Optical waveguides – With disengagable mechanical connector
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-04
2001-01-30
Nguyen, Thong (Department: 2872)
Optical waveguides
With disengagable mechanical connector
C385S088000, C385S092000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06179475
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical connector connecting structure for connecting an internal optical connector in a communication device to an external optical connector outside of the communication device.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the field of optical communication or the like, an optical connector is used to detachably connect optical fibers used as a transmission line. This kind of optical connector has such a configuration as to coaxially butt the polished end faces of optical fibers. If the optical fibers connected by the optical connector are misaligned, a connection loss increases, and it is therefore required for the optical connector to prevent such misalignment in butting the end faces of the optical fibers.
Various types of optical connectors specified by JIS, IEC, etc. are present as the optical connector for use in optical fiber communication. Therefore, an adapter capable of converting to a different type is used to connect different types of optical connectors. Such an adapter is required to connect an internal optical connector in a communication device and an external optical connector outside of the communication device. Conventionally, such an adapter is fixed by screws to a mounting bracket in the communication device.
An adapter for connecting optical connectors of the same type and an adapter for connecting optical connectors of different types are different in structure. Accordingly, in the case that the adapter for connecting the optical connectors of the same type is fixed by screws to the communication device and if the external optical connector is different in type from the internal optical connector, it is necessary to fix an adapter suitable for supporting the external optical connector. In this case, the following troublesome work for exchange of the adapters is conventionally carried out. That is, the adapter previously fixed to the communication device is first removed by loosening the screws, and the adapter supporting the external optical connector is next fixed to the communication device by the screws.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an optical connector connecting structure for a communication device which allows easy exchange of an adapter according to an external optical connector to be connected.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a holder for optically connecting first and second optical connectors through an adapter, comprising a holding means for elastically holding the first optical connector; and a locking means for locking the adapter so as to prevent removal of the adapter from the first optical connector in the condition where the first optical connector is connected with the adapter.
The holder has a plurality of holes for fixing the holder to a printed wiring board, so that the holder can be fixed by means of rivets or the like through the holes. The adapter can be replaced by another adapter according to the second optical connector to be connected to the first optical connector, and the new adapter can be mounted to the first optical connector.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical connector connecting structure for optically connecting first and second optical connectors through an adapter to obtain an assembly and fixing the assembly to a printed wiring board, comprising a holding means fixed to the printed wiring board for elastically holding the first optical connector; and a locking means fixed to the printed wiring board for locking the adapter so as to prevent removal of the adapter from the first optical connector in the condition where the first optical connector is connected with the adapter.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical connector connecting structure for a communication device, comprising a holder fixed to the communication device and having a pair of optical connector holding members and an adapter insertion opening; a first optical connector held by the optical connector holding members; and an adapter inserted through the opening of the holder and detachably mounted to the first optical connector.
With this configuration, the first optical connector can be held by the holder fixed to the communication device. Further, the adapter can be replaced by another adapter according to a second optical connector to be connected to the first optical connector, and the new adapter can be mounted to the first optical connector. Thus, unlike the prior art connecting structure in which the adapter is fixed, the adapter in the present invention can be detachably mounted to the first optical connector through the opening of the holder. Accordingly, the adapter can be selectively mounted according to an external optical connector to be connected to the first optical connector, and the two optical connectors can be easily connected.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention and the manner of realizing them will become more apparent, and the invention itself will best be understood from a study of the following description and appended claims with reference to the attached drawings showing some preferred embodiments of the invention.
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patent: 5129024 (1992-07-01), Honma
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patent: 5-88043 (1993-04-01), None
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English Abstract of Japanese application 5-88043.
English Abstract of Japanese application 5-88044.
English Abstract of Japanese application 9-90150.
Takamatsu Michihiro
Tochiki Yoshinori
Fujitsu Limited
Nguyen Thong
Staas & Halsey , LLP
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