US20160161682A1 - Tool for releasing engaged state of optical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a tool for releasing an engaged state in which a receptacle-side engagement section formed on a side surface of a receptacle provided on a substrate is engaged with a connector-side engagement section of an optical connector that is attachable to and detachable from the receptacle. The tool includes: release claws to be inserted into respective gaps, each gap being formed between a member arranged between a pair of engagement side plate parts each being provided with the connector-side engagement section, and each engagement side plate part; and a guide part that comes into opposition with a side surface of the optical connector or the receptacle. By bringing the guide part into opposition with the side surface and sliding the release claws toward the substrate, the engagement side plate parts are spread outward by the release claws and the engaged state is released.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD
• The present invention relates to a tool for releasing an engaged state of an optical connector.
BACKGROUND ART
• A technique known in the art involves positioning a ferrule, which holds an end section of an optical fiber, with respect to a receptacle, which is provided on a substrate, by means of positioning sections (a positioning pin and a positioning hole), and thereby optically connecting the optical fiber and a photoelectric conversion element provided on the substrate. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a technique in which a ferrule (reference number20 in Patent Literature 1) and a receptacle (reference number80 in Patent Literature 1) provided on a substrate are positioned with respect to one another to optically connect an optical fiber and a photoelectric conversion element provided on the substrate.
• In Patent Literature 1, the ferrule is fixed by fixing a fixing member (reference number60 in Patent Literature 1) which houses the ferrule to the receptacle. Thus, to remove the ferrule from the receptacle, it is necessary to disengage the fixing member from the receptacle. If, however, there are other members (e.g. elements mounted on the substrate) around the receptacle, it may be difficult to release the engaged state by outwardly spreading the fixing member's engagement section which is in engagement with the receptacle. On the other hand, providing a space around the receptacle to facilitate releasing the engaged state will prevent elements from being laid out on the substrate at high densities.
• An objective of the present invention is to provide a removal tool that can easily release an engaged state of an optical connector in a small space.
CITATION LISTPatent Literature
• Patent Literature 1: US 2010/0135618 A1
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
• A primary aspect of the invention is a tool for releasing an engaged state in which a receptacle-side engagement section formed on a side surface of a receptacle provided on a substrate is engaged with a connector-side engagement section of an optical connector that is attachable to and detachable from the receptacle. The tool includes: release claws to be inserted into respective gaps, each gap being formed between a member arranged between a pair of engagement side plate parts each being provided with the connector-side engagement section, and each engagement side plate part; and a guide part that comes into opposition with a side surface of the optical connector or the receptacle. By bringing the guide part into opposition with the side surface and sliding the release claws toward the substrate, the engagement side plate parts are spread outward by the release claws and the engaged state is released.
• Other features of the present invention are made clear by the Specification and Drawings below.
• With the present invention, an engaged state of an optical connector can be released easily in a small space.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
• FIGS. 1A and 1B are perspective views of an optical connector device1, whereinFIG. 1A is a perspective view before connection of anoptical connector20, andFIG. 1B is a perspective view when theoptical connector20 has been connected.
• FIGS. 2A and 2B are cross-sectional views of the optical connector device1, whereinFIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view before connection of theoptical connector20, andFIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view when theoptical connector20 has been connected.
• FIG. 3 is an overall perspective view of aremoval tool40.
• FIGS. 4A and 4B are conceptual diagrams of the respective positions ofrelease claws41 of the removal tool40 (tip end sections of the release claws41) as viewed from the front side, whereinFIG. 4A is a conceptual diagram illustrating how eachrelease claw41 of theremoval tool40 is inserted into a gap on the inner side of each firstside plate part32 of theoptical connector20, andFIG. 4B is a conceptual diagram illustrating how the engaged state is released by spreading each firstside plate part32 outward from the inner side of the firstside plate part32 by eachrelease claw41 of theremoval tool40.
• FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating afixing member30 as viewed from above,FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating the positions of therelease claws41 of theremoval tool40 with respect to thefixing member30 ofFIG. 5A, andFIG. 5C is a diagram illustrating a modified example of theremoval tool40.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
• At least the following matters are made clear from the following disclosure of the Specification and Drawings.
