JPH036505A - Optical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To utilize the sunshine effectively by holding the sleeves of the center parts of both connectors in the connectors so that they are energized toward connection ends. CONSTITUTION:A sleeve 3 has a fitting recessed part 4 in its tip part and a sleeve 23 has a fitting projecting part 24 which is engaged to a fitting recessed part 4 in its tip part; and those fitting recessed parts 4 and fitting projecting part 24 are fitted and the tip parts of photoconductor cables held in the centers of both the sleeves 3 and 23 collide against each other to transmit light energy. The sleeves 3 and 23 are provided with collar parts 5 and 26 so as to apply a proper force for the collision between both the sleeves 3 and 23 and pressure springs 7 and 27 are provided between the bottom plates 6 and 26 of the optical connectors to press the sleeves 3 and 23 in the colliding directions. Thus, the optical connectors 1 and 20 are provided with the sleeves 3 and 23 while they are energized, and then optical fibers contacts each other with a proper force and excellent optical coupling is attained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an optical connection device, more particularly, to a light conductor cable that connects light from sunlight or artificial light sources collected by a solar light collection device provided on a rooftop ring. One optical connector is constructed by guiding the light indoors through the light emitting end and fixing the light emitting end to the wall surface etc. indoors, while indoors, one end is removably connected to the optical connector fixed to the wall surface etc. indoors. The optical connector has an optical connector at the other end and has an optical radiator serving as a light emitting part at the other end, and when in use, the optical connector of the optical conductor cable is connected to a connector provided on the wall surface. The present invention relates to an optical connector which is connected to the optical radiator and allows the light to be emitted from the optical radiator for illumination or other uses.

Fig. 5 is a configuration diagram for explaining an example of a solar light collection device previously proposed by the present applicant. In Fig. 1, 4o is a transparent protective capsule, 41 is a Fresnel lens, and 42 is a A lens holder, 43 is a sunlight direction sensor, 44 is an optical fiber whose light-receiving end is arranged at the focal position of a Fresnel lens, or an optical fiber cable consisting of multiple optical fibers (hereinafter referred to as a light guide), 45 is an optical fiber or optical fiber cable. A holder, 46 is an arm, 47 is a pulse motor, 48 is a horizontal rotating shaft rotated by the pulse motor 47, 49 is a base for mounting the protective capsule 40, and 50 is a pulse motor.

Reference numeral 51 denotes a vertical rotation axis rotated by the pulse motor 50. The sunlight collecting device detects the direction of the sun with the sunlight direction sensor 43, and the sunlight direction sensor 43 detects the direction of the sun based on the detection signal. The pulse motors 47 and 5 of the horizontal rotation axis 48 and the vertical rotation axis 51
0, respectively, so that sunlight focused by each lens 41 is introduced into a light guide 44 whose light receiving end is disposed at the focal position of each lens. The light guides 44 arranged for each lens are bundled together and led out from the sunlight collecting device as a light guide cable, and guided to any desired location for various uses such as illumination, cultivation of animals and plants, sunbathing, etc. served.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining details for introducing sunlight collected by the lens 41 into the light guide, and in the figure, 41 is a lens corresponding to the Fresnel lens shown in FIG. is a light guide for introducing sunlight focused by the lens 41 and transmitting the introduced sunlight to any desired location. When the sunlight is focused by the lens system, the solar image is The central part becomes almost white light, and the peripheral part contains many light components with wavelengths matching the focal position. That is, when sunlight is focused by a lens system, the focal position and the size of the solar image vary depending on the wavelength of the light, for example.

Blue light with a short wavelength creates a sun image with a diameter of D2 at the position Pl, green light creates a solar image with a diameter D2 at the P2 position, and red light creates a solar image with a diameter of D2 at the P3 position. Therefore, in the case shown in the figure, if the light-receiving end face of the light guide is placed at the position of P, it is possible to collect sunlight containing a lot of blue component light in the peripheral area, and the position of P2 If placed in the P.

If placed in the position of , it is possible to collect sunlight that contains a lot of red light components in the periphery.

If you set the diameter of the light guide to 1 according to the light component you are trying to collect, for example, D for blue, D2 for green, and H for red, you can reduce the amount of light guide used. This makes it possible to most efficiently collect sunlight containing a large amount of desired light components.

Further, as shown in the figure, it is also possible to increase the diameter of the light-receiving end face of the light guide 44 to Do, so that light containing all wavelength components can be collected. In addition, when aligning the light-receiving end surface of the light guide 44 with the focal position of the lens system, in advance,
The socket end face may be fixed at the focal position at the production factory, or the socket end face of the light guide may be made adjustable in the optical axis direction of the lens system, and the user can adjust the light of the desired color. It may be adjusted and fixed accordingly. As mentioned above.

