Optical Connector

Abstract

To provide an optical connector capable of inhibiting a substrate screwed to a connector housing from bending.SOLUTION: An optical connector 2 comprises: a substrate 3 to which a plurality of electronic components including an FOT 21 are soldered and which is screwed to a clamp face 71 of a connector housing 7; a plurality of spring members 5 interposed between the clamp face 71 and the substrate 3; and the connector housing 7 storing them. The spring member 4 comprises: a main plate part 51 positioned between the clamp face 71 and the substrate 3, with a screw 4 inserted therethrough; a first spring part 55 extending from the main plate part 51 toward the substrate 3 in a natural state; a second spring part 54 inclining and extending from the main plate part 51 toward the clamp face 71 in the natural state; an opposite plate part 52 opposite the main plate part 51 with the screw 4 being inserted therethrough; and a connection part 53 connecting the main plate part 51 and the opposite plate part 52.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an optical connector used in optical communications. [Background technology]

[0002] Some optical connectors used in optical communications are attached to equipment and connected to a mating optical connector that holds an end of an optical fiber. This optical connector includes, for example, an optical element soldered to a substrate and a connector housing that houses the optical element. The substrate and connector housing are fixed with screws. In addition, to increase the positional accuracy of the optical element, this optical connector is designed so that the surface of the optical element opposite the substrate abuts against an abutment surface provided on the connector housing when the substrate and connector housing are fixed with screws (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-144843 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In conventional optical connectors, if the solder joint between the optical element and the board is thick, the optical element may come into contact with the contact surface of the connector housing while the board and connector housing are being fastened with screws, causing the board to bend when the screws are tightened further.Furthermore, such bending of the board undesirably puts a load on the solder joint, which can cause cracks.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an optical connector that can suppress bending of a board that is screwed to a connector housing. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention is an optical connector comprising: a substrate to which an optical fiber converter is soldered; a connector housing having an attachment surface to which the substrate is screwed; and an abutment surface against which the optical fiber converter abuts; and a spring member interposed between the attachment surface and the substrate, wherein the spring member is positioned between the attachment surface and the substrate and comprises a main plate portion through which a screw is passed, a first spring portion which, in its natural state, extends from the main plate portion at an angle toward the substrate; and a second spring portion which, in its natural state, extends from the main plate portion at an angle toward the attachment surface. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress bending of the board that is screwed to the connector housing. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which an optical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention is mated with a mating optical connector. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing only the optical connector of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the substrate of FIG. 3. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the spring member of FIG. 4. [Figure 6] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state before the board in FIG. 4 is fastened with screws. [Figure 7] 4 is a perspective view showing a state before the connector housing of FIG. 3 is screwed to a board. FIG. [Figure 8] 8 is a perspective view showing a state in which a board is screwed to the connector housing of FIG. 7. FIG. [Figure 9] 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a board is being fastened to the connector housing of FIG. 8 with screws. [Figure 10] 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in the vicinity of the spring member in FIG. 9 during screw fastening. [Figure 11]11 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which fastening by screws is completed in the vicinity of the spring member in FIG. 10. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] An "optical connector" according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0010] The optical connector 2 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 is used for optical communications, and is attached to a camera unit to be connected to a mating optical connector 1 that holds an end of an optical cable 12.

[0011] 3, an optical fiber 11 is built into the optical cable 12, and this optical fiber 11 is movable within the optical cable 12. A ferrule 13 is attached to the end of the optical fiber 11, and optical communication is performed with an FOT (Fiber Optic Transceiver: optical fiber converter) 21 via a stub 22 on the optical connector 2 side.

[0012] The end of the optical cable 12 including the ferrule 13 is held in a connector housing 14. The connector housing 14 also contains a spring 15 that biases the ferrule 13 toward the optical connector 2.

[0013] The optical connector 2 comprises a substrate 3 to which a plurality of electronic components including an FOT 21 are soldered and which is screwed to a mounting surface 71 of a connector housing 7, a plurality of spring members 5 interposed between the mounting surface 71 and the substrate 3, and a connector housing 7 which accommodates these.

[0014] The FOT 21 has a lens and a light emitting element built into a rectangular parallelepiped housing. A sleeve 23 with a built-in stub 22 protrudes from the top surface of the housing of the FOT 21 (the surface opposite the substrate 3). The ferrule 13 of the mating optical connector 1 is inserted into the sleeve 23 and abuts against the stub 22.

[0015] As shown in Figures 4 and 6, the substrate 3 is formed in a rectangular plate shape, with a frame-shaped GND pattern 32 formed on its edge. Wiring patterns connected to various electronic components are formed inside the GND pattern 32. The substrate 3 has four rounded corners, and a spring member 5 is attached to each of these rounded corners. Screw insertion holes 31 are formed in the substrate 3 at positions overlapping with each spring member 5. Screw insertion holes 51a, 52a are also formed in each spring member 5, and screws 4 are passed through these screw insertion holes 31, 51a, 52a to fasten the substrate 3 to the mounting surface 71 of the connector housing 7.

[0016] The spring member 5 is obtained by subjecting a metal plate to press working or the like. As shown in Fig. 5, the spring member 5 includes a rectangular main plate portion 51, a rectangular opposing plate portion 52 opposing the main plate portion 51, a connecting portion 53 connecting the main plate portion 51 and the opposing plate portion 52, a pair of first spring portions 55, and a pair of second spring portions 54. In other words, the main plate portion 51, the opposing plate portion 52, and the connecting portion 53 are press-bent into a U-shape (C-shape).

[0017] The screw insertion holes 51a are formed in the main plate 51. The screw insertion holes 52a are formed in the opposing plate 52. The main plate 51 is positioned on the FOT 21 mounting surface side of the board 3, and the opposing plate 52 is positioned on the surface of the board 3 opposite the mounting surface. In other words, the main plate 51 is positioned between the mounting surface 71 of the connector housing 7 and the board 3, and the opposing plate 52 sandwiches the board 3 between itself and the main plate 51.

