Optical connectors and mounting brackets.

Abstract

Invention details;

Description

Optical Connectors and Pinkeepers

[0001] This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-146066, filed September 8, 2023, and incorporates by reference all of the contents of said Japanese application.

[0002] Patent Documents 1 to 9 disclose technologies related to optical connectors. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a pin keeper that holds pins inserted into the ferrules of an optical connector. This pin keeper makes it possible to hold and release pins inserted into the ferrules while incorporated into the optical connector. An optical connector equipped with a pin keeper that allows pin insertion and removal in this way can be switched between male and female optical connectors.

[0003] JP 2016-139092 A JP 2001-296450 A JP 2020-170135 A JP 2020-204707 A JP 2021-135496 A U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2021 / 0278605 Specification International Publication No. 2012 / 096246 JP 2002-082257 A JP 2009-205100 A

[0004] The optical connector of the present disclosure includes a ferrule member that includes a rear end face, an introduction hole that opens into the rear end face and allows the introduction of an optical fiber, and a guide hole that opens into the rear end face and allows the insertion of a guide pin, and that holds the optical fiber introduced through the introduction hole; a pin keeper that faces the rear end face and is capable of holding the guide pin protruding from the guide hole; and a housing that accommodates the ferrule member and the pin keeper. The pin keeper has a metal plate that faces the rear end face and a slit that is formed to extend from a side edge of the metal plate when viewed in the thickness direction of the metal plate. The slit includes a retaining portion configured to insert and hold the guide pin.

[0005] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an optical connector according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an optical fiber cable of the optical connector. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the front portion of the optical connector. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the rear portion of the optical connector. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the surrounding structure of a ferrule member and a pin keeper. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the pin keeper. FIG. 7A is a side view showing the pin keeper. FIG. 7B is a plan view showing the pin keeper. FIG. 7C is another side view showing the pin keeper. FIG. 8 is an enlarged plan view of the side plate portion of the pin keeper of FIG. 7B. FIG. 9 is another perspective view showing the pin keeper. FIG. 10A is a plan view of the pin keeper of FIG. 7B from the opposite side. FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional view of the pin keeper taken along line A1-A1 of FIG. 10A. FIG. 11A is a perspective view showing the positional relationship between the guide pin, the pin keeper, and the spring. FIG. 11B is another perspective view showing the positional relationship between the guide pin, the pin keeper, and the spring. FIG. 12A is a perspective view showing the front portion of the optical connector. Fig. 12B is a cross-sectional view of the optical connector taken along line A2-A2 in Fig. 12A. Fig. 13A is a diagram illustrating the operation of expanding the slit using an expansion member. Fig. 13B is a diagram illustrating the operation of expanding the slit using an expansion member.

[0006] [Problem to be Solved by the Present Disclosure] In the optical connector described above, the thickness of the pin keeper itself may be thicker than necessary due to molding considerations, etc., and the overall size of the optical connector may increase by the thickness of the pin keeper. On the other hand, from the viewpoint of suppressing the increase in the overall size of the optical connector, it is conceivable to adopt a structure in which the pin keeper is detached from the optical connector in a female connector that does not require pins. However, depending on the internal structure of the optical connector, it may be difficult to freely move the pin keeper inside, making the above structure less practical.

[0007] The present disclosure provides an optical connector and a pin keeper that are compact in size and allow guide pins to be attached and detached.

[0008] Effect of the Present Disclosure According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide an optical connector and a pin keeper that are capable of attaching and detaching guide pins while achieving a reduction in size.

[0009] [Description of Embodiments of the Present Disclosure] First, the contents of the embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described.

[0010] (1) The optical connector of the present disclosure includes a rear end face, an introduction hole that opens into the rear end face and allows introduction of an optical fiber, and a guide hole that opens into the rear end face and allows insertion of a guide pin, and includes a ferrule member that holds the optical fiber introduced through the introduction hole, a pin keeper that faces the rear end face and can hold the guide pin protruding from the guide hole, and a housing that accommodates the ferrule member and the pin keeper. The pin keeper has a metal plate that faces the rear end face and a slit that is formed to extend from a side edge of the metal plate when viewed in the thickness direction of the metal plate. The slit includes a retaining portion configured to insert and retain the guide pin.

[0011] In the optical connector described above, the pin keeper includes a metal plate and a slit extending from a side edge of the metal plate when viewed in the thickness direction of the metal plate. The slit includes a retaining portion configured to insert and hold a guide pin. In this case, when the slit is expanded, the retaining portion can be expanded in accordance with the deformation of the metal plate, and in this state, the guide pin can be inserted into the retaining hole. Furthermore, with the guide pin inserted and held, the retaining portion can be similarly expanded to remove the guide pin from the retaining portion. Thus, in the optical connector described above, pins can be attached to and detached from the pin keeper while the pin keeper is still assembled. As a result, the optical connector can be easily switched between male and female without disassembling the optical connector. Furthermore, when a metal plate is used for the pin keeper as in the above optical connector, unlike when a resin part is used for the pin keeper, the pin keeper can be prevented from becoming unnecessarily thick due to molding reasons, etc., and therefore the pin keeper can be made as thin as possible while maintaining the mechanical strength required to hold the guide pin. This allows the overall size of the optical connector to be reduced.

[0012] (2) In the optical connector described in (1) above, the metal plate may have a pair of side plate portions, each of which has a slit formed therein, disposed at a pair of positions sandwiching the optical fiber when viewed in the plate thickness direction, and a connecting portion that connects the pair of side plate portions and includes a fiber passage portion through which the optical fiber passes between the pair of side plate portions. In this case, the pin keeper that holds the two guide pins while ensuring a path through which the optical fiber passes can be constructed from a single part. In this case, the number of parts can be reduced and assembly can be simplified compared to when the pin keeper is constructed from separate parts for each guide pin.

[0013] (3) In the optical connector described in (2) above, each of the pair of side plates may include a side edge extending in the arranging direction of the pair of side plates. The slit may extend from the side edge. The side edge may have an opening end of the slit. The housing may have a pair of openings facing the opening ends of the pair of side plates. In this case, an expansion member may be inserted through the pair of openings formed in the housing and abut the expansion member against the inner surfaces of the slits of the pair of side plates, thereby expanding the slit and expanding the holding portion. In the above configuration, if the opening end of the slit is formed on another side edge extending in a direction intersecting the side edge, the side wall of the housing facing the other side edge is likely to be a location where a guide groove for guiding a latch of another component is formed, and the thickness of the side wall is likely to be relatively thin. In this case, if an opening is formed in the side wall, there is a concern that problems such as damage may occur in the area surrounding the opening. In contrast, if a slit is formed on the side edge as in the above configuration, the above-mentioned problems can be avoided.

