JP2004170488A - Optical fiber connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical fiber connector which permits to easily confirm the presence or absence of an optical signal in the state of the optical connector connected; which is easy to handle and has high maintainability; and which permits to confirm by the naked eye the presence or absence of the signal light in the light path where an invisible light signal of a long wavelength zone is used. <P>SOLUTION: The optical fiber connector is provided with an engagement part 5 for two pieces of coated optical fibers, a branch part for making the optical signal branch from one of the coated optical fibers in the engagement part 5, a guide part 6 for guiding the optical signal made to branch in the branch part to the outside. A light-transmissive waveguide body 9 or an optical waveguide 8 is arranged as the branch part, and a photo-detector 7 is preferably arranged between the branch part 8 or 9 and the guide part 6. Moreover, the light-transmissive waveguide body 9 is preferably formed of an elastic material. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an optical fiber connector, and more particularly, to an optical fiber connector having a light detecting function.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a method shown in FIG. 6 has been proposed for detecting ultraviolet rays. In this method, after the ultraviolet light 13 passes through the filter 14, it enters the first optical fiber 15 containing Ge and is converted into visible light, and is converted into long-wavelength visible light by the fluorescent substance 17 at the output end. Then, the long wavelength visible light propagates through the connection section 16 to the second optical fiber 18 and is detected as visible light 19 (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-61-44331.
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the technique described in Patent Document 1 described above has a problem in that since the signal detecting means is normally connected to the end face of the second optical fiber 18, the presence or absence of an optical signal at the connection section 16 cannot be confirmed. there were. Here, in order to confirm the presence or absence of an optical signal on the end face of the second optical fiber 18, there is a problem that the connection of the optical line must be disconnected.
[0005]
Further, in the technology described in Patent Document 1, since the first optical fiber 15 containing Ge is used, there is a problem that only ultraviolet light can be applied as signal light.
[0006]
In view of the above, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems in the related art, and it is possible to easily confirm the presence or absence of an optical signal in a state where an optical fiber is connected. It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical fiber connector capable of visually confirming the presence or absence of signal light in an optical line using an invisible light signal in a long wavelength band (infrared light) which is currently the mainstream. .
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 is an optical fiber connector, comprising: a fitting portion for two optical fibers; and a branch for branching an optical signal from one optical fiber at the fitting portion. And a deriving unit for deriving an optical signal branched in the branching unit to the outside.
[0008]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the branching unit, the optical signal from one optical fiber can be branched and the optical signal branched from the deriving unit can be derived to the outside. The presence or absence of the signal light can be visually confirmed without interruption.
[0009]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, as a preferred mode of the optical fiber connector according to the first aspect, the branch portion is provided with a light transmitting waveguide or an optical waveguide. According to this configuration, since maintenance is not particularly required, an optical fiber connector which is easy to operate and has excellent maintainability can be provided.
[0010]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the optical fiber connector according to the first or second aspect, a photodetector is provided between the branch portion and the lead-out portion. This makes it possible to easily confirm an optical signal having a wavelength that is not in the visible light range or a low power. For example, when an infrared stimulable phosphor is used as the photodetector, the presence or absence of infrared signal light can be confirmed with the naked eye without requiring a complicated mechanism.
[0011]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the optical fiber connector according to the second or third aspect, the light transmitting waveguide is formed of an elastic material. Thus, it is possible to prevent the end face of the optical fiber from being damaged and to suppress the loss and reflection of the optical signal.
[0012]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, an optical fiber connector having a ferrule is assumed, but the shape of the connector and the type of the optical fiber are not particularly limited in the present invention.
[0013]
FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an optical fiber connector according to the present invention. This optical fiber connector has a small window 6 as a lead-out part for leading an optical signal to a fitting part 5 of two optical fibers to the outside. Is provided.
[0014]
As shown in FIG. 2, the optical fiber connector includes an optical fiber fixing tube 3 fixed to the fitting portion 5 by crimping or fastening, and a branching portion formed of a light-transmitting elastic material. A wave body 9 and a photodetector 7 that receives signal light and emits light are provided.
[0015]
The waveguide 9 is made of a material having both light transmittance and elasticity, such as transparent acrylic resin, silicone rubber, and vinyl chloride, in order to enable good optical coupling between two optical fibers, and is processed with high precision. Is arranged inside the fitted portion 5.
[0016]
