embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the following description of the preferred embodiments is merely illustrative in nature and is not intended to limit the present invention, its applications, or its uses.

[0009] FIG. 1 is an external view of an optical connector plug according to an embodiment of the present invention. The optical connector plug 1 of this embodiment is a push-pull type SC type optical connector plug, and has a shape that can be coupled to an SC type optical connector adapter as shown in FIG. 1(a). The optical connector plug 1 includes an adapter connection member 2 that accommodates a plug frame described later, which constitutes a housing, and a knob member 3 that can accommodate the adapter connection member 2 that can slide in the axial direction (forward and backward in the axial direction) (of the optical fiber) relative to the plug frame. The optical connector plug 1 is connected to a boot 4 through which an optical fiber cord 5 is inserted. Here, the optical fiber cord 5 has a multi-layer structure of a resin layer, a clad layer, and an optical fiber core. In addition, a slit 25 is provided at the tip of the adapter connection member 2 to confirm that a shielding plate 10 described later is shielding a ferrule 6. In addition, the slit 20 is provided to confirm that the adapter connection member 2 is engaged with the knob member 3 via a colored shielding plate holding member 30 described later.

[0010] 1(b), in the optical connector plug of this embodiment, when the adapter connection member 2 slides axially backward and is housed in the gripping member 3, the tip face of the ferrule 6 that houses an optical fiber (not shown) is exposed to the outside, and the tip of the plug frame 17 that houses the ferrule 6 is also exposed to the outside. Here, the shielding plate holding member 30 described later slides axially backward as being pushed by the adapter connection member 2, and displaces (and fits into) a position corresponding to the slit (or coupling recess) 20, allowing the operator to visually recognize the color indication applied to the shielding holding member 30 (or the protrusion 31 described later) or marked with a seal or the like through the slit 20.

[0011] When mating with the optical connector adapter 7 from the state shown in Fig. 2(a), the ferrule 6 is exposed to the outside, and as shown in Fig. 2(b), the optical connector plug 1 engages with the optical connector adapter 7, thereby enabling optical connection with the optical connector adapter 7. Here, the optical connector adapter 7 can be an SC-type optical connector adapter.

[0012] Fig. 3 shows an example of a top view and a cross-sectional view of an optical connector plug according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 3(a) is a top view of the optical connector plug 1, showing a state in which the adapter connecting member 2 is located axially forward relative to the gripping member 3. Fig. 3(b) is a cross-sectional view thereof.

[0013] The ferrule 6 has a substantially cylindrical shape, penetrates in the axial direction, and an optical fiber is housed and adhesively fixed therein. The ferrule 6 is inserted from the rear of the plug frame 17 in the axial direction and housed in the plug frame 17. The plug frame 17 has a hollow rectangular column shape, and has an insertion hole into which the ferrule 6 and the elastic member 12 (hereinafter, spring 12) can be inserted in the axial direction.

[0014] The spring 12 is inserted from the axial rear side of the collar member 13, so that the spring 12 is disposed around the outer periphery of the collar member 13. One side of the spring 12 abuts against the collar member 13 on the axial rear side of the ferrule 6, and the other side abuts against the axial front side of the rear frame 14, so that the ferrule 6 is held in a state in which it is biased forward relative to the plug frame 17, and is also able to slide in the axial direction relative to the rear frame 14.

[0015] In addition, a pair of engagement protrusions 18 are provided on the axial front periphery of the rear frame 14, and the plug frame 17 and the rear frame 14 are engaged with each other. The rear frame 14 has an insertion hole into which the optical fiber core 11 can be inserted, and is made of a cylindrical metal material or resin material. An elastic member 15 (hereinafter, spring 15) is arranged inside the knob member 3 on the outer periphery of the rear frame 14, and the adapter connection member 2 located axially forward of the shielding plate holding member 30 and the shielding portion holding member 30 is urged so as to be pushed axially forward relative to the knob member 3. Here, by using a torsion coil spring as the spring 15, it is possible to generate a constant load (torsion coil spring characteristic) regardless of the amount of displacement, which contributes to the miniaturization of the optical connector plug 1 that includes a mechanism part with a large amount of displacement and operation, such as the sliding of the adapter connection member 2, as in this example.