[0014] (4) In the optical connector described in (3) above, the connecting portion may include a first connecting plate portion connecting the pair of side plates in the juxtaposition direction and a second connecting plate portion connecting the pair of side plates in the juxtaposition direction at a position spaced from the first connecting plate portion. The fiber passage portion may be an opening surrounded by the pair of side plates, the first connecting plate portion, and the second connecting plate portion. In this case, the pair of side plates are firmly supported by the first connecting plate portion and the second connecting plate portion, thereby reducing significant deformation of the metal plate when the expansion member pushes open the slit. This allows for more reliable insertion and removal of the guide pin from the pin keeper.

[0015] (5) In the optical connector described in (4) above, the slit may include an intermediate portion extending from the open end of the side edge portion to the holding portion. When viewed in the plate thickness direction, the center of a virtual circle inscribed on the inner surface of the holding portion may be offset from the center line of the intermediate portion toward the opposite side of the connecting portion in the arrangement direction. When a pair of side plates are connected by a first connecting plate portion and a second connecting plate portion, when the slit is expanded by an expansion member, the pair of side plates tend to deform so as to tilt outward away from each other rather than tilting inward toward each other. As in the above configuration, when the center of the virtual circle inscribed on the inner surface of the holding portion is offset from the center line of the intermediate portion of the slit extending from the side edge portion to the holding portion, when the slit is expanded and the pair of side plates tilt outward, the guide pin is more likely to detach from the holding portion and be removed. This allows for more reliable insertion and removal of the guide pin from the pin keeper.

[0016] (6) The optical connector described in any one of (1) to (5) above may further include a spring arranged on the opposite side of the pin keeper from the rear end face. The metal plate may include a main plate portion facing the rear end face and having a slit formed therein, an auxiliary plate portion arranged on the opposite side of the main plate portion from the rear end face, and a connection portion connecting the main plate portion and the auxiliary plate portion. The auxiliary plate portion may be arranged in a position overlapping the spring when viewed in the plate thickness direction. In this case, the auxiliary plate portion can be easily formed, for example, by sheet metal processing that bends a portion of the metal plate. Furthermore, by arranging the auxiliary plate portion formed in this manner so as to overlap the spring, the end of the spring can be supported by the auxiliary plate portion. In this case, since the structure for supporting the end of the spring can be realized by a portion of the metal plate, there is no need to add a separate component for supporting the end of the spring. Therefore, the above configuration more reliably achieves a configuration that reduces the overall thickness of the pin keeper using a metal plate.

[0017] (7) In the optical connector described in (6) above, the auxiliary plate may have a surface facing the main plate and a back surface facing the opposite side from the surface. The surface may include a recess capable of accommodating the end of the guide pin. The back surface may include a protrusion formed at a position corresponding to the recess and a support portion surrounding the protrusion and configured to receive the end of the spring. In this way, the end of the guide pin is accommodated in the recess formed on the surface of the auxiliary plate, preventing the end of the guide pin from interfering with the auxiliary plate even when the auxiliary plate is brought close to the main plate. Furthermore, the protrusion formed at a position corresponding to the recess fits into the space inside the spring, and the end of the spring is supported by the support portion surrounding the protrusion, preventing the spring from being pressed down by the height of the protrusion formed by the recess. This allows the overall thickness of the pin keeper to be further reduced, thereby enabling further miniaturization.

[0018] (8) The optical connector according to any one of (1) to (7) above may further include a fusion protection sleeve, disposed on the opposite side of the pin keeper from the rear end face, for protecting a fusion splice between a first optical fiber extending from the introduction hole and a second optical fiber fusion-spliced ​​to the first optical fiber, and housed in the housing together with the ferrule member and the pin keeper. When the optical connector includes the fusion protection sleeve, the fusion protection sleeve remains in a hardened state at a position facing the pin keeper, making it difficult to freely move the pin keeper between the ferrule member and the fusion protection sleeve. Even with this structure, the optical connector allows the guide pin to be attached and detached from the pin keeper while the pin keeper is still installed, thereby more effectively achieving the above-described effects.

[0019] (9) A pin keeper according to the present disclosure is a pin keeper for holding a guide pin protruding from a ferrule member of an optical connector. The pin keeper includes a metal plate and a slit formed to extend from a side edge of the metal plate when viewed in the thickness direction of the metal plate. The slit includes a holding portion configured to insert and hold the guide pin. As described above, this pin keeper allows for easy attachment and detachment of the guide pin to and from the pin keeper while achieving a compact size.

[0020] [Details of the Embodiments of the Present Disclosure] Specific examples of the optical connector and pinkeeper of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. The present disclosure is not limited to these examples, but is defined by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims. In the following description, the same elements in the description of the drawings will be given the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted as appropriate. In the following description, "forward" means the direction from the optical connector toward another optical connector to be connected. "rearward" means the opposite direction.

[0021] 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an optical connector 10 according to the present embodiment. The optical connector 10 is connected to another optical connector by being inserted into an adapter. As shown in FIG. 1, the optical connector 10 includes, for example, an optical fiber cable 20, a housing 30, and a boot 80.

[0022] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a cross section perpendicular to the central axis of the optical fiber cable 20. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the optical fiber cable 20 includes, for example, an optical fiber ribbon 21, a sheath (outer jacket) 22, and a tension member 23. The optical fiber ribbon 21 includes, for example, a plurality of (12, for example) optical fibers 211 (second optical fibers) and a resin coating 212 that collectively covers the plurality of optical fibers 211. The plurality of optical fibers 211 are aligned in a row along a direction perpendicular to the central axis of the optical fiber cable 20. The sheath 22 is a resin layer that surrounds the optical fiber ribbon 21. The sheath 22 is, for example, cylindrical. The sheath 22 houses the optical fiber ribbon 21 therein. The tension member 23 is, for example, a fibrous member disposed between the optical fiber ribbon 21 and the sheath 22. When a pulling force is applied to the optical fiber cable 20, the tension member 23 resists the force, thereby preventing the optical fiber 211 from breaking.

[0023] 1 again, the housing 30 is a housing that houses the front end of the optical fiber cable 20. The housing 30 is made of, for example, a resin material. The housing 30 has, for example, a hollow cylindrical shape.

