• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
  • 权利要求
  • 类似技术
  • 同族专利
  • 引用文献
  • 法律状态
  • 优先权
    • 专利摘要:
    An optical connector ferrule (10A) includes an optical fiber holding hole holding an inserted optical fiber (F2), a ferrule end face (10a) facing an optical connector ferrule to be coupled, a lens structure (16) provided on an axial line of the optical fiber holding hole on the ferrule end face (10a), and an inspection hole formed along the optical fiber holding hole. The ferrule end face (10a) is flat on at least one axial line of the inspection hole, and the refractive index distribution in a region between the ferrule end face (10a) and its rear side is uniform.
    公开号:CH713451B1
    申请号:CH00933/18
    申请日:2017-02-14
    公开日:2019-05-31
    发明作者:Yakabe C/O Yokohama Works Of Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd Sho；Watanabe C/O Yokohama Works Of Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd Takuro
    申请人:Sumitomo Electric Industries；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    Description
    Technical Field [0001] The present invention relates to an optical connector ferrule and an optical connector.
    BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Patent literature 1 describes a ferrule used for an optical connector that connects a plurality of optical fibers to each other. This ferrule includes a plurality of holes for holding a plurality of optical fibers, an inner surface in contact with the tip ends of the plurality of optical fibers for positioning the tip ends, a recessed portion provided on a front side on an inner surface an end face, and lenses integrally formed with the recessed portion.
    Quote list
    Patent Literature [0003] Patent Literature 1: Patent Application Publication US 2012/0 093 462. Summary of the Invention
    Technical Problem [0004] The eccentricity of an optical fiber holding hole (deflection of a central axial line position) in an optical connector ferrule may cause reduction of the optical coupling efficiency in some cases. In an optical connector ferrule in which an optical fiber holding hole reaches a front end face (i.e., an optical fiber exposed on the front end face), the eccentricity of the holding hole Optical fiber can be easily known by observing from the front. However, for example, in a case in which lenses are arranged in front of an optical fiber holding hole, as described in patent literature 1, the lenses disturb the observation of the optical fiber holding hole so that is more complicated to know the eccentricity of the optical fiber holding hole.
    An object of the present invention is to provide an optical connector ferrule and an optical connector in which the eccentricity of an optical fiber holding hole can be easily known even in a case in which a lens structure is provided in front of the optical fiber holding hole.
    Solution to the problem [0006] In order to solve the above problem, an optical connector ferrule according to the invention is an optical connector ferrule made from resin, comprising an optical fiber holding hole which is an opening hole reaching a first surface, the optical fiber holding hole being for holding an inserted optical fiber; a lens structure provided on an axial line of the optical fiber holding hole; and an inspection hole which is a through hole formed along the optical fiber holding hole and reaching the first surface.
    [0007] As an aspect of the ferrule of the invention, for example, a second surface faces the first surface; and the second surface (14b) is positioned between a ferrule end face (10a) and the first surface (14a), the ferrule end face facing an optical connector ferrule to be coupled, wherein the structure at least on any one of the second surface, the ferrule end face and between the second surface and the ferrule end face, and wherein the second surface and the end face of ferrule are flat on at least one axial line of the inspection hole, and the refractive index distribution in an area between the second surface and the ferrule end face is uniform.
    As an aspect of the ferrule of the invention, for example, an internal diameter of the inspection hole is equal to an internal diameter of the optical fiber holding hole.
    As an aspect of the ferrule of the invention, for example, the optical fiber holding hole comprises a plurality of holding holes, the lens structure comprises a plurality of lenses respectively provided on the axial lines of the respective holding holes, and the inspection hole includes first and second inspection holes, and wherein the openings of the plurality of holding holes on the first surface are formed to be aligned with a row or a plurality of rows an opening of the first inspection hole on the first surface is formed along one end of any one of the rows, and an opening of the second inspection hole on the first surface is formed along the other end of any of the rows.
