Connector holder, optical-electrical converter with attached connector holder, optical connector fixing structure and connector holder assembly method

• US 7,559,702 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2007
• Issued: 07/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujikura Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujikura Limited, NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Nishimura, Akito, Sasaki, Kenji, Yoshikawa, Takashi, Hayashi, Yukio, Fujiwara, Kunihiko, Kurata, Kazuhiko, Sasaki, Junichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Pak; Sung H
• Application Number:
  US11/940,015
• Publication Number:
  US 20080175544A1
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 385/88
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3845 ferrules comprising functional elements, e.g. filters
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3897 Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards G02B6/44528 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3898 Tools, e.g. handheld; Tuning wrenches; Jigs used with connectors, e.g. for extracting, removing or inserting in a panel, for engaging or coupling connectors, for assembling or disassembling components within the connector, for applying clips to hold two connectors together or for crimping tools for cleaning, G02B6/3866; tools in general B25B
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4214 the intermediate optical element having redirecting reflective means, e.g. mirrors, prisms for deflecting the radiation from horizontal to down- or upward direction toward a device G02B6/4246 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4249 comprising arrays of active devices and fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4292 the light guide being disconnectable from the opto-electronic element, e.g. mutually self aligning arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49204 Contact or terminal manufacturing

Abstract

A connector holder fixes an optical connector assembled at a leading end of an optical fiber to an optical module having a light input/output end so that the optical fiber and the light input/output end is optically connected. The connector holder is provided with a holding section for storing at least a part of the optical connector, and a cover section attached to the holding section to be freely opened and closed. The cover section is provided with a cover section main body, and a pressing section which presses the optical connector toward the optical module.

Claims

1. A connector holder that fixes onto a substrate on which an optical input-output terminal has been provided an optical connector that is assembled onto a distal end of an optical fiber whose optical axis direction is different from an optical axis direction of the optical input-output terminal such that the optical fiber and the optical input-output terminal are optically connected, wherein

there are provided a holding portion that houses the optical connector, and a lid portion that is mounted on the holding portion such that it can open and close freely, wherein

the lid portion is provided with a lid portion body, and a pressing portion that presses the optical connector towards the substrate, and

wherein the lid portion is rotatably connected to the holding portion, said lid portion rotating between open and closed positions.

2. The connector holder according to claim 1, wherein the lid portion body is provided with an engaging portion that engages with the holding portion when the pressing portion is pressing optical connector.

3. The connector holder according to claim 1, wherein the pressing portion is formed in the shape of a tongue piece that is able to undergo elastic deformation, and the optical connector is pressed by elasticity towards the substrate.

4. The connector holder according to claim 1, wherein a holder base portion is provided between the substrate and the holder portion, and the optical connector is fixed to this holder base portion.

5. The connector holder according to claim 4, wherein positioning pins are provided on the holder base portion, and the optical connector is fixed as a result of the positioning pins being engaged in pin holes in the optical connector.

6. The connector holder according to claim 4, wherein pin holes are formed in the holder base portion, and the optical connector is fixed as a result of positioning pins that are provided on the optical connector being engaged in the pin holes.

9. The method of assembling a connector holder according to claim 4, wherein

the holding portion and the holder base portion are molded separately and are then joined together.

10. The method of assembling a connector holder according to claim 9, wherein, after the holder base portion has been positioned relative to the substrate, the holding portion is joined to this holder base portion.

11. The method of assembling a connector holder according to claim 9, wherein, after the holding portion has been joined to the holder base portion, the holder base portion is positioned relative to the substrate.

12. The method of assembling a connector holder according to claim 4, wherein

the holding portion and the holder base portion are molded integrally as a single unit.

7. An optical-electrical converter having an attached connector holder that is provided with a connector holder that fixes onto an optical-electrical converter on which an optical input-output terminal has been provided an optical connector that is assembled onto a distal end of an optical fiber whose optical axis direction is different from an optical axis direction of the optical input-output terminal such that the optical fiber and the optical input-output terminal are optically connected, and with an optical-electrical converter, wherein

the connector holder is provided with a holding portion that houses the optical connector, and a lid portion that is mounted on the holding portion such that it can open and close freely, wherein

the lid portion is provided with a lid portion body, and a pressing portion that presses the optical connector towards the substrate, and

wherein the lid portion is rotatably connected to the holding portion, said lid portion rotating between open and closed positions.

8. An optical connector fixing structure that fixes onto a substrate on which an optical input-output terminal has been provided an optical connector that is assembled onto a distal end of an optical fiber whose optical axis direction is different from an optical axis direction of the optical input-output terminal such that the optical fiber and the optical input-output terminal are optically connected, wherein

the connector holder is provided with a holding portion that houses the optical connector, and a lid portion that is mounted on the holding portion such that it can open and close freely, wherein

the lid portion is provided with a lid portion body, and a pressing portion that presses the optical connector towards the substrate, and

wherein the lid portion is connected rotatably to the holding portion, said lid portion rotating between open and closed positions.

13. A holder base portion which has a positioning device that is interposed between a holding portion, which holds an optical connector and is part of a connector holder that fixes a substrate on which an optical input-output terminal has been provided and an optical fiber such that they are optically connected together via the optical connector that is placed on an distal end of the optical fiber, and a substrate, and that positions the optical connector relative to the substrate,

wherein the holding portion comprises a lid portion that is rotatably connected to the holding portion, said lid portion rotating between open and closed positions.

14. The holder base portion according to claim 13, wherein the positioning device is formed by positioning pins that are formed on a base body portion, and the positioning pins engage with pin holes that are formed in the optical connector.

15. A lid portion that is mounted such that it can open and close freely on a holding portion which holds an optical connector and is part of a connector holder that fixes a substrate, on which an optical input-output terminal has been provided, and an optical fiber such that they are optically connected together via the optical connector that is placed on an distal end of the optical fiber, wherein

a lid portion body presses the optical connector towards the substrate and

wherein the lid portion that is mounted on the holding portion such that it can open and close freely,

wherein the lid portion is rotatably connected to the holding portion, said lid portion rotating between open and closed positions.

16. The lid portion according to claim 15, wherein the lid portion body is provided with engaging portions that engage with the holding portion when the pressing portion is in a state of pressing the optical connector.

17. The lid portion according to claim 15, wherein the lid portion body is provided with a top plate portion that is formed by a substantially rectangular main body portion and an operating portion that extends forwards from a front edge of the main body portion, and by side plate portions that are formed on both side edges of the top plate portion and are pivotably mounted on the holding portion of the connector holder.