[0024] The boot 80 is, for example, cylindrical in shape and has an outer diameter that gradually decreases toward the rear end. The boot 80 is attached to the rear end of the housing 30. The boot 80 surrounds and protects the portion of the optical fiber cable 20 that extends from the housing 30. The boot 80 is made of, for example, a flexible resin material.

[0025] Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the front portion of the optical connector 10, showing a side cross section along the central axis of the optical fiber ribbon 21. As shown in Fig. 3, the housing 30 has, for example, a front housing 31, a rear housing 32, and an outer housing 33. Each of the front housing 31, the rear housing 32, and the outer housing 33 is, for example, hollow and tubular. The front housing 31 is disposed forward of the rear housing 32. The front housing 31 is housed in the outer housing 33. The outer housing 33 is attached to the outside of the front housing 31 so as to be freely movable in the front-rear direction.

[0026] The front housing 31 is formed with engagement holes 312 into which latches 322 of the rear housing 32 engage. The rear housing 32 is connected to the front housing 31 in the front-rear direction by fitting the latches 322 into the engagement holes 312. The optical fiber ribbon 21 extends forward from the tip of the optical fiber cable 20 in the internal space formed by the front housing 31 and the rear housing 32. At the tip of the optical fiber ribbon 21, the resin coating 212 is removed, so that the plurality of optical fibers 211 are exposed from the resin coating 212.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 3, the optical connector 10 further includes, for example, a fusion protection sleeve 12, a compression coil spring 13 (spring), a ferrule member 40, and a pin keeper 50.

[0028] The ferrule member 40 is provided at the front end of the optical connector 10. A front end face 41 of the ferrule member 40 abuts against a ferrule member of another optical connector to which the optical connector 10 is to be connected. A guide pin 42 protrudes from the front end face 41 for positioning with the ferrule member of the other optical connector. The guide pin 42 is inserted into a guide hole 49 (see FIG. 5 ) that penetrates from the front end face 41 to the rear end face 46. The ferrule member 40 is made of, for example, a resin material. The material of the ferrule member 40 may be, for example, an engineering plastic such as polyphenylene sulfide (PPS).

[0029] The ferrule member 40 protrudes forward from an opening 311 formed in the front end surface of the front housing 31. The ferrule member 40 has a plurality of fiber holes 48 (see FIG. 5 ) for inserting a plurality of embedded fibers 43 (first optical fibers). The ferrule member 40 holds each embedded fiber 43 by accommodating the tip end of each embedded fiber 43 in each fiber hole 48. The number of embedded fibers 43 is the same as the number of optical fibers 211. The embedded fibers 43 are aligned in a row along the same direction as the optical fibers 211. First end faces of the embedded fibers 43 are exposed at the front end surface 41 of the ferrule member 40 and come into contact with end faces of multiple optical fibers held in a ferrule member of another optical connector. This allows each embedded fiber 43 to be optically coupled to a corresponding optical fiber of the other optical connector.

[0030] The pin keeper 50 is made of a metal material and is formed, for example, by subjecting a metal plate to sheet metal processing and bending. The pin keeper 50 is disposed opposite the rear end surface 46 of the ferrule element 40 and holds the base end of the guide pin 42 inserted into the ferrule element 40.

[0031] The multiple embedded fibers 43 extend rearward from the rear end face 46 of the ferrule member 40 through an opening H55 (see FIG. 5 ) formed in the pinkeeper 50. The second end face of each of the multiple embedded fibers 43 is fusion-spliced ​​to the end face of each of the multiple optical fibers 211. Therefore, a fusion splice 11 is formed between each embedded fiber 43 and each optical fiber 211. The fusion protection sleeve 12 protects the fusion splice 11, the portion of the optical fiber 211 exposed from the resin coating 212, and the embedded fiber 43. The fusion protection sleeve 12 is, for example, tubular. The fusion protection sleeve 12 is formed, for example, from a heat-shrinkable resin.

[0032] The compression coil spring 13 covers the fusion protection sleeve 12 so as to surround the periphery of the fusion protection sleeve 12. A first end of the compression coil spring 13 abuts against the pin keeper 50. A second end of the compression coil spring 13 abuts against a portion of the housing 30. The compression coil spring 13 biases the ferrule element 40 forward via the pin keeper 50. When the ferrule element 40 abuts against a ferrule of another optical connector, the compression coil spring 13 contracts to contact the ferrule of the other optical connector with an appropriate pressing force. When the ferrule element 40 does not abut against a ferrule element of another optical connector, a flange portion 45 provided at the rear of the ferrule element 40 abuts against the portion surrounding the opening 311 of the front housing 31, thereby receiving the biasing force of the compression coil spring 13.

[0033] The front housing 31 accommodates a portion of the ferrule member 40 , the multiple embedded fibers 43 , the pinkeeper 50 , the portion of the optical fiber 211 exposed from the resin coating 212 , the fusion protection sleeve 12 , and the compression coil spring 13 .

[0034] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the rear structure of the optical connector 10. As shown in FIG. 4, the optical connector 10 further includes a substantially cylindrical crimping seat 60 and an annular ring 70. The crimping seat 60 and the ring 70 are located near the rear end of the rear housing 32. The crimping seat 60 and the ring 70 are provided to sandwich and secure the distal end of the sheath 22 and the distal end of the strength member 23 peeled from the optical fiber ribbon 21. For this purpose, the ring 70 is disposed around the crimping seat 60 and is fitted to the crimping seat 60 with the distal end of the sheath 22 and the distal end of the strength member 23 sandwiched between the crimping seat 60 and the ring 70. The strength member 23 is not illustrated in FIG. 4. The crimping seat 60 and the ring 70 are formed, for example, from a metal material or a resin material.

[0035] In the optical connector 10 described above, transmission rates have exceeded 10 Gbps due to increasing demand for communications, achieving transmission speeds of 40 Gbps or 100 Gbps, and there is a demand for upgrading from 10 Gbps to 40 Gbps or 100 Gbps. Here, in the optical connector 10, a state in which the guide pin 42 protrudes from the front end face 41 of the ferrule member 40 is male, and a state in which the guide hole 49 is exposed at the front end face 41 is female. With the above upgrade, it may be necessary to switch between male and female connectors.

