The present invention relates to an optical connector cleaning tool and an optical connector cleaning tool attachment, which are used to clean the connection end face of an optical connector in a single state or in a state in which the optical connector is inserted into an adapter.
In many conventional general optical connector cleaning tools, an operator grips the cleaning tool by hand, inserts a projecting portion into an adapter, and wipe the contamination of the connection end face of the optical connector inserted into the adapter by using a cleaning thread exposed at the distal end of the projection portion. An optical connector as the cleaning target of the conventional optical connector cleaning tool is a single core connector. The optical connector cleaning tool is provided with an insertion guide for matching the connection end face of the single core connector with the position of the cleaning thread when inserting the cleaning tool into the adapter.
An optical connector cleaning tool 1 shown in
When the optical connector 6 is inserted into the adapter 5, a connection end face 11 of the optical connector 6 is located at almost the middle of the adapter 5. When the optical connector cleaning tool 1 is inserted into the adapter 5 in a direction opposite to the optical connector 6, the distal end of the projecting portion 3 faces the connection end face 11 because the size of the guide 7 is appropriately adjusted with respect to the adapter 5. Since the lengths of the projecting portion 3 and the guide 7 are appropriately adjusted also in the insertion direction, the connection end face 11 and the projecting portion 3 are brought into contact with each other at an appropriate pressure via the cleaning thread 4.
As described in, for example, patent literature 1, a cleaning thread supply portion (not shown) around which the cleaning thread 4 is wound and a cleaning thread accommodation portion (not shown) for taking up the used cleaning thread 4 are arranged inside the gripping portion 2. The cleaning thread supply portion and the cleaning thread accommodation portion feed the cleaning thread 4 in synchronism with the cleaning operation of the operator. Therefore, the new cleaning thread 4 always appears at the projecting portion 3.
In an apparatus that performs transmission and reception, two optical fibers are paired and used. In an apparatus of this type, a dual core optical fiber cable in which the pair of optical fibers are integrated is often used. Such a dual core optical fiber cable connector has a shape in which single core connectors are aligned and fixed. The interval between the two aligned single core connectors is standardized. For example, as shown in
This dual core optical fiber cable connector can clean each of the two optical fiber cables using the above-mentioned single core optical connector cleaning tool 1. In recent years, a dual core optical connector cleaning tool is proposed to efficiently clean the dual core optical fiber cable of this type (see non-patent literature 2). This dual core optical connector cleaning tool is shown in
The two projecting portions 24 are aligned at an interval standardized for the dual core optical fiber cable connector.
The use number of optical fibers has been dramatically increased with an increase in recent optical communication data, and space-saving optical fibers are demanded. Along with this, an optical connector serving as optical fiber interface is made more compact. The dual core optical connector has been changed from a structure in which two single core connectors are aligned to a connector structure in which two ferrules project from one housing to allow the high-density layout on a transmission apparatus (see non-patent literature 3). As an example of such a structure, a CS connector 31 is shown in
The CS connector 31 (compact dual core optical connector) includes a housing 33 fitted in the adapter 32 and two ferrules 34 projecting from this housing 33, as shown in
An engaging projection 40 that engages with engaging portions 39 (see
Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent No. 5049350
Non-Patent Literature 1: Specifications of Router Connection Interface for IP Communication Network ISP Connection “Fibre optic interconnecting devices and passive components—Fiber optic connector interfaces—Part 20: Type LC connector family, 61754-20(C) IEC:2012(E), ISBN 978-2-88912-982-7
Non-Patent Literature 2: Optical Connector Cleaners including LC duplex cleaners, [online], Fujikura, [search on Jan. 8, 2019], Internet <URL: http://www.fujikura.co.jp/eng/products/optical/opticalconnectors/02/2050083_12918.html>
Non-Patent Literature 3: Specification for CS Connector, Rev 1.0 Sep. 18, 2017, [online], Internet <URL: http://www.qsfp-dd.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/CS-Connector-Specification-Rev-1.0-TN-Final-2.pdf>
In the conventional single core optical connector cleaning tool 1, it is difficult to abut the distal ends of the projecting portions against the two ferrules 34 of the CS connector 31 (the compact dual core optical connector) in a state in which the cleaning tool is inserted into the adapter. Therefore, this compact dual core optical connector cannot be cleaned.
In the dual core optical connector cleaning tool 21 shown in
It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical connector cleaning tool and an optical connector cleaning tool attachment, which can clean the connection end face of the compact dual core optical connector having two ferrules in one housing.