[0018] A pair of first spring portions 55 extend from both ends of the main plate portion 51. A pair of second spring portions 54 also extend from both ends of the main plate portion 51. That is, one first spring portion 55 and one second spring portion 54 extend from one end of the main plate portion 51, and one first spring portion 55 and one second spring portion 54 extend from the other end of the main plate portion 51. In a natural state (before being screwed), the first spring portion 55 extends from the main plate portion 51 at an angle toward the board 3. In a natural state (before being screwed), the second spring portion 54 extends from the main plate portion 51 at an angle toward the mounting surface 71. In this way, the spring member 5 has the first spring portions 55 and second spring portions 54 extending diagonally up and down from the main plate portion 51 arranged symmetrically.

[0019] The connector housing 7 is formed by screwing together two members, a first housing 70 and a second housing 79. The first housing 70 includes an attachment surface 71 to which the circuit board 3 is screwed, a contact surface 72 against which the top surface of the housing of the FOT 21 abuts, a sleeve accommodating portion 74 that accommodates the sleeve 23 protruding from the top surface of the housing of the FOT 21, and a tubular portion 73 surrounding the sleeve accommodating portion 74. As shown in FIG. 7 , the attachment surface 71 is formed with screw holes 71a into which screws 4 are fastened. The second housing 79 is screwed to the first housing 70 after the circuit board 3 is screwed to the attachment surface 71.

[0020] The optical connector 2 is assembled in the following procedure. First, multiple electronic components including the FOT 21 are soldered to the substrate 3. Next, as shown in FIG. 6, the spring member 5 is fitted and attached to the substrate 3. Next, as shown in FIG. 8, the substrate 3 is screwed to the mounting surface 71 of the first housing 70 with four screws 4. Next, the second housing 79 is screwed to the first housing 70. The optical connector 2 is assembled through these steps.

[0021] 9 and 10 show the state in which the board 3 is being screwed to the mounting surface 71. Also, Figures 3 and 11 show the state after the screwing is complete. As shown in these figures, in the state in which the screwing is being completed, the second spring portion 54 is in elastic contact with the mounting surface 71, the first spring portion 55 is in elastic contact with the board 3, and the main plate portion 51 is spaced apart from both the mounting surface 71 and the board 3.

[0022] If the screws 4 are further tightened from this state, the second spring portion 54 is compressed (the first spring portion 55 is also compressed somewhat), and the second spring portion 54 becomes parallel to the mounting surface 71, and the main plate portion 51 abuts against the mounting surface 71, as shown in Figures 3 and 11. This is the state in which the screws are completely fastened, and in this state, the first spring portion 55 is in elastic contact with the board 3, and there is a gap between the main plate portion 51 and the board 3. In other words, there is still room for deformation in the first spring portion 55, and the board 3 is elastically supported by the connector housing 7.

[0023] In this optical connector 2, the substrate 3 is elastically supported by the connector housing 7 via the spring member 5, so even if the solder joint between the FOT 21 and the substrate 3 is thick, it is possible to prevent the substrate 3 from bending due to screw fastening. This reduces the load on the solder joint of the electronic components, including the FOT 21, mounted on the substrate 3, and prevents solder cracks from occurring.

[0024] Furthermore, when the optical connector 2 is mated with the mating optical connector 1, the pressing force of the spring 15 is applied to the solder joint of the substrate 3 via the ferrule 13 and FOT 21, but the presence of the spring member 5 can alleviate this pressing force, thereby reducing the load on the solder joint.

[0025] The spring member 5 also functions as a stopper for the screw 4. Another function of the spring member 5 is to release heat generated in the board 3 to the optical connector 2. If the connector housing 7 is made of metal, it is even more effective at preventing heat, and it can also release noise from the board 3.

[0026] The above-described embodiment merely shows a typical form of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. In other words, the present invention can be implemented with various modifications within the scope of the gist of the present invention. As long as such modifications still include the configuration of the present invention, they are of course included in the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0027] 1 Mating optical connector 2 Optical Connector 3. Circuit Board 4 screws 5 Spring material 7 Connector housing 21 FOT (Fiber Optic Transducer) 51 Main plate part 52 Opposing plate part 53 Connecting part 54 Second spring part 55 First spring part 71 Mounting surface 72 Contact surface

Claims

1. a substrate to which an optical fiber converter is soldered; a connector housing having a mounting surface to which the substrate is screwed and a contact surface against which the optical fiber converter contacts; a spring member interposed between the mounting surface and the substrate, The spring member is positioned between the mounting surface and the substrate and includes a main plate portion through which a screw is inserted, a first spring portion that extends from the main plate portion toward the substrate in a natural state while being inclined, and a second spring portion that extends from the main plate portion toward the mounting surface in a natural state while being inclined.

1. An optical connector comprising:

2. the spring member includes an opposing plate portion that faces the main plate portion and through which the screw is inserted, and a connecting portion that connects the main plate portion and the opposing plate portion, The substrate is sandwiched between the main plate portion and the opposing plate portion.

2. The optical connector according to claim 1.

3. The main plate portion is formed in a rectangular plate shape, The first spring portion and the second spring portion each extend from one end of the main plate portion, and the first spring portion and the second spring portion each extend from the other end of the main plate portion.

3. The optical connector according to claim 1 or 2.

4. the second spring portion extends from the main plate portion in parallel with the mounting surface, and the main plate portion abuts against the mounting surface; The first spring portion is in elastic contact with the substrate, and the main plate portion is spaced apart from the substrate.

3. The optical connector according to claim 1 or 2.

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