JPH0732603U - Optical fiber connector - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To provide an optical fiber connector capable of improving workability at the time of wiring and allowing optical fibers to be wired compactly. An optical fiber connector 20 according to the present invention comprises a four-core optical fiber tape 21 forming a connecting optical fiber, a total of four single-core coated optical fibers 22 separated from the four-core optical fiber tape 21, and four cores. The four-core MT optical connector 23 attached to the tip of the optical fiber tape 21, a total of four single-core MT optical connectors 24 attached to the tip of each single-core coated optical fiber 22, and the connectors 23 and 24, respectively. Since it is composed of the case 25 fixed to both ends and the four-core optical fiber tape 21 and the protective plate 26 covering each single-core coated optical fiber 22, it is possible to easily connect the optical fiber tapes having different numbers of cores. Moreover, since the connecting optical fiber and the optical connector are housed in the case 25, workability at the time of wiring is improved.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to an optical fiber connector for connecting optical fibers having different numbers of fiber cores or different pitches between fiber centers.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 Currently, in order to provide broadband services such as CATV and high-definition television, the construction of a subscriber optical line network connecting telephone stations and users is being actively promoted. To construct such an optical line network, an optical fiber tape in which a plurality of optical fiber element wires are collectively covered is used. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, four optical fibers 1 covered with a covering material 2 are arranged in four rows in the width direction, and the covering materials 3 are collectively covered to form a four-core optical fiber. The fiber tape 4 is formed. In addition, research and development of multi-core batch connection technology for connecting the individual wires of optical fiber tape has led to dramatic improvements in cost and efficiency in the construction of optical fiber networks.

By the way, in the wiring from the telephone station to the user's terminal device, it is necessary to connect the optical fiber tape to the minimum or single-core optical fiber. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9, a core number conversion (Fan-Out) code in which optical connectors having different numbers of cores are attached to both ends is used. That is, the core number conversion code 5 shown in FIG. 9 (a) is a four-core optical fiber tape 4 having a four-core MT (Mechanically Transferable) optical connector 6 attached to one end, and a total of four single-core fibers are separated by a tape separating unit 7. In addition to being separated into the coated optical fibers 8, a single-core MT optical connector 9 is attached to each single-core coated optical fiber 8 so as to connect the four-core optical fiber tape and a total of four single-core optical fibers. It has become. Further, the core number conversion code 10 shown in FIG. 9 (b) is separated into a total of two two-fiber optical fiber tapes 11 by the same tape separating section 7 as described above, and each optical fiber tape 11 has a two-core MT optical fiber. The connector 12 is attached. As shown in FIG. 10, taking a 4-core MT optical connector 6 as an example, an optical fiber tape 4 is inserted and fixed in a highly accurately molded connector ferrule 6 a, and each optical fiber strand is attached to the tip of the connector ferrule 6 a. The end face of 1 is exposed. Further, a total of two holes 6b are provided on the end face of the connector ferrule 6a, and by inserting the fitting pin 13 into the hole 6b of the optical connector 6 connected to each other, the respective optical fiber strands 1 are aligned. . Then, by sandwiching the connector ferrule 6a of each optical connector 6 with the clip 14, the connection of each optical connector 6 is completed.

A large number of optical cabinet housing parts 16 are housed inside the optical cabinet 15 shown in FIG. 11, and the optical fibers wired in the respective optical cabinet housing parts 16 are connected using the above-mentioned core number conversion cord. ing. That is, in FIG. 12 (a), the 4-core optical fiber tape 4 is connected to the core number conversion cord 5 via the 4-core MT optical connector 6, and the core number conversion cord 5 is connected via the single-core MT optical connector 9. Up to four single-core coated optical fibers 8 can be connected. Further, in FIG. 12B, the 4-fiber optical fiber tape 4 is connected to the core number conversion cord 10 via the 4-core MT optical connector 6, and the core number conversion cord 10 is connected via the 2-core MT optical connector 12. Two two-fiber optical fiber tapes 11 are connected.

Further, it has been considered to mount the optical fiber tape in the optical fiber cable at a high density by reducing the coating diameter of the coated optical fiber and reducing the thickness of the optical fiber tape. There is. By reducing the coating diameter of these optical fiber tapes, the pitch between the fiber centers becomes narrower than that of conventional optical fiber tapes, and they cannot be easily connected to conventional optical fiber tapes. Therefore, the pitch conversion cord 17 shown in FIG. 13 is used to connect the optical fiber tapes having different pitches between the fiber centers. This pitch conversion code 17 temporarily separates the four-core optical fiber tape 4 having the four-core MT optical connector 6 attached to one end into a total of four single-core coated optical fibers 8 by the tape separating section 18, and coats each single-core coated optical fiber 8. The optical fiber 8 is connected to a 4-fiber MT optical connector 19 having a narrow pitch. Then, using the pitch conversion cord 17, optical fiber tapes having different pitches between the optical fiber centers are connected in the optical cabinet storage component 16 as in FIG.