    As an aspect of the ferrule of the invention, for example, the ferrule further comprises a mark for the positional adjustment with respect to the inspection hole, the mark being provided on at least any one from the second surface, the ferrule end face, and between the second surface and the ferrule end face.
    As an aspect of the ferrule of the invention, for example, the mark is formed in a protruding shape having a flat portion overlapping the axial line of the inspection hole.
    [0012] As an aspect of the ferrule of the invention, for example, the mark has a circular shape when it is observed in a direction of the axial line of the inspection hole.
    [0013] As an aspect of the ferrule of the invention, for example, a diameter of the mark is different from an internal diameter of the inspection hole.
    The invention also relates to an optical connector comprising the optical connector ferrule described above; and an optical fiber held by the optical fiber holding hole.
    Advantageous Effects of the Invention [0015] According to the present invention, the eccentricity of the optical fiber holding hole can be easily known even in the case where the lens structure is provided in front of the optical fiber holding hole.
    Brief description of the drawings [0016]
    Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an external appearance of an optical connector comprising an optical connector ferrule according to an embodiment of the present invention.
    Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 11-11 of the optical connector ferrule illustrated in FIG. 1.
    Fig. 3 is a front view of the optical connector ferrule.
    Fig. 4A is a sectional view taken on line IVa-IVa shown in FIG. 3.
    Fig. 4B is a sectional view taken on line IVb-IVb shown in FIG. 3.
    Fig. 5 is a sectional view illustrating a process for manufacturing the optical connector ferrule.
    Fig. 6 is a front view of an optical connector ferrule according to a first modification of the above embodiment.
    Fig. 7A is a sectional view taken on a line Vlla-VIIa shown in FIG. 6.
    Fig. 7B is a sectional view taken on a line Vllb-VIIb illustrated in FIG. 6.
    Fig. 8 is a front view of an optical connector ferrule according to a second modification.
    Fig. 9 is a sectional view of an optical connector ferrule according to a third modification.
    Fig. 10 is a sectional view of an optical connector ferrule according to another modification.
    Description of the embodiments
    Description of the Embodiments of the Present Invention [0017] First, the contents of the embodiments of the present invention are listed and described. An optical connector ferrule according to one embodiment of the present invention is an optical connector ferrule made from resin. The optical connector ferrule includes an optical fiber holding hole which is a through hole reaching a first surface and holds an inserted optical fiber, a lens structure provided on an axial line of the optical fiber holding hole, and a hole inspection which is a through hole formed along the optical fiber holding hole and reaches the first surface.
    In the optical connector ferrule above, an optical fiber is inserted and held in the optical fiber holding hole. Then, light emitted from a tip end face of the optical fiber is collimated by the lens structure to reach an optical connector to be coupled. The light collimated and emitted from the optical connector to be coupled is condensed by the lens structure to reach the tip end face of the optical fiber. Therefore, according to the optical connector ferrule above, effective optical coupling can be achieved with the optical connector to be coupled.
    The optical connector ferrule above also has a different inspection hole of the optical fiber holding hole. The inspection hole is a through hole reaching the first surface similar to the optical fiber holding hole and is formed along the optical fiber holding hole. In such a configuration, a rod-shaped mold for forming the optical fiber holding hole and a rod-shaped mold for forming the inspection hole may be extended from a shared face. In such a case, the deflection in a relative position between the inspection hole and the optical fiber holding hole is extremely small. The eccentricity of the inspection hole can be easily known by observing from the front without disturbing the lens structure. In other words, according to the optical connector ferrule above, the eccentricity of the optical fiber holding hole can be easily known by means of the eccentricity of the inspection hole.
