Optical waveguides – With disengagable mechanical connector – Optical fiber/optical fiber cable termination structure
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-02
2003-12-16
Nasri, Javaid H. (Department: 2839)
Optical waveguides
With disengagable mechanical connector
Optical fiber/optical fiber cable termination structure
Reexamination Certificate
active
06663292
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an optical connector, and more particularly to an optical connector as an optical plug used for a multiplex transmission circuit, for example, of a vehicle such as motor vehicle and to an assembly method of the optical plug.
2. Description of the Related Art
An optical connector is used to connect an optical fiber cable with a transmitter, a receiver, or another optical fiber cable constituting the above multiplex transmission circuit.
Because the optical fiber cable is weak in extreme bending and distortion, the optical fiber cable is usually led out of the optical connector straight. In a circumstance, like in a vehicle, that various electric equipment and wiring harnesses are thickly arranged, however, the optical fiber cable is often led out of the optical connector, while being curved in a minimum bending radius.
Though an optical connector disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 10-78534 is known as an optical connector with a curved optical fiber cable, an optical connector
1
shown in
FIG. 11
is used.
Hereinafter, the above optical connector
1
will be described, referring to FIG.
11
. The optical connector
1
consists of a receptacle (not illustrated) and an optical plug
2
to be coupled with the receptacle. The optical plug
2
has ferrule assemblies
3
, a plug housing
4
, and a spring cap
5
.
The ferrule assembly
3
is formed by connecting a ferrule
8
on the end of an optical fiber cable
7
on which a compression spring
6
is arranged. One end of the compression spring
6
abuts against the ferrule
8
.
The plug housing
4
couples with a coupling portion (not illustrated) of the receptacle and has longitudinal accommodating chambers
9
to accommodate the respective ferrule assemblies
3
. And, a claw-like engaging projection
10
is protrusively-provided on each sidewall of the plug housing
4
. (one engaging projection
10
is illustrated.)
The spring cap
5
consists of a lower spring cap
11
and an upper spring cap
12
, which lower spring cap
11
engages the rear of the plug housing
4
.
The lower spring cap
11
has an engaging portion
13
to engage the plug housing
4
and a leading-out direction restricting portion
14
to restrict the direction of the optical fiber cables. The engaging portion
13
is provided with four-sided holes
15
to engage the engaging projections
10
and fiber leading-out portions
16
against which the other ends of the respective compression springs
6
abut and through which the optical fiber cables
7
pass.
The leading-out direction restricting portion
14
curves the optical fiber cables
7
by about 90° for leading them in a lateral direction. The curved optical fiber cables
7
are led outside out of an opening portion
17
provided on the leading-out direction restricting portion
14
. A sidewall of the leading-out direction restricting portion
14
, at a side of a smaller radius of curvature, is provided with a supporting surface
18
curving in a circular-arc. And, another sidewall of the leading-out direction restricting portion
14
, at a side of a large radius of curvature, is provided with engaging projections
19
and ribs
20
to engage the upper spring cap
12
and is formed to make the optical fiber cables
7
curve.
The upper spring cap
12
is formed to cover the leading-out direction restricting portion
14
of the lower spring cap
11
. And, a sidewall
21
of the upper spring cap
12
is provided with four-sided holes
22
to engage the above engaging projections
19
and guide grooves
23
to receive the above ribs
20
.
With respect to the above-described optical connector
1
, however, work efficiency for assembly following the ferrule assemblies
3
having been accommodated in the accommodating chambers
9
of the plug housing
4
is not good.
That is, it is not easy to engage the lower spring cap
11
, in a state of accommodating the curved optical fiber cables
7
in its leading-out direction restricting portion
14
, with the rear of the plug housing
4
, which causes poor work efficiency.
More specifically, after having accommodated the optical fiber cables
7
in the leading-out direction restricting portion
14
, the optical fiber cables
7
are held, the lower spring cap
11
is engaged with the plug housing
4
, and the upper spring cap
12
is coupled with the lower spring cap
11
.
Also, when the lower spring cap
11
is engaged with the plug housing
4
, because the lower spring cap
11
has to be pushed against the compression spring
6
so that the holes
15
engage the engaging projections
10
, the curved optical fiber cables
7
are apt to be moved due to the above movement of the lower spring cap
11
in the leading-out direction restricting portion
14
, which would require repeated curving work for the cables
7
.
The above poor work efficiency causes to increase the assembling cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing, an object of the present invention is to provide an optical connector and an assembly method of an optical connector as an optical plug, wherein the assembly work efficiency is improved and the assembly cost is reduced.
In order to achieve the above-described object, as a first aspect of the present invention, an optical connector as an optical plug comprises: an optical fiber cable; a ferrule connected to an end of the optical fiber cable and constructing a ferrule assembly along with the optical fiber cable; a spring arranged over the optical fiber cable, an end of the spring pressing the ferrule; a plug housing to accommodate the ferrule assembly and the spring; and a spring cap to be connected to the plug housing for supporting another end of the spring, wherein the spring cap has a lower spring cap and an upper spring cap to couple with the lower spring cap, at least one of the spring caps engaging the plug housing, and the one of the spring caps has both of a straight path to straightly lead out the optical fiber cable in an axial direction of the ferrule and a curved path to curvingly lead out the optical fiber cable.
As a second aspect of the present invention, in the structure with the above first aspect, a closing portion to close a leading-out portion for the optical fiber cable arranged in the straight path is formed on the other of the spring caps.
As a third aspect of the present invention, in the structure with either one of the above first and second aspects, the curved path has a fiber cable fixing portion to check restoration of the optical fiber cable being in a curved state and to define the curved path from the straight path.
As a fourth aspect of the present invention, an assembly method of an optical plug, comprising a ferrule assembly, a plug housing, and a spring cap having a lower spring cap and an upper spring cap to couple with the lower spring cap, at least one of the spring caps engaging the plug housing and having a straight path and a curved path both for the optical fiber cable, comprises the steps of: a fiber terminal end treatment step for forming the ferrule assembly by putting a compression spring over the optical fiber cable and by connecting the ferrule to an end of the optical fiber cable; a ferrule assembly accommodation step for accommodating the ferrule assembly in the plug housing; a first spring cap assembly step for accommodating the optical fiber cable led out of the plug housing in the straight path straightly in an axial direction of the ferrule and engaging the one of the spring caps with the plug housing; a second spring cap assembly step for shifting the optical fiber cable from the straight path to the curved path; and a third spring cap assembly step for coupling the one of the spring caps with the other of the spring caps.
According to the above-described structure of the present invention, the following advantages are provided.
(1) Because the straight path and the curved path for the optical fiber cables are provided at least in either one, which engages the plug housing
Armstrong Kratz Quintos Hanson & Brooks, LLP
Nasri Javaid H.
Yazaki -Corporation
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