Optical connector and housing for optical connector

• US 6,179,482 B1
• Filed: 10/06/1999
• Issued: 01/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fujikura Limited, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
• Original Assignee: Fujikura Limited
• Inventors: Furukawa, Shin-ichi, Takizawa, Kazuhiro, Hogari, Kazuo, Tamaki, Yasuhiro, Arikawa, Toru, Yokosuka, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Palmer, Phan T. H.
• Application Number:
  US09/341,554
• Time in Patent Office: 482 Days
• Field of Search: 385/81, 385/17, 385/53, 385/56, 385/58, 385/59, 385/60, 385/64, 385/72, 385/76, 385/77, 385/78, 385/83, 385/84, 385/85, 385/86, 385/88, 385/92, 439/139
• US Class Current: 385/81
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3806 Semi-permanent connections, i.e. wherein the mechanical means keeping the fibres aligned allow for removal of the fibres dismountable connectors G02B6/3807
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3821 with axial spring biasing or loading means G02B6/3847 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3838 using grooves for light guides
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3846 with fibre stubs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3862 radially-compressed, longitudinally-split ferrules consisting of a pair of identical matching halves
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3869 Mounting ferrules to connector body, i.e. plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3893 Push-pull type, e.g. snap-in, push-on

Abstract

An optical connector is provided where an biasing device 26 which biases a ferrule 24 having an optical fiber 22 secured thereinside and a tip end face 23 which has been polished, in a tip end face 23 direction, is located to the rear of a connection mechanism 25 for connecting the optical fiber 22 on the ferrule 24 side and a separately inserted optical fiber 22a, at a rear end side of the ferrule 24 opposite to the front end face 23. The connection mechanism 25 has a construction which uses a mechanical splice, and is opened and closed by a release member inserted into an insertion opening 39 which is opened along an alignment axis direction. Hence the opening and closing operation does not interfere with the biasing device 26, so that operability is improved. Moreover, for this type optical connector there is provided an optical connector housing 21 which accommodates the ferrule. With this optical connector housing 21, by merely inserting the ferrule, the connection mechanism 25 for connecting the pair for optical fibers at the rear end side of the ferrule, and the stop ring 27 accommodating the connection mechanism 25, then assembly can be simply performed so that workability in assembling the optical connector is improved.

Claims

1. An optical connector comprising:

a housing 21, a ferrule having an optical fiber secured thereinside and a flat tip end face capable of optical connection with another optical component, a connection mechanism located at a rear end side of said ferrule opposite to said tip end face, for positionally aligning and butt connecting and clamping a portion of said optical fiber protruding from a rear end of said ferrule and another optical fiber to thereby maintain a connected condition,

said connection mechanism comprises;

a hilt portion protruding rearward from the ferrule, a cover which together with the hilt portion clamps therebetween the pair of optical fibers to be butt connected, an alignment device for positionally aligning the pair of optical fibers to be connected between the hilt portion and the cover so as to be able to abut against each other, clamping force applying means for applying a clamping force to said hilt portion and said cover for clamping said optical fibers, and an insertion opening for insertion of a release member for pressing between and opening said hilt portion and said cover against an biasing force of said clamping force applying means, and said insertion opening is opened to the side along an alignment axis direction of the optical fiber.

2. An optical connector according to claim 1, wherein said clamping force applying means is a spring material for clamping said hilt portion and said cover with said biasing force.

3. An optical connector according to claim 1, wherein said connection mechanism comprises, said hilt portion protruding from a ferrule holder fixed to said ferrule, and a plurality of covers which together with said hilt portion clamp therebetween said optical fiber, and said covers can be individually displaced with respect to said hilt portion.

4. A housing for an optical connector constructed so as to be able to accommodate a ferrule having an optical fiber secured thereinside and a flat tip end face capable of optical connection with another optical component,

said housing comprises:

thereinside an engagement protrusion for accommodation in a location groove formed in a ferrule holder fixed to said ferrule, and a ring portion accommodating socket for accommodating a ring portion protruding from said ferrule holder; and

an inclined lip for engaging with a ring-shape protruding portion protruding from a stop ring for accommodating a connection mechanism assembled at a rear end side of said ferrule opposite to said tip end face; and

said connection mechanism being constructed so as to positionally align and clamp said optical fiber protruding from a rear end portion of said ferrule and another optical fiber to thereby maintain an butt connected condition,

wherein, when said stop ring accommodating said connection mechanism is inserted, assembly is effected by accommodating said engagement protrusion in said location groove of said ferrule, accommodating said ring portion in said ring portion accommodating socket, and engaging said ring-shape protruding portion with said inclined lip.

5. An optical connector comprising:

a ferrule having an optical fiber secured thereinside and a flat tip end face capable of optical connection with another optical component, a connection mechanism for positionally aligning and butt connecting and clamping said optical fiber protruding from a rear end side of said ferrule opposite to said tip end face and another optical fiber to thereby maintain a connected condition, and a housing for accommodating said ferrule, and an insertion opening for insertion of a release member for opening and closing said connection mechanism is opened on a side face.

6. An optical connector comprising:

a housing, a ferrule having an optical fiber secured thereinside and a flat tip end face capable of optical connection with another optical component, a connection mechanism located at a rear end side of said ferrule opposite to said tip end face, for positionally aligning and butt connecting and clamping a portion of said optical fiber protruding from a rear end of said ferrule and another optical fiber to thereby maintain a connected condition, a push-in control member which abuts with the ferrule when pushed rearwards in said housing to set a maximum push-in position, and biasing means for exerting an biasing force on said ferrule towards a tip end of said housing, with a reaction force being taken by said housing or said push-in control member, and

said connection mechanism comprises;

a bifurcated construction component section, an alignment device housed inside said component section for aligning and positioning the pair of optical fibers to be connected so as to be able to be butt connected, clamping force applying means for applying a clamping force to said component section for clamping optical fibers clamped in said component section, and an insertion opening for insertion of a release member for pressing and opening said component section against an biasing force of said clamping force applying means, and said insertion opening is opened to the side along an alignment axis direction of the optical fiber, and

said biasing means is located at a rear end side of said connection mechanism opposite to said ferrule, and applies an biasing force on said ferrule via said connection mechanism, and

said release member can be inserted into and removed from said component section while avoiding said biasing means.

7. An optical connector according to claim 6, wherein said component section of said connection mechanism comprises:

a hilt portion protruding from the rear side of a ferrule retaining part for retaining said ferrule, a cover which together with said hilt portion clamps therebetween the pair of optical fibers to be butt connected, and an alignment device for positionally aligning the pair of optical fibers to be connected between the hilt portion and the cover so as to be able to abut against each other, and by inserting said release member this presses and opens between the hilt portion and the cover against an biasing force of the clamping force applying means.

8. An optical connector according to claim 7, wherein said clamping force applying means is a spring material for clamping said hilt portion and said cover with an biasing force.