• Disclosed is a tool for releasing an engaged state in which a receptacle-side engagement section formed on a side surface of a receptacle provided on a substrate is engaged with a connector-side engagement section of an optical connector that is attachable to and detachable from the receptacle, the tool including: release claws to be inserted into respective gaps, each gap being formed between a member arranged between a pair of engagement side plate parts each being provided with the connector-side engagement section, and each engagement side plate part; and a guide part that comes into opposition with a side surface of the optical connector or the receptacle. By bringing the guide part into opposition with the side surface and sliding the release claws toward the substrate, the engagement side plate parts are spread outward by the release claws and the engaged state is released. With this tool, it is possible to spread the engagement side plate parts outward from the inner side of the engagement side plate parts, and thus, the engaged state of the optical connector can be released easily in a small space. Further, the tool can be positioned with respect to the optical connector, thus facilitating the task of inserting the release claws into the respective gaps.
• Preferably, the release claws include a first release claw to be inserted between the aforementioned member and one of the pair of engagement side plate parts, and a second release claw to be inserted between the aforementioned member and the other of the pair of engagement side plate parts; and the first release claw and the second release claw are configured so as to be relatively movable in a direction in which the pair of engagement sideplate parts is aligned. In this way, the pair of release claws can be moved outward, and thus, the pair of engagement side plate parts can be spread outward and the engaged state can be released.
• Preferably, the release claw is formed in a U-shape, and a pair of the U-shaped release claws is connected by a connecting part; and respective tip end sections of the release claws can be inserted into the respective gaps while the connecting part is brought into opposition with the engagement side plate part from the outer side thereof. In this way, the engagement side plate parts can be spread outward from the inner side of the engagement side plate parts, and also, because the pair of release claws sandwiches and holds the engagement side plate part from the front and rear thereof, the release claws are less prone to disengage.
Embodiments
• {Overall Configuration}
• FIGS. 1A and 1B are perspective views of an optical connector device1.FIG. 1A is a perspective view before connection of anoptical connector20.FIG. 1B is a perspective view when theoptical connector20 has been connected.FIGS. 2A and 2B are cross-sectional views of the optical connector device1.FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view before connection of theoptical connector20.FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view when theoptical connector20 has been connected. InFIGS. 2A and 2B,guide parts322 on the lower side of theoptical connector20 are not illustrated for the sake of simplifying the figures.
• In the following description, the various directions are defined as illustrated inFIG. 1A. That is, the direction perpendicular to thesubstrate3 is the “up/down direction”; the side toward thereceptacle10 as viewed from the substrate is “up”, and the opposite side is “down”. The width direction of the optical fiber tape7 (the direction in which the plurality of optical fibers are aligned) is the “left/right direction”. The direction perpendicular to the up/down direction and the left/right direction is the “front/rear direction”, with one side considered the “front” and the opposite side considered the “rear”. Note that the up/down direction is also the direction in which theoptical connector20 is attached/detached. In the present embodiment, the optical connector device1 is constructed to have left-right symmetry; however, for the sake of brevity of explanation, one side in the left/right direction is considered the “right”, and the opposite side is considered the “left”, as illustrated in the figures. Likewise, for the sake of brevity of explanation, one side in the front/rear direction is considered the “front”, and the opposite side is considered the “rear”, as illustrated in the figures.
• The optical connector device1 includes areceptacle10 and anoptical connector20. Thereceptacle10 is attached on the upper surface of asubstrate3. Theoptical connector20 is attachable to and detachable from thereceptacle10. By attaching theoptical connector20 to thereceptacle10, a photoelectric conversion element5 (cf.FIGS. 2A and 2B) provided on thesubstrate3 is optically connected with optical fibers8 (cf.FIGS. 2A and 2B).
• {Receptacle10}
• Thereceptacle10 is a member attached to thesubstrate3, and is a member to/from which theoptical connector20 can be attached/detached. Aphotoelectric conversion element5 is mounted on thesubstrate3. Thereceptacle10 is a member that positions the optical connector20 (particularly, aferrule21 of the optical connector20) with respect to thephotoelectric conversion element5. Thereceptacle10 also functions as a connector holder that holds theoptical connector20. Thereceptacle10 includes a connector housing part11 that houses at least a portion (the lower section of the ferrule21) of theoptical connector20. Thereceptacle10 also includes abase body part12 and aframe body part13. Herein, thebase body part12 is made of a resin, and theframe body part13 is made of a metal. Note, however, that thebase body part12 and theframe body part13 constituting thereceptacle10 may be integrally molded from a resin.