    The above optical connector ferrule may further comprise a second surface facing the first surface, and a ferrule end face positioned on a rear side of the second surface and facing a connector ferrule. optical coupling. The lens structure may be provided at least on any one of the second surface, the ferrule end face, and between the second surface and the ferrule end face. The second surface and the ferrule end face may be flat on at least one axial line of the inspection hole, and the refractive index distribution on an area between the second surface and the ferrule end face may be to be uniform. In this optical connector ferrule, since the second surface and the ferrule end face are flat on at least the axial line of the inspection hole, and the refractive index distribution in the area between the second surface and ferrule end face is uniform, the inspection hole can be further easily observed from the front.
    In the optical connector ferrule above, an internal diameter of the inspection hole may be equal to an inner diameter of the optical fiber holding hole. This allows a rod-shaped mold to form the optical fiber holding hole and a rod-shaped mold to form the inspection hole to be shared to reduce mold types. In a case where the thicknesses of these molds are different, the degrees of deflection of the molds as the molten resin flows, are differentiated to affect the relative positional accuracy between the inspection hole and the optical fiber holding hole. . The internal diameter of the inspection hole which is equal to the inside diameter of the optical fiber holding hole makes it possible to equalize the thicknesses of these molds so that the deflections are of the same degree and increase the relative positional accuracy with respect to each other. .
    In the optical connector ferrule above, the optical fiber holding hole may comprise a plurality of holding holes, the lens structure may comprise a plurality of lenses respectively provided on the axial lines of the respective holding holes. , and the inspection hole may comprise first and second inspection holes. The openings of the plurality of holding holes on the first surface may be formed to be aligned with a row or a plurality of rows, an opening of the first inspection hole on the first surface may be formed along an end of any of the rows and an opening of the second inspection hole on the first surface may be formed along the other end of any one of the rows. This allows the inspection holes to be arranged without disturbing the alignment of the optical fiber.
    The optical connector ferrule above may further comprise a mark for positional adjustment with respect to the inspection hole, the mark being provided at least on any one of the second surface, the face of ferrule end and between the second surface and the ferrule end face. Such a mark can be formed at the same time by the mold to form the lens structure, and thus the deviation in a relative position between the mark and the lens structure is extremely small. Then, the mark and inspection hole appear to overlap when viewed from the front. Therefore, the relative positional deviation between the optical fiber holding hole and the lens structure can be easily known by observing the relative positional deviation between the mark and the inspection hole.
    In this case, the mark may be formed in a projecting shape having a flat portion overlapping the axial line of the inspection hole. In this case, a mold portion for forming the mark has a depressed shape, and therefore, the mold portion for forming the mark can suppress the stagnation of a molten resin flow to preferably form the lens structure.
    The mark may have a circular shape when it is observed in a direction of the axial line of the inspection hole. This makes it easy to find the relative positional deviation between the mark and the inspection hole. Such an effect is most noticeable when a diameter of the mark is different from an internal diameter of the inspection hole. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION [0026] Specific examples of the optical connector ferrule according to the embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the examples, but is intended to be defined by the scope of the appended claims and to include equivalents of the scope of the appended claims and any modifications within the scope of the appended claims. In the following description, the same components in the description of the drawings are designated by the same reference signs, and the duplicated description is omitted. In the following description, a description is proposed assuming that a width direction of the optical connector ferrule is a direction X, a direction of height is a direction Y and a direction intersecting the direction X and the direction Y (a direction optical connector) is a Z direction.
    FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an external appearance of an optical connector 1A comprising an optical connector ferrule according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 11-11 illustrated in FIG. 1. The optical connector 1A holds (fixed) a bundle of a plurality of optical fibers F1 and an end face thereof faces an end face of a coupler optical connector which similarly holds optical fibers for optically connect the optical fibers together. The optical connector 1A comprises an optical connector ferrule 10A (hereinafter simply referred to as a "ferrule") which holds the optical fiber bundle F1 and is made from resin. The resin component of the optical connector ferrule 10A is composed of resin having a light transmitting property, for example.