In order to achieve the above object according to the present invention, there is provided an optical connector cleaning tool comprising a fitting portion configured to be fitted in a hole defined by a connection component, on one end side of which a compact dual core optical connector having two ferrules in a housing is fitted and on the other end side of which the hole is formed such that connection end faces of distal ends of the two ferrules are exposed in the hole, and a cleaning medium projecting from the fitting portion to contact the connection end face of one of the two ferrules, wherein the fitting portion is formed in a shape that allows the fitting portion to be fitted in the hole in a first posture and a second posture, the fist posture and the second posture being postures rotated 180° from each other the center of a virtual straight line connecting the centers of the two ferrules when viewed from an axial direction of the two ferrules, and the cleaning medium contacts one of the two ferrules in a state in which the fitting portion is fitted in the hole in the first posture and contacts the other of the two ferrules in a state in which the fitting portion is fitted in the hole in the second posture.
According to the present invention, there is provided an optical connector cleaning tool attachment mounted on a rod-shaped guide having a distal end portion at which an optical connector cleaning tool cleaning medium is exposed, comprising a fitting portion configured to be fitted in a hole defined by a connection component, on one end side of which a compact dual core optical connector having two ferrules in a housing is fitted and on the other end side of which the hole is formed such that connection end faces of distal ends of the two ferrules are exposed in the hole, and a through hole formed in the fitting portion through which a distal end portion of the guide extends in a fitted state, wherein the fitting portion is formed in a shape that allows the fitting portion to be fitted in the hole in a first posture and a second posture, the fist posture and the second posture being postures rotated 180° from each other the center of a virtual straight line connecting the centers of the two ferrules when viewed from an axial direction of the two ferrules, and the cleaning medium that is exposed at the distal end portion of the guide contacts one of the two ferrules in a state in which the fitting portion is fitted in the hole in the first posture and contacts the other of the two ferrules in a state in which the fitting portion is fitted in the hole in the second posture.
Since the optical connector cleaning tool attachment according to the present invention is used such that one cleaning mechanism having the cleaning medium is rotated through 180° with respect to the middle between the two ferrules. Even if the interval between the ferrules is narrow, the connection end faces of the two ferrules can be reliably cleaned.
According to the present invention, there can therefore be provided an optical connector cleaning tool and an optical connector cleaning tool attachment, which can clean the connection end face of the compact dual core optical connector having two ferrules in one housing.
An optical connector cleaning tool according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to
An optical connector cleaning tool 41 shown in
The fitting portion 44 according to this embodiment is formed integrally with the guide 43. As shown in
A cleaning mechanism (not shown) which is the same as the conventional optical connector cleaning tool 1 is arranged in the gripping portion 42. This cleaning mechanism is arranged such that the cleaning thread 45 projects from the distal end of the fitting portion 44 and is brought into contact with a connection end face 35 of the ferrule 34 at a predetermined pressing force by inserting the fitting portion 44 shown in
The “shape suitable for cleaning the compact dual core optical connector” of the fitting portion 44 will be described in detail with reference to
The optical connector cleaning tool 41 for cleaning the compact dual core optical connector according to the present invention is designed assuming cleaning for such a compact dual core optical connector. The “shape suitable for cleaning the compact dual core optical connector” described above needs to have the following three features.
The first feature is given such that when the fitting portion 44 of the optical connector cleaning tool 41 is inserted into the adapter 32, the cleaning thread 45 is positioned to face the connection end face of one of the ferrules 34 by using a structure such as an inner wall of the adapter 32.
The second feature is a feature of a shape in a depth direction. When the fitting portion 44 of the optical connector cleaning tool 41 is inserted into the adapter 32, an appropriate pressure is applied to the cleaning thread 45.
The third feature is given such that when the fitting portion 44 is rotated through 180° with respect to symmetric centers P1 and P2 serving as the intersections between the virtual straight line L of the centers of the ferrules 34 and the symmetric axes C1 and C2, the cleaning thread 45 projecting from the distal end of the fitting portion 44 is positioned to face the connection end face 35 of the other ferrule 34. Among the first to third features, the first and second features are features which can be obtained even by the conventional optical connector cleaning tool 1. However, the third feature is a feature obtained by the optical connector cleaning tool 41 of the present invention. The optical connector cleaning tool 41 according to the present invention includes the fitting portion 44 having a shape satisfying the first to third features.