• Thebase body part12 includes anelement housing part12A, and is a member that is attached to thesubstrate3. The lower surface of thebase body part12 serves as a fixing surface (joining surface) to be fixed to thesubstrate3. The upper surface of thebase body part12 serves as a contact surface that comes into contact with theferrule21. Thebase body part12 includes positioning pins12B. The positioning pins12B protrude upward from the upper surface of thebase body part12.
• Theelement housing part12A is a section (space) for housing thephotoelectric conversion element5 provided on thesubstrate3. Thephotoelectric conversion element5 is an optical element that performs mutual conversion between an electric signal processed on thesubstrate3 and an optical signal transmitted through the optical fibers8. Examples of thephotoelectric conversion element5 include a light emission element that converts an electric signal into an optical signal (e.g. a vertical cavity surface emitting laser that emits light perpendicularly to the substrate3), and a light reception element that converts an optical signal into an electric signal (e.g. a photodiode). Thephotoelectric conversion element5 is mounted on thesubstrate3 according to mounting methods such as flip-chip mounting or wire bonding.
• A point on which an optical signal is incident or from which an optical signal is emitted (a light emission point or a light reception point) is arranged on the upper surface of thephotoelectric conversion element5. The optical signal is incident on thephotoelectric conversion element5, or emitted from thephotoelectric conversion element5, along the up/down direction perpendicular to thesubstrate3.
• Thebase body part12 includes a receptacle-side lens array6 in theelement housing part12A. The receptacle-side lens array6 is arranged on thephotoelectric conversion element5 provided on thesubstrate3. When theoptical connector20 is connected to thereceptacle10, thephotoelectric conversion element5 comes into opposition with anoptical signal surface21F of theferrule21, and arrays of lenses (the receptacle-side lens array6 and a ferrule-side lens array22) are arranged between thephotoelectric conversion element5 and theoptical signal surface21F of theferrule21, as illustrated inFIG. 2B. It should be noted that the receptacle-side lens array6 does not have to be provided.
• The positioning pins12B are pins (positioning sections) to be inserted into respective positioning holes (not illustrated) in theferrule21 of theoptical connector20. By inserting the positioning pins12B into the positioning holes in theferrule21, the optical connector20 (particularly the ferrule21) is positioned with respect to thereceptacle10. It should be noted that thebase body part12 is attached to thesubstrate3 in a state where the base body part12 (as well as the positioning pins12B) is positioned in advance with respect to thephotoelectric conversion element5, and therefore, by inserting the positioning pins12B into the respective positioning holes in theferrule21, theferrule21 is positioned with respect to thephotoelectric conversion element5 and theferrule21 and theelement5 are optically connected.
• Theframe body part13 is a member that connects with theoptical connector20 while housing at least a portion (the lower section of the ferrule21) of theoptical connector20. Theframe body part13 is formed in a tubular form so as to surround the outer periphery of thebase body part12, and the connector housing part11 is formed inside the frame body part. Theframe body part13 may be fixed directly to thesubstrate3, or may be fixed indirectly to thesubstrate3 by being fixed to thebase body part12.
• Anengagement claw131 is formed on each of the left and right wall parts of theframe body part13. Theengagement claws131 constitute engagement sections on thereceptacle10 side which engage with respective engagement holes321 (connector-side engagement sections) in a fixingmember30 of theoptical connector20. Theengagement claws131 are integrally molded from a resin together with theframe body part13. Theengagement claws131 are provided so as to protrude outward from the outer wall surface of theframe body part13. Eachengagement claw131 is formed such that, the lower the position, the more outward it protrudes. Thus, at the time of connecting theoptical connector20, theengagement claw131 can be easily engaged with theengagement hole321 in theoptical connector20, but once an engaged state is established, theengagement claw131 is difficult to remove from theengagement hole321, and therefore, theoptical connector20 is less prone to be disengaged from thereceptacle10. A method for releasing the engaged state will be described further below.
• {Optical Connector20}
• Theoptical connector20 is an optical connection component provided at an end section of the optical fibers8, and is a member that is optically connected to thephotoelectric conversion element5 provided on thesubstrate3. Theoptical connector20 includes aferrule21, aspring part24, and a fixingmember30.
