Optical connector with shutter

• US 6,866,424 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2002
• Issued: 03/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujikura Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujikura Limited
• Inventors: Fujiwara, Kunihiko, Ishikawa, Takaaki, Tanaka, Yuwa
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHIEM M
• Application Number:
  US10/286,436
• Publication Number:
  US 20040062486A1
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 385/55, 385 76- 78
• US Class Current: 385/55
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2006/4297 having protection means, e.g. protecting humans against accidental exposure to harmful laser radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3825 with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3849 using mechanical protective elements, e.g. caps, hoods, sealing membranes G02B6/3816 takes precedence; provisionally see H01R13/44
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3885 Multicore or multichannel optical connectors, i.e. one single ferrule containing more than one fibre, e.g. ribbon type optical ribbon cable G02B6/4403, G02B6/448
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3893 Push-pull type, e.g. snap-in, push-on
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3897 Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards G02B6/44528 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4277 Protection against electromagnetic interference [EMI], e.g. shielding means shielding of electric apparatus H05K9/00, of instruments G12B17/00

Abstract

This optical connector with a shutter is for blocking emitted light from the connected optical connector, such as an optical connector adaptor, provided in a connector hole of a connector housing by using a shutter. In this optical connector with a shutter, the shutter unit is assembled in the center part of the connector housing, and the emitted light in the connector hole from the connected optical connector is blocked by shutter pieces of the shutter unit. Furthermore, an electromagnetic shielding capacity can be obtained without enlarging the optical connector by making the shutter unit from electrically conducting members.

Claims

1. An optical connector with a shutter,

wherein a shutter unit that blocks emitted light emitted from said optical connector is built into a connector housing so that said optical connector and a connected optical connector are connected in a connector hole into which the optical connector and the connected optical connector are inserted and connected;

said shutter unit comprises a body installed in proximity to the communication position between said optical connector and said connected optical connector in said connector hole and tongue-shaped shutter pieces that project into said connector hole from the body and are disposed so as to allow blocking of the emitted light from the optical fiber exposed at the distal end of said connected optical connector; and

the connection of said optical connector to said connected optical connector is made possible as a result of said shutter pieces being pressed down so as to decrease the amount of projection into said connector hole due to said shutter pieces being pressed by said optical connector that has been inserted into said connector hole, and when said optical connector is extracted from said connector hole, said shutter pieces are restored to the positions that allow blocking of the emitted light by the elasticity of the shutter pieces themselves or the urging force of an urging device provided in said shutter unit; and

wherein said connector housing is installed in a connector installation hole formed in an installation wall;

said connector housing is installed on the body of said shutter unit so as to cross over said connector hole, and when the connector housing is installed on said installation wall, a shielding plate, which is a conducting member, is formed that is disposed so as to cover the said connector installation hole almost completely; and

a window that allows said optical connectors to pass through is formed on a part corresponding to said connector hole of said shielding plate, and when viewed from the opening of said connector hole, said shutter pieces are disposed so as to cover said window.

2. An optical connector with a shutter according to claim 1,

wherein said shutter pieces are conducting members.

3. An optical connector with a shutter according to claim 1,

wherein said connector housing comprises two housing halves divided in the axial direction at the center part of said connector hole, and said shutter unit is incorporated into said connector housing so that said shutter unit is supported by said two housing halves in proximity to the joint between said two housing halves.

4. An optical connector with a shutter according to claim 2,

wherein said connector housing comprises two housing halves divided in the axial direction at the center part of said connector hole, and said shutter unit is incorporated into said connector housing so that said shutter unit is supported by said two housing halves in proximity to the joint between said two housing halves.

6. An optical connector with a shutter according to claim 1,

wherein said shutter pieces of said shutter unit communicate so as to rotate freely with respect to said body by a hinge, centered on the axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the axial direction of said connector hole;

said urging device is a plate or pin-shaped spring disposed so as to abut a position offset on said axis of rotation side further than the distal end that extends from the axis of rotation of said hinge parts of said shutter pieces; and

said spring is elastically deformed by the rotation of said shutter pieces that are pressed by the optical connectors that have been inserted into said connector hole, and when said optical connectors are extracted from said connector hole, said shutter pieces are returned to the position that allows blocking the emitted light by an elastic restoration.

