BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS, SHOWING
FIG. 1 a top view of a plug-in connector consisting of two RJ-45 plugs according to the invention for optical waveguides, whereby the RJ45 plugs are inserted into a double coupler according to the invention,
FIG. 2 a cross section of the plug-in connector from FIG. 1 along the sectional line A-A;
FIG. 3 a detailed view of Section B of the plug-in connector from FIG. 2,
FIG. 4 a perspective view of a plug-in connector consisting of two RJ45 plugs according to the invention for optical waveguides, whereby the RJ45 plugs are inserted into a double coupler according to the invention, as well as
FIG. 5 a top view of a plug-in connector consisting of an RJ45 plug according to the invention for optical waveguides, whereby the RJ45 plug is inserted into a receptacle according to the invention.
WAYS TO EXECUTE THE INVENTION
A plug-in connector shown in FIG. 1 for detachably connecting two optical waveguide cables consists of two plugs 20, which have been inserted into a double coupler 22 from diametrically opposite sides (180°). For this purpose, each of the sides of the double coupler 22 running orthogonally to the longitudinal axis of the plug-in connector L has a socket 21 for an RJ45 plug modified for optical waveguide transmission. On the narrow sides 14 of the RJ45 plug housing 3 modified as an optical waveguide plug and running parallel to the longitudinal axis of the plug-in connector L, the plugs each have a catch spring 10 arranged resiliently parallel to each shell side 14, and a tab 11 is arranged on the free side of the catch spring 10 facing the back 13 of the RJ45 plug housing 3, and said tab 11 projects out of the coupling housing 1 when the plug 20 is inserted into the double coupler 22. In order to detach the plug 20 from the double coupler 22, the catch spring 10 can be pushed down with the tab 11.
In particular, FIG. 2 shows that, with plugs 20 arranged in the double coupler 22, the coupling ferrules 6, 6′ that are needed for coupling in the light and transmitting the light are arranged in the modified coupling housing 1 of an RJ-45 double coupler on the front, opposite by 180° from the optical waveguides that are fed through the bores 25. In order to ensure an exact positioning of the coupling ferrules 6, 6′, a coupling insert 2 being arranged in the coupling housing 1, said coupling insert 2 having a passage opening 18 for each coupling ferrule 6, 6′, a hollow-cylindrical ceramic sleeve 9 is arranged in each passage opening 18, a coupling ferrule 6, 6′ is pushed into the ceramic sleeve 9 on the left and on the right in each case, and these coupling ferrules 6, 6′ abut each other with their front surfaces 19. As a result of the ceramic sleeve 9, in conjunction with the coupling ferrules 6, 6′ that are inserted into it, undesired material connections or movements of the overlapping light spots are ruled out over a wide temperature range, and moreover, mechanical friction on the material surfaces that slide directly on each other is virtually ruled out in the critical area of the transmission distance between the fronts of the coupling ferrules 6, 6′ and the optical waveguides. When the plug 20 is pulled out, the coupling ferrules 6, 6′ do not extend beyond the socket 21 so that they are effectively protected against dirt and damage. In FIG. 2, as well as in FIG. 3, among other things, it can also be seen how the catch springs 10 latch in a catch 23 arranged on the coupling housing 1.
