Connector adapter

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a connector adapter having therein a light emitting element for emitting laser beams.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] In operating a connector adapter that has therein a light emitting element for emitting laser beams, an operator's eyes may possibly be pathologically damaged by the laser beams from the light emitting element in an active state as s/he carelessly allows the beams to meet the eyes directly while attaching to or detaching a corresponding single- or multifiber connector from the adapter.

[0006] In order to prevent the eyes from being thus damaged by the laser beams, it is advisable to interrupt the operation of the light emitting element by means of an internal electronic circuit, thereby stopping the emission of the laser beams, or to intercept the laser beams mechanically.

[0007] Interrupting the operation of the light emitting element by means of the internal electronic circuit to stop the emission of the laser beams, however, requires a large-scale device configuration and inevitably entails an increase in cost. Therefore, it is more advisable to provide means for mechanically intercepting the laser beams.

[0008] The object of the present invention is to provide a connector adapter having therein a light emitting element for emitting laser beams and including means for mechanically intercepting the laser beams when a plug is not attached thereto.

[0009] In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a connector adapter including a light emitting element for emitting a laser beam and connected with a plug having an optical fiber, whereby the laser beam emitted from the light emitting element is introdued into the optical fiber, comprising a shutter member fixed in a connector and including a base portion having a first spring portion and a shutter portion connected to the base portion, the base portion being adapted to undergo elastic deformation at the first spring portion so that the shutter portion recedes from the optical path of the laser beam when the plug is pushed into the adapter to be attached thereto, and adapted to be restored from the elastic deformation so that the shutter portion intercepts the optical path of the laser beam when the plug is drawn out of the adapter to be detached therefrom.

[0010] Preferably, a second spring portion is formed at the junction of the base portion and the shutter portion.

[0011] Preferably, moreover, a recess or opening is provided for holding a part of the shutter member when the plug is attached to the connector adapter.

[0012] In first and second aspects of the invention, there may be provided a safe connector adapter that has therein the light emitting element for emitting the laser beam and includes the means for mechanically intercepting the laser beam when the plug is not attached.

[0013] In third and fourth aspects of the invention, the shutter member more easily undergoes elastic deformation at the first spring portion of the base portion.

[0014] The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the ensuing detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the way an adapter according to the present invention to be used is mounted on a support member;

[0016] FIG. 2 is a front view of the adapter of the invention;

[0017] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the adapter taken along line A—A of FIG. 2;

[0018] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the adapter taken along line B—B of FIG. 2;

[0019] FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line C—C of FIG. 3;

[0020] FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the adapter of FIG. 2;

[0021] FIGS. 7A to 7E are flow diagrams illustrating the way an optical connector is attached to the adapter of FIG. 2;

[0022] FIGS. 8A to 8E are flow diagrams illustrating the way the optical connector is drawn out of the adapter of FIG. 2;

[0023] FIG. 9 is a side view of a shutter used in the adapter of FIG. 2;

[0024] FIGS. 10A to 10D are side views individually showing modifications of the shutter used in the adapter of the invention;

[0025] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing another modification of the shutter used in the adapter of the invention;

[0026] FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing still another modification of the shutter used in the adapter of the invention; and

[0027] FIG. 13 is a sectional view showing a modification of the adapter of FIG. 2.

[0028] One embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings of FIGS. 1 to 13.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 1, a connector adapter (hereinafter referred to simply as “adapter”) 1 comprises a light emitting element 2 that is attached to its rear part. The light emitting element 2 is supported by means of an end portion of a support member, e.g., a substrate 10, and is fitted with a plug having optical fibers, e.g., an optical connector 15. Laser beams emitted from the light emitting element 2 can be introdued into the optical fibers.