8. An optical connector with a shutter according to claim 2, wherein said shutter pieces of said shutter unit communicate so as to rotate freely with respect to said body by a hinge, centered on the axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the axial direction of said connector hole;

said urging device is a plate or pin-shaped spring disposed so as to abut a position offset on said axis of rotation side further than the distal end that extends from the axis of rotation of said hinge parts of said shutter pieces; and

said spring is elastically deformed by the rotation of said shutter pieces that are pressed by the optical connectors that have been inserted into said connector hole, and when said optical connectors are extracted from said connector hole, said shutter pieces are returned to the position that allows blocking the emitted light by an elastic restoration.

10. An optical connector with a shutter according to claim 3,

wherein said shutter pieces of said shutter unit communicate so as to rotate freely with respect to the body by a hinge, centered on the axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the axial direction of said connector hole;

wherein said urging device is a plate or pin-shaped spring disposed so as to abut a position offset on said axis of rotation side further than the distal end that extends from the axis of rotation of said hinge parts of said shutter pieces; and

wherein said spring is elastically deformed by the rotation of said shutter pieces that are pressed by the optical connectors that have been inserted into said connector hole, and when said optical connectors are extracted from said connector hole, said shutter pieces are returned to the position that allows blocking the emitted light by an elastic restoration.

12. An optical connector with a shutter according to claim 4,

wherein said shutter pieces of said shutter unit communicate so as to rotate freely with respect to the body by a hinge, centered on the axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the axial direction of said connector hole;

said urging device is a plate or pin-shaped spring disposed so as to abut a position offset on said axis of rotation side further than the distal end that extends from the axis of rotation of said hinge parts of said shutter pieces; and

said spring is elastically deformed by the rotation of said shutter pieces that are pressed by the optical connectors that have been inserted into said connector hole, and when said optical connectors are extracted from said connector hole, said shutter pieces are returned to the position that allows blocking the emitted light by an elastic restoration.

13. An optical connector with a shutter according to claim 1,

wherein in said shutter unit, said shutter pieces are disposed facing each other on both sides on said body.

14. An optical connector with a shutter according to claim 2,

wherein in said shutter unit, said shutter pieces are disposed facing each other on both sides on said body.

15. An optical connector with a shutter according to claim 3,

wherein in said shutter unit, said shutter pieces are disposed facing each other on both sides on said body.

16. An optical connector with a shutter according to claim 4,

wherein in said shutter unit, said shutter pieces are disposed facing each other on both sides on said body.

18. An optical connector with a shutter according to claim 6,

wherein in said shutter unit, said shutter pieces are disposed facing each other on both sides on said body.

20. An optical connector with a shutter according to claim 8,

wherein in said shutter unit, said shutter pieces are disposed facing each other on both sides on said body.

22. An optical connector with a shutter according to claim 10,

wherein in said shutter unit, said shutter pieces are disposed facing each other on both sides on said body.

24. An optical connector with a shutter according to claim 12,

wherein in said shutter unit, said shutter pieces are disposed facing each other on both sides on said body.

25. An optical connector with a shutter according to claim 13,

wherein communication positions between said shutter pieces and said body face both sides of said body and are positioned so as to be on both sides of said connector hole of said connector housing on the center axis, and said shutter pieces are provided so as to project into each of said connector holes from the communication position with said body.

27. An optical connector with a shutter according to claim 14,

wherein communication positions between said shutter pieces and the body face both sides of the body and are positioned so as to be on both sides of said connector hole of said connector housing on the center axis, and said shutter pieces are provided so as to project into each of said connector holes from the communication position with the body.

29. An optical connector with a shutter according to claim 15,

wherein communication positions between said shutter pieces and said body face both sides of said body and are positioned so as to be on both sides of said connector hole of said connector housing on the center axis, and said shutter pieces are provided so as to project into each of said connector holes from the communication position with said body.