[0006]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 By the way, when connecting the optical fiber tapes having different numbers of cores or pitches in the optical cabinet housing component 16 by using the conversion code as described above, the conversion code has an extra length, and therefore, as shown in FIG. You have to bend and wire the cord. However, when the optical fiber is bent, the optical loss increases and the risk of breakage increases, so that the conversion cord cannot be bent extremely small. For this reason, the conversion cord must be bent and stored in a limited space in the optical cabinet storage component 16 many times while maintaining the allowable bending radius of the optical fiber, which reduces workability during wiring. There was a point. Further, if the conversion cord is bent and wired many times, the storage space for the conversion cord becomes large, so that there is a problem in that the optical cabinet storage component 16 cannot be downsized or stored at a high density.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to improve the workability in wiring and to make an optical fiber compact. It is to provide a connector.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention, in claim 1, connects an optical fiber bundle composed of a plurality of optical fibers and at least one optical fiber divided into a plurality of smaller optical fibers. In an optical fiber connector, an optical fiber connector with a plurality of optical fibers and a plurality of optical fibers with a smaller number of optical fibers are attached at both ends, and an optical fiber for connection is housed in each optical fiber connector. It has fixed cases at both ends and a protective member that covers the connecting optical fiber.

Further, in claim 2, an optical fiber connection for connecting an optical fiber bundle in which a plurality of optical fibers are arranged at a predetermined interval and an optical fiber bundle having a different pitch between the fiber centers. Optical fiber with multiple cores and optical connectors with different pitches between the fiber centers at both ends, and a case in which the optical fiber for connection is housed and each optical connector is fixed at both ends. And a protective member that covers the connecting optical fiber.

[0010]

[Action]

 According to the optical fiber connector of claims 1 and 2, since the connecting optical fiber and each optical connector are housed in the case, there is no need to bend and wire an extra optical fiber as in the conventional case. Workability during wiring is improved.

[0011]

【Example】

 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 (a) is a plan view of an optical fiber connector, FIG. 1 (b) is a side sectional view thereof, and FIG. Is a front view thereof, and FIG. 2 (b) is a rear view thereof.

The optical fiber connector 20 shown in FIG. 1 includes a four-core optical fiber tape 21 forming an optical fiber for connection, and a total of four single-core coated optical fibers 22 separated from the four-core optical fiber tape 21, A four-core MT optical connector 23 attached to the end of the four-core optical fiber tape 21 and a total of four single-core MT optical connectors 24 attached to the end of each single-core coated optical fiber 22 are provided. 23 and 24 are fixed to a common case 25. The 4-core MT optical connector 23 is arranged at one end of the case 25, and the single-core MT optical connectors 24 are arranged at the other end of the case 25 in two rows in the vertical and width directions. A protective plate 26 is attached to the inside of the case 25. The protective plate 26 covers the four-core optical fiber tape 21 and each single-core coated optical fiber 22. In order to reduce the size of the case 25, it is preferable that the four-core optical fiber tape 21 and each single-core coated optical fiber 22 be as short as possible so that there is no extra length.

3 and 4 show a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 (a) is a plan view of an optical fiber connector, FIG. 3 (b) is a side sectional view thereof, and FIG. FIG. 4A is a front view thereof, and FIG. 4B is a rear view thereof.

The optical fiber connector 30 shown in FIG. 1 includes a four-core optical fiber tape 31 forming an optical fiber for connection, a total of two two-core optical fiber tapes 32 separated from the four-core optical fiber tape 31, and four. A four-core MT optical connector 33 attached to the tip of the core optical fiber tape 31 and a total of two 2-core MT optical connectors 34 attached to the ends of the two-core optical fiber tapes 32 are provided. 33 and 34 are fixed to a common case 35. The 4-fiber MT optical connector 33 is arranged at one end of the case 35, and the 2-fiber MT optical connectors 34 are arranged at the other end of the case 35 in two rows in the vertical direction. A protective plate 36 is attached to the inside of the case 35, and the protective fiber 36 covers the 4-fiber optical fiber tape 31 and the 2-fiber optical fiber tapes 32.