[0016] A crimping ring 16 and a ring 19 are crimped and fixed to the axial rear side of the rear frame 14, and the optical fiber cord 5 containing the optical fiber core 11 is fixed to the optical connector plug 1 by the crimping ring 16 and the ring 19. In addition, a boot 4 containing the crimping ring 16 and the ring 19 therein is fitted to the rear of the rear frame 14, and the optical fiber cord 5 is inserted into the boot 4. The boot 4 is made of an elastic material or a resin material.

[0017] Here, a shielding plate 10 is provided on the inner periphery side of the adapter connection member 2 and on the outer periphery side of the plug frame 17. The shielding plate 10 is plate-shaped and made of a metal material such as stainless steel, and is held by a shielding plate holding member 30 provided on the inner periphery side of the adapter connection member 2 along the outer periphery of the plug frame 17. In order to reduce the number of parts and the number of steps in manufacturing the parts, the shielding plate 10 can be made into an integral structure by connecting a rear end side different from a front end side that shields the ferrule 6. When the shielding plate 10 is made into an integral structure, the shielding plate 10 can be attached to the plug frame 17 by fixing the rear end side of the shielding plate 10 so as to wrap around the axial rear side of the plug frame 17.

[0018] The shielding plate 10 is held in a curved tip portion so as to shield the tip surface of the ferrule 6 when the adapter connection member 2 protrudes axially forward from the tip surface of the ferrule 6. In this embodiment, the shielding plate 10 is provided in a plurality (two in this example) on the inner circumferential side of the shielding plate holding portion 2 so as to face each other, and is characterized in that the curved portion at the tip of one shielding plate 10 is disposed closer to the ferrule 6 than the curved portion at the tip of the other shielding plate 10. In this way, by using the shielding plate 10 to doubly shield the tip surface of the ferrule 6 (in other words, by forming a double shutter structure), the shielding plate can be compactly configured while protecting the human body (particularly the eyes) from the optical signal irradiated from the ferrule 6. In addition, by providing a slit in the axially forward front portion of the adapter connection member 2, the shielding state of the shielding plate 10 can be visually confirmed through the slit.

[0019] Fig. 4 shows another example of a top view and a cross-sectional view of an optical connector plug according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4(a) is a top view of the optical connector plug 1, showing a state in which the adapter connecting member 2 is located axially rearward relative to the plug frame 17. Fig. 4(b) is a cross-sectional view thereof.

[0020] In order to connect the optical connector plug 1 to the optical connector adapter 7, when the adapter connecting member 2 is pushed axially rearward while holding the gripping member 3, the adapter connecting member 2 slides axially rearward, and the sliding causes the rear end of the adapter connecting member 2 to compress the spring 15.

[0021] As the adapter connection member 2 moves axially backward while sliding, the axially front end of the adapter connection member is displaced backward relative to the end face of the ferrule 6 and the end of the plug frame 17, whereby the end face of the ferrule 6 and the end of the plug frame 17 become exposed to the outside. This allows the ferrule 6 to be optically connected to an optical fiber provided on the optical connector adapter 7 side.

[0022] When the adapter connection member 2 slides and displaces axially backward relative to the ferrule 6 and the plug frame 17, a part (front end) of the shielding plate 10 arranged to cover the front end surface of the ferrule 6 deforms from a curved shape to a straight shape while contacting the end on the outer periphery of the plug frame 17, and is stored as a plate-like member on the inner periphery of the adapter connection member 2 and along the outer periphery of the plug frame 17. When the adapter connection member 2 is slid, the shielding plate holding member 30 provided on the axial rear side of the plug frame 17 so as to abut against the adapter connection member 2 is displaced axially backward in accordance with the sliding of the adapter connection member 2, and the convex portion 31 provided on the shielding plate holding member 30 is fitted into the coupling concave portion 20 of the knob member 3. This makes it possible to fix and hold the adapter connection member 2 to the knob member 3. In addition, by coloring the convex portion 31 of the shielding retaining member 30 with paint, sealant, or the like, when the convex portion 31 is engaged with the connecting recess 20, the operator can confirm the engaged state by the color through the connecting recess 20 (or slit).

[0023] Fig. 5 shows another example of a top view and a cross-sectional view of an optical connector plug according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 5(a) is a top view of the optical connector plug 1, showing a state in which the optical connector plug 1 and the optical connector adapter 7 are fitted together while the adapter connecting member 2 is located axially rearward relative to the plug frame 17. Fig. 5(b) is a cross-sectional view thereof.