30. An optical connector with a shutter according to claim 16,

wherein communication positions between said shutter pieces and the body face both sides of the body and are positioned so as to be on both sides of said connector hole of said connector housing on the center axis, and said shutter pieces are provided so as to project into each of said connector holes from the communication position with the body.

32. An optical connector with a shutter according to claim 18,

wherein communication positions between said shutter pieces and the body face both sides of the body and are positioned so as to be on both sides of said connector hole of said connector housing on the center axis, and said shutter pieces are provided so as to project into each of said connector holes from the communication position with the body.

34. An optical connector with a shutter according to claim 20,

wherein communication positions between said shutter pieces and the body face both sides of the body and are positioned so as to be on both sides of the connector hole of said connector housing on the center axis, and said shutter pieces are provided so as to project into each of said connector holes from the communication position with the body.

36. An optical connector with a shutter according to claim 22,

wherein communication positions between said shutter pieces and the body face both sides of the body and are positioned so as to be on both sides of said connector hole of said connector housing on the center axis, and said shutter pieces are provided so as to project into each of said connector holes from the communication position with the body.

38. An optical connector with a shutter according to claim 24,

wherein communication positions between said shutter pieces and the body face both sides of the body and are positioned so as to be on both sides of said connector hole of said connector housing on the center axis, and said shutter pieces are provided so as to project into each of said connector holes from the communication position with the body.

5. An optical connector with a shutter,

wherein a shutter unit that blocks emitted light emitted from said optical connector is built into a connector housing so that said optical connector and a connected optical connector are connected in a connector hole into which the optical connector and the connected optical connector are inserted and connected;

said shutter unit comprises a body installed in proximity to the communication position between said optical connector and said connected optical connector in said connector hole and tongue-shaped shutter pieces that project into said connector hole from the body and are disposed so as to allow blocking of the emitted light from the optical fiber exposed at the distal end of said connected optical connector; and

the connection of said optical connector to said connected optical connector is made possible as a result of said shutter pieces being pressed down so as to decrease the amount of projection into said connector bole due to said shutter pieces being pressed by said optical connector that has been inserted into said connector hole, and when said optical connector is extracted from said connector hole, said shutter pieces are restored to the positions that allow blocking of the emitted light by the elasticity of the shutter pieces themselves or the urging force of an urging device provided in said shutter unit; and

wherein said shutter pieces of said shutter unit communicate so as to rotate freely with respect to the body by a hinge, centered on the axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the axial direction of said connector hole;

said urging device is a plate or pin-shaped spring disposed so as to abut a position offset on said axis of rotation side further than the distal end that extends from the axis of rotation of said hinge parts of said shutter pieces; and

said spring is elastically deformed by the rotation of said shutter pieces that are pressed by the optical connectors that have been inserted into said connector hole, and when said optical connectors are extracted from said connector hole, said shutter pieces are returned to the position that allows blocking the emitted light by an elastic restoration.

17. An optical connector with a shutter according to claim 5,

wherein in said shutter unit, said shutter pieces are disposed facing each other on both sides on said body.

31. An optical connector with a shutter according to claim 17,

wherein communication positions between said shutter pieces and the body face both sides of said body and are positioned so as to be on both sides of said connector hole of said connector housing on the center axis, and said shutter pieces are provided so as to project into each of said connector holes from the communication position with said body.

7. An optical connector with a shutter,

wherein a shutter unit that blocks emitted light emitted from said optical connector is built into a connector housing so that said optical connector and a connected optical connector are connected in a connector hole into which the optical connector and the connected optical connector are inserted and connected;

said shutter unit comprises a body installed in proximity to the communication position between said optical connector and said connected optical connector in said connector hole and tongue-shaped shutter pieces that project into said connector hole from the body and are disposed so as to allow blocking of the emitted light from the optical fiber exposed at the distal end of said connected optical connector; and

the connection of said optical connector to said connected optical connector is made possible as a result of said shutter pieces being pressed down so as to decrease the amount of projection into said connector hole due to said shutter pieces being pressed by said optical connector that has been inserted into the connector hole, and when said optical connector is extracted from said connector hole, said shutter pieces are restored to the positions that allow blocking of the emitted light by the elasticity of the shutter pieces themselves or the urging force of an urging device provided in said shutter unit;