[0036] The optical connector 10 according to this embodiment can be switched between a state in which the guide pins 42 protrude from the rear end face 46 and a state in which the guide holes 49 are exposed at the rear end face 46. The optical connector 10 can be freely switched between male and female without disassembling the optical connector 10 or removing it from the optical fiber cable 20. This switching is achieved by inserting and removing the guide pins 42 into and from the ferrule member 40 and the pin keeper 50. The ferrule member 40, the pin keeper 50, and their surrounding structures will be described in more detail below.

[0037] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure surrounding the ferrule member 40 and the pinkeeper 50, showing a side cross section taken along the central axis of the optical fiber ribbon 21. For convenience, the tip of the embedded fiber 43 is omitted from FIG. 5 . Hereinafter, the thickness direction of the metal plate 51 constituting the pinkeeper 50 is defined as the Z-axis direction. The arrangement direction of the holding portions 56, 56 intersecting the Z-axis direction is defined as the Y-axis direction. The direction intersecting the Y-axis direction and the Z-axis direction is defined as the X-axis direction. The Z-axis direction coincides with the connection direction between the optical connector 10 and another optical connector to be connected. As shown in FIG. 5 , the ferrule member 40 includes, for example, an introduction hole 47, a plurality of fiber holes 48, and a pair of guide holes 49, 49.

[0038] The introduction hole 47 extends forward from the rear end face 46 along the Z-axis direction. The introduction hole 47 opens to the rear end face 46 and receives a plurality of embedded fibers 43 collectively. The plurality of fiber holes 48 open to the front end face 41 and extend from the front end face 41 along the Z-axis direction and are aligned along the Y-axis direction. The plurality of fiber holes 48 are connected to the introduction hole 47 inside the ferrule member 40. The plurality of embedded fibers 43 introduced into the introduction hole 47 from the rear end face 46 are inserted into and held in the plurality of fiber holes 48, respectively.

[0039] The guide holes 49, 49 are arranged on both sides of the introduction hole 47 in the Y-axis direction, and penetrate the ferrule member 40 in the Z-axis direction from the front end face 41 to the rear end face 46. The guide holes 49, 49 open to the rear end face 46, and a pair of guide pins 42, 42 are inserted into the guide holes 49, 49. A groove is formed in the outer peripheral surface of the base end of the guide pin 42, running around the circumference. The portion of the guide pin 42 where the groove is formed has a smaller outer diameter than the rest of the guide pin 42, and constitutes an insertion portion 421 that is inserted into and held in the pin keeper 50. The guide holes 49, 49 and the guide pins 42, 42 function as positioning portions that position the optical connector 10 and another optical connector to be connected.

[0040] The pin keeper 50 is housed in the front housing 31 together with the ferrule assembly 40 and faces the rear end face 46 of the ferrule assembly 40. The fusion protection sleeve 12 is disposed on the opposite side of the pin keeper 50 from the rear end face 46. Therefore, the pin keeper 50 is disposed inside the front housing 31 between the rear end face 46 and the fusion protection sleeve 12 in the Z-axis direction. The pin keeper 50 is sandwiched in the Z-axis direction between the rear end face 46 and the compression coil spring 13 that is fitted around the fusion protection sleeve 12.

[0041] Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the pin keeper 50. Fig. 7A is a side view showing the pin keeper 50. Fig. 7B is a plan view showing the pin keeper 50. Fig. 7C is another side view showing the pin keeper 50.

[0042] The pinkeeper 50 according to this embodiment is a member formed, for example, by performing sheet metal processing on a metal plate 51. That is, the pinkeeper 50 has a structure in which a portion of the metal plate 51 is bent. The metal plate 51 is a plate-like member formed from a metal material such as mild steel, surface-treated steel, stainless steel, an aluminum alloy, or a copper alloy. The thickness of the metal plate 51 is, for example, 0.25 mm or more and 1 mm or less. The metal plate 51 includes, for example, a main plate portion 53 and a pair of auxiliary plate portions 58, 58.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 6 , the main body plate 53 is, for example, a flat plate extending along the X-axis and Y-axis directions. When viewed in the Z-axis direction, the main body plate 53 is, for example, rectangular with the Y-axis direction as the longitudinal direction and the X-axis direction as the transverse direction. When the pinkeeper 50 is incorporated into the optical connector 10, the main body plate 53 is positioned to face the rear end face 46 of the ferrule member 40 in the Z-axis direction (see FIG. 5 ). The main body plate 53 includes, for example, a surface 531 facing the rear end face 46 in the Z-axis direction, a back face 532 located on the opposite side of the surface 531 in the Z-axis direction, and four side edges 533, 534, 535, and 536 connecting the surface 531 and the back face 532. In FIG. 7B , the surface 531 is hatched for ease of understanding.

[0044] The front surface 531 and the back surface 532 are, for example, flat surfaces along the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction, and are aligned along the Z-axis direction. The side edges 533 and 534 are, for example, side surfaces extending along the Y-axis direction at both ends of the main body plate portion 53 in the X-axis direction. The side edges 535 and 536 are, for example, side surfaces extending along the X-axis direction at both ends of the main body plate portion 53 in the Y-axis direction.

[0045] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7B , the main body plate 53 includes, for example, a pair of side plates 54 and a connecting portion 55. Each of the side plates 54, 54 is, for example, a rectangular plate with its longitudinal direction in the X-axis direction and its transverse direction in the Y-axis direction. The side plates 54, 54 are arranged at intervals along the Y-axis direction. When the pin keeper 50 is incorporated into the optical connector 10, the side plates 54, 54 are arranged at a pair of positions sandwiching the multiple embedded fibers 43 extending from the rear end face 46 when viewed in the Z-axis direction (see FIG. 5 ). The connecting portion 55 connects the side plates 54, 54 in the Y-axis direction. The connecting portion 55 includes, for example, a first connecting plate 551 and a second connecting plate 552.

[0046] When viewed in the Z-axis direction, each of the first connecting plate portion 551 and the second connecting plate portion 552 has, for example, a rectangular shape with the Y-axis direction as the longitudinal direction and the X-axis direction as the lateral direction. The first connecting plate portion 551 connects the upper ends of the side plates 54, 54 to each other in the Y-axis direction. The upper end of the side plate portion 54 is the first end of the side plate portion 54 in the X-axis direction. The second connecting plate portion 552 is positioned at a distance from the first connecting plate portion 551 in the X-axis direction. When viewed in the Z-axis direction, the second connecting plate portion 552 connects, for example, the lower ends of the side plates 54, 54 to each other in the Y-axis direction. The lower end of the side plate portion 54 is the second end of the side plate portion 54 in the X-axis direction.