FIG. 3 shows the structure of a plug 20 that consists of a modified RJ-45 plug housing 3 that is modified through the installation of an inner housing 24 consisting of an inner housing lower shell 7 and an inner housing upper shell 8, whereby a ferrule holder 4 is arranged in the inner housing 24 in the longitudinal axis of the plug-in connector L and this ferrule holder 4 is spring-loaded parallel to the longitudinal axis of the plug-in connector L by a spring 5 in the direction of the front 12 of the housing 3. On the end of the ferrule holder 4 facing the front 12, it has a recess for receiving a coupling ferrule 6 arranged in a coupler that matches the plug and, on its side facing the back 13 of the housing 3, the ferrule holder 4 has a receptacle in the form of a bore 25 for an optical waveguide (not shown here). The bore 25 runs parallel to the longitudinal axis of the plug-in connector L from the back 13 through the ferrule holder 4 to the recess for receiving the coupling ferrules 6, 6′, whereby the bore 25 is stepped three times in the lengthwise direction of the plug-in connector so that the optical waveguide, with its sheathing, can be pushed from the back 13 into the ferrule holder 4 and the optical waveguide without the sheathing can be passed through the bore 25 until it ends up flush with the bottom of the recess for the coupling ferrules 6, 6′, whereby the optical waveguide can be firmly connected to the ferrule holder 4, for example, by means of gluing. A stop 15 is arranged on the ferrule holder 4 and this stop 15 limits the axial mobility of the ferrule holder 4 by the spring 5 in the direction of the front 12 in that it strikes an indentation 16 shaped on the inner housing 24. In the resting position, the ferrule holder 4 is arranged horizontally here, lying somewhat further in the direction of the front 12 than in the position shown for a plug 20 that is inserted into a coupler, so that, due to the spring load when the plug 20 is inserted into a coupler, the coupling ferrule 6, 6′ that is arranged in the coupler and that projects into the modified RJ45 plug housing 3 pushes the ferrule holder 4 somewhat into the plug 20 against the spring force in order to ensure a precise arrangement of the coupling ferrules 6, 6′ and optical waveguides frontally facing each other and the shortest possible free transmission distance between the coupling ferrules 6, 6′ inserted from the other side into the recess of the ferrule holder 4 and the optical waveguide that opens up flush into this recess.
In order to prevent the inner housing 24 that is arranged in the modified RJ45 plug housing 3 from sliding out in the direction of the back 13, a stop edge 17 is formed on the RJ45 plug housing 3 that, together with the corresponding narrow sides 14, resiliently latches behind the inner housing 24 after the insertion of the inner housing 24, which has been put together and connected to the optical waveguides. Two ferrule holders 4 are arranged parallel next to each other in a shared inner housing 24 in the RJ45 plug housing, one ferrule holder 4 for each optical waveguide laid in a shared optical waveguide cable or in two separately installed optical waveguide cables. When the plug 20 is inserted into the double coupler 22, the coupling ferrule 6, 6′, which is arranged in the hollow-cylindrical ceramic sleeve 9 and which lies across from the plug 20 that is to be inserted, slides into the front recess on the ferrule holder 4 all the way to the stop on the bottom of the recess and, when the plug 20 is pushed further into the double coupler 22, compresses the spring 5 so that, due to the spring force, the ferrule holder 4—with the optical waveguide arranged in it—lies in the desired position opposite from the front of the coupling ferrule 6, 6′ arranged in the double coupler 22. The precise axial orientation of the coupling ferrules 6, 6′ arranged in the double coupler 22 is effectuated by the precise arrangement in the ceramic sleeve 9 arranged in the passage opening 18, whereby said ceramic sleeve 9 can be configured as a precision part located across from the coupling ferrules 6, 6′ that abut with each other inside the ceramic sleeve 9.
FIG. 4 once again illustrates how the plugs 20 are inserted into the double coupler 22. The stop edge 17 that secures the inner housing 24 can be seen on the modified RJ-45 plug housing 3, which is open at the rear and shown in the foreground. The inner housing 25 is almost completely surrounded by the narrow sides 14 of the modified RJ-45 plug housing 3, the remaining openings serving to facilitate access to the interior occupied by the inner housing 24, especially for assembly and maintenance purposes. The tabs 11 for actuating the catch springs 10 protrude on both sides from the double coupler 22 so that the plug-in connector can be released by pressing down the tabs.
FIG. 5 shows a receptacle housing 26, a simple socket, into which a plug 20 has been inserted. An optical waveguide cable that has several individual optical waveguides, each connected inside the receptacle housing 26 to one coupling ferrule, protrudes from the side of the receptacle housing 26 opposite from the plug for purposes of further connection.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
The invention can be industrially employed especially for the production of plug-in connectors in optical waveguide technology and in data transmission technology employing optical waveguide technology.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
1 coupling housing
2 coupling insert
3 modified RJ-45 plug housing
4 ferrule holder
5 spring
6,6′ coupling ferrules
7 inner housing-lower shell
8 inner housing-upper shell
9 ceramic sleeve
10 catch spring
11 tab
12 front
13 back
14 narrow side
15 stop
16 indentation
17 stop edge
18 passage opening
19 front surfaces
20 plug
21 socket
22 double coupler
23 catch
24 inner housing
25 bore
26 receptacle housing
27 recess
- L longitudinal axis of the plug-in connector
- A-A section line
- B section
Patent Application
20080085082