wherein said shutter pieces are conducting members; and

wherein said shutter pieces of said shutter unit communicate so as to rotate freely with respect to the body by a hinge, centered on the axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the axial direction of said connector hole;

said urging device is a plate or pin-shaped spring disposed so as to abut a position offset on said axis of rotation side further than the distal end that extends from the axis of rotation of said hinge parts of said shutter pieces; and

said spring is elastically deformed by the rotation of said shutter pieces that are pressed by the optical connectors that have been inserted into said connector hole, and when said optical connectors are extracted from said connector hole, said shutter pieces are returned to the position that allows blocking the emitted light by an elastic restoration.

19. An optical connector with a shutter according to claim 7,

wherein in said shutter unit, said shutter pieces are disposed facing each other on both sides on said body.

33. An optical connector with a shutter according to claim 19,

wherein communication positions between said shutter pieces and the body face both sides of the body and are positioned so as to be on both sides of said connector hole of said connector housing on the center axis, and said shutter pieces are provided so as to project into each of said connector holes from the communication position with the body.

9. An optical connector with a shutter,

wherein a shutter unit that blocks emitted light emitted from said optical connector is built into a connector housing so that said optical connector and a connected optical connector are connected in a connector hole into which the optical connector and the connected optical connector are inserted and connected;

said shutter unit comprises a body installed in proximity to the communication position between said optical connector and said connected optical connector in said connector hole and tongue-shaped shutter pieces that project into said connector hole from the body and are disposed so as to allow blocking of the emitted light from the optical fiber exposed at the distal end of said connected optical connector; and

the connection of said optical connector to said connected optical connector is made possible as a result of said shutter pieces being pressed down so as to decrease the amount of projection into said connector hole due to said shutter pieces being pressed by said optical connector that has been inserted into said connector hole, and when said optical connector is extracted from said connector hole, said shutter pieces are restored to the positions that allow blocking of the emitted light by the elasticity of the shutter pieces themselves or the urging force of an urging device provided in said shutter unit;

wherein said connector housing comprises two housing halves divided in the axial direction at the center part of said connector hole, and said shutter unit is incorporated into said connector housing so that said shutter unit is supported by said two housing halves in proximity to the joint between said two housing halves; and

wherein said shutter pieces of said shutter unit communicate so as to rotate freely with respect to the body by a hinge, centered on the axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the axial direction of said connector hole;

said urging device is a plate or pin-shaped spring disposed so as to abut a position offset on said axis of rotation side further than the distal end that extends from the axis of rotation of said hinge parts of said shutter pieces; and

said spring is elastically deformed by the rotation of said shutter pieces that are pressed by the optical connectors that have been inserted into said connector hole, and when said optical connectors are extracted from said connector hole, said shutter pieces are returned to the position that allows blocking the emitted light by an elastic restoration.

21. An optical connector with a shutter according to claim 9,

wherein in said shutter unit, said shutter pieces are disposed facing each other on both sides on said body.

35. An optical connector with a shutter according to claim 21,

wherein communication positions between said shutter pieces and the body face both sides of the body and are positioned so as to be on both sides of said connector hole of said connector housing on the center axis, and said shutter pieces are provided so as to project into each of said connector holes from the communication position with the body.

11. An optical connector with a shutter,

wherein a shutter unit that blocks emitted light emitted from said optical connector is built into a connector housing so that said optical connector and a connected optical connector are connected in a connector hole into which the optical connector and the connected optical connector are inserted and connected;

said shutter unit comprises a body installed in proximity to the communication position between said optical connector and said connected optical connector in said connector hole and tongue-shaped shutter pieces that project into said connector hole from the body and are disposed so as to allow blocking of the emitted light from the optical fiber exposed at the distal end of said connected optical connector; and

the connection of said optical connector to said connected optical connector is made possible as a result of said shutter pieces being pressed down so as to decrease the amount of projection into said connector hole due to said shutter pieces being pressed by said optical connector that has been inserted into said connector hole, and when said optical connector is extracted from said connector hole, said shutter pieces are restored to the positions that allow blocking of the emitted light by the elasticity of the shutter pieces themselves or the urging force of an urging device provided in said shutter unit;