    As illustrated in FIG. 1 and in FIG. 2, the ferrule 10A has an external appearance formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. Specifically, the ferrule 10A has a ferrule end face 10a which is provided on an end side in the connection direction (Z direction) and faces the optical connector to be coupled, and a rear end face 10b which is provided on the side of the other end. The ferrule 10A has a pair of side faces 10c and 10d, a lower face 10e and an upper face 10f extending along the Z direction. On the rear end face 10b, an insertion hole 15 is formed which takes the optical fiber bundle F1 beaming a plurality of optical fibers F2.
    The ferrule 10A further has a recessed portion 14 formed from the upper face 10f to the lower face 10e. As illustrated in FIG. 2, a surface 14a, on the side of the rear end face 10b, of the internal surfaces forming the recessed portion 14 is an example of a first surface in the embodiment and is a flat face along a plane XY. A surface 14b, on the ferrule end face side 10a, of the inner surfaces configuring the concave portion 14 is an example of a second surface in the embodiment and is a flat face facing the surface 14a and along the XY plane (i.e., a surface parallel to the surface 14a). The ferrule end face 10a is positioned on a rear side of the surface 14b.
    The ferrule 10A further comprises a plurality of optical fiber holding holes 13. Each of a plurality of optical fiber holding holes 13 is a through-hole extending from the introduction hole 15 and reaching the surface 14a and is formed with an axial line direction which is the Z direction. Each optical fiber holding hole 13 holds the inserted optical fiber F2. Apertures of the plurality of optical fiber holding holes 13 on the surface 14a are formed to be aligned in a row or plurality of rows. The optical fiber holding holes 13 in the embodiment are formed in several thirds (for example two-thirds) in the Y direction, and a plurality of optical fiber holding holes 13 in each third are arranged to be aligned in the direction X.
    Each optical fiber holding hole 13 comprises a large diameter portion 13a which is formed adjacent to the insertion hole 15 and a small diameter portion 13b which is contained with the large diameter portion 13a and formed of adjacent to the surface 14a. The large diameter portion 13a holds a portion of the optical fiber F2 covered by a cover 51, and the small diameter portion 13b maintains a portion of the optical fiber F2 from which the cover 51 is removed (stripped fiber). The optical fiber F2 held in the small diameter portion 13b protrudes and extends from the surface 14a forward in the Z direction and its tip end face is in contact with the surface 14b.
    The ferrule 10A further comprises a plurality of lens structures 16. Each of a plurality of lens structures 16 is a semi-spherical convex portion formed on the ferrule end face 10a and integrally formed. with the other part of the ferrule 10A. Each of a plurality of lens structures 16 is provided on the axial line of the optical fiber holding hole 13 corresponding to each lens structure, and is optically coupled with the respective tip end faces of a plurality of lens structures 16. of optical fibers F2 held by the optical fiber holding hole 13. Each lens structure 16 collimates the light emitted from the tip end face of each optical fiber F2 or condenses the light entering through the optical connector to be coupled on the tip end face of each optical fiber F2.
    The ferrule 10A further comprises a pair of guide holes 19a and 19b. The guide holes 19a and 19b are formed to be aligned in the X direction to sandwich a plurality of lens structures 16 on the ferrule end face 10a. In the guide holes 19a and 19b, a guide pin is inserted to fix a relative position with respect to a connector to be coupled.
    Here, FIG. 3 is a front view of the ferrule 10A. Fig. 4A is a sectional view taken on line IVa-IVa shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 4B is a sectional view taken on line IVb-IVb shown in FIG. 3. As shown in fig. 3, fig. 4A and FIG. 4B, the ferrule 10A further comprises, in addition to a plurality of optical fiber holding holes 13, a first inspection hole 17 and a second inspection hole 18. Each of these inspection holes 17 and 18 is a through hole extending from the insertion hole 15 and reaching the surface 14a and is formed with an axial line direction which is the Z direction along the optical fiber holding hole 13. Specifically, the holes 17 and 18 respectively comprise large diameter portions 17a and 18a which are formed on the side of the insertion hole 15 and small diameter portions 17b and 18b which are continuous with the large diameter portions 17a and 18a formed towards the surface. 14a, similarly to the optical fiber holding hole 13. The inner diameters of the large diameter portions 17a and 18a are equal to the inner diameter of the large diameter portion 13a of the optical fiber holding hole 1 3, and the inner diameters of the small diameter portions 17b and 18b are equal to the inner diameter of the small diameter portion 13b of the optical fiber holding hole 13.
