Optical detection method using transparent optical connector

Abstract

To provide a method for detecting light using a transparent optical connector that, even when large optical communication related facilities have a large total quantity (the number) of whole optical cables to be connected, enables easy visual check of an optical cable required to be inserted / removed and enables accurate insertion / removal without performing erroneous insertion / removal while having satisfactory work efficiency.SOLUTION: A method for detecting light using a transparent optical connector including a transparent adapter 1, a pair of plugs 10 inserted from both ends of the adapter 1, and optical cables K attached to terminals of the plugs 10. The method comprises a step of making visible light incident on the optical cable K after end faces of both ferrules 13 being brought into contact with each other and being held as it is, while aligning opposing positions of cores P of optical fibers, in the ferrules 13, disposed respectively at centers of the pair of plugs 10 so that the opposing positions are shifted from each other in a staggered manner inside sleeve holders 2 and 3 of the transparent adapter 1.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an optical detection method that utilizes a transparent optical connector for visually identifying an optical cable. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, optical connectors for light detection, in which adapters or plugs are molded from transparent materials, are well known techniques.

[0003] Conventionally, when optical cables are removed or expanded in optical communication-related facilities such as data centers and station buildings that connect a large number of optical connector fibers, if the optical connectors are molded from non-light-transmitting synthetic resin or metal, the communication light transmitted through the optical fiber cannot be seen from outside the optical connector, making it impossible to visually confirm it.

[0004] Therefore, in recent years, a technology has been developed in which the entire adapter and plug of an optical connector are molded from a transparent resin as described above, and visible light is irradiated into the optical cable at the rear end of the plug connected to the adapter, thereby making it possible to visually identify optical cables that can be easily inserted and removed from the outside of a large number of optical connectors. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Nothing in particular Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, even in conventional optical connectors using transparent materials, if the core eccentricities of the optical fibers are set to match when connecting the plugs that abut the end faces of a pair of ferrules inside a transparent adapter, the cores are connected in a straight line, and visible light that enters the optical cable passes in a straight line from the core inserted in the ferrule of one optical cable to the core inserted in the ferrule of the other optical cable that abuts it.

[0007] For this reason, there is little leakage of visible light incident from one optical cable at the ferrule abutment portion, and it is not easy to clearly identify the optical cable by visual inspection from outside the transparent optical connector.

[0008] Therefore, when the total number of optical cables connected in a large optical communications facility is large, it takes time and effort to check which optical cables need to be inserted or removed, which not only reduces work efficiency but also increases the risk of incorrect insertion or removal.

[0009] Therefore, the present invention has been devised in consideration of the various circumstances that existed in the past as described above, and aims to provide an optical detection method that uses a transparent optical connector, which makes it easy to identify optical cables that need to be inserted or removed, has good work efficiency, prevents erroneous insertion or removal, and allows for reliable insertion and removal, even when the total amount (number) of optical cables connected in large optical communication-related equipment is large. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a light detection method using a transparent optical connector, which is provided with a transparent adapter, a pair of plugs inserted from both ends of the adapter, and an optical cable attached to the end of the plug, and in which, in a sleeve holder of the transparent adapter, a pair of plugs are inserted into the center of the plugs, and an optical cable is attached to the end of the plugs. out of position The end faces of the two ferrules are held in contact with each other while the opposing positions of the cores of the optical fibers in the ferrules arranged in each ferrule are aligned so as to be alternately eccentric in the circumferential direction, and then a red light is inserted into the optical cable. ColorThe method includes a step of irradiating visible light, whereby a portion of the visible light leaks from the abutting holding portion of the core end face of the optical fiber and is diffused throughout the transparent adapter, making the entire transparent optical connector visible from the outside.

[0011] The material forming the transparent adapter is a transparent polycarbonate resin with a light transmittance of 90%±1%. What is used It is characterized in that:

[0012] The end faces of the two ferrules are arranged such that the opposing positions of the cores of the optical fibers are aligned in the circumferential direction. to 9 Aligned so that the center is eccentric within the range of 0 to 180 degrees and held in contact within the sleeve holder What is done It is characterized in that: [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the present invention, even when the total amount (number) of optical cables connected in a large optical communication-related facility is large, it is possible to easily check which optical cables need to be inserted or removed, improving work efficiency, preventing incorrect insertion or removal, and ensuring reliable insertion and removal.

[0014] That is, the present invention is a light detection method using a transparent optical connector including a transparent adapter, a pair of plugs inserted from both ends of the adapter, and an optical cable attached to the end of the plug, wherein the transparent adapter includes a sleeve holder for the transparent adapter, and the pair of plugs are inserted into the sleeve holder. out of position The end faces of the two ferrules are held in contact with each other while the opposing positions of the cores of the optical fibers in the ferrules arranged in each ferrule are aligned so as to be alternately eccentric in the circumferential direction, and then a red light is inserted into the optical cable. Color The process includes a step of irradiating visible light, whereby a portion of the visible light leaks from the abutting holding portion of the core end face of the optical fiber and is diffused throughout the transparent adapter, making the entire transparent optical connector visible from the outside. Therefore, even when the total number of optical cables connected in a large optical communication-related facility is large, optical cables that need to be inserted or removed can be reliably identified visually.

