JP2010096981A - Optical fiber connector and assembly method of the same - Google Patents

Optical fiber connector and assembly method of the same Download PDF

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JP2010096981A
JP2010096981A JP2008267562A JP2008267562A JP2010096981A JP 2010096981 A JP2010096981 A JP 2010096981A JP 2008267562 A JP2008267562 A JP 2008267562A JP 2008267562 A JP2008267562 A JP 2008267562A JP 2010096981 A JP2010096981 A JP 2010096981A
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optical fiber
coating
coated
coated optical
fiber connector
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JP5116103B2 (en
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Makoto Koyama
良 小山
Shigeru Tomita
茂 冨田
Masatoshi Shimizu
正利 清水
Yoshiteru Abe
宜輝 阿部
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Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp
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Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify assembly work of an optical fiber connector. <P>SOLUTION: The optical fiber connector is cleaved while coverings remain attached and obliquely grinds corners of a cleaved end face in each covering by arranging fiber guides A10 and B22 for moving a covering attached part of a secondary coated optical fiber 40 between an optical fiber aligning part 21 and an optical fiber grasping part 30 in an axial direction, and a covering removing part 23 having the substantially same or slightly large width as the outer diameter of a part removing the coverings of the secondary coated optical fiber 40 and the inner diameter, and a covering storing part 24. The optical fiber connector slightly protrudes the edge of a bared primary coated optical fiber 41 from the optical fiber aligning part 21 only by inserting the secondary coated optical fiber 40 provided with one end processed in tapered shape, and enables assembly of the optical fiber connector for connecting PC. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

本発明は、光ファイバコネクタ、特に現場での組立作業性に優れた光ファイバコネクタ及びその組立方法に関するものである。   The present invention relates to an optical fiber connector, and more particularly to an optical fiber connector excellent in assembly workability in the field and an assembling method thereof.

光ファイバコネクタでは、コアを伝搬してきた光が光ファイバの端面から出射する際に、コアと屈折率の異なる空気によって反射されることを抑え、良好な反射損失特性を実現する必要がある。この光ファイバの端面における空気との反射を抑える方法として、接続する光ファイバの端面同士の間にコアと同じ屈折率を有する屈折率整合剤を介在させることで抑える方法と、光ファイバのコア同士を直接、密着（Ｐｈｙｓｉｃａｌ Ｃｏｎｔａｃｔ：ＰＣ）接続させることで抑える方法がある。   In the optical fiber connector, when the light propagating through the core is emitted from the end face of the optical fiber, it is necessary to suppress reflection by air having a refractive index different from that of the core and to realize good reflection loss characteristics. As a method of suppressing reflection of air at the end face of the optical fiber, a method of suppressing by interposing an index matching agent having the same refractive index as the core between the end faces of the optical fibers to be connected, and between the cores of the optical fiber There is a method of suppressing by directly connecting (Physical Contact: PC).

従来、コア同士をＰＣ接続するには、フェルールに接着剤で固定した光ファイバの端面を研磨する必要があり、光ファイバの端面を研磨するためには、専用の研磨ツールと砥粒が埋め込まれた研磨シートとを用意する必要があった。   Conventionally, in order to connect the cores to each other by PC, it is necessary to polish the end face of the optical fiber fixed to the ferrule with an adhesive. In order to polish the end face of the optical fiber, a dedicated polishing tool and abrasive grains are embedded. It was necessary to prepare a polishing sheet.

一方、光ファイバの先端をフェルールより突き出した状態で保持させておき、接続時に光ファイバがコネクタの内部で座屈する（撓む）ことにより発生する押圧力を利用して、光ファイバの端面を研磨することなくＰＣ接続を実現する方法が提案されている（非特許文献１参照）。但し、端面研磨されていない光ファイバの端面、即ちファイバカッタなどにより切断された光ファイバの劈開面には円周部にリップルが生じており、前述した方法であっても、このリップルを取り除く加工については別途実施する必要があった。
電子情報通信学会２００８年総合大会講演論文集、“ファイバ端面研磨が不要な現場組立ＰＣコネクタの検討”、Ｂ−１３−１４ On the other hand, the end of the optical fiber is polished by using the pressing force generated when the optical fiber is buckled (bends) inside the connector while holding the tip of the optical fiber protruding from the ferrule. There has been proposed a method for realizing PC connection without doing this (see Non-Patent Document 1). However, the end face of the optical fiber not end-polished, that is, the cleaved surface of the optical fiber cut by a fiber cutter or the like has a ripple in the circumferential portion. It was necessary to carry out separately.
Proceedings of the 2008 IEICE General Conference, “Examination of on-site assembly PC connector that does not require fiber end polishing”, B-13-14