[0047] The space surrounded by the side plates 54, 54, the first connecting plate 551, and the second connecting plate 552 is an opening H55 (fiber passage portion) through which multiple embedded fibers 43 (see FIG. 5) pass. The opening H55 is a through-hole that penetrates the connecting portion 55 in the Z-axis direction. When viewed in the Z-axis direction, the opening H55 has, for example, a rectangular shape with the Y-axis direction as the longitudinal direction and the X-axis direction as the lateral direction.

[0048] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7B , a slit 57 including a retaining portion 56 is formed in each of the side plates 54. The slits 57 are formed on both sides of the opening H55 in the Y-axis direction. Each slit 57 extends along the X-axis direction from a side edge 541 of the side plate 54. The side edge 541 is a portion of the side edge 533 of the main plate 53 that is included in the side plate 54. An opening end 571 of the slit 57 is formed in the side edge 541. The retaining portion 56 is formed, for example, midway through the slit 57. The retaining portion 56 is located, for example, in the center of the side plate 54 when viewed in the Z-axis direction.

[0049] 7B , the side plates 54, 54 have shapes that are symmetrical to each other with respect to the center line L53 of the main plate portion 53. The center line L53 of the main plate portion 53 is a line that passes through the center of the main plate portion 53 in the Y-axis direction when viewed in the Z-axis direction. Because the side plates 54, 54 have a symmetrical configuration to each other, one of the side plates 54 will be described in more detail below, and a detailed description of the other side plate portion 54 will be omitted. Hereinafter, the direction toward the center line L53 in the Y-axis direction may be referred to as the inward direction, and the direction away from the center line L53 in the Y-axis direction may be referred to as the outward direction.

[0050] FIG. 8 is an enlarged plan view of the side plate portion 54 of FIG. 7B . In FIG. 8 , an imaginary circle L56 inscribed in the inner surfaces S57, S57 that constitute the retaining portion 56 is indicated by a two-dot chain line. The retaining portion 56 is configured to insert and retain the guide pin 42. The diameter of the imaginary circle L56 representing the retaining portion 56 is larger than the outer diameter of the insertion portion 421 (see FIG. 5 ) of the guide pin 42 and smaller than the outer diameter of the other portions of the guide pin 42 other than the insertion portion 421. Therefore, when the insertion portion 421 of the guide pin 42 is inserted into the retaining portion 56, the guide pin 42 is prevented from coming out of the retaining portion 56. The center C56 of the imaginary circle L56 corresponds to the center of the retaining portion 56.

[0051] The slit 57 extends, for example, along the X-axis direction from the side edge 541 to a position beyond the retaining portion 56. The slit 57 is defined as a space sandwiched between a pair of inner surfaces S57, S57 facing each other in the Y-axis direction. The distance between the inner surfaces S57, S57 in the Y-axis direction, i.e., the width W57 of the slit 57 in the Y-axis direction, varies depending on, for example, the position of the slit 57 in the X-axis direction. The width W57 of the slit 57 may be constant at each position of the slit 57 along the X-axis direction.

[0052] The slit 57 includes, for example, an intermediate portion 573 extending along the X-axis direction from the opening end 571 to the holding portion 56, and a tip portion 577 extending further along the X-axis direction from the holding portion 56. The intermediate portion 573 includes, for example, a tapered portion 574 and a straight portion 575. The tapered portion 574 is a portion where the width W57 of the slit 57 increases as it approaches the opening end 571 in the X-axis direction. The tapered portion 574 is formed so as to guide the expansion member 100 (see FIG. 12B ), described below, into the straight portion 575 when the expansion member 100 is inserted into the slit 57 from the opening end 571. The straight portion 575 is a portion where the width W57 of the slit 57 is constant at each position along the X-axis direction. The width W57 of the slit 57 in the straight portion 575 is larger than the outer diameter of the insertion portion 421 (see FIG. 5 ) of the guide pin 42 and smaller than the outer diameter of the other portions of the guide pin 42 other than the insertion portion 421. Therefore, when the insertion portion 421 of the guide pin 42 is inserted into the holding portion 56, the guide pin 42 is prevented from coming out of the straight portion 575.

[0053] The center line L575 of the straight portion 575, as viewed in the Z-axis direction, is aligned with the X-axis direction. The center line L575 of the straight portion 575, as viewed in the Z-axis direction, is a line passing through the centers of the inner surfaces S57, S57 that constitute the straight portion 575. The center C56 of the imaginary circle L56 is shifted outward in the Y-axis direction (i.e., on the opposite side of the Y-axis direction from the connecting portion 55) relative to the center line L575 of the straight portion 575. As a result, the inner inner surface S57 of the straight portion 575 is smoothly connected to the inner surface S57 of the holding portion 56 without forming a recess. Meanwhile, the outer inner surface S57 of the straight portion 575 forms a recess relative to the inner surface S57 of the holding portion 56.

[0054] The tip portion 577 has an even narrower width W57 than the straight portion 575. The tip portion 577 is formed to make it easier for the slit 57 to be pushed open when the expansion member 100 (see FIG. 12B ) is inserted into the slit 57. When the slit 57 is made easier to open in this way, the holding portion 56 also becomes easier to open. Therefore, the formation of the tip portion 577 makes it easier to expand the holding portion 56.

[0055] FIG. 9 is another perspective view showing the pinkeeper 50. FIG. 10A is a plan view of the pinkeeper 50 of FIG. 7B seen from the opposite side. FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional view of the pinkeeper 50 taken along line A1-A1 in FIG. 10A. The auxiliary plates 58 are plate-like members formed by bending both ends of the metal plate 51 in the Y-axis direction 180 degrees toward the rear surface 532. When the pinkeeper 50 is incorporated into the optical connector 10, the auxiliary plates 58 are disposed on the opposite side of the main plate 53 from the rear end surface 46 in the Z-axis direction (see FIG. 5). The auxiliary plates 58 face, for example, the rear surface 532 of the main plate 53 with a gap in the Z-axis direction. The auxiliary plates 58 are disposed, for example, parallel to the main plate 53.

[0056] 10A , the auxiliary plate portions 58, 58 have shapes that are symmetrical to each other with respect to the center line L53 of the main body plate portion 53. Because the auxiliary plate portions 58, 58 have configurations that are symmetrical to each other, one of the auxiliary plate portions 58 will be described in more detail below, and a detailed description of the other auxiliary plate portion 58 will be omitted.

