Optical waveguides – With disengagable mechanical connector – Structure surrounding optical fiber-to-fiber connection
Patent
1998-02-12
1999-11-16
Palmer, Phan T. H.
Optical waveguides
With disengagable mechanical connector
Structure surrounding optical fiber-to-fiber connection
385 83, 385 95, 385 53, G02B 638
Patent
active
059845325
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an optical fiber connector used in mechanical splices and the like.
BACKGROUND ART
Conventionally, optical fiber connectors have a structure wherein two optical fibers in mutual abutment are affixed inside the same housing.
Structures for positioning and centering inside such optical fiber connectors include (1) structures wherein the optical fibers are adjoined by inserting them into the ends of a microcapillary, (2) structures wherein the optical fibers are adjoined by laying them in positioning grooves and (3) structures wherein the optical fibers are positioned by being supported in the center of three precision rods or three precision balls. In these optical fiber connectors, a pair of optical fibers is centered and abutted inside a centering device and either adhesively bonded or mechanically wedged into fixation on the centering device.
In these types of optical fiber connectors, the optical fibers are not freely detachable because the connected optical fibers are adhesively bonded so that their reuse becomes impossible, thus leaving the problem that they cannot be used effectively when changing the connections or the like.
Additionally, since extremely high precision is required for the work of inserting the optical fibers into the centering devices, the ease of the work decreases. For example, a microscope must be used in order to insert an optical fiber into a microcapillary, causing a lot of trouble in the work. Consequently, the development of an optical fiber connector capable of improving the ease of centering particularly in on-site work has been desired.
In addition, while structures for guiding the optical fibers to the centering devices through guide grooves or capillaries having low centering precision have been offered, the optical fibers get caught between these guide grooves or capillaries and the centering devices due to the sudden change in the centering precision, thus leaving something to be desired with regard to the ease of the work of inserting optical fibers into the centering devices.
The present invention has been achieved in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and has the object of offering an optical fiber connector wherein the ease of the work of centering the optical fiber is improved, and it is possible to change the connections of optical fibers which have already been connected.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has a structure wherein an optical fiber pinched inside an element by the biasing force of a spring is held by a clamp. Additionally, since a centering mechanism for positioning and centering the optical fibers such as to be capable of being adjoined and connected is provided on at least one or between opposing faces of the base and the lid member which are mutually juxtaposed with a counterpart side, both optical fibers to be connected can be positioned and centered for adjoinment by the centering mechanism for precise adjoinment and connection, and the state of adjoinment of the optical fibers can be maintained by applying pressure between the base and the lid member after adjoinment and connection. Examples of springs include C-shaped springs as mentioned below as well as square springs and others. Additionally, the optical fiber used with the optical fiber connector of the present invention may be either glass or plastic.
If the structure is made such that between the base and the lid member, a wedge insertion groove for inserting a wedge from outside is formed so that by pressing a wedge into the wedge insertion groove, the biasing force of the spring is opposed to push apart the base and the lid member, the element can be opened and closed by means of an insertion and withdrawal operation of the wedge into the wedge insertion groove. When connecting or releasing a connection of optical fibers, the element is opened by inserting the wedge into the wedge insertion groove. As a result, it is possible to switch connections with the optical fiber connector.
By making the struct
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Nishimura Akito
Tamaki Yasuhiro
Tanaka Toshiyuki
Yokosuka Hiroshi
Yoshida Yuichi
Fujikura Ltd.
Palmer Phan T. H.
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