前述した光ファイバのコア同士をＰＣ接続する光ファイバコネクタでは、光ファイバコネクタを組み立てる際、まず、被覆付き光ファイバ（光ファイバ心線）から特殊工具によって被覆を除去して裸光ファイバ素線とし、さらに裸光ファイバ素線のカット及び端面の研削加工を行わなければならないが、裸光ファイバ素線は取り扱いが難しく、専門スキルが必要であるという問題があった。   In the optical fiber connector in which the optical fiber cores described above are PC-connected, when assembling the optical fiber connector, first, the sheath is removed from the coated optical fiber (optical fiber core wire) with a special tool to obtain a bare optical fiber strand. Further, the bare optical fiber strand must be cut and the end face ground, but the bare optical fiber strand is difficult to handle and requires specialized skills.

本発明は、光ファイバの被覆を除去する特殊工具も、当該特殊工具を用いた被覆除去作業も必要とすることなく、さらに裸光ファイバ素線を取り扱うこともなく、組立可能な光ファイバコネクタを実現することを目的とする。   The present invention provides an optical fiber connector that can be assembled without requiring a special tool for removing the coating of an optical fiber, a coating removal operation using the special tool, and handling a bare optical fiber. It aims to be realized.

本発明では、このような目的を達成するため、被覆付き光ファイバの被覆が除去された先端部を保持する光ファイバ調心部と、被覆付き光ファイバの被覆付部分を保持・固定する光ファイバ把持部と、光ファイバ調心部と光ファイバ把持部との間に配置される光ファイバ心線ガイド部、被覆除去部及び被覆収容部とを少なくとも備え、前記光ファイバ心線ガイド部は、被覆付き光ファイバの被覆付部分を軸方向に移動可能に収容し、被覆除去部は、被覆付き光ファイバの被覆を除去した部位の外径とほぼ同じ又は僅かに大きい幅もしくは内径を有し、被覆収容部は、被覆付き光ファイバが光ファイバ心線ガイド部から前記被覆除去部まで挿入され、その被覆が前記被覆除去部に当接し、さらに前記被覆付き光ファイバが前記被覆除去部側に押し込まれた時に発生する応力によって当該被覆付き光ファイバから剥かれた被覆を収容する空間を有する光ファイバコネクタを提案する。   In the present invention, in order to achieve such an object, an optical fiber aligning portion that holds the tip portion from which the coating of the coated optical fiber is removed, and an optical fiber that holds and fixes the coated portion of the coated optical fiber The optical fiber core wire guide portion includes at least a grip portion, an optical fiber core wire guide portion, a sheath removing portion, and a sheath housing portion disposed between the optical fiber alignment portion and the optical fiber grip portion. The coated portion of the coated optical fiber is accommodated so as to be movable in the axial direction, and the coating removal portion has a width or an inner diameter that is substantially the same as or slightly larger than the outer diameter of the portion where the coating of the coated optical fiber is removed. In the housing portion, the coated optical fiber is inserted from the optical fiber core guide portion to the coating removal portion, the coating abuts on the coating removal portion, and the coated optical fiber is pushed toward the coating removal portion. The stress generated when written to propose an optical fiber connector having a space for accommodating the coating was peeled from the coated optical fiber.

本発明によれば、被覆付き光ファイバの一端を光ファイバ心線ガイド部に収容し、被覆除去部及び被覆収容部側へ挿入するのみで、前記一端の被覆を除去できるとともに当該被覆が除去された先端部を光ファイバ調心部に収容して調心することができるため、従来のような特殊工具を用いた被覆付き光ファイバに対する被覆除去作業や裸光ファイバ素線のカット及び端面の研削加工が不要となるとともに、裸光ファイバ素線そのものを取り扱う必要がなくなり、そのための専門スキルも必要でなくなり、組立作業を簡易化できる。   According to the present invention, one end of the coated optical fiber is accommodated in the optical fiber core guide portion and only inserted into the coating removing portion and the coating accommodating portion, so that the coating at the one end can be removed and the coating is removed. The tip can be accommodated in an optical fiber aligning section, and alignment can be performed, so that the coating removal operation for coated optical fibers using conventional special tools, the cutting of bare optical fiber strands, and the grinding of end faces can be performed. This eliminates the need for processing, eliminates the need to handle bare optical fiber itself, eliminates the need for specialized skills, and simplifies assembly work.