An infrared stimulable phosphor or the like is used for the photodetector 7, and the light wavelength of 1.31 μm / 1.55 μm, which is currently mainstream in optical communication, is an infrared ray that cannot be visually confirmed. Since the light is light, the light is converted into visible light 12 by the light detector 7. The infrared stimulable phosphor is made of a material obtained by adding trace amounts of samarium (Sm) and europium (Eu) to calcium sulfide (CaS), and emits visible light in the following steps.
(1) When light strikes from outside, europium absorbs light and transfers electrons to samarium to store energy.
(2) When the phosphor in this state is irradiated with infrared light, the electrons stored in samarium are returned to europium, and visible light is emitted.
[0017]
Here, when converting infrared light into visible light, energy stored in the phosphor is used, so that it is possible to efficiently convert even weak infrared light into visible light.
[0018]
Next, the operation of the optical fiber connector having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to FIG. 3. Two opposing optical fibers are fixed by the fitting portion 5, and the ends of both optical fibers are connected to the waveguide 9. Are optically coupled with each other.
[0019]
The waveguide 9 transfers most of the optical signal 10 to the next fiber while taking the optical coupling of the facing optical fiber connectors, that is, while suppressing deformation adhesion and reflection to the fiber end face due to the pressure of the optical fiber end. While transmitting to the core wire 2, a part of the optical signal 10 is transmitted to the photodetector 7 as the branch light 11.
[0020]
The branched light 11 branched from the optical signal 10 transmitted to the next-stage optical fiber connector by the waveguide 9 is emitted to the photodetector 7. The light detector 7 converts infrared light into visible light in the above-described manner, and the visible light is emitted to the outside through the small window 6. This makes it possible to visually check the presence or absence of signal light in an optical line using an invisible light signal in a long wavelength band (infrared light) with the optical fiber connected. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 1, it can be confirmed with the naked eye or a photodetector.
[0021]
Next, another embodiment of the optical fiber connector according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0022]
The optical fiber connector includes an optical fiber fixing cylinder 3 fixed to a fitting portion 5 by crimping or fastening, an optical waveguide 8 as a branch portion having a predetermined branching ratio, and a light detection device that receives signal light and emits light. And a body 7.
[0023]
The optical waveguide 8 is made of glass or transparent plastic, and is provided inside the fitting portion 5 which is processed with high precision so as to obtain good optical coupling.
[0024]
As the photodetector 7, an infrared stimulable phosphor similar to that in the above embodiment is used.
[0025]
Next, the operation of the optical fiber connector having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. 5. Two opposing optical fibers are fixed by the fitting portion 5, and the ends of both optical fibers are connected to the optical waveguide 8. Optically coupled between them.
[0026]
The optical waveguide 8 transfers most of the optical signal 10 to the next fiber core wire 2 while taking optical coupling of the optical fiber connectors facing each other, that is, while suppressing deformation adhesion and reflection to the fiber end face by the pressure of the optical fiber end. At the same time, a part of the optical signal 10 is transmitted to the photodetector 7 as the branched light 11.
[0027]
The branched light 11 branched from the optical signal 10 transmitted to the next-stage optical fiber connector by the optical waveguide 8 is emitted to the photodetector 7. The light detector 7 converts infrared light into visible light in the above-described manner, and the visible light is emitted to the outside through the small window 6. This makes it possible to visually check the presence or absence of signal light in an optical line using an invisible light signal in a long wavelength band (infrared light) with the optical fiber connected. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 1, it can be confirmed with the naked eye or a photodetector.
[0028]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the presence or absence of an optical signal can be easily confirmed in a state where an optical fiber is connected, and handling is easy and maintenance is high. An optical fiber connector capable of visually confirming the presence or absence of signal light in the used optical line can be provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing one embodiment of an optical fiber connector according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the optical fiber connector of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a flow of an optical signal in the optical fiber connector of FIG.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the optical fiber connector according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a flow of an optical signal in the optical fiber connector of FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of a conventional ultraviolet ray detection method.
[Explanation of symbols]
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 optical fiber coating 2 optical fiber core wire 3 optical fiber fixing tube 4 ferrule 5 fitting portion 6 small window 7 light detector 8 optical waveguide 9 waveguide 10 optical signal 11 transmitted through optical fiber 11 branched light 12 visible light (Emission light of the fluorescent stimulant that received the 10 branched lights)

Claims (4)

A fitting portion for two optical fibers,
A branching section for branching an optical signal from one optical fiber in the fitting section;
An optical fiber connector, comprising: a deriving unit for deriving an optical signal branched at the branch unit to the outside. The optical fiber connector according to claim 1, wherein the branch portion is provided with a light-transmitting waveguide or an optical waveguide. The optical fiber connector according to claim 1, further comprising a photodetector between the branch part and the lead-out part. 4. The optical fiber connector according to claim 2, wherein the light transmitting waveguide is formed of an elastic material.

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