Optical connector, optical fiber with connector, optical fiber connecting device, and optical fiber connection method

• US 7,331,718 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2004
• Issued: 02/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Bylander, James R., Raider, Wesley A., Yazaki, Akihiko, Morgan, Eric M., Taylor, Kirk L., Yamauchi, Takaya
• Primary Examiner(s): Connelly-Cushwa; Michelle
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chu; Chris H.
• Application Number:
  US10/897,741
• Publication Number:
  US 20050141817A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,306 Days
• Field of Search: 385/60, 385/65, 385/72
• US Class Current: 385/78
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3821 with axial spring biasing or loading means G02B6/3847 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3822 with beveled fibre ends
• 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 6/3855 characterised by the method of anchoring or fixing the fibre within the ferrule G02B6/3854 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3874 using tubes, sleeves to align ferrules
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3877 Split sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/38875 Protection from bending or twisting

Abstract

A plug-type optical connector 10 is provided with a ferrule 22 and an aligning sleeve member 24. The aligning sleeve member 24 receives a portion of the ferrule 22 including an abutting end face 48 inside a bore 58 to prevent staining and damage and uses a movable shutter 54 to prevent light emitted through the ferrule 22 from leaking to the outside. The socket type optical connector 14 is provided with a ferrule 92 and a holding section 94. The optical connector 14 is not provided with an aligning sleeve member and further can hold a coated optical fiber by a holding section 94 behind the ferrule 92 by a radius of curvature of at least a prescribed minimum radius of curvature. Optical loss in the coated optical fiber can be reduced while effectively reducing the external dimensions in the direction of extension of the ferrule 92 at the time of use. An optical fiber connecting device that includes a combination of a pair of optical connectors is also provided to be suitably applied to an optical transmission line laid indoors.

Claims

1. An optical connector comprising a body and a ferrule provided in said body, said ferrule having an abutting end face and a fiber holding channel opening in said abutting end face, wherein:

said optical connector comprises a holding section provided in said body to be spaced from an end face of said ferrule, opposite to said abutting end face, by a predetermined distance;

said ferrule is displaceable in a direction substantially parallel to said fiber holding channel on said body in such a state as to be attached to a distal end of a coated optical fiber; and

said holding section is provided with a holding groove extending in a direction inclined with respect to a direction of extension of said fiber holding channel of said ferrule and wherein said holding section holds said coated optical fiber in a bent position between said ferrule and said holding groove by a radius of curvature of at least a predetermined minimum radius of curvature, regardless of a position of said ferrule on said body, wherein the holding groove includes a plurality of projections that extend into an interior portion thereof and are configured to engage a sheath portion of the coated optical fiber.

2. The optical connector of claim 1, wherein said holding section includes a holding member provided in said body to be movable between a functional position where said holding groove extends in said direction inclined with respect to the direction of extension of said fiber holding channel of said ferrule and a nonfunctional position where said holding groove extends in a direction substantially parallel to said direction of extension of said fiber holding channel.

3. The optical connector of claim 2, wherein said holding section further includes an engaging member provided in said body separately from said holding member, said engaging member being engaged with an optical transmission line member received in said holding groove to statically hold the optical transmission line member in said holding groove when said holding member is placed at said functional position.

4. An optical fiber with a connector, comprising the optical connector of claim 1 and an optical fiber cable containing a coated optical fiber, said ferrule being attached to a distal end of said coated optical fiber.

5. An optical fiber connecting device, comprising:

a plug-type optical connector that includes a first body and a first ferrule provided in said first body and having a first abutting end face, wherein;

an aligning sleeve member insertable in said first body is provided with a cylindrical bore having openings at opposite axial ends, said aligning sleeve member receiving in a part of said bore a certain length of said first ferrule adjoining said first abutting end face and being supported at a predetermined position with respect to said first ferrule, and

said aligning sleeve member having a counterpart connector engagement section projecting in a plug shape outside said first body; and

an optical connector comprising a second body and a second ferrule provided in said second body, said second ferrule having a second abutting end face and a fiber holding channel opening in said second abutting end face, wherein;

a holding section is provided in said second body to be spaced from an end face of said second ferrule, opposite to said second abutting end face, by a predetermined distance;

said second ferrule is displaceable in a direction substantially parallel to said fiber holding channel on said second body in such a state as to be attached to a distal end of a coated optical fiber; and

said holding section is provided with a holding groove extending in a direction inclined with respect to a direction of extension of said fiber holding channel of said second ferrule and to make said coated optical fiber bend between said second ferrule and said holding groove by a radius of curvature of at least a predetermined minimum radius of curvature, regardless of a position of said second ferrule on said body, wherein the holding groove includes a plurality of projections that extend into an interior portion thereof and are configured to engage a sheath portion of the coated optical fiber,

wherein the plug-type optical connector and the optical connector are detachably combinable with each other.