また、この際、被覆付き光ファイバとして、被覆が付いたままの状態で劈開され、該劈開された端面の角が被覆ごと斜めに研削され、テーパ状に加工されてなる一端を備えた被覆付き光ファイバを用いれば、光ファイバを被覆除去部を通して光ファイバ調心部に挿入する際のファイバ端面のクリアランスが大きくなり、裸光ファイバ素線の挿入性を向上できる。さらに、加工の際に削られた被覆の端面は脆くなるので、被覆除去部での被覆の除去性も向上する。   Also, at this time, the coated optical fiber is cleaved as it is with the coating, and the cleaved end face is ground at an angle with the coating, and is coated with one end formed into a tapered shape. If an optical fiber is used, the clearance of the fiber end face when the optical fiber is inserted into the optical fiber aligning portion through the coating removing portion is increased, and the insertion property of the bare optical fiber can be improved. Furthermore, since the end face of the coating shaved during processing becomes fragile, the removability of the coating at the coating removing portion is also improved.

以下、本発明の実施の形態を説明するが、これにより本発明の範囲が制限されるものではない。   Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described, but the scope of the present invention is not limited thereby.

図１は本発明の光ファイバコネクタの実施の形態の一例を示すもので、図中、１０はファイバガイドＡ、２０はフェルール、３０は光ファイバ把持部、４０は被覆付き光ファイバ（光ファイバ心線）である。また、図２は組立時のようすを示す説明図、図３はフェルールの被覆除去部を中心とする拡大断面図、図４は光ファイバ心線の先端部の一例を示す側面図、図５はテーパ加工された光ファイバの端面径とそのコア同士をＰＣ接続するために必要な荷重の測定結果を示すグラフである。   FIG. 1 shows an example of an embodiment of an optical fiber connector of the present invention. In the figure, 10 is a fiber guide A, 20 is a ferrule, 30 is an optical fiber gripping part, and 40 is a coated optical fiber (optical fiber core). Line). 2 is an explanatory view showing the appearance during assembly, FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view centering on the ferrule coating removal portion, FIG. 4 is a side view showing an example of the tip of the optical fiber core, and FIG. It is a graph which shows the measurement result of the load required in order to connect the end surface diameter of the optical fiber by which taper processing was carried out, and its cores to PC.

ファイバガイドＡ１０は、光ファイバ心線４０の被覆付部分を軸方向に移動可能に収容するＶ溝（又はＵ溝）を備えた本体１１と、図２に示すように前記本体１１に対してスライド可能に取り付けられた押さえ蓋１２（図１では図示せず）との組合せからなり、本体１１に対して押さえ蓋１２が移動可能な空間によって光ファイバ心線４０が撓み得る撓み空間１３が構成される。   The fiber guide A10 slides with respect to the main body 11 having a V-groove (or U-groove) that accommodates the coated portion of the optical fiber core wire 40 so as to be movable in the axial direction, as shown in FIG. A bending space 13 in which the optical fiber core wire 40 can be bent is configured by a space in which the pressing lid 12 can move with respect to the main body 11. The

なお、ファイバガイドＡ１０は、その一端から他端まで光ファイバ心線４０の被覆付部分の外径とほぼ同じ内径の貫通孔を有する一つの部材で構成しても良く、この際、貫通孔の中間部位の内径を他の部位より拡大して撓み空間を形成することもできる。   The fiber guide A10 may be constituted by one member having a through hole having an inner diameter substantially the same as the outer diameter of the coated portion of the optical fiber core wire 40 from one end to the other end. It is also possible to form the bending space by expanding the inner diameter of the intermediate part from other parts.

フェルール２０は、ファイバガイドＡ１０の本体１１の一端に取り付けられ、その内部には途中で内径が変化する貫通孔によって形成された光ファイバ調心部２１、ファイバガイドＢ２２、被覆除去部２３及び被覆収容部２４を備えている。   The ferrule 20 is attached to one end of the main body 11 of the fiber guide A10, and an optical fiber aligning portion 21, a fiber guide B22, a sheath removing portion 23, and a sheath housing formed therein by a through hole whose inner diameter changes in the middle. The unit 24 is provided.