When sunlight is focused by a lens system, the center of the solar image is white light, but the light at the periphery varies depending on the distance from the lens, with blue light when it is close to the lens and blue light when it is far away. is a red-based light, and by adjusting the position of the receiving end, infrared and ultraviolet rays can be removed.
You can obtain light that is effective for sunbathing and growing plants and animals.

Therefore, a solar power collection device as described above is installed on the rooftop,
It is conceivable that the collected sunlight may be guided into a room through a light conductor cable and used for sunbathing, growing ornamental plants, raising tropical fish, etc. In this case, the light guide cable guided from the solar light collecting device The light emitting end of is fixed to the wall of the room to constitute one optical connector of the optical connector, and the other,
Indoors, prepare and use an optical conductor cable that has a connector at one end that can be detachably connected to the optical connector installed on the wall surface and a light emitting end at the other end. Time,
If the guide cable is used by connecting it to an optical connector provided on a wall as described above, it is very effective especially when the present device is installed in a building or the like. In other words, when constructing a building, construction proceeds from the lower floors, but in that case, taking into consideration the height of the building, etc.
Calculate the distance from the optical connector installed on the wall to the sunlight collection device, prepare in advance an optical conductor cable with a length corresponding to the distance, and attach the optical connector on the light emission end side to the tip of this optical conductor cable. The optical fiber cable can be connected and placed at a desired position on the wall in the room, and then the optical fiber cable can be extended each time a room above the room in which the optical connector is installed is expanded. Therefore, if an optical connector is installed on the wall of a room in parallel with the construction work of a building, and the optical conductor cable is extended as the construction work progresses, the device according to the present invention can be installed almost at the same time as the construction is completed. It becomes possible to install.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view for explaining an example of a case where the sunlight collected by the above-mentioned solar light collecting device is used inside a room, and in the figure, 60 is the above-mentioned sunlight collecting device. 61 is a light irradiation stand; the light irradiation stand 61 is , fixed base 62. a movable base 63 movable in the direction of the arrow with respect to the fixed base;
One or more deformable flexible conduits 64 erected on the movable base 63, and a support attached to the tip of the conduit 64 to detachably support the optical conductor cable 60. When in use, the tip of the light guide cable 60 is supported by the support member 65, and the conduit 64 is deformed into any desired shape to direct the light emitted from the light guide cable 60 in a desired direction. When in use, the light-receiving end (not shown) of the optical conductor cable 60 is connected to an optical connector disposed on the wall of the room as described above.

The present invention was made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances.
In particular, one terminal of an optical connector is formed by fixing the light emitting end of a light conductor cable led from a solar collector installed on a rooftop or an artificial light source to the wall of a room, and the terminal is placed inside the room. The object of this invention is to provide an optical connector that connects a light conductor cable to a guide cable and makes it possible to utilize light emitted from the other terminal of the guide cable.

FIGS. 1 to 4 are configuration diagrams for explaining one embodiment of the present invention, and in the figures, 1 indicates the unillustrated tip portion of the optical core cable 44 shown in FIG. 5. The optical connector 20 is attached to the end (not shown) of the optical conductor cable 60 shown in FIG. Connected detachably.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which both connectors are combined, and one optical connector 1 holds an optical conductor cable 2 (corresponding to the optical conductor cable 44 shown in FIG. 5) at its center. A sleeve 3 is provided, and the other connector 20 is likewise provided with a sleeve 23 which holds the light guide cable 22 (corresponding to the light guide cable 6o shown in FIG. 7) in its center. The sleeve 3 has a fitting recess 4 at its tip as shown in FIG. 2(a), and the sleeve 23 has a fitting recess 4 as shown in FIG. 2(b).
) As shown in FIG. The ends of the optical conductor cables that are fitted into the sleeves 24 and held at the center of the two sleeves abut each other to transmit optical energy. In order to support an appropriate force when the sleeves collide, each sleeve 2.23 is provided with a collar 5, 25, and a pressing spring 7 is provided between the collar 5, 25 and the bottom plate 6, 26 of the optical connector. .27 is provided to press each sleeve in the abutting direction.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the optical connector 1,
(a) Figure is a bottom view, (b) Figure is a sectional view, (C) Figure is (b)
) is an enlarged view of section C in FIG.