[0030] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the adapter 1 has a socket 1bfor the optical connector 15 in the front part of its housing 1a, and the light emitting element 2 is attached to the rear part of the interior of the housing 1awith the aid of a sleeve 3. The socket 1bis formed in a manner such that the respective optic axes the optical fibers of the optical connector 15 and emitting portions 2b(mentioned later) of the element 2 are in alignment with each other when the connector 15 is attached to the adapter 1.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 4, moreover, positioning arms 1cfor positioning the optical connector 15 to be fitted into the socket 1bwith reference to the crosswise direction are provided individually on the opposite sides of the housing 1a, and an opening 1dis formed in the bottom portion of the housing. As shown in FIG. 4, the housing 1ais provided with a shutter 4 in its opening 1d. An end portion of a base portion 4a(mentioned later) of the shutter 4 is held between the bottom portion of the housing 1aand the sleeve 3.

[0032] The opening 1dis formed so that its length L shown in FIG. 4 in the loading direction of the optical connector 15 is greater than a length Ls (see FIG. 9) between the center of a first spring portion 4c(mentioned later) of the shutter 4 and an end portion of a second spring portion 4d(L>Ls) and that its width W is a little greater than the width of the shutter 4, as shown in FIG. 5. Thus, when the shutter 4 undergoes elastic deformation at its first spring portion 4c, the opening 1dserves as an evacuation space for the base portion 4a.

[0033] The optical connector 15 to be attached to the adapter 1 may be, for example, a multifiber connector having a plurality of optical fibers, such as a so-called MPO connector or MT connector, a series connector including singlefiber connectors with single optical fibers, a singlefiber connector having a single optical fiber, such as a so-called SC connector.

[0034] The light emitting element 2 is an element for emitting laser beams, and may be used of an LD module, for example. On the opposite sides of the light emitting element 2, as shown in FIG. 2, guide pin holes 2afor connection with the optical connector 15 are formed in the direction of connection with the connector 15. A plurality of emitting portions 2bfor emitting laser beams are arranged between the two holes 2a.

[0035] The shutter 4 is a laser beam interceptor that serves to prevent an operator's eyes from being damaged by laser beams emitted from the emitting portions 2bof the light emitting element 2 as s/he allows the laser beams to meet the eyes directly while attaching to or detaching the optical connector 15 from the adapter 1. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 9, the shutter 4 is a wedge-shaped structure, which is formed of a springy or elastic material, e.g., superelastic metal such as nickel-titanium alloy. The shutter 4 includes the base portion 4aand a shutter portion 4b. The first and second spring portion 4cand 4dare formed in the base portion 4aand at the junction of the base portion 4aand the shutter portion 4b, respectively.

[0036] The shutter 4, which is located in the adapter 1, is designed so that the upper end of the shutter portion 4bis situated above the emitting portions 2bof the light emitting element 2 and that the emitting portions 2bare situated within the width of the shutter portion 4bwhen the optical connector 15 is not fitted in the socket 1bof the adapter 1. In this state, the shutter portion 4bintercepts the optical path P_L(see FIG. 7A) of each of the laser beams emitted from the emitting portions 2b. Further, the shutter 4 is designed so that an angle θ formed between the base portion 4aand the shutter portion 4bis θ=20 to 45°, as shown in FIG. 4, whereby the second spring portion 4dcan apply a proper spring force to the shutter portion 4bwhen the optical connector 15 is attached to or detached from the socket 1b.

[0037] When the optical connector 15 is not attached to the adapter 1 constructed in this manner, the respective optical paths of the laser beams emitted from the emitting portions 2bof the light emitting element 2 are intercepted by the shutter portion 4bin the adapter 1. Accordingly, the operator can safely use the adapter 1, permitted to look into it through the socket 1bwithout allowing the laser beams from the emitting portions 2bto meet directly and damage the eyes.

[0038] The optical connector 15 is attached to the socket 1bof the adapter 1 in the following manner, whereupon the emitting portions 2bof the light emitting element 2 are connected optically to their corresponding optical fibers of the optical connector 15.