[0057] The auxiliary plate 58 includes a base end 581 connected to the side edge 536 of the main plate 53 via a connecting portion P51, and a tip 582 (free end) that is not connected to the main plate 53. The connecting portion P51 is a bending portion that connects the side edge 536 of the main plate 53 and the base end 581 of the auxiliary plate 58. The auxiliary plate 58 is formed so as to bend relative to the main plate 53 at the connecting portion P51. A recess 589 recessed from the tip 582 in the Y-axis direction is formed in the center of the tip 582 in the X-axis direction. The recess 589 has a semicircular shape when viewed in the Z-axis direction, for example. The recess 589 is formed to prevent the multiple embedded fibers 43 passing through the opening H55 from interfering with the auxiliary plates 58. Therefore, the multiple embedded fibers 43 that pass through the opening H55 extend rearward without interfering with the auxiliary plates 58.

[0058] 10B , the auxiliary plate 58 is disposed in a position facing the holding portion 56 of the side plate 54 in the Z-axis direction. That is, the auxiliary plate 58 faces the back surface 532 of the side plate 54 in the Z-axis direction so as to overlap with the holding portion 56 in the Z-axis direction. Therefore, the auxiliary plate 58 covers the holding portion 56 when viewed in the Z-axis direction. The auxiliary plate 58 is, for example, a rectangular plate with its longitudinal direction in the X-axis direction and its short side in the Y-axis direction, corresponding to the side plate 54. The auxiliary plate 58 includes a front surface 583 facing the back surface 532 of the side plate 54 in the Z-axis direction, and a back surface 584 facing the opposite side of the front surface 583 in the Z-axis direction.

[0059] A recess 585 recessed in the Z-axis direction is formed on the surface 583 of the auxiliary plate 58. When viewed in the Z-axis direction, the recess 585 extends in an annular shape so as to surround a recess 589 formed in the tip 582 of the auxiliary plate 58 (see FIG. 10A ). The recess 585 functions as a guide pin accommodating portion that accommodates the base end 422 of the guide pin 42 (see FIG. 5 ). The portion of the surface 583 excluding the recess 585 is a flat portion 586 that protrudes relative to the protrusion. The flat portion 586 is, for example, a flat surface along the X-axis and Y-axis directions, and surrounds the recess 585.

[0060] A convex portion 587 protruding in the Z-axis direction is formed on the back surface 584 of the auxiliary plate 58 at a position corresponding to the concave portion 585 on the front surface 583. Similar to the concave portion 585, the convex portion 587 extends in an annular shape surrounding the concave portion 585 formed on the tip end 582 of the auxiliary plate 58 when viewed in the Z-axis direction (see FIG. 10A ). The portion of the back surface 584 excluding the convex portion 587 is a flat portion 588 (support portion) that is recessed relative to the convex portion 587. The flat portion 588 is, for example, a flat surface along the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction and surrounds the convex portion 587. The flat portion 588 functions as a support portion that supports the first end of the compression coil spring 13.

[0061] FIG. 11A is a perspective view showing the relative positions of the guide pins 42, the pin keeper 50, and the compression coil spring 13. FIG. 11B is another perspective view showing the relative positions of the guide pins 42, the pin keeper 50, and the compression coil spring 13. As shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B , when the guide pins 42 are inserted into and held in the holders 56, respectively, the base ends 422 of the guide pins 42 are accommodated in the recesses 585 of the auxiliary plate portions 58 of the pin keeper 50. The base ends 422 may abut against the recesses 585 in the Z-axis direction or may be spaced apart from the recesses 585. A first end of the compression coil spring 13 abuts against the flat portions 588 of the auxiliary plate portions 58 in the Z-axis direction. The first end of the compression coil spring 13 abuts against the flat portions 588, 588 in the Z-axis direction, thereby urging the ferrule member 40 forward via the pin keeper 50.

[0062] FIG. 12A is a perspective view showing the front of the optical connector 10. FIG. 12B is a cross-sectional view of the optical connector 10 taken along line A2-A2 in FIG. 12A. As shown in FIG. 12A, the front housing 31 is formed with a pair of openings 313 for inserting the extension member 100 therein. The openings 313 are formed in positions facing the opening ends 571 of the slits 57 formed in the side plate portions 54 of the pin keeper 50 in the X-axis direction. In other words, the openings 313 are formed in positions overlapping the opening ends 571 in the X-axis direction. As shown in FIG. 12B, the extension member 100 can be inserted into the front housing 31 through the openings 313.

[0063] 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating the operation of expanding the slits 57, 57 using the expansion member 100. In FIGS. 13A and 13B, the surface 531 of the pin keeper 50 is hatched for ease of understanding. As shown in FIG. 13A , when expanding the retaining portions 56, 56 using the expansion member 100, the expansion member 100 is inserted in the X-axis direction from the openings 313, 313 toward the slits 57, 57. The expansion member 100 then abuts against the inner surfaces S57, S57 of the slits 57, 57, expanding the slits 57, 57. At this time, the side plates 54, 54 supported by the first connecting plate 551 and the second connecting plate 552 deform so as to bend outward in the Y-axis direction without bending inward in the Y-axis direction.

[0064] When the side plate portions 54, 54 deform so as to bend outward in the Y-axis direction, the retaining portions 56, 56 also deform so as to expand outward in the Y-axis direction. By expanding the retaining portions 56 in this manner, the guide pins 42, 42 held in the retaining portions 56, 56, can be pulled out from the retaining portions 56, 56, as shown in FIG. 13B . When inserting the guide pins 42, 42 into the retaining portions 56, 56, the retaining portions 56, 56 are expanded using the expansion member 100 in the same manner as described above, and the guide pins 42, 42 can then be inserted into the retaining portions 56, 56. In this manner, by expanding the slits 57, 57, the guide pins 42, 42 can be inserted into and removed from the retaining portions 56, 56. In other words, the guide pins 42, 42 can be attached to and detached from the pin keeper 50.