    Both the surface 14b and the ferrule end face 10a are flat on at least the axial lines of the inspection holes 17 and 18, and the refractive index distribution in an area between the surface 14b. and the ferrule end face 10a is uniform. In other words, no light-condensing optical element such as the lens structure 16, for example, is provided near the axial lines of the inspection holes 17 and 18.
    As illustrated in FIG. 3, an opening in the first inspection hole 17 on the surface 14a is formed along one end of a row of the optical fiber holding holes 13 in a first third. An opening of the second inspection hole 18 on the surface 14a is formed along the other end of a row of optical fiber holding holes 13 in a second third.
    FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating a process for manufacturing the ferrule 10A. In fig. 5, some of the molds 31 to 34 are illustrated for molding the ferrule 10A. The mold 31 is a rod-shaped mold for forming the optical fiber holding hole 13 and extends in the Z direction. A plurality of molds 31 is provided depending on the number of optical fiber holding holes 13. The molds to form the inspection holes 17 and 18 have the same shape as the mold 31 and are arranged to be aligned with these molds 31. One end of each of the molds 31 and molds to form the inspection holes 17 and 18 is maintained by the mold 32 to form the insertion hole 15 and the other end of each of these is held by the mold 33 to form the recessed portion 14. Next, the mold 34 is provided separately from these molds 31 to 33 The mold 34 is a mold for forming the ferrule end face 10a and the lens structure 16. The ferrule 10A may be formed using molds which comprise at least these molds 31-34.
    The effects obtained by the ferrule 10A having the structure above according to the embodiment are described. In the ferrule 10A, the optical fiber F2 is inserted and held in the optical fiber holding hole 13. Next, the light emitted by the tip end face of the optical fiber F2 is collimated by the lens structure 16 to reach the optical connector to be coupled. The light collimated and emitted by the optical connector to be coupled is condensed by the lens structure 16 to reach the tip end face of the optical fiber F2. Therefore, according to the ferrule 10A, it is possible to perform the effective optical coupling with the optical connector to be coupled.
    The ferrule 10A according to the embodiment also has inspection holes 17 and 18 in addition to the optical fiber holding hole 13. Each of the inspection holes 17 and 18 is a through hole reaching the surface 14a of FIG. similar to the optical fiber holding hole 13 and is formed along the optical fiber holding hole 13. In such a configuration, the rod-shaped mold 31 for forming the optical fiber holding hole 13 and the mold rod form to form the inspection holes 17 and 18 can be expanded from a shared base (mold 32). In addition, in the embodiment, the other end of each of these molds is held by the mold 33. Therefore, the deflection in a relative position between the inspection holes 17 and 18 and the fiber holding hole optical 13 is extremely reduced. The eccentricity of the inspection holes 17 and 18 can be easily known by observing from the front without being disturbed by the lens structure 16. In other words, according to the ferrule 10A in the embodiment, the eccentricity the optical fiber holding hole 13 can be easily known by means of the eccentricity of the inspection holes 17 and 18.
    In the ferrule 10A according to the embodiment, the lens structure 16 is provided on the ferrule end face 10a, the surface 14b and the ferrule end face 10a are flat on at least the axial lines. inspection holes 17 and 18 and the refractive index distribution in a region between the surface 14b and the ferrule end face 10a is uniform. This eliminates image distortion of inspection holes 17 and 18 viewed from the front, and inspection holes 17 and 18 are further easily observed.