• Theferrule21 is a member that holds an end section of an optical fiber tape7 (optical fibers8) for transmitting an optical signal. Herein, an MT ferrule is used for theferrule21. Anoptical signal surface21F on which an optical signal is incident, or from which an optical signal is emitted, is formed on an end surface on the lower side of theferrule21. When theoptical connector20 is connected to thereceptacle10, theoptical signal surface21F comes into opposition with thephotoelectric conversion element5 on thesubstrate3. On theoptical signal surface21F of theferrule21, respective end surfaces of a plurality of optical fibers8 of theoptical fiber tape7 are arranged along the left/right direction. The end surface of each optical fiber8 may or may not be exposed on theoptical signal surface21F. Alens array22 is attached to theoptical signal surface21F of theferrule21. Thelens array22 includes a plurality of lenses (not illustrated) aligned in the left/right direction, and each lens is arranged on the optical axis of the optical signal. Note, however, that thelens array22 does not have to be provided on theoptical signal surface21F of theferrule21, and, for example, the optical signal may be directly incident on or emitted from the end surface of each optical fiber8.
• Theferrule21 includes two positioning holes (not illustrated), a plurality of optical fiber holes21B, an insertion opening21C, and a flange part21D.
• The positioning holes in theferrule21 are holes (positioning sections) into which the respective positioning pins12B of thereceptacle10 are inserted. By inserting the positioning pins12B into the respective positioning holes, theferrule21 is positioned with respect to thereceptacle10. Each positioning hole is a hole that is parallel to the up/down direction. The two positioning holes are formed such that they are aligned in the left/right direction so as to sandwich theoptical signal surface21F to/from which an optical signal is input/output.
• The optical fiber holes21B are holes into which the respective end sections of the optical fibers8 are inserted. The optical fibers8 constituting theoptical fiber tape7 are inserted into the optical fiber holes21B. The optical fibers8 are bonded and fixed to the optical fiber holes21B by an adhesive that is charged into theferrule21 from an adhesive charging window (not illustrated).
• The insertion opening21C is an insertion opening21C for inserting the optical fibers8 into theferrule21. The insertion opening21C is opened in the upper end surface of theferrule21. An end section of aboot23 for protecting theoptical fiber tape7 is also inserted into the insertion opening21C.
• The flange part21D is a section protruding outward from the outer peripheral surface of theferrule21's body. In a state before connection as illustrated inFIG. 2A, theferrule21 is pressed downward (toward the receptacle10) by the repulsive force of thespring part24, and the flange part21D of theferrule21 is in contact with a regulatingpart341 of the fixingmember30.
• The aforementionedoptical signal surface21F is formed on the lower end surface of theferrule21. Further, theferrule21's lower end surface surrounding theoptical signal surface21F constitutes acontact surface21G that comes into contact with the upper surface of thebase body part12 of thereceptacle10, and the positioning holes (not illustrated) into which the positioning pins12B are fitted are opened in thecontact surface21G. It should be noted that, instead of providing theoptical signal surface21F and thecontact surface21G on the same plane, theoptical signal surface21F may protrude downward from thecontact surface21G.
• Thespring part24 is a member that applies a repulsive force between theferrule21 and the fixingmember30. Thespring part24 is constituted by a spring (elastic member) that can expand and contract in the up/down direction. The lower end of thespring part24 is in contact with theferrule21, and the upper end of thespring part24 is in contact with anupper plate part31 of the fixingmember30.
• As illustrated inFIG. 2A, in a state where the flange part21D of theferrule21 is engaged with the regulating part341 (described later) of the fixingmember30, theferrule21 is pressed downward (toward the receptacle10) from the fixingmember30 by the repulsive force of thespring part24. At the time of contact of theoptical connector20, as illustrated inFIG. 2B, thecontact surface21G of theferrule21 contacts the receptacle10 (more specifically, the upper surface of the base body part12), and theferrule21 receives an upward force from thereceptacle10; this force causes thespring part24 to contract and theferrule21 to relatively move upward with respect to the fixingmember30, thus creating a non-contact state between the flange part21D of theferrule21 and the regulatingpart341 of the fixingmember30. Even in the state illustrated inFIG. 2B, thespring part24 continues to press theferrule21 with a predetermined force. In this way, thespring part24 functions as a floating mechanism that retractably holds theferrule21.
• Next, the fixingmember30 is described with reference toFIGS. 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, and 5A.FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating the fixingmember30 as viewed from above. It should be noted that, inFIG. 5A (andFIGS. 5B and 5C), theguide parts322 are not illustrated, as inFIG. 4.