The sleeve holding member 8 is fitted into the casing 9 and is prevented from rotating by screwing a set screw (not shown) into a set screw hole 10 provided on the side of the casing. A circular fitting hole 14 is provided in the center of the casing holding member 8 . In addition, the casing 9 is provided with a flange 11, and the zero assembly, which can be fixed to a wall surface etc. through the screw hole 12,
Insert six slots into the sleeve holding member 8 from the rear.

After the spring 7 is inserted, it is held down by the bottom plate 6 and integrated with one bag nut 13.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the optical connector 20.

(a) Figure is bottom view, (b) Figure is sectional view, (c) Figure is (b)
) In the enlarged view of part C in FIG. The sleeve holding member 28 is fitted into the casing 29 and is prevented from rotating by screwing a set screw (not shown) into a set screw hole 30 provided on the side of the casing. A fitting protrusion 34 is provided in the center of the casing holding member 28, and a cap nut 31 is provided in the casing 29, which is screwed onto the screw 15 at the tip of the optical connector 1 to secure the connection. To assemble, six sleeves are inserted into the sleeve holding member 28 from the rear, and after the spring 27 is fitted and inserted, they are held down with the bottom punch 26 and integrated with a cap nut 33.

The fitting of both optical connectors is performed by the fitting protrusion 34 and the fitting hole 14, but the fitting surface of the circular fitting hole 14 is attached by a spring 17 as shown in FIG. 3(Q). Forced ball 1
6 is provided. On the other hand, the fitting protrusion 34 is shown in FIG. 4(c).
As shown in FIG. 3, a circumferential groove 36 is provided on the outer circumferential surface. Furthermore, recesses 37 are provided in the circumferential groove 36 at intervals of 60 degrees. The circumferential groove 36 and the ball 16 are spaced apart in the axial direction so that they engage at a position where the sleeve is disengaged.

Therefore, when the single connector is pulled out to the position where the circumferential groove and the ball coincide, both can be rotated, and when the sleeves face each other, the ball 16 is inserted into the recess 37 of the circumferential groove 36.
The sleeves can be joined together by pushing them in.

This advantage is that by using one, two, or three sleeves for introducing light into the optical connector 1, and changing the connecting position of the connector 20 to the sleeves, the optical path can be switched in six or three stages. It can be carried out in one step or two steps.

Note that if the fitting protrusion 34 and the fitting hole 14 are made non-circular, the coupling position can be regulated.

Moreover, the above-mentioned ball and circumferential groove can also be provided on the casing side.

As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, the sleeve is biased against the optical connector, so the optical fibers come into contact with each other with a moderate force for connection. This has the effect of providing good optical coupling.

Further, according to the present invention, the number of optical conductor cables on the light source side is reduced, for example, the number of optical conductor cables on the light source side is one, the number of optical conductor cables on the output side is six, and the connection positions are switched. It can be used in six locations, allowing for more effective use of sunlight. In addition, when switching, if the optical connector is not completely disconnected but rotated by a predetermined amount at a position where the optical connector is pulled out a predetermined amount, that is, at a position where the one-circumferential groove is pulled out to the position of the fitting protrusion, in the illustrated example, 60° When rotated, the next light guide is connected, which has the effect of making switching operations very easy.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 4 are explanatory diagrams of one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
6 is a diagram for explaining an example of a sunlight collecting device previously proposed by the applicant, FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the operating principle for introducing light into a light conductor cable, and FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of how sunlight is used in a room. 1.20... Optical connector, 3, 23... Sleeve, 7
゜27... Spring, 8, 28... Sleeve holding member, 14.34... Fitting portion, 31... Cap nut. Patent applicant Takashi Mori Fig. 6 ((7) ζa No. 5 Fig.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A first light guide cable attached to the light receiving end of the first light guide cable.
and a second optical connector connected to a light emitting end of a second optical conductor cable, the first optical connector and the second optical connector are connected to An optical connector for transmitting light from a second optical conductor cable to which an optical connector is attached to a first optical conductor cable to which the first optical connector is attached, the optical connector comprising: The device has sleeves disposed opposite each other and holding the optical fiber in the center thereof, the sleeve being held within the device so as to be biased toward the connection end. Characteristic optical connectors. 2. The optical connector according to claim 1, wherein the opposing sleeves are fitted at their distal ends, and the end surfaces of the optical conductor cable are in contact with each other. . 3. The optical connector according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a plurality of sleeves are arranged at equal intervals on the same circumference, and a fitting part is formed in the center. Optical connector. 4. The optical connector according to claim 3, wherein the fitting part is rotatably formed, and one fitting surface of the fitting part has a protrusion urged toward the fitting surface. an optical connector having a circumferential groove on the other fitting surface, and a recess in the circumferential groove that engages with the protrusion at a spacing corresponding to the spacing of the sleeve.