Optical waveguides – With disengagable mechanical connector – Structure surrounding optical fiber-to-fiber connection
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-04
2003-03-11
Patel, Tulsidas (Department: 2839)
Optical waveguides
With disengagable mechanical connector
Structure surrounding optical fiber-to-fiber connection
C385S059000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06530696
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical connector used to optically connect an optical component and an optical coupling structure using the optical connector.
2. Related Background Art
In general, an optical fiber cable is optically connected to an optical component through an optical connector that is attached to an end portion of the optical fiber cable. The diameter of an optical fiber is about 0.125 mm. Since the connection loss increases unless the core portion of the optical fiber is accurately positioned, the optical connector and opposite-side optical component must be positioned to each other very accurately. For this reason, in optical connection using the above optical. connector, the optical connector and opposite-side optical component are accurately positioned to each other with guide pins.
An end portion of the optical fiber is placed on the optical connecting surface of the optical connector, and a pair of pin insertion holes for insertion of the guide pins are formed in the optical connecting surface.
Accordingly, end portions of the optical fiber and optical waveguide, optical elements, and the like are arranged on the optical connecting surface of the opposite-side optical component, and a pair of pin insertion holes for the insertion of the guide pins are formed in the optical connecting surface. In optical connection, the guide pins are respectively inserted into the pin insertion holes on the optical connector side to protrude from the optical connecting surface. When the protruding guide pins are inserted into the guide pin insertion holes of the opposite-side optical component, the end face of the optical fiber placed on the optical connecting surface of the optical connector is accurately positioned to the end face of the optical fiber of the opposite-side optical component, optical waveguide, optical elements, and the like.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to an optical connector like the one described above, when an operator or the like attaches the optical connector, from which the guide pins protrude, to an opposite-side optical component, the distal ends of the guide pins sometimes damage the optical connecting surface of the opposite-side optical component, pin insertion holes, or the end faces of optical fibers. If the optical connecting surface or pin insertion holes are damaged, the guide pins rattle or dust or the like is produced. This makes it impossible to align optical fibers with high precision. In addition, if the end faces of optical fibers are damaged, the connection loss inevitably increases. Furthermore, when the operator or the like inserts the guide pins into the pin insertion holes of the opposite-side optical component or removes the guide pins therefrom, the pin insertion holes are scratched and damaged in some cases. Since the guide pins protrude from the optical connecting surface, the optical connecting surface is not easy to clean.
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and has as its object to provide an optical connector that allows high-precision alignment without damaging an opposite-side optical component.
An optical connector according to the present invention is characterized by comprising a ferrule having an optical connecting surface with which an opposite-side optical component is brought into contact, and a pair of guide pins for aligning with the opposite-side optical component, wherein at least one fiber insertion hole into which an optical fiber is inserted and a pair of pin insertion holes into which the pair of guide pins are slidably inserted are formed in the ferrule, one end portion of the fiber insertion hole and one end portion of each of the pin insertion holes are open to the optical connecting surface, and each of the pair of guide pins has a total length larger than a total length of each of the pin insertion holes, the guide pins are coupled to each other on one end portion thereof, axial positions of the guide pins can be arbitrarily changed from outside, and other ends of the guide pins can be accommodated in the pin insertion holes by sliding the guide pins.
According to the optical connector of the present invention, the other ends of the guide pins can be accommodated in the pin insertion holes without making the other ends protrude from the optical connecting surface, and the optical connecting surface of the ferrule can be aligned to the opposite-side optical component with high precision by sliding the guide pins after bringing the optical connecting surface into contact with the opposite-side optical component. This makes it possible to prevent the other ends of the guide pins from damaging the opposite-side optical component in an optical connection process. In addition, the optical connecting surface can be easily cleaned. Furthermore, since the guide pins are slid after the optical connecting surface of the ferrule is brought into contact with-the opposite-side optical component, the guide pins do not scratch the opposite-side optical component in an optical connection process, thereby preventing damage to the opposite-side optical component.
According to the optical connector of the present invention, the other ends of the guide pins are accommodated in the pin insertion holes without making the other ends protrude from the optical connecting surface, and alignment is performed with high precision by sliding the guide pins after bringing the optical connecting surface of the ferrule into contact with the optical connecting surface of the opposite-side optical component. This makes it possible to perform optical connection without sliding the optical connector itself. As a consequence, the degree of freedom in disposing the optical connector and opposite-side optical component increases, and the space efficiency around the optical connector improves. And furthermore, it is possible to decrease a bend-of the optical fiber because the optical connector doesn't slide in the direction of the optical axis of the optical fiber.
An optical connector according to the present invention is characterized by comprising a ferrule having an optical connecting surface with which an opposite-side optical component is brought into contact, and a pair of guide pins for positioning with respect to the opposite-side optical component, wherein at least one fiber insertion hole into which an optical fiber is inserted and a pair of pin insertion holes into which the pair of guide pins are slidably inserted are formed in the ferrule, one end portion of the fiber insertion hole and one end portion of each of the pin insertion holes are open to the optical connecting surface, and each of the pair of guide pins has a total length larger than a total length of each of the pin insertion holes, and the guide pins are coupled to each other on one end portion thereof, the ferrule and the pair of guide pins can relatively move, and the optical connecting surface of the ferrule is located at an extreme tip-portion when viewed from an optical axis direction of the optical fiber while the opposite-side optical component is not connected.
According to the optical connector of the present invention, the ferrule and the pair of guide pins can move relative to each other. When the optical connecting surface of the ferrule is located at the extreme tip portion when viewed from the optical axis direction of optical fibers while the opposite-side optical component is not connected, the optical connecting surface of the ferrule can be brought into contact with the opposite-side optical component while the other ends of the guide pins are accommodated in the pin insertion holes without making the other ends protrude from the optical connecting surface. This makes it possible to prevent the other ends of the guide pins from damaging the opposite-side optical component in an optical connection process and facilitate cleaning the optical connecting surface.
According to the optical connector of the present invention, when an opposite
Kakii Toshiaki
Ueda Tomohiko
McDermott & Will & Emery
Patel Tulsidas
Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd.
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