• The fixingmember30 is a member for fixing theoptical connector20 to thereceptacle10. The fixingmember30 is a member formed by bending an elastically-deformable plate-shaped member made of a metal. The fixingmember30 includes anupper plate part31, a pair of firstside plate parts32, and a pair of secondside plate parts34. A firstbent part33 is formed between theupper plate part31 and each firstside plate part32, and a secondbent part35 is formed between theupper plate part31 and each secondside plate part34.
• Theupper plate part31 is a section that is substantially parallel to thesubstrate3, and is a section that is arranged above theferrule21. Theupper plate part31 functions as a section for pressing theferrule21 downward (toward the receptacle10) by means of thespring part24; the lower surface of theupper plate part31 is in contact with the upper end of thespring part24. A throughhole31A is formed in theupper plate part31. Theoptical fiber tape7 and theboot23 are passed through this throughhole31A. Theupper plate part31 has a rectangular shape extending in the left/right direction. The front edge and the rear edge, which constitute the long sides of the rectangularupper plate part31, are substantially parallel to the left/right direction, and the front edge and the rear edge are arranged so as to be aligned in the front/rear direction across the throughhole31A. The right edge and the left edge, which constitute the short sides of the rectangularupper plate part31, are substantially parallel to the front/rear direction, and the right edge and the left edge are arranged so as to be aligned in the left/right direction across the throughhole31A.
• The firstside plate parts32 are plate-shaped sections formed so as to extend downward from the respective left edge and right edge of the upper plate part31 (i.e., from the respective short sides of the rectangular upper plate part31). Stated differently, each firstside plate part32 is a cantilevered section supported on its upper side (on theupper plate part31 side). The pair of firstside plate parts32 opposes one another in the left/right direction. The firstside plate parts32 are constituted by the same metal plate as theupper plate part31, and the first side plate parts32 (and the first bent parts33) are formed by being bent with respect to theupper plate part31. Each firstside plate part32 is arranged so as to leave a gap in the left/right direction between it and a side surface of theferrule21. When theoptical connector20 is connected, theframe body part13 of thereceptacle10 enters the gaps between the respective firstside plate parts32 and theferrule21.
• Eachfirst sideplate part32 has anengagement hole321. These engagement holes321 are engagement sections on theoptical connector20 side which engage with the respective engagement claws131 (receptacle-side engagement sections) of thereceptacle10. Therefore, each first side plate part functions as an engagement side plate part having a connector-side engagement section that engages with theengagement claw131 formed on a side surface of thereceptacle10. Theengagement hole321 is formed as a hole penetrating the firstside plate part32, but the engagement hole only needs to engage with theengagement claw131 of thereceptacle10, and so, the engagement hole may be a non-through hole (a recess) if the firstside plate part32 is thick.
• The dimension (width) of the firstside plate part32 in the front/rear direction is longer than the dimension (width) of the firstbent part33 in the front/rear direction. Thus, the inner surface of each of the front edge and the rear edge of the firstside plate part32 opposes an edge (left edge or right edge) of the secondside plate part34.
• Guide parts322 are formed on the lower side of each firstside plate part32. Theguide parts322 are sections formed by being bent from the firstside plate part32, and are sections to be guided by respective side surfaces of thereceptacle10. By arranging theguide parts322 on the lower side (thereceptacle10 side) of theoptical connector20, theoptical connector20 can be connected to thereceptacle10 while theguide parts322 are guided along the side surfaces of thereceptacle10, and thus, theoptical connector20 can be easily positioned with respect to thereceptacle10.
• The firstbent part33 is a bent section that connects theupper plate part31 and thefirst sideplate part32. The firstbent parts33 are elastically deformable, and thus, the pair of firstside plate parts32 can be displaced in respective directions in which they are spread open (refer to the arrows inFIG. 4B). It should be noted that the dimension (width) of each firstbent part33 in the front/rear direction may be further narrowed by making cuts in the front edge and rear edge of the firstbent part33. Narrowing the dimension (width) of the firstbent part33 in the front/rear direction weakens the springiness of the firstbent part33, and this allows the pair of firstside plate parts32 to be easily displaced in respective directions in which they are spread open, thus making it easy to release the engaged state.