[0039] First, the optical connector 15 is opposed to the socket 1bof the adapter 1, as shown in FIG. 7A.

[0040] Then, the optical connector 15 is attached to and pushed into the socket 1b. When the connector 15 is thus pushed in and moved to the position of the opening 1d, its lower front part engages the shutter portion 4bnear the second spring portion 4d, as shown in FIG. 7B. In this state, the optical paths P_Lof the laser beams from the emitting portions 2bare intercepted in the adapter 1, as shown in FIG. 7B.

[0041] Subsequently, when the optical connector 15 is further pushed into the socket 1bfrom the position shown in FIG. 7B, the optical connector 15 engages the shutter portion 4bso that the shutter portion 4bis fallen down around the second spring portion 4d, as shown in FIG. 7C. Finally, the shutter portion 4brecedes from the optical paths P_Lof the laser beams from the emitting portions 2b. Thereupon, the optical paths P_Lof the laser beams are released from the interception by means of the shutter 4 in the adapter 1.

[0042] When the optical connector 15 is further pushed into the socket 1bfrom the position shown in FIG. 7C, the base portion 4aof the shutter 4 is caused elastically to bend into the opening 1dat the edge portion of thereof, that is, at the first spring portion 4c, as shown in FIG. 7D, by a force of pressure from the optical connector 15.

[0043] When the insertion of the optical connector 15 into the socket 1bof the adapter 1 is finished in this manner, the base portion 4afurther bends into the opening 1dat the first spring portion 4cin the adapter 1, as shown in FIG. 7E, and the emitting portions 2bof the light emitting element 2 are connected optically to their corresponding optical fibers of the connector 15. Thus, the optic axes of the emitting portions 2bare aligned individually with those of their corresponding optical fibers of the optical connector 15.

[0044] As this is done, the shutter portion 4bof the shutter 4 first elastically bends in two stages into the opening 1dat the second spring portion 4d. Then, the base portion 4abends in the same manner at the first spring portion 4c. Therefore, no excessive bending stress acts on the first and second spring portions 4cand 4dof the shutter 4, so that the spring portions 4cand 4dnever undergo any permanent set in metal fatigue as it is called. Thus, according to the present embodiment, the shutter 4 is formed having a plurality of spring portions, so that stress that acts on the individual spring portions can be eased.

[0045] If the base portion 4aof the shutter 4 finally falls and bends into the opening 1dwhen the optical connector 15 is pushed into the socket 1b, the force of pressure from the optical connector 15 is eased. Although the first spring portion 4cis essential to the shutter 4 of the present embodiment, therefore, the second spring portion 4dis not. If the shutter 4 is designed so that its base portion 4acan get together with the first spring portion 4cinto the opening 1d, as shown in FIG. 7E, the operator can visually ascertain that the optical connector 15 is normally pushed into the adapter 1.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 13, moreover, the adapter 1 may be formed with a recess 1ein place of the opening 1donly if it can secure a space in which the base portion 4acan finally fall and bend.

[0047] If the optical connector 15 is drawn out of the adapter 1, on the other hand, the first and second spring portions 4cand 4dare restored from their elastically deformed state. As this is done, the shutter portion 4breturns to the position in which it intercepts the optical paths P_Lof the laser beams that are emitted from the emitting portions 2bof the light emitting element 2.

[0048] More specifically, the optical connector 15 in the state shown in FIG. 7E is drawn out to the right from the socket 1b, as shown in FIG. 8A. As the optical connector 15 moves to the right in this manner, the shutter portion 4belastically rocks clockwise around the second spring portion 4dand opens away from the base portion 4a. As this is done, the elastically bent state of the first spring portion 4cin the base portion 4aof the shutter 4 undergoes no substantial change.

[0049] When the optical connector 15 moves to the middle portion of the opening 1dof the adapter 1, as shown in FIG. 8B, the shutter portion 4bopens away from the base portion 4ato an initial position. In this state, the distal end of the shutter portion 4bof the shutter 4 is situated near the lower front part of the optical connector 15.