[0015] The material forming the transparent adapter is a transparent polycarbonate resin with a light transmittance of 90%±1%. What is used As a result, part of the visible light such as red light leaking from the core inside the ferrule of the transparent optical connector is diffused throughout the transparent adapter, thereby making it possible to make the entire transparent optical connector emit a strong light, thereby ensuring visual identification of optical cables that need to be inserted or removed.

[0016] The end faces of the two ferrules are arranged such that the opposing positions of the cores of the optical fibers are aligned in the circumferential direction. to 9 Aligned so that the center is eccentric within the range of 0 to 180 degrees and held in contact within the sleeve holder What is done Therefore, due to the diffuse reflection caused by the misalignment of the core, the amount of visible light that enters the optical cable and leaks from the entire transparent optical connector inevitably increases, making it possible to reliably and accurately visually identify optical cables that need to be inserted or removed, even when the total number (total number) of optical cables connected in large optical communication-related equipment is large. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 1A, 1B, and 1C show an example of a plug, in which FIG. 1A is a plan view, FIG. 1B is a side cross-sectional view, and FIG. 1C is a front view. [Figure 3] The figure shows the direction of core eccentricity as viewed from the front of the plug, with (a) being a front view of the ferrule eccentric to the right, and (b) being a front view of the ferrule eccentric to the left. [Figure 4] 1A and 1B show an example of a transparent adapter, where FIG. 1A is a plan view and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional plan view. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of use of the present invention. [Figure 6] This shows an example of use of the present invention, where (a) is a cross-sectional view showing the state in which the cores of the optical fibers are aligned to be coincident with each other when connecting a plug that abuts the end faces of a pair of ferrules, and (b) is a cross-sectional view showing the state in which the cores of the optical fibers are aligned to be approximately 180 degrees eccentric with each other when connecting the same plug. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a reference example of optical communication-related equipment for connecting a large number of optical connector fibers. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] An embodiment of a transparent optical connector according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, an SC-type transparent optical connector will be described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to any optical connector such as an MPO-type or LC-type connector, although detailed description using drawings will be omitted.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 1, the transparent optical connector according to the present invention comprises a transparent adapter 1, a pair of plugs 10 inserted from both ends of the adapter 1, and an optical cable K attached to the ends of the plugs 10.

[0020] That is, as shown in Figures 4 and 6, the transparent adapter 1 is composed of a pair of sleeve holders 2 and 3 split in half from the center, a split sleeve 4 inside the sleeve holders 2 and 3, a housing 5, a locking piece 6, and a locking arm 7, all of which are made of transparent materials.

[0021] Polycarbonate resin, which is classified as a thermoplastic resin, is suitable as the material for the transparent adapter 1. This polycarbonate resin is a type of thermoplastic plastic with a light transmittance of 90%±1%, and all of the bonds between monomer units are composed of carbonate groups (-O-(C=O)-O-). It is a transparent resin and exhibits high physical properties such as light diffusion, impact resistance, heat resistance, flame retardancy, and dimensional stability.

[0022] The reason for using transparent polycarbonate resin as the material for the transparent adapter 1 is that visible light such as red light leaking from the contact holding portion between the ferrules 13 located at the center of the transparent adapter 1 is emitted most strongly, and the light diffused through the transparent adapter 1 made of polycarbonate resin is made to stand out to the outside. In this way, the transparent adapter 1 allows for accurate visual identification of unused optical cables K without error when many optical cables K are connected at high density, and to prevent damage accidents due to collisions between transparent adapters 1, polycarbonate resin is suitable, having not only transparency but also the various properties described above.

[0023] 2, 3, 5, and 6, the pair of plugs 10 each include a knob 11, a plug frame 12 housed in the knob 11, a ferrule 13 housed in the plug frame 12, a spring 14 which is an elastic member for axially biasing the ferrule 13, stoppers 15 and 16 housed in the plug frame 12 for preventing the ferrule 13 from moving in the axial direction, i.e., from coming out, a crimping ring 16a, a rubber boot 17, and a guide protrusion 19 which engages with a guide recess 8 formed in the housing 5. The material of each of the pair of plugs 10 is preferably a colored plug, for example, PBT resin (polybutylene terephthalate) which is available in a variety of colors such as blue, green, beige, and milky white.