• Thesecond sideplate parts34 are plate-shaped sections formed so as to extend downward from the respective front edge and rear edge of the upper plate part31 (i.e., from the respective long sides of the rectangular upper plate part31). The pair of secondside plate parts34 opposes one another in the front/rear direction. The secondside plate parts34 are constituted by the same metal plate as theupper plate part31, and the second side plate parts34 (and the second bent parts35) are formed by being bent with respect to theupper plate part31.
• Each secondside plate part34 has a regulatingpart341. As illustrated inFIG. 2A, the regulatingpart341 is a section formed like a claw protruding inward from the secondside plate part34, and restricts the lower limit position of theferrule21 by contacting the flange part21D of theferrule21.
• The dimension (width) of the secondside plate part34 in the left/right direction is narrower than the distance between the pair of firstside plate parts32 in the left/right direction. Thus, a gap is formed between the inner surface of the first sideplate part32 (more specifically, the inner surface of each of the front edge and the rear edge of the first side plate part32) and each edge (left edge or right edge) of the secondside plate part34.
• On the upper side of the secondside plate part34, the dimension (width) of the secondside plate part34 in the left/right direction is constant. Stated differently, a straight-line section34A that is substantially parallel to the up/down direction is formed along each edge (left edge or right edge) on the upper side of the secondside plate part34. In the straight-line section34A formed on the edge of the secondside plate part34, the gap between the inner surface of the first side plate part32 (more specifically, the inner surface of each of the front edge and the rear edge of the first side plate part32) and the edge in the straight-line section34A of the secondside plate part34 has a constant distance.
• On the lower side of the straight-line section34A, the dimension (width) of the secondside plate part34 in the left/right direction becomes longer (wider) toward the lower side. Stated differently, asloped section34B that is sloped with respect to the up/down direction is formed on the lower side of the straight-line section34A of thesecond sideplate part34. In thesloped section34B formed on the edge of the secondside plate part34, the gap between the inner surface of the first sideplate part32 (more specifically, the inner surface of each of the front edge and the rear edge of the first side plate part32) and the edge in the slopedsection34B of the secondside plate part34 becomes narrower toward the lower side (cf.FIG. 4A). Thus, by inserting a tip end section of a tool into the gap on the inner side of each firstside plate part32, each of the pair of firstside plate parts32 spreads outward, and the engaged state can be released (described later; cf.FIG. 4B).
• The secondbent part35 is a bent section that connects theupper plate part31 and the secondside plate part34. The dimension (width) of the secondbent part35 in the left/right direction is the same as the width of the upper section of the secondside plate part34, but is narrower than the dimension of theupper plate part31 in the left/right direction, and is also narrower than the distance in the left/right direction between the pair of firstside plate parts32. Thus, the gap between the inner surface of the firstside plate part32 and each edge (left edge or right edge) of the secondside plate part34 is opened on the upper side. In this way, the tip end section of a tool can be inserted from the upper side of each gap.
• {Removal Tool40}
• At the time of removing theoptical connector20 from the state illustrated inFIG. 1B, it is necessary to release the engaged state of the optical connector with thereceptacle10 by spreading the pair of firstside plate parts32 of the fixingmember30 outward. However, in cases where, for example, other elements are mounted around thereceptacle10, it is difficult to release the engaged state by spreading the firstside plate parts32 outward with the fingertips. Even with methods using tools to release the engaged state, if the method involves hooking the lower edge of the firstside plate part32 with the tip end section of a tool from outside the firstside plate part32 and forcibly spreading open the firstside plate part32 outward, the releasing task will be difficult in cases where other elements are mounted around thereceptacle10.
• Accordingly, in the present embodiment, aremoval tool40 is configured so as to spread the firstside plate parts32 outward from the “inner side”, rather than from the “outer side” of thefirst sideplate parts32 of theoptical connector20.
• FIG. 3 is an overall perspective view of aremoval tool40.FIGS. 4A and 4B are conceptual diagrams of the respective positions ofrelease claws41 of the removal tool40 (tip end sections of the release claws41) as viewed from the front side.FIG. 4A is a conceptual diagram illustrating how eachrelease claw41 of theremoval tool40 is inserted into a gap on the inner side of each firstside plate part32 of theoptical connector20.FIG. 4B is a conceptual diagram illustrating how the engaged state is released by spreading each firstside plate part32 outward from the inner side of the firstside plate part32 by eachrelease claw41 of theremoval tool40. It should be noted that, inFIGS. 4A and 4B, the guide parts322 (cf.FIGS. 1A and 1B) on the lower side of the firstside plate parts32 are not illustrated in order to illustrate the engaged state and the released state of theengagement claws131.FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating the positions of therelease claws41 of theremoval tool40 with respect to the fixingmember30 ofFIG. 5A.