[0024] When the optical connector plug 1 is inserted into the optical connector adapter 7, the end of the adapter connecting member 2 of the optical connector plug 1 abuts against the end of the outer casing member 21 of the optical connector adapter 7, and the adapter connecting member 2 slides axially backward due to the reaction force, and the protrusion provided on the top surface near the tip of the adapter connecting member 2 engages with a guide groove provided on the top surface near the rear end of the optical connector adapter 7, thereby fixing it in a predetermined position.

[0025] At the same time, the ferrule 6 engages with the ferrule holding portion 22 of the optical connector adapter 7, and an optical connection is established with the optical fiber inserted into the optical connector adapter 7. Even at this point in time, the shielding plate 10 is stored and held on the inner circumferential surface of the adapter connecting member 2, changing from the shielding state in which it shields the ferrule 6 to the non-shielding state in which it does not shield.

[0026] 6 and 7 are exploded perspective views of the optical connector plug according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] As shown in Fig. 6, a shielding plate 10 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of a plug frame 17 that houses a ferrule 6, and the shielding plate 10 is held by a shielding plate holding member 30 axially rearward of the plug frame 17 and axially forward of the rear frame 14. Fig. 7 is a further exploded view of the shielding plate holding member 30, which is formed along the outer periphery of the rear frame 14 and has a structure integrated with the shielding plate 10.

[0028] The plug frame 17 is provided with a through hole into which the ferrule 6 can be inserted, and the plug frame 17 engages with the rear frame 14, which houses the optical fiber 11, at its rear in the axial direction. A spring 15 is provided on the outer periphery of the rear frame 14, and a crimping ring 16 and a ring 19 for fixing the optical fiber cord 5, which houses the optical fiber 11, are provided behind the rear frame 14.

[0029] In this way, by configuring an optical connector plug to apply the shielding plate holding member of this embodiment, it is possible to reduce the number of parts related to the shielding plate while realizing a smaller optical connector plug. Also, by providing a shielding plate that provides doubly protection for the ferrule, it is possible to prevent in advance the effects of the optical signal irradiated from the optical fiber. [Industrial Applicability]

[0030] As described above, the optical connector plug according to the present invention can be used for connection with an optical connector adapter. [Explanation of symbols]

[0031] 1 Optical connector plug 2 Adapter connection parts 3 Knob member 4. Boots 5 Fiber Optic Cord 6 Ferrule 7 Optical connector adapter 10 Shielding plate 30 Shielding plate holding member

Claims

1. An optical connector plug comprising at least a ferrule for holding an optical fiber, a plug frame for holding the ferrule, an adapter connection member for accommodating the plug frame and slidable relative to the plug frame, and a knob member for accommodating the adapter connection member when the adapter connection member slides axially rearward, a shielding plate provided on an inner circumferential side of the adapter connection member and on an outer circumferential side of the plug frame and held by a shielding plate holding member; an optical connector plug, characterized in that a portion of the shielding plate is displaced between a position shielding the tip face of the ferrule and a position not shielding the tip face of the ferrule in response to sliding of the adapter connecting member and the shielding plate holding member, and the shielding plate holding member is provided with a second shielding plate on the inner surface of the adapter connecting member, along the outer circumferential side of the plug frame, facing the shielding plate.

2. The optical connector plug is an SC type optical connector plug.

3. 2. The optical connector plug according to claim 1, An optical connector plug, comprising an elastic member comprised of either a torsion coil spring or a coil spring axially rearward of the adapter connecting member, the adapter connecting member and the elastic member sliding in conjunction with each other.

4. 2. An optical connector plug as described in claim 1, characterized in that when a portion of the shielding plate and a portion of the second shielding plate are positioned to shield the tip face of the ferrule, the portion of the shielding plate is closer to the tip face of the ferrule than the portion of the second shielding plate.

5. 2. The optical connector plug according to claim 1, wherein the shielding plate is made of a metal plate.

6. 2. An optical connector plug as described in claim 1, characterized in that the shielding plate holding member displaces axially rearward as the adapter connecting member slides axially rearward, and engages with a coupling recess provided in the knob member.

7. 7. The optical connector plug according to claim 6, wherein a part of said shielding plate holding member is visible through said coupling recess in said mated state.

8. 2. An optical connector plug as described in claim 1, characterized in that when a portion of the shielding plate shields the ferrule, the shielding state can be visually confirmed through a slit provided in a portion of the adapter connecting member 2.

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