[0024] 5 and 6, when the pair of plugs 10 are inserted into the housing 5 from both ends, the ferrules 13 housed in the plug frame 12 are inserted into the split sleeves 4 in the sleeve holders 2 and 3 while being biased and moved in the axial direction by the springs 14, and the locked portions 18 on the outer walls of the plug frame 12 are locked by the locking portions 7a provided in the tips of the locking arms 7 arranged oppositely on the outside of the sleeve holders 2 and 3. In this way, the end faces of the ferrules 13 are held in contact with each other at the center of the split sleeve 4.

[0025] At this time, as shown in FIG. 6(b), the centers of the two plugs 10 out of positionThe positions of the cores P of the optical fibers in the ferrules 13 arranged in the respective positions are staggered in the circumferential direction in the sleeve holders 2 and 3 of the transparent adapter 1. 、9 The end faces of both ferrules 13 are held in contact with each other while being aligned so as to have an eccentricity within a range of 0 to 180 degrees.

[0026] Then, for example, red visible light is input into the optical cable K to make the entire transparent optical connector glow. As shown by arrow S in Fig. 6(a), when the opposing positions of the cores P are aligned in the circumferential direction, the red visible light travels in a straight line, but when the cores P are offset within a range of approximately 90 degrees to 180 degrees, the cores P of the pair of ferrules 13 cross each other alternately as shown by arrow S in Fig. 6(b), so that part of the red visible light input from one optical cable K hits the front end wall of the ferrule 13 of the other optical cable K and is refracted, and is diffused outward through the transparent adapter 1, causing the entire transparent optical connector to glow strongly red.

[0027] Incidentally, in recent years, when the end faces of the ferrules 13 of a pair of plugs 10 are held in contact inside the transparent adapter 1, it has become common not to perform alignment so that the opposing positions of the cores P coincide in the circumferential direction. This is to improve the efficiency of the plug 10 connection work, but also because, due to improvements in the materials used throughout the transparent optical connector, even if the opposing positions of the cores P inside the ferrules 13 are connected eccentrically in the circumferential direction, this does not have a significant adverse effect on the optical transmission performance between the plugs 10.

[0028] Next, an example of a light detection method for the configuration configured as above will be described.

[0029] Figures 1 to 6 show SC type connectors, but the case of an MPO type connector will be explained using Figure 7. In optical communication-related facilities where a large number of optical connector fibers are connected, such as data centers and station buildings where transparent optical connectors are densely arranged, when removing or installing optical cables K and identifying the optical cables K to be inserted or removed, the ferrules 13 of a pair of plugs 10 are adjusted eccentrically in advance within the sleeve holders 2 and 3 of the transparent adapter 1 so that the opposing positions of the optical fiber cores P are staggered circumferentially within a range of approximately 90 degrees to 180 degrees, and then red visible light is incident on the optical cable K.

[0030] By irradiating red visible light in this manner and causing the entire transparent optical connector including the pair of plugs 10 to glow red, it becomes possible to clearly visually identify the optical cable K to be inserted or removed from outside the transparent optical connector when removing an unused plug 10 or when inserting a plug 10 after removal.

[0031] In particular, when polycarbonate resin, which has high light transmittance and excellent transparency, is used as the transparent adapter 1, some of the red visible light incident from the optical cable K leaks from the abutting holding portion between the ferrules 13 in the sleeve holders 2 and 3 and diffuses to the outside of the transparent adapter 1, causing the entire transparent optical connector to emit a strong red light, making it even more reliable to visually identify the optical cable K. [Explanation of symbols]

[0032] K Optical Cable P Core S arrow 1 transparent adapter 2, 3 Sleeve holder 4 split sleeve 5. Housing 6 Locking piece 7 Locking Arm 7a Locking part 8 Guide recess 10 Plug 11 Knob 12 Plug Frame 13 Ferrule 14 Spring 15, 16 Stopper 16a Crimping ring 17 Rubber Boots 18 Locked part 19 Guide protrusion

Claims

1. A light detection method using a transparent optical connector comprising a transparent adapter, a pair of plugs inserted from both ends of the adapter, and an optical cable attached to the ends of the plugs, the method comprising the steps of: aligning the opposing positions of the cores of the optical fibers in the ferrules arranged outside the central positions of the pair of plugs in a sleeve holder of the transparent adapter so that they are eccentric in a circumferentially staggered manner, while abutting and holding the end faces of the two ferrules together, and then irradiating red visible light into the optical cable, whereby a portion of the visible light leaks from the abutting and holding portions of the core end faces of the optical fibers and is diffused throughout the transparent adapter, making the entire transparent optical connector visible from the outside.

2. 2. The optical detection method using a transparent optical connector according to claim 1, wherein the material forming the transparent adapter is a transparent polycarbonate resin having a light transmittance of 90%±1%.

3. The optical detection method using the transparent optical connector described in claim 1, characterized in that the end faces of both ferrules are abutted and held within the sleeve holder by aligning the opposing positions of the optical fiber cores so that they are eccentric within a range of 90 degrees to 180 degrees in the circumferential direction.

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