• In the following description, the various directions are defined as illustrated inFIG. 3. These directions correspond to the orientation of theremoval tool40 when theremoval tool40 is used with respect to the optical connector device1 illustrated inFIG. 1A.
• Theremoval tool40 is a tool for removing theoptical connector20 from thereceptacle10. Theremoval tool40 includesrelease claws41 and aguide part42.
• Therelease claw41 is a section to be inserted into the gap on the inner side of the firstside plate part32 of the fixingmember30 of the optical connector20 (herein, the gap between the firstside plate part32 and the left edge or right edge of the second side plate part34). The thickness of the tip end section of the release claw41 (the thickness, in the left/right direction, of therelease claw41 inFIG. 4A) is thinner than the gap between the firstside plate part32 and the secondside plate part34 in the straight-line section34A, and is thicker than the narrowest gap between the firstside plate part32 and the secondside plate part34 in the slopedsection34B.
• As described above, each gap between the firstside plate part32 and an edge (left edge or right edge) of the secondside plate part34 is opened on the upper side, and thus, as illustrated inFIG. 4A, therelease claws41 of theremoval tool40 can be inserted from the upper side of the respective gaps. Thus, it is easy to insert therelease claws41 into the gaps on the inner side of the firstside plate parts32.
• By further sliding theremoval tool40 downward (toward the substrate3) from the state illustrated inFIG. 4A, therelease claws41 come into contact with thesloped sections34B on the edges (left edge and right edge) of the secondside plate parts34. By further sliding theremoval tool40 downward (toward the substrate3), the firstside plate parts32 are spread outward by means of therelease claws41 by the slopedsections34B on the edges (left edge and right edge) of the secondside plate parts34 as illustrated inFIG. 4B, and thus, the engagement holes321 in the firstside plate parts32 disengage from therespective engagement claws131 of thereceptacle10, and the engaged state is released. When the engaged state is released, theoptical connector20 is pressed upward from thereceptacle10 by the repulsive force of thespring part24 of theoptical connector20, and thus, theoptical connector20 can be easily removed from thereceptacle10.
• The position (i.e., the position in the up/down direction) where eachrelease claw41 contacts the slopedsection34B on the edge (left edge or right edge) of the secondside plate part34 is above the lower edge (the section that engages with the engagement claw131) of theengagement hole321. Therefore, each firstside plate part32 receives a force from therelease claws41 at a position closer to the firstbent part33 than the engagement position. Thus, the engaged state can be released even by slightly displacing the firstside plate part32 with therelease claws41.
• As illustrated inFIG. 3, each pair ofrelease claws41 aligned in the front/rear direction is connected integrally by a connectingpart43. Theremoval tool40 has fourrelease claws41; therefore, the two pairs ofrelease claws41 are connected integrally by respective connectingparts43. Stated differently, theremoval tool40 has two connectingparts43. The two connectingparts43 can be opened and closed in the left/right direction (i.e., are relatively movable in the left/right direction). Thus, the tworelease claws41 aligned in the left/right direction are configured so as to be relatively movable in the left/right direction; so, when theremoval tool40 is slid downward (toward the substrate3), each pair ofrelease claws41 can be moved outward along the respectivesloped sections34B on the edges (left edge and right edge) of each secondside plate part34. More specifically, the left release claw41 (first release claw) and the right release claw41 (second release claw) inFIG. 4B are configured so as to be relatively movable in the left/right direction (i.e., the direction in which the pair of firstside plate parts32 is aligned).
• As illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 5B, therelease claws41 are formed in a U-shape on respective front and rear edges of the connectingpart43. As illustrated inFIG. 5B, when using theremoval tool40, an operator inserts the respective tip end sections of theU-shaped release claws41 into the respective gaps on the inner side of each firstside plate part32 while bringing the connectingparts43 into opposition with the respective firstside plate parts32 from the outer sides thereof. At this time, theU-shaped release claws41 surround the front and rear edges of each firstside plate part32 from the outside, and the tip end section of eachrelease claw41 is inserted into the gap on the inner side of the firstside plate part32. Thus, it is possible to spread each firstside plate part32 outward from the inner side of the firstside plate part32 of theoptical connector20.