wherein said shutter pieces are conducting members;

wherein said connector housing comprises two housing halves divided in the axial direction at the center part of said connector hole, and said shutter unit is incorporated into said connector housing so that said shutter unit is supported by said two housing halves in proximity to the joint between said two housing halves; and

wherein said shutter pieces of said shutter unit communicate so as to rotate freely with respect to said body by a hinge, centered on the axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the axial direction of said connector hole;

said urging device is a plate or pin-shaped spring disposed so as to abut a position offset on said axis of rotation side further than the distal end that extends from the axis of rotation of said hinge parts of said shutter pieces; and

said spring is elastically deformed by the rotation of said shutter pieces that are pressed by the optical connectors that have been inserted into said connector hole, and when said optical connectors are extracted from said connector hole, said shutter pieces are returned to the position that allows blocking the emitted light by an elastic restoration.

23. An optical connector with a shutter according to claim 11,

wherein in said shutter unit, said shutter pieces are disposed facing each other on both sides on said body.

37. An optical connector with a shutter according to claim 23,

wherein communication positions between said shutter pieces and the body face both sides of the body and are positioned so as to be on both sides of said connector hole of said connector housing on the center axis, and said shutter pieces are provided so as to project into each of said connector holes from the communication position with the body.

26. An optical connector with a shutter,

wherein a shutter unit that blocks emitted light emitted from said optical connector is built into a connector housing so that said optical connector and a connected optical connector are connected in a connector hole into which the optical connector and the connected optical connector are inserted and connected;

said shutter unit comprises a body installed in proximity to the communication position between said optical connector and said connected optical connector in said connector hole and tongue-shaped shutter pieces that project into said connector hole from the body and are disposed so as to allow blocking of the emitted light from the optical fiber exposed at the distal end of said connected optical connector; and

the connection of said optical connector to said connected optical connector is made possible as a result of said shutter pieces being pressed down so as to decrease the amount of projection into said connector hole due to said shutter pieces being pressed by said optical connector that has been inserted into said connector hole, and when said optical connector is extracted from said connector hole, said shutter pieces are restored to the positions that allow blocking of the emitted light by the elasticity of the shutter pieces themselves or the urging force of an urging device provided in said shutter unit;

wherein said shutter pieces are conducting members;

wherein in said shutter unit, said shutter pieces are disposed facing each other on both sides on the body; and

wherein communication positions between said shutter pieces and the body face both sides of the body and are positioned so as to be on both sides of said connector hole of said connector housing on the center axis, and said shutter pieces are provided so as to project into each of said connector holes from the communication position with the body.

28. An optical connector with a shutter,

wherein a shutter unit that blocks the emitted light emitted from said optical connector is built into a connector housing so that said optical connector and a connected optical connector are connected in a connector hole into which the optical connector and the connected optical connector are inserted and connected;

said shutter unit comprises a body installed in proximity to the communication position between said optical connector and said connected optical connector in said connector hole and tongue-shaped shutter pieces that project into said connector hole from the body and are disposed so as to allow blocking of the emitted light from the optical fiber exposed at the distal end of said connected optical connector; and

the connection of said optical connector to said connected optical connector is made possible as a result of said shutter pieces being pressed down so as to decrease the amount of projection into said connector hole due to said shutter pieces being pressed by said optical connector that has been inserted into said connector hole, and when said optical connector is extracted from said connector hole, said shutter pieces are restored to the positions that allow blocking of the emitted light by the elasticity of the shutter pieces themselves or the urging force of an urging device provided in said shutter unit;

wherein said connector housing comprises two housing halves divided in the axial direction at the center part of said connector hole, and said shutter unit is incorporated into said connector housing so that said shutter unit is supported by said two housing halves in proximity to the joint between said two housing halves;

wherein in said shutter unit, said shutter pieces are disposed facing each other on both sides on the body; and

wherein communication positions between said shutter pieces and said body face both sides of said body and are positioned so as to be on both sides of said connector hole of said connector housing on the center axis, and said shutter pieces are provided so as to project into each of said connector holes from the communication position with said body.