    The internal diameters of the inspection holes 17 and 18 may be equal to the inner diameter of the optical fiber holding hole 13 as in the present embodiment. This allows the rod-shaped mold 31 to form the optical fiber holding hole 13 and the rod-shaped mold to form the inspection holes 17 and 18 to be shared to reduce the types of molds. In a case in which the thicknesses of these molds are different, the degrees of deflection of the molds as the molten resin flows, are differentiated to affect the relative positional accuracy between the inspection holes 17 and 18 and the holding hole The internal diameters of the inspection holes 17 and 18 being equal to the internal diameter of the optical fiber holding hole 13 allow the thicknesses of these molds to be equalized to cause the deflections to be at the same degree and to increase. in addition the positional accuracy relative to each other.
    The openings of a plurality of optical fiber holding holes 13 on the surface 14a may be formed to be aligned on a row or a plurality of rows. The opening of the first inspection hole 17 on the surface 14a may be formed along one end of any one of the rows. The opening of the second inspection hole 18 on the surface 14a may be formed along the other end of any of the rows as in the present embodiment. This allows the inspection holes 17 and 18 to be arranged without disturbing the alignment of the optical fiber F2.
    First modification [0043] FIG. 6 is a front view of the ferrule 10B according to a first modification of the above embodiment. Fig. 7A is a sectional view taken on the line VIIa-VIIa shown in FIG. 6, and FIG. 7B is a sectional view taken on line Vllb-VIIb shown in FIG. 6. The ferrule 10B according to this modification further comprises, in addition to the configuration of the ferrule 10A in the embodiment above, two marks 21 and 22. The mark 21 is provided on an area on the axial line of the hole 17 on the ferrule end face 10a for positional adjustment with respect to the inspection hole 17. Similarly, the mark 22 is provided on an area on the axial line of the inspection hole 18 on the face end of ferrule 10a for positional adjustment with respect to the inspection hole 18.
    As illustrated in FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B, these marks 21 and 22 are respectively formed in projecting shapes projecting in the direction of the axial line of the inspection holes 17 and 18, for example, at the vertices of which marks, there are provided flat portions 21a and 22a overlapping the axial lines of the inspection holes 17 and 18. As illustrated in FIG. 6, when observed in the axial line directions of the inspection holes 17 and 18, the marks 21 and 22 accept circular shapes, the centers of which coincide with the central axial lines of the inspection holes 17 and 18, respectively, in terms of design. In addition, the diameters of the marks 21 and 22 (specifically, the diameters of the flat portions 21a and 22a) are different from the internal diameters of the inspection holes 17 and 18 respectively. For example, the diameters of the marks 21 and 22 are formed to be greater than the internal diameters of the inspection holes 17 and 18.
    The marks 21 and 22 can thus be formed at the same time by the mold 34 to form the lens structure 16 (see FIG 5) and thus a deviation of the relative positions between the marks 21 and 22 and the structure of the lens 16 is extremely reduced. Then, the marks 21 and 22 and the inspection holes 17 and 18 respectively seem to overlap when viewed from the front. Therefore, the relative positional deviation between the optical fiber holding hole 13 and the lens structure 16 can be easily known by observing the relative positional deviations between the marks 21 and 22 and the inspection holes 17 and 18. In other words, the relative positional deviation between the mold 31 and the mold 34 illustrated in FIG. 5 can be adjusted and axial misalignment inspection before shipment is allowed.
    The marks 21 and 22 may be formed in projecting shapes as in this modification. This brings a mold part to form each of the marks 21 and 22 to have a recessed shape and therefore, the mold part to form each of the marks 21 and 22 can suppress the stagnation of a molten resin flow to form preferably the lens structure 16.
