Clip, optical module, and optical connector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9453975-B2
Application number	US-201514856722-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 17, 2015
Priority date	Sep 30, 2014
Publication date	Sep 27, 2016
Grant date	Sep 27, 2016

Abstract

A clip for keeping a first ferrule and a second ferrule in contact with each other includes a base member, one or more spring sections formed at the base member and configured to apply an elastic force to the first ferrule in a contact direction in which the first ferrule and the second ferrule come in contact with each other, and one or more engaging sections formed at the base member and configured to have higher rigidity in the contact direction than in other directions, wherein the engaging sections are configured to engage with the second ferrule.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A clip for keeping a first ferrule and a second ferrule in contact with each other, comprising:
a base member;
one or more spring sections formed on the base member and configured to apply an elastic force to the first ferrule in a contact direction in which the first ferrule and the second ferrule come in contact with each other; and
one or more engaging sections formed on the base member and configured to have higher rigidity in the contact direction than in other directions,
wherein the engaging sections are configured to engage with the second ferrule, and
wherein the base member, the one or more spring sections, and the one or more engaging sections together constitute a unitary, seamless structure.

2. The clip as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more engaging sections is a seamless part of the base member that is bent perpendicularly at a fold line extending parallel to the contact direction, and a side edge of the seamless part is configured to engage with the second ferrule.

3. The clip as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the base member has a reinforcement section that suppresses warping of the base member.

4. The clip as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the spring sections and the engaging sections have height that is shorter than or equal to a height of the first ferrule and a height of the second ferrule.

5. An optical module, comprising:
a first ferrule;
a second ferrule; and
a clip configured to keep the first ferrule and the second ferrule in contact with each other, wherein the clip includes:
a base member;
one or more spring sections formed on the base member and configured to apply an elastic force to the first ferrule in a contact direction in which the first ferrule and the second ferrule come in contact with each other; and
one or more engaging sections formed on the base member and configured to have higher rigidity in the contact direction than in other directions,
wherein the one or more engaging sections are configured to engage with a first face of the second ferrule that is situated on an opposite side to a second face of the second ferrule, the second face coming in contact with the first ferrule.

6. The optical module as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the first ferrule is configured to receive optical waveguides therein that extend in the contact direction and that project from an end of the first ferrule opposite from the second ferrule, and wherein second ferrule is configured to receive optical fibers therein that extends in the contact direction and that project from an end of the second ferrule opposite from the first ferrule.

7. A connector, comprising:
a case; and
an optical module disposed in the case, wherein the optical module includes:
a first ferrule;
a second ferrule that comes into contact with the first ferrule; and
a clip configured to clip and keep the first ferrule and the second ferrule in contact with each other, the clip being fixed to the case, wherein the clip includes:
a base member;
a spring section formed on the base member and configured to apply an elastic force to the first ferrule in a contact direction in which the first ferrule and the second ferrule come in contact with each other for biasing the first ferrule toward the second ferrule; and
an engaging section formed on the base member and configured to have higher rigidity in the contact direction than in other directions,
wherein the engaging section is configured to engage with the second ferrule.

8. The connector as claimed in claim 7 , further comprising a cable connected to the second ferrule.

9. The connector as claimed in claim 7 , further comprising:
an electrical terminal configured to be electrically connected with a terminal of the outer connector;
an optical waveguide connected to the first ferrule; and
a transformer provided between the electrical terminal and the optical waveguide for performing transformation between electrical signal and optical signal.

10. The connector as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the engaging section engages with a surface of the second ferrule opposite to a surface that comes in contact with the first ferrule.

Assignees

• Fujitsu Component Ltd

Inventors

• Akieda Shinichiro
• Daikuhara Osamu

Classifications

• G02B6/387

  Connector plugs comprising two complementary members, e.g. shells, caps, covers, locked together · CPC title

• G02B6/3821

  with axial spring biasing or loading means (G02B6/3847 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G02B6/3879 Primary

  Linking of individual connector plugs to an overconnector, e.g. using clamps, clips, common housings comprising several individual connector plugs · CPC title

• G02B6/403

  of the ferrule type, connecting a pair of ferrules · CPC title

• G02B6/32

  having lens focusing means {positioned between opposed fibre ends (with lens being an integral part of the single fibre end G02B6/262)} · CPC title