Optical waveguides – With disengagable mechanical connector – Structure surrounding optical fiber-to-fiber connection
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-24
2002-10-08
Nguyen, Khiem (Department: 2839)
Optical waveguides
With disengagable mechanical connector
Structure surrounding optical fiber-to-fiber connection
C385S070000, C385S075000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06461054
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an adapter having a light-shielding shutter and an optical module receptacle having a light-shielding shutter, which are used for optical transmissions executed with optical fibers connected to an optical oscillating device such as a semiconductor laser, etc.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Oscillating light transmitted from an optical oscillating device such as a semiconductor laser, etc., is optically coupled to optical fibers, whereby optical transmissions have been carried out by transmitting the abovementioned oscillating light by the corresponding optical fibers.
FIG. 11
a
is a front elevational view showing one example of an adapter for fitting an optical connector used for optical transmissions.
FIG. 11
b
is a cross-sectional view of an adapter illustrated in
FIG. 11
a
, which is taken along the line A-A′ therein.
FIG. 11
c
is a view showing the bottom view of the adapter shown in
FIG. 11
a
, which is partially cut off along the line A′-B therein. The adapter illustrated in
FIG. 11
a
,
11
b
and
11
c
is an adapter that fits a SC connector used as an optical connector.
The adapter shown in these drawings
FIG. 11
a
,
FIG. 11
b
and
FIG. 11
c
has two square-tubular housings
1
(
1
a
and
b
). One end side of the respective housings
1
a
and
b
is constructed as an insertion port (optical fiber insertion port) of an optical connector, and the housing
1
a
and housing
b
are fixed so that the optical insertion port
2
and the opposite end side are caused to face each other. By inserting optical connectors from the optical insertion ports
2
of the respective housings
1
a
and
1
b
of the adapter along the tubular direction of the respective housings
1
, the optical connectors are fitted to both end sides of the adapter. Thus, by the fitting of the optical connectors, it becomes possible to connect optical fibers secured in the respective optical connectors to each other.
Further, the respective housings
1
a
and
1
b
are provided with a cylindrical ferrule insertion tube
20
and connector engagement portions
15
equipped with an engagement claw
16
at the tip end side thereof. Where optical connectors are inserted into the abovementioned respective housings
1
a
and
1
b
, the tip end sides (connection end face sides) of the optical connectors are engaged by the connector engagement portions
15
, and the end side of a ferrule secured at the optical connector is inserted into the ferrule insertion tube
20
.
The optical fibers provided in one optical connector (for example, the optical connector inserted into and fitted to the housing
1
b
) of optical connectors inserted into and fitted to the abovementioned adapter are connected to the transmission portion side of an optical oscillating device and to the output side of an optical amplifier. The optical fibers transmits light transmitted from the optical oscillating device and light amplified by the optical amplifier, and outputs the light through the connection end face side of the optical connector.
The outputted light is transmitted through the ferrule insertion tube
20
as shown by the arrow line A shown in
FIG. 11
b
and
FIG. 11
c
, and enters an optical connector on the other side(in this case, the optical connector inserted into and fitted to the housing
1
a
).
Also, as shown in
FIG. 11
c
, a bottom groove
10
is formed to fit a fixing metal fitting at the bottom outer wall
11
of the housing
11
. Also, a side groove (not illustrated) is formed to fit a fixing metal fitting, which communicates with the abovementioned bottom groove
10
, on the outer wall of both side portions of the housing
1
. The fixing metal fitting to fix the abovementioned adapter at the fixing portion is provided with a plate provided along the bottom groove
10
of the housing
1
and a plate erect from the corresponding plate along both side walls of the housing
1
, and the shape thereof is channel-shaped, wherein the abovementioned adapter can be fixed at the fixing portion by fitting the bottom groove
10
and side groove of the adapter to the fixing metal fitting.
Further, an optical receptacle used for optical transmissions has a housing whose structure is similar to that of the abovementioned housing
1
, and is constructed so that a package in which an LD (laser diode) module is incorporated at the side opposed to the optical connector insertion port
2
of the housing. This type of an optical module receptacle is constructed so that an LD (laser diode) is incorporated in the abovementioned LD module package, and light transmitted from the LD is caused to enter the optical fibers of an optical connector fitted to the housing.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
However, optical output of a semiconductor laser and an optical amplifier, which are used for optical transmissions, has been intensified in line with high bit rate transmissions in recent optical transmissions. For example, there are cases where the abovementioned optical output exceeds 100 mW through 1W.
There was a problem in that, in a case where an optical connector located at the side which receives light is disconnected by mistake during optical transmissions in which light of such high output is transmitted from the connection end face side of an optical connector fitted to one side of the adapter toward another optical connector fitted to the other side of the adapter, the light which is about to enter the optical connector side at the receiving side leaks from the optical connector insertion port
2
to the outside of the adapter.
Also, there was a problem similar to the above in the case where an optical connector fitted to the housing of the optical module receptacle is disconnected by mistake.
Therefore, in order to solve the abovementioned problems, for example, an adapter that is provided with a cover component
30
as shown in
FIG. 12
, has been proposed. The cover component
30
is to shield light that leaks through the optical connector insertion port
2
when the receiving side optical connector is disconnected. Also, reference number
29
in the drawing indicates an optical transmission portion, and reference number
31
indicates an optical connector fitted to the adapter.
However, in the proposal, since the cover component
30
has a complicated shape, it is difficult to produce an adapter having such a cover component, and production yield was not good. Further, the cover component
30
must be made of a special material to shield the light. Therefore, since a cover component
30
having a complicated shape must be made of a special material, there was another problem in that the cost of the adapter was increased.
Accordingly, the invention was developed to provide an adapter having an inexpensive light shielding shutter and an inexpensive and easily manufactured optical module receptacle having the same shutter, which is able to prevent light from leaking in cases where the light receiving side optical connector is disconnected.
That is, a first aspect of an adapter having a light shielding shutter according to the invention is an adapter having a tubular housing, in which one end portion of the corresponding housing is constructed as an insertion port of an optical connector, through which an optical connector is inserted along the tubular direction of the housing, wherein the adapter is provided with a roughly L-shaped shutter made of a resilient material and having a bottom plate secured along the bottom outer wall of the housing and an erectable portion which is erect from the corresponding bottom plate toward the corresponding optical connector insertion port side and interrupts light transmitted from the other end portion of the corresponding housing side toward the optical connector insertion port side, and a supporting plate having a bottom plate secured along the bottom outer wall of the housing and a side plate erect from the bottom plate along both side walls of the housing, the bottom plate of the shutter plate is placed between the bo
Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP
Nguyen Khiem
Prasad Chandrika
The Furukawa Electric Co. Ltd.
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