    The marks 21 and 22 may accept circular shapes when they are observed in the axial line directions of the inspection holes 17 and 18 as in this modification. In this case, the relative positional deviations between the marks 21 and 22 and the inspection holes 17 and 18 can be easily found, for example, by observing the deviations between the centers of the circular shape markings 21 and 22 and the centers of the inspection holes 17 and 18. In addition, the fact that the diameters of the marks 21 and 22 are different from the internal diameters of the inspection holes 17 and 18 prevents the profiles of the marks 21 and 22 from overlapping the profiles of the holes. inspection 17 and 18 when viewed from the front so that the relative positional deviations of these can be easily found.
    In this modification, the ferrule end face 10a is provided with the marks 21 and 22, but the mark may be provided on the surface 14b, the area between the surface 14b and the ferrule end face 10a. or two or more of the surface 14b, the ferrule end face 10a and the area between the surface 14b and the ferrule end face 10a. In this modification, the protruding shaped and circularly shaped indicia 21 and 22 are illustrated, but the shape of the mark is not limited thereto, and there may be different shapes, such as a form of "+" , for example.
    Second Modification [0049] FIG. 8 is a front view of a ferrule 10C according to a second modification of the above embodiment. In this ferrule 10C, openings of a plurality of optical fiber holding holes 13 on the surface 14a are formed to be aligned on a row in the X direction. An opening of the first inspection hole 17 on the surface 14a is formed along one end of the row in question, and an opening of the second inspection hole 18 on the surface 14a is formed along the other end of the row in question.
    The positions of the openings of inspection holes 17 and 18 are not limited to the embodiment above. The openings may be formed in arbitrary positions on the surface 14a. For example, the openings may be formed on both end sides of the same row as in this modification.
    Third Modification [0051] FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a ferrule 10D according to a third modification of the above embodiment. In this modification, instead of a plurality of lens structures 16 provided on the ferrule end face 10a, there is provided a plurality of lens structures 23 on the surface 14b. Specifically, each of a plurality of lens structures 23 includes a semispherical convex portion formed on the surface 14b, and is integrally formed with the other portion of the ferrule 10D.
    FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a ferrule 10E according to another modification. In this modification, in place of a plurality of lens structures 16 provided on the ferrule end face 10a, a plurality of lens structures 24 are provided on the area between the surface 14b and the end face of the lens. ferrule 10a. Specifically, each of a plurality of lens structures 24 is a tubular GRIN lens mounted in a through-hole formed in the area between the surface 14b and the ferrule end face 10a.
    Each of these lens structures 23 and 24 is provided on the axial line of the optical fiber holding hole 13 corresponding to each lens structure, and is coupled optically with the respective end faces of a plurality of optical fibers F2 held by the optical fiber holding hole 13. Each of the lens structures 23 and 24 collimates the light emitted by the tip end face of each optical fiber F2 or condenses the light entering through the optical connector to coupling on the tip end face of each optical fiber F2.
    The lens structure may be provided on the surface 14b or the area between the surface 14b and the ferrule end face 10a as in the present modification, not limited to the ferrule end face 10a. Alternatively, the lens structure may be provided on two or more of the ferrule end face 10a, the surface 14b and the area between the surface 14b and the ferrule end face 10a. Even in such a case, the effect similar to that of the above embodiment can be obtained preferably.
    The optical connector ferrule according to the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and other modifications may be adopted. For example, the embodiments described above may be combined with one another depending on the object and effect required. In the above embodiment, the optical connector ferrule includes a plurality of optical fiber retaining holes, but the invention may be applicable in a case where the optical connector ferrule includes a single fiber retaining hole. optical. In the above embodiment, the optical connector ferrule includes two inspection holes, but the number of inspection holes may be one or three or more in the present invention.