[0050] When the optical connector 15 then moves further to the right, the adapter 1 is released from the force of pressure from the connector 15, so that the base portion 4aof the shutter 4 elastically rocks counterclockwise around the first spring portion 4c. Thus, the shutter portion 4bof the shutter 4 rocks nearly to the position in which its distal end intercepts the optical paths P_Lof the laser beams that are emitted from the emitting portions 2bof the light emitting element 2.

[0051] When the distal end of the optical connector 15 then moves close to the right-hand side of the opening 1d, as shown in FIG. 8D, the base portion 4aof the shutter 4 further elastically rocks counterclockwise around the first spring portion 4cto become horizontal. Thereupon, the lower front part of the optical connector 15 engages the shutter portion 4bnear the second spring portion 4d, and the optical paths P_Lof the laser beams from the emitting portions 2bof the light emitting element 2 are intercepted by the shutter portion 4bin the adapter 1.

[0052] When the optical connector 15 is drawn out of the socket 1bof the adapter 1, as shown in FIG. 8E, the optical connection between the emitting portions 2bof the light emitting element 2 and their corresponding optical fibers of the optical connector 15 is canceled completely.

[0053] In this manner, the adapter 1 is attached to and detached from the optical connector 15. As this is done, the shutter portion 4band the base portion 4aof the shutter 4 are elastically bent in two positions, that is, at the second and first spring portions 4dand 4c, respectively. Thus, no excessive bending stress acts on the first and second spring portions 4cand 4dof the shutter 4, so that the spring portions 4cand 4dare restrained from undergoing metal fatigue. If the optical connector 15 is repeatedly attached to and detached from the socket 1b, therefore, the spring properties of the shutter 4 can be maintained for a long period of time, and the laser beams emitted from the emitting portions 2bof the light emitting element 2 never leak out.

[0054] It is to be understood that the shutter 4 is not limited to the configuration described above. As in a shutter 5 shown in FIG. 10A, for example, a shutter portion 5bthat is connected to a base portion 5amay be formed having a downwardly convex surface. As in a shutter 6 shown in FIG. 10B, moreover, the junction of a base portion 6aand a shutter portion 6bmay be formed in the shape of a cylinder to serve as a second spring portion 6d.

[0055] As in a shutter 7 shown in FIG. 10c, moreover, a projection 7emay be provided on the inside of the distal end of a shutter portion 7bthat is connected to a base portion 7a. When the shutter portion 7bof the shutter 7 constructed in this manner is fallen down, the projection 7eprevents it from being fully shut down, as shown in FIG. 10. Thus, the shutter portion 7bcan be restrained from undergoing permanent set in metal fatigue.

[0056] As in a shutter 8 shown in FIG. 11, furthermore, base portions 8aand 8bthat are formed of a synthetic resin or metal may be connected to each other by means of a leaf spring 8cthat serves as a first spring portion. In this case, a shutter portion 8dand the base portion 8bare connected by means of a wedge-shaped leaf spring 8ethat serves as a second spring portion.

[0057] As in a shutter 9 shown in FIG. 12, on the other hand, base portions 9aand 9bmay be connected to each other by means of two wire springs 9cthat constitute a first spring portion. In this case, a shutter portion 9dand the base portion 8bare connected by means of two wedge-shaped wire springs 9ethat constitute a second spring portion.

[0058] A synthetic resin or metal may be used as a material for the shutter and base portions of the shutters 8 and 9. Further, a superelastic metal such as nickel-titanium alloy may be used as a material for the leaf springs and wire springs.

[0059] Although the optical connector having optical fibers has been described as the plug to be connected to the connector adapter of the foregoing embodiment, it is to be understood that the present invention may be also applied to a connector that uses optical fibers and electric wires as transmission means and singly includes both optical and electrical junctions.