In the optical cabinet housing component 16 similar to the conventional example, optical fibers are connected using the optical fiber connector of the present embodiment. That is, in FIG. 5A, the 4-fiber optical fiber tape 4 is connected to one end of the optical fiber connector 20 via the 4-fiber MT optical connector 6, and the single fiber MT optical fiber is connected to the other end of the optical fiber connector 20. A total of four single coated optical fibers 8 are connected via a connector 9. In addition, in FIG. 5B, the 4-fiber optical fiber tape 4 is connected to one end of the optical fiber connector 30 via the 4-fiber MT optical connector 6, and the 2-fiber MT optical fiber is connected to the other end of the optical fiber connector 30. A total of two two-fiber optical fiber tapes 11 are connected via the connector 12.

As described above, according to the first and second embodiments, by using the optical fiber connectors 20 and 30 in both FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b), the optical fiber tapes having different numbers of cores are used. Since the connection is easily performed and the connecting optical fiber and the optical connector are housed in the cases 25 and 35, it is not necessary to bend and wire an extra optical fiber as in the conventional case. Therefore, workability at the time of wiring can be improved, and the optical fiber can be wired compactly in the optical cabinet housing component 16. Further, since the connecting optical fibers in the cases 25 and 35 are covered with the protective plates 26 and 36, damage to the connecting optical fibers can be reliably prevented.

6 and 7 show a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 (a) is a plan view of an optical fiber connector, FIG. 6 (b) is a side sectional view thereof, and FIG. 7A is a front view thereof, and FIG. 7B is a rear view thereof.

The optical fiber connector 40 shown in the figure comprises a four-core optical fiber tape 41 forming an optical fiber for connection, and a total of four single-core coated optical fibers 42 separated from the four-core optical fiber tape 41, The four-core MT optical connector 43 attached to the tip of the four-core optical fiber tape 41 and the four-core MT optical connector 44 having a narrower pitch between optical fiber centers than the four-core MT optical connector 43 are provided. 43 and 44 are fixed to a common case 45. One 4-core MT optical connector 43 is arranged at one end of the case 45, and the other 4-core MT optical connector 44 is arranged at the other end of the case 45. The core-coated optical fiber 42 is inserted and fixed by changing the pitch. A protective plate 46 is attached inside the case 45, and the four-core optical fiber tape 41 and each single-core coated optical fiber 42 are covered with the protective plate 46.

Therefore, also in this embodiment, it is possible to easily connect the optical fiber tapes having different pitches between the fiber centers, and it is possible to obtain the same effect as that of the above embodiment.

[0020]

[Effect of device]

 As described above, according to the optical fiber connector of claims 1 and 2, since it is not necessary to bend and wire an extra optical fiber as in the conventional case, the workability at the time of wiring is improved and the optical fiber is improved. Can be wired compactly. Therefore, wiring can be performed easily and efficiently even in a narrow space, and it becomes possible to realize miniaturization of optical fiber housing parts and the like and high density housing of optical fibers.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view and a side sectional view of an optical fiber connector showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view and a rear view of the optical fiber connector.

FIG. 3 is a plan view and a side sectional view of an optical fiber connector showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view and a rear view of the optical fiber connector.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a wiring state using an optical fiber connector.

FIG. 6 is a plan view and a side sectional view of an optical fiber connector showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a front view and a rear view of the optical fiber connector.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a 4-fiber optical fiber tape.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a core number conversion code.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing a connection structure of an optical connector.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an optical cabinet.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a wiring state using a conventional core number conversion code.

FIG. 13 is a plan view of a pitch conversion code.

[Explanation of symbols]

20, 30, 40 ... Optical fiber connector, 21, 31, 4
1 ... 4-fiber optical fiber tape, 22, 42 ... Single-core coated optical fiber, 32 ... 2-fiber optical fiber tape, 23, 33, 4
3, 44 ... 4-core MT optical connector, 24 ... Single-core MT optical connector, 34 ... 2-core MT optical connector, 25, 35, 45 ...
Case, 26, 36, 46 ... Protective plate.

Claims (2)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. An optical fiber connector for connecting an optical fiber bundle composed of a plurality of optical fibers and at least one optical fiber divided into a plurality of smaller optical fibers, and A connection optical fiber in which a connector and a plurality of optical connectors each having a smaller number of cores are attached at both ends, a case in which the connection optical fiber is housed and each optical connector is fixed at each end, and the connection optical fiber is covered. An optical fiber connector provided with a protection member. 2. An optical fiber connector for connecting an optical fiber bundle in which a plurality of optical fibers are arranged at a predetermined interval and an optical fiber bundle having a different pitch between fiber centers, Number of optical connectors and optical fibers with different pitches between the fiber centers are attached at both ends, a case in which the optical fibers for connection are housed and each optical connector is fixed at both ends, and an optical fiber for connection is provided. An optical fiber connector provided with a protective member for covering.