[0065] The advantages of the optical connector 10 and pin keeper 50 of the present embodiment described above will now be described. In this embodiment, the pin keeper 50 has a metal plate 51 and a slit 57 extending from a side edge 533 of the metal plate 51. The slit 57 includes a retaining portion 56 configured to insert and retain the guide pin 42. In this case, when the slit 57 is expanded, the retaining portion 56 can be expanded in response to deformation of the metal plate 51. In this state, the guide pin 42 can be inserted into the retaining portion 56. Furthermore, with the guide pin 42 inserted and retained, the retaining portion 56 can be similarly expanded to remove the guide pin 42 from the retaining portion 56. In this manner, the optical connector 10 allows the guide pin 42 to be attached to and detached from the pin keeper 50 while the pin keeper 50 remains assembled. As a result, the optical connector 10 can be easily switched between male and female without disassembling the optical connector 10. Furthermore, when a metal plate 51 is used for the pin keeper 50 as in the optical connector 10, unlike when a resin part is used for the pin keeper 50, it is possible to avoid the pin keeper 50 becoming thicker than necessary due to molding considerations, etc., and therefore it is possible to make the thickness of the pin keeper 50 as thin as possible while ensuring the mechanical strength necessary to hold the guide pin 42. This allows the overall size of the optical connector 10 to be reduced.

[0066] As in the present embodiment, the optical connector 10 may include a fusion protection sleeve 12 that protects the fusion spliced ​​portion 11 between the built-in fiber 43 and the optical fiber 211. In this case, the fusion protection sleeve 12 remains in a hardened state at a position facing the pin keeper 50, making it difficult to freely move the pin keeper 50 between the ferrule member 40 and the fusion protection sleeve 12. Even with this structure, the optical connector 10 allows the guide pin 42 to be attached to and detached from the pin keeper 50 while the pin keeper 50 remains assembled, thereby more effectively achieving the above-described effects.

[0067] As in this embodiment, the metal plate 51 may include a pair of side plate portions 54, 54 and a connecting portion 55 that connects the pair of side plate portions 54, 54. In this case, the pin keeper 50 that holds the two guide pins 42, 42 can be configured as a single part while ensuring a path through which the embedded fiber 43 passes. In this case, the number of parts can be reduced and the assembly work can be simplified compared to when the pin keeper is configured as a separate part for each of the two guide pins.

[0068] As in this embodiment, the slit 57 may extend from the side edge 541 of the side plate 54. The front housing 31 may have openings 313, 313 formed opposite the opening ends 571, 571 of the side edges 541, respectively. In this case, the expansion member 100 can be inserted through the openings 313, 313 formed in the front housing 31 and brought into contact with the inner surfaces S57 of the slits 57 of the side plates 54, 54, thereby expanding the slits 57 and expanding the retaining portion 56. In the above configuration, if the opening end 571 of the slit 57 is formed on another side edge extending in a direction intersecting the side edge 541, the side wall of the front housing 31 facing that other side edge is likely to be a location where a guide groove for guiding the latch of another component is formed, and therefore the thickness of that side wall is likely to be relatively thin. In this case, if an opening is formed in that side wall, there is a concern that damage or other defects may occur in the area surrounding the opening. In contrast, when the slits 57 are formed in the side edge portions 541 as in the above configuration, the occurrence of the above-mentioned problems can be avoided.

[0069] As in the present embodiment, the connecting portion 55 may include a first connecting plate 551 connecting the side plates 54 in the Y-axis direction and a second connecting plate 552 connecting the side plates 54 in the Y-axis direction at a position spaced apart from the second connecting plate 552. The connecting portion 55 may have an opening H55 surrounded by the side plates 54, the first connecting plate 551, and the second connecting plate 552. In this case, the side plates 54 are firmly supported by the first connecting plate 551 and the second connecting plate 552, preventing the metal plate 51 from being significantly deformed when the expansion member 100 pushes and widens the slit 57. This allows the guide pins 42 to be inserted into and removed from the pin keeper 50 more reliably.

[0070] As in the present embodiment, when viewed in the Z-axis direction, the center C56 of an imaginary circle L56 inscribed in the inner surfaces S57, S57 constituting the retaining portion 56 may be offset in the Y-axis direction from the connecting portion 55 with respect to the center line L53 of the intermediate portion 573 of the slit 57 extending from the opening end 571 to the retaining portion 56. When the side plates 54, 54 are connected by the first connecting plate 551 and the second connecting plate 552, when the slit 57 is expanded by the expansion member 100, the side plates 54, 54 tend to deform so as to tilt outward away from each other rather than tilting inward toward each other. As in the above configuration, when the center C56 of the imaginary circle L56 is offset from the center line L53 of the intermediate portion 573, the guide pins 42, 42 tend to come off the retaining portions 56, 56 when the slit 57 is expanded and the side plates 54, 54 tilt outward. This allows the guide pins 42, 42 to be inserted into and removed from the pin keeper 50 more reliably.

[0071] As in the present embodiment, the metal plate 51 may include a main plate portion 53 having a slit 57 formed therein, an auxiliary plate portion 58 disposed on the opposite side of the main plate portion 53 from the rear end surface 46, and a connection portion P51 connecting the main plate portion 53 and the auxiliary plate portion 58. The auxiliary plate portion 58 may be disposed so as to overlap the compression coil spring 13 when viewed in the Z-axis direction. In this case, the auxiliary plate portion 58 can be easily formed, for example, by sheet metal processing that involves bending a portion of the metal plate 51. Furthermore, by disposing the auxiliary plate portion 58 thus formed so as to overlap the compression coil spring 13, the first end of the compression coil spring 13 held by the holding portion 56 can be supported by the auxiliary plate portion 58. In this case, the structure for supporting the first end of the compression coil spring 13 can be realized by a portion of the metal plate 51, eliminating the need for an additional component for supporting the first end of the compression coil spring 13. Therefore, in the above-described configuration, the metal plate 51 can be used to more reliably achieve a configuration in which the overall thickness of the pin keeper 50 is reduced as much as possible.

[0072] As in this embodiment, the surface 583 of the auxiliary plate 58 may include a recess 585 that receives the base end 422 of the guide pin 42, and the back surface 584 of the auxiliary plate 58 may include a protrusion 587 formed at a position corresponding to the recess 585 and a flat portion 588 that surrounds the protrusion 587 and receives one end of the compression coil spring 13. In this manner, the base end 422 of the guide pin 42 is accommodated in the recess 585 formed on the surface 583 of the auxiliary plate 58, thereby preventing the base end 422 of the guide pin 42 from interfering with the auxiliary plate 58 even when the auxiliary plate 58 is brought closer to the main plate 53. Furthermore, the protrusion 587 formed at a position corresponding to the recess 585 enters the space inside the compression coil spring 13, and the first end of the compression coil spring 13 is supported by the flat portion 588 that surrounds the protrusion 587, thereby preventing the compression coil spring 13 from being pressed down by the height of the protrusion 587 formed by the recess 585. This allows the overall thickness of the pin keeper 50 to be further reduced, thereby enabling further miniaturization of the size.