即ち、フェルール２０の貫通孔の一端側は裸光ファイバ素線の外径（通常、１２５μｍ）とほぼ等しい内径を有し、裸光ファイバ素線を収容・保持する光ファイバ調心部２１を構成している。また、フェルール２０の貫通孔の他端側は、光ファイバ心線の外径（通常、２５０μｍ）とほぼ等しい内径を有し、光ファイバ心線を軸方向に移動可能に収容するファイバガイドＢ２２を構成している。さらにまた、フェルール２０の貫通孔の中間部は、光ファイバ心線の外径より大きめの内径（３５０〜４５０μｍ程度）を有し、光ファイバ心線から除去された被覆を収容する被覆収容部２４を構成するとともに、該被覆収容部２４と光ファイバ調心部２１との境界部が被覆除去部２３を構成している。   That is, one end side of the through hole of the ferrule 20 has an inner diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the bare optical fiber (usually 125 μm), and constitutes an optical fiber aligning portion 21 that accommodates and holds the bare optical fiber. is doing. The other end side of the through hole of the ferrule 20 has an inner diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the optical fiber core wire (usually 250 μm), and a fiber guide B22 that accommodates the optical fiber core wire so as to be movable in the axial direction. It is composed. Furthermore, the intermediate part of the through-hole of the ferrule 20 has an inner diameter (about 350 to 450 μm) larger than the outer diameter of the optical fiber core wire, and a sheath accommodating portion 24 that accommodates the sheath removed from the optical fiber core wire. In addition, a boundary portion between the sheath housing portion 24 and the optical fiber aligning portion 21 constitutes a sheath removing portion 23.

なお、前述したファイバガイドＡ１０及びファイバガイドＢ２２により、特許請求の範囲でいう光ファイバ心線ガイド部が構成される。   The fiber guide A10 and the fiber guide B22 described above constitute an optical fiber core guide portion as defined in the claims.

図３はフェルール２０の被覆除去部２３を中心とする拡大断面を示すものである。光ファイバ調心部２１の内径φｃは光ファイバを良く調心できるよう、裸光ファイバ素線のクラッド径とほぼ等しいか多くとも数μｍしか違わない構造でなければいけない。これは従来の光コネクタと同様の寸法で良い。また、被覆除去部２３の内径φａは光ファイバ心線の外径より小さく且つ内径φｃ以上でなければならず、内径φｃと等しくても良い。また、被覆除去部２３が光ファイバの挿入方向に対してなす角度ｂはほぼ直角または鋭角でなければならない。   FIG. 3 shows an enlarged cross section around the coating removal portion 23 of the ferrule 20. The inner diameter φc of the optical fiber aligning portion 21 must be a structure that is substantially equal to the cladding diameter of the bare optical fiber or different by at most several μm so that the optical fiber can be aligned well. This may be the same size as a conventional optical connector. Further, the inner diameter φa of the sheath removing portion 23 must be smaller than the outer diameter of the optical fiber core wire and not less than the inner diameter φc, and may be equal to the inner diameter φc. In addition, the angle b formed by the coating removing portion 23 with respect to the optical fiber insertion direction must be substantially a right angle or an acute angle.

ここで、光ファイバ心線に対して、後述するテーパ加工を施さない場合は、被覆の厚みのばらつきやファイバの偏心により、被覆除去部２３の内径φａは、通常、１９０μｍ程度はないと規格品のファイバの全てに適用することができない。このため、この内径φａから光ファイバ調心部２１の内径φｃまで変化するテーパを、光ファイバ調心部２１の端部に設けなくてはならなくなる。一方、光ファイバ心線に対して、後述するテーパ加工を施した場合は、光ファイバを被覆除去部２３を通して光ファイバ調心部２１に挿入する際のファイバ端面のクリアランスが大きくなるため、前述したようなテーパを、光ファイバ調心部２１の端部にテーパを設ける必要はない。また、光ファイバ心線に対するテーパ加工の際に削られた被覆の端面は脆くなるため、被覆除去部２３での被覆の除去性も向上する。   Here, if the optical fiber core wire is not subjected to taper processing, which will be described later, the inner diameter φa of the coating removal portion 23 is normally not about 190 μm due to variations in coating thickness and fiber eccentricity. It cannot be applied to all of the fibers. For this reason, a taper that changes from the inner diameter φa to the inner diameter φc of the optical fiber aligning portion 21 must be provided at the end of the optical fiber aligning portion 21. On the other hand, when the later-described taper processing is performed on the optical fiber core wire, the clearance of the fiber end surface when the optical fiber is inserted into the optical fiber aligning portion 21 through the coating removing portion 23 is increased. It is not necessary to provide such a taper at the end of the optical fiber aligning portion 21. Further, since the end face of the coating shaved during the taper processing for the optical fiber core wire becomes brittle, the removability of the coating at the coating removing portion 23 is also improved.