In order to implement the first feature, the optical connector cleaning tool 41 of the present invention is formed such that part of the shape of the fitting portion 44 almost matches the shape of the adapter 32. That is, the fitting portion 44 is fitted in, for example, the first hole 36 of the adapter 32, so that the cleaning thread 45 positioned at the distal end of the fitting portion is positioned with respect to the adapter 32 in the vertical and horizontal directions, and the cleaning thread 45 faces the connection end face 35 of one ferrule 34.
Using the CS connector adapter 32 of the CS connector 31 as an example, the inner wall shape of the adapter 32 which is effective for positioning the connector is indicated by thick lines in
In order to implement the third feature described above, if the intersection between the symmetric axis C1 of the ferrule 34 and the virtual straight line L connecting the centers of the ferrules 34 is defined as the symmetric center P2, and the fitting portion 44 is rotated through 180° with respect to this symmetric center P2, the cleaning thread 45 exposed at the distal end of the fitting portion 44 must face the connection end face 35 of the other ferrule 34. For this purpose, the shape obtained by rotating the shape indicated by the thick lines in the adapter 32 on the right side in
A shape 47 (see
The fitting portion 44 of the optical connector cleaning tool 41 according to the present invention is formed such that the shape 49 having the first and third features is implemented. For this reason, in the first or second posture as a posture obtained by 180° rotation with respect to as the center the middle (the symmetric center P2) of the virtual straight line L connecting the centers of the two ferrules 34 when viewed from the axial direction of the ferrules 34, the fitting portion 44 is fitted in the first hole 36 or the second hole 37 of the adapter 32. The cleaning thread 45 is in contact with the connection end face 35 of one of the two ferrules 34 in a state in which the fitting portion 44 is fitted in the first hole 36 in the first posture. The fitting portion 44 is in contact with the connection end face 35 of the other ferrule 34 in a state in which the fitting portion 44 is fitted in the first hole 36 in the second posture.
In addition, in order to implement the second feature described above, as in the conventional single core optical connector cleaning tool 1, the length (the dimension in the insertion direction) of the optical connector cleaning tool 41 according to the present invention is designed such that, for example, an almost predetermined pressure is applied to the cleaning thread 45 of the distal end portion when inserting the cleaning tool into the adapter 32. Note that since the design of the dimension in the insertion direction is the same as in the conventional single core optical connector cleaning tool 1 shown in patent literature 1, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.
Next, the detailed embodiment of an optical connector cleaning tool according to the present invention will be described using the CS connector 31 as an example with reference to
In the first embodiment, the fitting portion 44 of the optical connector cleaning tool 41 according to the present invention can be implemented with the distal end shape of a size almost half that of the compact dual core optical connector. That is, the fitting portion 44 is formed in a shape that allows the fitting portion 44 to be accommodated in only the half of the first hole 36 or the second hole 37 of the adapter 32 in a direction where the two ferrule 34 are aligned. By employing this structure, the fitting portion 44 can be limited to a minimum necessary size.
In addition, the optical connector cleaning tool 41 according to this embodiment can selectively clean only the ferrule 34 which requires cleaning. In the dual core optical connector cleaning tool 21 shown in
That is, there may be a case in which the transmission-side ferrule is cleaned while reducing the loss as much as possible, and the reception-side ferrule is cleaned to an extent that the transceiver can receive a signal at a reception sensitivity or more. In this case, in the conventional dual core optical connector cleaning tool 21, the reception-side ferrule which does not require cleaning is also cleaned. According to the optical connector cleaning tool 41 of the present invention, the transmission-side ferrule is mainly cleaned, and unnecessary cleaning can be avoided.
A fitting portion of an optical connector cleaning tool according to the present invention can be formed as shown in
In the second embodiment, the fitting portion 51 has a size almost equal to that of the compact dual core optical connector. That is, the fitting portion 51 is formed in a shape that allows the fitting portion 51 to be accommodated in the first hole 36 or the second hole 37 of the adapter 32 along the entire range of the direction in which two ferrules 34 are aligned. According to this embodiment, although the fitting portion 51 is larger than the fitting portion 44 of the first embodiment shown in
A fitting portion of an optical connector cleaning tool according to the present invention can be arranged as shown in
The optical connector cleaning tool 41 according to this embodiment can clean not only the compact dual core optical connector (the CS connector 31), but also another single core optical connector (LC connector).