[0073] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various other modifications are possible. For example, in the above-described embodiment, an example was shown in which the configuration of the present disclosure was applied to an optical connector 10 of a type that incorporates a fusion protection sleeve 12. However, the configuration of the present disclosure can also be applied to an optical connector of a type that does not incorporate a fusion protection sleeve 12 (in other words, does not have a fusion splice portion 11 inside the housing 30).

[0074] In the above-described embodiment, the side plate portions 54, 54 that hold the two guide pins 42, 42 are connected by the connecting portion 55, so that the metal plate 51 is composed of a single component. However, the metal plate may be composed of two components, one corresponding to one side plate portion and the other corresponding to the other side plate portion. In the above-described embodiment, the pair of side plate portions 54, 54 are connected by the first connecting plate portion 551 and the second connecting plate portion 552. However, the pair of side plate portions may be connected by only one of the first connecting plate portion and the second connecting plate portion.

[0075] In the above-described embodiment, the pair of slits 57, 57 extend in the X-axis direction from the side edge 533 of the main body plate portion 53. However, the pair of slits may extend in another direction from another side edge of the metal plate, for example. In the above-described embodiment, the optical connector 10 is described in a state in which the pair of guide pins 42, 42 are inserted into the ferrule member 40. However, when converting the optical connector 10 into a female connector, the pair of guide pins 42, 42 are no longer necessary, and therefore the guide pins 42, 42 do not need to be inserted into the ferrule member 40.

[0076] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10...Optical connector 11...Fusion splice portion 12...Fusion protection sleeve 20...Optical fiber cable 21...Optical fiber ribbon 22...Sheath 23...Tensile member 30...Housing 31...Front housing 32...Rear housing 33...Outer housing 40...Ferrule member 41...Front end face 42...Guide pin 43...Built-in fiber (first optical fiber) 45...Flange portion 46...Rear end face 47...Introducing hole 48...Fiber hole 49...Guide hole 50...Pin keeper 51...Metal plate 53...Main body plate portion 54...Side plate portion 55...Coupling portion 56...Holding portion 57...Slit 58...Auxiliary plate portion 60...Crimping seat 70...Ring 80...Boot 100...Expansion member 211...Optical fiber (second optical fiber) 212...Resin coating 311, 313...Opening 312...Engagement hole 322...Latch 421...Insertion portion 422, 581...Base end 531, 583...Surface 532, 584...Back surface 533, 534, 535, 536...Side edge 541...Side edge portion 551...First connecting plate portion 552...Second connecting plate portion 571...Opening end 573...Intermediate portion 574...Tapered portion 575...Straight portion 577...Tip portion 582...Tip 585, 589...Concave portion 586...Flat portion 587...Convex portion 588...Flat portion (support portion) C56...Center H55...Opening portion (fiber passing portion) L53, L575...Center line L56...Imaginary circle P51...Connection portion S57...Inner surface W57...Width

Claims

DEPCT691. The optical connector comprises: a ferrule assembly including the rear end surface, an open inlet hole in the rear end surface into which the optical fiber can be inserted, and an open guide hole in the rear end surface into which the guide leg can be inserted. The ferrule assembly holds the optical fiber inlet hole. The leg holder faces the rear end surface and can hold the guide leg protruding from the guide hole. The housing is configured to support the ferrule assembly and the leg holder. The leg holder includes: a metal plate configured to face the rear end surface and a groove extending from the side edge of the metal plate when viewed in the direction of the plate thickness. This groove includes a clamping mechanism configured to allow the guide leg to be inserted and held.2.The optical connector under claim 1, in which the metal plates include: a pair of side plate sections arranged at the pair of positions where the optical fibers are spliced ​​when viewed in the direction of the plate thickness, in which each pair of side plate sections has a groove created in it, and a connector which includes a fiber path section configured to allow the optical fibers to pass between the pair of side plate sections and is configured to connect the pair of side plate sections.

3. The optical connector under claim 2, in which each pair of side plate sections includes a side edge section extending in the alignment direction of the pair of side plate sections, in which a groove extends from the side edge, in which an open end of the groove is created in the side edge, and in which a pair of openings facing the open ends of the pair of side plate sections is created in the housing. 4.The optical connector under claim 3, where the connection includes: a first connection plate configured to connect the pair of side plates in the alignment direction, and a second connection plate configured to connect the pair of side plates in the alignment direction at a position spaced away from the first connection plate, and where the fiber path is an opening enclosed by the pair of side plates, the first connection plate, and the second connection plate.

5. The optical connector under claim 4, where the groove includes an intermediate section extending from the open end of the side edge to the clamping section, and where, viewed in the thickness direction of the plate, the center of the virtual circle attached to the inner surface making up the clamping section shifts to the opposite side of the connector in the alignment direction relative to the center of the intermediate section. 6.An optical connector under one of the claims 1 through 5, which is further incorporated with a spring arranged on opposite sides of the rear end surface with a leg support sandwiched between them, where the metal plates include: a main plate configured to face the rear end surface and with a groove created in it; an auxiliary plate arranged on the opposite side of the rear end surface across the main plate; and a connector configured to connect the main plate to the auxiliary plate, and where the auxiliary plate is arranged in a position that overlaps the spring when viewed in the direction of the plate thickness.

7. An optical connector under claim 6, where the auxiliary plate has: a front surface facing the main plate and a rear surface facing the opposite side of the front surface, where the front surface includes a recess capable of accommodating the end of the guide leg, and where the rear surface includes: a projection created in a position corresponding to the recess, and a support configured to surround the projection and receive the end of the spring. 8.An optical connector as described in any of the claims 1 through 7, which is further incorporated with a fuse sleeve arranged on opposite sides of the rear end surface, with a leg holder sandwiched between them, and configured to protect the fuse joint between the first optical fiber, which is configured to extend from the intake port, and the second optical fiber, which is fused to the first optical fiber, in which the fuse sleeve is supported within the housing together with the ferrule assembly and leg holder.

9. The leg holder for securing the guide leg protruding from the ferrule assembly of the optical connector, which the leg holder incorporates: a metal plate and a groove constructed extending from the side edge of the metal plate when viewed in the direction of the plate thickness, where the groove includes a gripping element configured to allow the guide leg to be inserted and secured;

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