なお、ここでは一般に、光ファイバコネクタの調心機構を構成するフェルールの内部にファイバガイドＢ、被覆除去部及び被覆収容部を一体的に設けたが、光ファイバ調心部、ファイバガイドＢ、被覆除去部及び被覆収容部をそれぞれ別々の部材で構成しても良い。また、ファイバガイドＡ１０とファイバガイドＢ２２とを別々の構成としているが、これらは一体的に構成されていても良い。   In this case, generally, the fiber guide B, the coating removal portion, and the coating housing portion are integrally provided in the ferrule constituting the alignment mechanism of the optical fiber connector, but the optical fiber alignment portion, the fiber guide B, the coating are provided. You may comprise a removal part and a covering accommodating part with a respectively separate member. Moreover, although fiber guide A10 and fiber guide B22 are made into the separate structure, these may be comprised integrally.

光ファイバ把持部３０は、ファイバガイドＡ１０の本体１１の他端側に設けられ、光ファイバ心線４０の被覆付部分を機械的または接着剤などにより保持・固定する機能を有する。なお、この光ファイバ把持部３０は、組立時には、光ファイバ心線４０を自由に挿通させることができることは言うまでもない。   The optical fiber gripping portion 30 is provided on the other end side of the main body 11 of the fiber guide A10, and has a function of holding and fixing the coated portion of the optical fiber core wire 40 mechanically or with an adhesive. In addition, it cannot be overemphasized that this optical fiber holding | grip part 30 can insert the optical fiber core wire 40 freely at the time of an assembly.

前記構成にかかる光ファイバコネクタを組み立てるには、まず、接続しようとする一端を被覆が付いたままの状態で劈開させた光ファイバ心線４０を用意する。   In order to assemble the optical fiber connector according to the above-described configuration, first, an optical fiber core 40 is prepared in which one end to be connected is cleaved with the covering attached.

光ファイバ心線の劈開切断は、裸光ファイバ素線を切断する場合と同様、初期傷の加傷とファイバの曲げにより行うことができる。光ファイバ心線を劈開切断する場合、適切な初期傷を加えるためには、通常、裸光ファイバ素線を切断する場合に比べて刃圧を大きくすることが必要である。具体的には、例えば、電子情報通信学会２００８年総合大会講演論文集、“被覆付き光ファイバ心線の切断技術の検討”、Ｂ−１３−１５、に記載の方法がある。   The cleavage of the optical fiber core can be performed by scratching the initial scratch and bending the fiber, as in the case of cutting the bare optical fiber. When the optical fiber core wire is cleaved and cut, in order to apply an appropriate initial scratch, it is usually necessary to increase the blade pressure as compared with the case of cutting the bare optical fiber strand. Specifically, there is a method described in, for example, the Proceedings of the 2008 IEICE General Conference, “Examination of Cutting Technology for Coated Optical Fiber Core”, B-13-15.

次に、前述した光ファイバ心線４０の劈開させた端面の角を被覆ごと斜めに研削、詳細には図４に示すように被覆とともにクラッドの一部、即ちクラッドの外周部から所定の範囲まで研削してテーパ状に加工する。   Next, the angle of the cleaved end face of the optical fiber core 40 described above is obliquely ground together with the coating. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, a part of the cladding, that is, from the outer periphery of the cladding to a predetermined range as shown in FIG. Grind and process into a tapered shape.