    List of reference signs [0056] 1A Optical connector 10A to 10E Optical connector ferrule 10a Ferrule end face 10b Rear end face 10c, 10d Side face 10e Bottom face 10f Top face 13 Optical fiber retention hole 14 Depressed portion 14a First surface 14b Second surface 15 Introduction hole 16 Lens structure 17, 18 Inspection hole 19a, 19b Guide hole 21,22 Brand 23, 24 Lens structure 31 to 34 Mold 51 Cover F1 Fiber bundle optical F2 optical fiber
    权利要求:
    Claims (9)
    [1]
    An optical connector ferrule (10A) made from resin, comprising: at least one optical fiber holding hole (13) which is a through hole reaching a first surface (14a), the holding hole (13) of optical fiber being adapted to hold an inserted optical fiber (F2); a lens structure (16) provided on an axial line of the optical fiber holding hole (13); and an inspection hole (17, 18) which is a through-hole formed along the optical fiber holding hole (13) and reaching the first surface (14a).
    [2]
    An optical connector ferrule (10A) according to claim 1, further comprising: a second surface (14b) facing the first surface (14a); and a ferrule end face (10a), the second surface (14b) being positioned between the ferrule end face (10a) and the first surface (14a), the ferrule end face (10a) making facing an optical connector ferrule to be coupled, wherein the lens structure (16) is provided at least on any one of the second surface (14b), the ferrule end face (10a) and between the second surface (14b) and the ferrule end face (10a), and wherein the second surface (14b) and the ferrule end face (10a) are flat at least around the area through which the axial line the inspection hole (17, 18) passes, and the refractive index distribution in an area between the second surface (14b) and the ferrule end face (10a) is uniform, in other words, no light-condensing optical element such that the lens structure (16) is provided near axial lines of the inspection holes (17, 18).
    [3]
    An optical connector ferrule (10A) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an inner diameter of the inspection hole (17, 18) is equal to an inner diameter of the optical fiber holding hole (13).
    [4]
    An optical connector ferrule (10A) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said at least one optical fiber holding hole (13) comprises a plurality of holding holes, the lens structure (16) comprises a plurality of lenses respectively provided on the axial lines of the respective holding holes (13), and the inspection hole comprises first and second inspection holes (17, 18), and wherein the openings of the plurality of holding holes (13) on the first surface (14a) are formed to be aligned on a row or a plurality of rows, an opening of the first inspection hole (17) on the first surface (14a) is formed along one end of any of the rows, and an opening of the second inspection hole (18) on the first surface (14a) is formed along the other end of any of the rows.
    [5]
    An optical connector ferrule (10A) according to claim 2, further comprising a mark (21,22) for positional adjustment with respect to the inspection hole (17,18), the mark (21,22) being provided on at least one of the second surface (14b), the ferrule end face (10a), and between the second surface (14b) and the ferrule end face (10a).
    [6]
    An optical connector ferrule (10A) according to claim 5, wherein the mark (21,22) is formed in a protruding shape having a flat portion overlapping the axial line of the inspection hole (17,18).
    [7]
    The optical connector ferrule (10A) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the mark (21, 22) is circular in shape when viewed in a direction of the axial line of the inspection hole (17, 18). ).
    [8]
    An optical connector ferrule (10A) according to claim 7, wherein a diameter of the mark (21, 22) is different from an internal diameter of the inspection hole (17, 18).
    [9]
    An optical connector (1A) comprising: an optical connector ferrule (10A) according to any one of claims 1 to 8; and an optical fiber (F2) held by the optical fiber holding hole (13).
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    同族专利:
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    TW201804188A|2018-02-01|
    JP6565728B2|2019-08-28|
    CN108700715A|2018-10-23|
    JP2017146408A|2017-08-24|
    US10436989B2|2019-10-08|
    WO2017141904A1|2017-08-24|
    US20190056555A1|2019-02-21|
    CA3013436A1|2017-08-24|
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    法律状态:
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    JP2016026934A|JP6565728B2|2016-02-16|2016-02-16|Optical connector ferrule|
    PCT/JP2017/005312|WO2017141904A1|2016-02-16|2017-02-14|Optical connector ferrule and optical connector|
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