Optical waveguides – With optical coupler – Input/output coupler
Reexamination Certificate
2001-06-29
2004-06-15
Dunn, Drew (Department: 2872)
Optical waveguides
With optical coupler
Input/output coupler
C385S079000, C385S031000, C385S043000, C385S076000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06751378
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sleeve and an optical connector having the sleeve, which sleeve is put between an optical fiber and a transmitting module or between an optical fiber and a receiving module so as to optically connect the optical fiber and the transmitting or receiving module.
2. Description of the Related Art
An optical connector having a sleeve between an optical fiber and a transmitting module and between an optical fiber and a receiving module is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Registration Application Laid-open No. 6-33443.
The optical connector has a sleeve having a light-leading path with a constant diameter along an optical axis. Therefore, when a light-receiving surface of the receiving module is smaller than the light-emitting surface of the sleeve, a part of signal light transmitted through the optical fiber cannot be received by the receiving module, thereby lowering the transmission efficiency.
When a light emitting diode (LED) is used as a transmitting module, the light emitted by the light emitting diode diffuses, and a part of the light emitted by the light emitting diode cannot enter the light-leading path of the sleeve.
An optical connector, shown in
FIG. 11
, disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2000-304980 has a higher transmission efficiency of the signal light. The optical connector
102
in
FIG. 11
has a receptacle
103
(an equipment-side connector) and a non-shown optical plug to couple the receptacle
103
.
The receptacle
103
has a housing
107
of synthetic resin, transmitting and receiving modules
104
and a pair of sleeves
101
. The housing
107
is formed in a box-shape and has a pair of accommodating chambers
108
opening in the external wall. And, the housing
107
couples with the optical plug shown in FIG.
11
.
The transmitting and receiving modules
104
are accommodated in the respective chambers
108
. A pair of sleeves
101
are installed in the housing
107
. The sleeve
101
has a light-leading path
126
of frusto-conical shape.
One sleeve
101
is arranged between the optical fiber of the optical plug and the light-emitting surface the transmitting module
104
, and the other sleeve
101
is arranged between the other optical fiber of the optical plug and the light-receiving surface of the receiving module
104
in the housing
107
. The sleeve
101
is arranged in the housing
107
in a state that the light-leading path
126
reduces its diameter toward the transmitting or receiving module
104
.
And, a cap
110
is attached to the housing
107
after accommodating the transmitting and receiving modules
104
in the chambers
108
.
The optical plug has a pair of optical fibers, a pair of ferrules, and the plug housing. The pair of optical fibers are arranged in parallel. Each ferrule covers the optical fiber in a state of the end face of the optical fiber being exposed. The plug housing accommodates the ferrule and couples within the housing.
In the optical connector
102
, the signal light from the optical fiber proceeds in the light-leading path
126
while making total reflections on the side portion
125
and gathering as approaching the receiving module
104
.
On the other hand, when the signal light from the transmitting module
104
is transmitted through the sleeve
101
, the light-leading path
126
with the tapered side surface can prevent the light from scattering, thereby improving the transmission efficiency.
With respect to the above prior art optical connector
102
, however, since the sleeve
101
is accommodated in the housing
107
in a state that the light-leading path
126
reduces its diameter toward the transmitting or receiving module
104
, it is difficult to secure the sleeve
101
in the housing
107
such that the sleeve
101
can optically connect the optical fibers and the respective transmitting and receiving modules
104
.
The above structure requires increased man-hours for its assembly work thereby increasing the cost. And also, since the transmitting and receiving modules
104
can not necessarily be optically secured with the optical fibers, the transmission efficiency of the signal light is lowered. Further, the sleeve
101
slips off to an extent of releasing the optical connection.
In view of the foregoing, an object of the present invention is to provide a sleeve and a manufacturing method of the sleeve, wherein the transmission efficiency of the optical connector can be improved and the cost of the optical connector can be reduced with its easier assembly work.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to achieve the above object, as a first aspect of the present invention, a sleeve arranged between an optical fiber and a transmitting or receiving module for optically connecting the optical fiber and the transmitting or receiving module comprises: a light-leading path being in a frusto-conical shape having a small-diameter end face facing the transmitting or receiving module; a peripheral projecting portion projecting in a radial direction from another end portion, being on a side of the optical fiber, of the light-leading path; and an outer tube portion extending in an optical axis direction of the light-leading path from a peripheral portion of the peripheral projecting portion toward the small-diameter end face while covering an entire length of the light-leading path.
As a second aspect of the present invention, based on the first aspect, the peripheral projecting portion is circularly formed coaxially with the light-leading path, and the outer tube portion is cylindrically formed coaxially with the light-leading path.
As a third aspect of the present invention, based on the second aspect, an outside diameter of the outer tube portion is substantially uniform over an entire length of the light-leading path.
As a fourth aspect of the present invention, based on the first aspect, the outer tube portion has a flange projecting annularly in a radial direction from a peripheral surface thereof.
As a fifth aspect of the present invention, based on the first aspect, a lens is formed integrally with said another end portion of the light-leading path convexly toward the optical fiber.
As a sixth aspect of the present invention, based on the fifth aspect, the lens does not project over an optical fiber side end of the outer tube portion.
As a seventh aspect of the present invention, based on the first aspect, an end face of said another end portion of the light-leading path is a light-receiving surface to receive light transmitted by the optical fiber, and a diameter of the light-receiving surface is larger than a diameter of a light-emitting surface being an end face of the optical fiber.
As an eighth aspect of the present invention, based on the first aspect, the small-diameter end face of the light-leading path is a light-emitting surface to emit light transmitted to the receiving module, and a diameter of the light-emitting surface is smaller than a diameter of a light-receiving surface of the receiving module.
As a ninth aspect of the present invention, based on any one of the first to sixth aspects, the small-diameter end face of the light-leading path is a light-receiving surface to receive light transmitted from the transmitting module, and a diameter of the light-receiving surface is larger than a diameter of a light-emitting surface of the transmitting module.
As a tenth aspect of the present invention, a method of manufacturing a sleeve arranged between an optical fiber and a transmitting or receiving module for optically connecting the optical fiber and the transmitting or receiving module, wherein the sleeve comprises: a light-leading path being in a flat-headed conic shape having a small-diameter end face facing the transmitting or receiving module; a peripheral projecting portion projecting circularly in a radial direction from another end portion, being on a side of the optical fiber, of the light-leading path; and an outer tube portion extending in an optical axis direction of the light-lead
Matsushita Junichi
Serizawa Naoshi
Armstrong Kratz Quintos Hanson & Brooks, LLP
Dunn Drew
Pritchett Joshua L.
Yazaki -Corporation
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