図２（ａ）に示すように光ファイバ心線４０のテーパ加工した一端を、光ファイバ把持部３０を通してファイバガイドＡ１０の本体１１のＶ溝内に収容する。なお、この時点では光ファイバ把持部３０は光ファイバ心線４０を固定していない。   As shown in FIG. 2A, one end of the optical fiber core 40 that is tapered is accommodated in the V groove of the main body 11 of the fiber guide A <b> 10 through the optical fiber grip 30. At this time, the optical fiber gripper 30 does not fix the optical fiber core wire 40.

この状態で、光ファイバ心線４０をファイバガイドＡ１０の一端側及びファイバガイドＢ２２へ挿入してゆくと、その被覆が被覆除去部２３に当接する。さらに光ファイバ心線４０を被覆除去部２３側に押し込んでゆくと、その時に発生する応力によって、図１に拡大して示したように被覆が当該光ファイバ心線４０から剥かれ、被覆収容部２４に収容される。   In this state, when the optical fiber core wire 40 is inserted into one end side of the fiber guide A10 and the fiber guide B22, the coating comes into contact with the coating removing portion 23. When the optical fiber core wire 40 is further pushed into the sheath removing portion 23 side, the coating is peeled off from the optical fiber core wire 40 as shown in FIG. 24.

前述したようにファイバガイドＡ１０は撓み空間１３を有するが、十分な挿入力を得るために、挿入の際、一時的に撓みを制限する構造としても良い。撓みを一時的に制限する構造の一例として、本実施の形態では、ファイバガイドＡ１０の押さえ蓋１２を移動可能とした。即ち、ファイバ先端に加えることのできる挿入力は最も撓み長の長い撓みの座屈力で決まるので、図２（ａ）に示したように押さえ蓋１２をその移動可能な範囲のほぼ中間に位置させることで撓み長を小さくし、その分、挿入力を大きくとることが可能である。なお、撓み空間１３は、光ファイバのコア同士を直接、密着（Ｐｈｙｓｉｃａｌ Ｃｏｎｔａｃｔ：ＰＣ）接続させる際に、光ファイバが座屈する（撓む）ことにより発生する押圧力を利用するためのものであるが、組立時には必要ではない。   As described above, the fiber guide A10 has the bending space 13. However, in order to obtain a sufficient insertion force, the fiber guide A10 may have a structure in which the bending is temporarily limited during insertion. As an example of a structure that temporarily restricts the bending, in this embodiment, the pressing lid 12 of the fiber guide A10 is movable. That is, since the insertion force that can be applied to the fiber tip is determined by the buckling force of the longest bending length, the holding lid 12 is positioned approximately in the middle of the movable range as shown in FIG. By doing so, the bending length can be reduced, and the insertion force can be increased accordingly. The bending space 13 is used to utilize the pressing force generated when the optical fiber is buckled (flexed) when the optical fiber cores are directly contacted (Physical Contact: PC). However, it is not necessary during assembly.

而して、図２（ｂ）に示すように、被覆が除去され、裸光ファイバ素線４１とされた光ファイバ心線４０の接続しようとする一端は光ファイバ調心部２１に収容されて調心される。さらに、裸光ファイバ素線４１の先端面がフェルール２０の端面から所定の長さだけ突き出た状態で光ファイバ把持部３０により光ファイバ心線４０をファイバガイドＡ１０に固定するとともに、押さえ蓋１２を本体１１の一端側寄りへ移動させることで十分な撓み空間１３を形成する。   Thus, as shown in FIG. 2B, the coating is removed, and one end of the optical fiber 40 that is the bare optical fiber strand 41 is connected to the optical fiber aligning portion 21. Aligned. Furthermore, the optical fiber core wire 40 is fixed to the fiber guide A10 by the optical fiber gripping portion 30 with the front end surface of the bare optical fiber 41 protruding from the end surface of the ferrule 20 by a predetermined length, and the holding lid 12 is A sufficient bending space 13 is formed by moving the main body 11 closer to one end side.