In each embodiment described above, the “connection component” according to the present invention is formed by the adapter. However, the “connection component” can be formed by a protection cap 61 attached to an optical connector cleaning tool 41 as shown in
The protection cap 61 shown in
According to the cap 61, in addition to the protection of the fitting portion by covering it, a CS connector 31 and another compact dual core optical connector are inserted into a third hole 65 (see
The cap 61 is designed such that the relative position between the compact dual core optical connector and the optical connector cleaning tool 41 inserted into the cap 61 is the same as the relative position between the compact dual core optical connector and the optical connector cleaning tool 41 inserted into the adapter 32 shown in
The cap 61 according to this embodiment also has a structure which prevents contamination of the distal end of the connector when the compact dual core optical connector is inserted into the cap.
By using the cap 61 of the optical connector cleaning tool 41 described with reference to the fourth embodiment shown in
A fitting portion according to the present invention can be arranged as shown in
A distal end portion 43a of the guide 43 of the optical connector cleaning tool 72 is formed to be thinner than a base portion 43b serving as a gripping portion side (not shown). In this embodiment, the distal end portion 43a is equivalent to the “rod-shaped guide” of the present invention according to claim 8. The distal end portion 43a extends through a through hole 73 formed in the attachment 71 for the CS connector 31 in a fitted state. The attachment 71 according to this embodiment is formed to have the same shape as a fitting portion 51 shown in
That is, the attachment 71 includes a fitting portion 74 which is the same as the fitting portion 51 shown in
The fitting portion 74 of the attachment 71 is formed in a shape that allows the fitting portion 74 to be fitted in a first hole 36 or a second hole 37 of the adapter 32 (the connection component) in a first posture and a second posture as postures obtained by 180° rotation as the center the middle (a symmetric center P2) of a virtual straight line L connecting the centers of the two ferrules viewed from the axial direction (the axial direction of the ferrule of the compact dual core optical connector) of the optical connector cleaning tool 72, as shown in
As shown in
According to this embodiment, the LC connector (not shown) inserted into the LC connector adapter 54 can be cleaned using the optical connector cleaning tool 72.
The fitting portion of the optical connector cleaning tool is formed as the attachment 71, so that the attachment 71 and the attachment 81 can be prepared for each connector shape. A plurality of types of compact dual core optical connectors can be cleaned with one optical connector cleaning tool 72 by changing the attachment.
31 . . . CS connector (compact dual core optical connector), 32 . . . adapter (connection component), 34 . . . ferrule, 35 . . . connection end face, 36 . . . first hole, 37 . . . second hole, 41, 72 . . . optical connector cleaning tool, 44 . . . fitting portion, 45 . . . cleaning thread (cleaning medium), 54 . . . LC connector adapter, 61 . . . cap (connection component), 62 . . . cap main body, 63 . . . lid, 64 . . . hinge, 66 . . . first space, 67 . . . second space, 69 . . . communication hole, 71 . . . attachment, 73 . . . through hole, L . . . virtual straight line
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2019-010988 | Jan 2019 | JP | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/JP2020/002099 | 1/22/2020 | WO |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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WO2020/153397 | 7/30/2020 | WO | A |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
8266755 | Nakane | Sep 2012 | B2 |
9134485 | Fujiwara | Sep 2015 | B2 |
10338322 | Nakane | Jul 2019 | B2 |
20020131748 | Sato | Sep 2002 | A1 |
20120216829 | Cunningham et al. | Aug 2012 | A1 |
20140259481 | Fujiwara et al. | Sep 2014 | A1 |
20150362680 | Nakane | Dec 2015 | A1 |
20220088645 | Hashimoto | Mar 2022 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
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07-020352 | Jan 1995 | JP |
2002-277681 | Sep 2002 | JP |
5049350 | Oct 2012 | JP |
2013-117692 | Jun 2013 | JP |
2016-004063 | Jan 2016 | JP |
6285069 | Feb 2018 | JP |
Entry |
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CS Connector Specification, “Specification for CS Connector”, Rev 1.0, Available Online at <URL: http://www.qsfp-dd.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/CS-Connector-Specification-Rev-1.0-TN-Final-2.pdf>, Sep. 18, 2017, 8 pages. |
Fujikura, “Optical Connector Cleaners including LC duplex cleaners”, Search Online at <http://www.fujikura.co.jp/eng/products/optical/opticalconnectors/02/2050083_12918.html>, Searched Online on Jan. 8, 2019, 7 pages. |
International Electrotechnical Commission, “Fibre optic interconnecting devices and passive components—Fiber optic connector interfaces—Part 20: Type LC connector family”, Specifications of Router Connection Interface for IP Communication Network ISP Connection, 61754-20(C) IEC:2012(E), 2012, 2 pages. |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20220088645 A1 | Mar 2022 | US |