前記の如くして組み立てられた光ファイバコネクタと他の同様な光ファイバコネクタとの接続時、双方のフェルールの端面同士が密着する状態になると、フェルール２０の端面から突き出た裸光ファイバ素線４１の部分は光ファイバコネクタ内に押し込まれるが、光ファイバ心線４０自体は光ファイバ把持部３０によりファイバガイドＡ１０に固定されているため、撓み空間１３内で撓みを生じる。この撓みが戻ろうとする復元力によって裸光ファイバ素線４１の端面は対向する他の光ファイバコネクタの裸光ファイバ素線の端面に押し付けられる。裸光ファイバ素線４１の端面は、通常は周辺部に発生するバリ、リップルが前述した角を落とす加工により無くなっているので、この復元力による押し付けでＰＣ接続することができる。   When the optical fiber connector assembled as described above and another similar optical fiber connector are connected, when the end surfaces of both ferrules come into close contact with each other, the bare optical fiber strand 41 protruding from the end surface of the ferrule 20 is used. This portion is pushed into the optical fiber connector, but the optical fiber core wire 40 itself is fixed to the fiber guide A10 by the optical fiber gripping portion 30, so that bending occurs in the bending space 13. The end face of the bare optical fiber 41 is pressed against the end face of the bare optical fiber of another optical fiber connector facing by the restoring force to return the bending. Since the end face of the bare optical fiber 41 is usually removed by burrs and ripples generated in the peripheral portion due to the process of dropping the above-mentioned corners, it can be connected to the PC by pressing with this restoring force.

図５はテーパ加工された後の光ファイバの端面径とそのコア同士をＰＣ接続するために必要な荷重（押圧力）の測定結果を示すものである。ここで、前述した復元力による押圧力が最大で１．５［Ｎ］程度であるとすると、ＰＣ接続が可能となる端面径は図５より８０μｍ程度以下であることが分かる。従って、光ファイバのクラッドの外周部の径（裸光ファイバ素線の外径）は通常、１２５μｍであることから、端面を周辺から少なくとも２０μｍ程度削っておけばＰＣ接続可能であることが分かる。   FIG. 5 shows the measurement results of the end face diameter of the optical fiber after being tapered and the load (pressing force) necessary for connecting the cores to each other by PC. Here, when the pressing force due to the restoring force described above is about 1.5 [N] at the maximum, it can be seen from FIG. 5 that the diameter of the end face enabling PC connection is about 80 μm or less. Therefore, since the diameter of the outer peripheral portion of the clad of the optical fiber (the outer diameter of the bare optical fiber) is usually 125 μm, it can be seen that PC connection is possible if the end face is shaved at least about 20 μm from the periphery.

本発明の光ファイバコネクタの実施の形態の一例を示す要部拡大斜視図The principal part expansion perspective view which shows an example of embodiment of the optical fiber connector of this invention 組立時のようすを示す説明図Explanatory drawing showing the appearance during assembly フェルールの被覆除去部を中心とする拡大断面図Enlarged sectional view centering on the ferrule sheath removal part 光ファイバ心線の先端部の一例を示す側面図Side view showing an example of the tip of an optical fiber core wire テーパ加工された光ファイバの端面径とそのコア同士をＰＣ接続するために必要な荷重の測定結果を示すグラフGraph showing the measurement results of the end face diameter of a tapered optical fiber and the load required to connect the cores to each other by PC connection

符号の説明Explanation of symbols

１０：ファイバガイドＡ、１１：本体、１２：押さえ蓋、２０：フェルール、２１：光ファイバ調心部、２２：ファイバガイドＢ、２３：被覆除去部、２４：被覆収容部、３０：光ファイバ把持部、４０：光ファイバ心線、４１：裸光ファイバ素線。   10: Fiber guide A, 11: Main body, 12: Holding lid, 20: Ferrule, 21: Optical fiber aligning section, 22: Fiber guide B, 23: Cover removal section, 24: Cover housing section, 30: Optical fiber gripping Part, 40: optical fiber core wire, 41: bare optical fiber strand.

Claims (6)

被覆付き光ファイバの被覆が除去された先端部を保持する光ファイバ調心部と、被覆付き光ファイバの被覆付部分を保持・固定する光ファイバ把持部と、光ファイバ調心部と光ファイバ把持部との間に配置される光ファイバ心線ガイド部、被覆除去部及び被覆収容部とを少なくとも備え、
前記光ファイバ心線ガイド部は、被覆付き光ファイバの被覆付部分を軸方向に移動可能に収容し、
被覆除去部は、被覆付き光ファイバの被覆を除去した部位の外径とほぼ同じ又は僅かに大きい幅もしくは内径を有し、
被覆収容部は、被覆付き光ファイバが光ファイバ心線ガイド部から前記被覆除去部まで挿入され、その被覆が前記被覆除去部に当接し、さらに前記被覆付き光ファイバが前記被覆除去部側に押し込まれた時に発生する応力によって当該被覆付き光ファイバから剥かれた被覆を収容する
ことを特徴とする光ファイバコネクタ。 An optical fiber aligning portion that holds the tip portion from which the coating of the coated optical fiber is removed, an optical fiber gripping portion that holds and fixes the coated portion of the coated optical fiber, an optical fiber aligning portion, and an optical fiber gripping At least an optical fiber core wire guide portion, a sheath removing portion, and a sheath housing portion disposed between the portions,
The optical fiber core guide portion accommodates the coated portion of the coated optical fiber so as to be movable in the axial direction,
The coating removal portion has a width or an inner diameter that is substantially the same as or slightly larger than the outer diameter of the portion where the coating of the coated optical fiber is removed,
In the coating housing portion, the coated optical fiber is inserted from the optical fiber core guide portion to the coating removal portion, the coating abuts on the coating removal portion, and the coated optical fiber is pushed into the coating removal portion side. An optical fiber connector comprising: a coating peeled off from the coated optical fiber by a stress generated when the optical fiber is applied. 前記被覆付き光ファイバとして、被覆が付いたままの状態で劈開され、該劈開された端面の角が被覆ごと斜めに研削され、テーパ状に加工されてなる一端を備えた被覆付き光ファイバを用いる
ことを特徴とする請求項１記載の光ファイバコネクタ。 As the coated optical fiber, a coated optical fiber having one end that is cleaved with a coating, the corners of the cleaved end face are obliquely ground together with the coating, and is processed into a tapered shape is used. The optical fiber connector according to claim 1. 被覆付き光ファイバのテーパ状に加工される範囲は、被覆を除去した部位の外周部から少なくとも２０μｍの範囲である
ことを特徴とする請求項２に記載の光ファイバコネクタ。 3. The optical fiber connector according to claim 2, wherein a range of the coated optical fiber processed into a tapered shape is a range of at least 20 μm from an outer peripheral portion of a portion where the coating is removed. 前記被覆除去部は、被覆付き光ファイバの挿入方向に対して鋭角または直角の端面を有する
ことを特徴とする請求項１乃至３のいずれかに記載の光ファイバコネクタ。 The optical fiber connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the coating removal section has an end face that is acute or perpendicular to the insertion direction of the coated optical fiber. 前記光ファイバ心線ガイド部は、その中間部位に被覆付き光ファイバが撓む撓み空間を有する
ことを特徴とする請求項１乃至４のいずれかに記載の光ファイバコネクタ。 The optical fiber connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the optical fiber core guide part has a bending space in which an optical fiber with coating is bent at an intermediate portion thereof. 接続しようとする一端を被覆が付いたままの状態で劈開させた被覆付き光ファイバの当該劈開させた端面の角を被覆ごと斜めに研削してテーパ状に加工する工程と、
テーパ状に加工した被覆付き光ファイバの一端を、請求項１乃至５のいずれかに記載の光ファイバコネクタの光ファイバ心線ガイド部に光ファイバ把持部を介して収容する工程と、
被覆付き光ファイバの一端を前記光ファイバコネクタの被覆除去部まで挿入してその被覆を当接させる工程と、
被覆付き光ファイバをさらに押し込んで前記被覆除去部によりその被覆を除去するとともに、当該被覆が除去された被覆付き光ファイバの先端部を光ファイバ調心部に収容して調心する工程とを少なくとも含む
ことを特徴とする光ファイバコネクタの組立方法。 A process of grinding the corner of the cleaved end face of the coated optical fiber that is cleaved in a state where the one end to be connected is still attached, and processing it into a taper shape with the coating; and
A step of accommodating one end of the coated optical fiber processed into a tapered shape in the optical fiber core guide part of the optical fiber connector according to any one of claims 1 to 5 via an optical fiber gripping part;
Inserting one end of the coated optical fiber to the coating removal portion of the optical fiber connector and contacting the coating;
At least a step of pushing the coated optical fiber and removing the coating by the coating removing unit, and accommodating and aligning the tip of the coated optical fiber from which the coating has been removed in the optical fiber aligning unit A method of assembling an optical fiber connector.
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