• Because each pair ofrelease claws41 aligned in the front/rear direction is connected by the connectingpart43, when therelease claws41 are inserted into the gaps on the inner side of each firstside plate part32, the pair ofrelease claws41 sandwiches and holds the firstside plate part32 from the front and rear thereof. Thus, therelease claws41 are less prone to disengage from the gaps on the inner side of each firstside plate part32.
• Theguide part42 is a section for guiding theremoval tool40. Theguide part42 has a surface parallel to the up/down direction, and slidably guides theremoval tool40 in the up/down direction. Theguide part42 is formed so as to extend more downward than therelease claws41. Thus, theguide part42 can be brought into contact with theoptical connector20 before therelease claws41 are inserted into the gaps on the inner side of each firstside plate part32.
• When using theremoval tool40, an operator first brings the inner surface of theguide part42 into contact with the first side plate part32 (in this example, thefirst sideplate part32 on the left), which is a side surface of theoptical connector20, to position theremoval tool40 with respect to theoptical connector20 in the left/right direction. Next, the operator slides theremoval tool40 downward while maintaining the contact between theguide part42 and the firstside plate part32, and, as illustrated inFIG. 5B, inserts the fourrelease claws41 into the respective gaps on the inner side of the respective firstside plate parts32. At this time, because theremoval tool40 has been positioned in advance with respect to theoptical connector20 in the left/right direction by theguide part42, it is easy to insert therelease claws41 into the respective gaps on the inner side of the firstside plate parts32.
• Herein, theguide part42 is configured so as to be parallel to the firstside plate part32 so that it can be guided by the firstside plate part32 of theoptical connector20. Note, however, that theguide part42 only needs to be configured so that it can be guided by a side surface of the optical connector device1 (thereceptacle10 and the optical connector20), and is thus not limited to the shape and function illustrated inFIG. 3. For example, theguide part42 may be configured so as to be guided by another section of the fixingmember30 of theoptical connector20, or may be configured so as to be guided by another member (e.g. the ferrule21) of theoptical connector20. Alternatively, theguide part42 may be configured so as to be guided by a side surface of thereceptacle10.
• Further, herein, theguide part42 is formed so as to extend downward from the lower edge of the connectingpart43. Note, however, that theguide part42 only needs to be configured so that it can be guided by a side surface of the optical connector device1 (thereceptacle10 and the optical connector20), and thus, the position of theguide part42 is not limited to the position illustrated inFIG. 3.
• FIG. 5C is a diagram illustrating a modified example of theremoval tool40.FIG. 5C also illustrates the respective positions of therelease claws41 of theremoval tool40 with respect to the fixingmember30 ofFIG. 5A. As illustrated in this figure, the tworelease claws41 aligned in the front/rear direction do not have to be connected. It should be noted that, also in this modified example, the tworelease claws41 aligned in the left/right direction are configured so as to be relatively movable in the left/right direction. Thus, when theremoval tool40 is slid downward (toward the substrate3), each pair ofrelease claws41 can be moved outward along the respectivesloped sections34B on the edges (left edge and right edge) of each secondside plate part34.
• {Summary}
• Theaforementioned removal tool40 isatool for releasing an engaged state between an engagement claw131 (receptacle-side engagement section) formed on a side surface of areceptacle10 provided on asubstrate3 and an engagement hole321 (connector-side engagement section) of anoptical connector20. Theremoval tool40 includesrelease claws41 to be inserted into respective gaps, each gap being formed between: a second side plate part34 (member) arranged between a pair of first side plate parts32 (engagement side plate parts) each being provided with theengagement hole321; and each firstside plate part32. As illustrated inFIG. 4B, by sliding therelease claws41 downward (toward the substrate3), the firstside plate parts32 are spread outward by therelease claws41 and the engaged state can be released. In this way, the firstside plate parts32 can be spread outward from the “inner side” rather than from the “outer side” of the firstside plate parts32, and thus, the engaged state of the optical connector can be released easily in a small space.
• Theremoval tool40 also includes aguide part42 that comes into opposition with a side surface of the optical connector20 (or the receptacle10). By bringing theguide part42 into contact with the side surface of theoptical connector20, theremoval tool40 can be positioned with respect to theoptical connector20, and thus, the task of inserting therelease claws41 into the respective gaps on the inner side of each firstside plate part32 can be facilitated.
• Further, the tworelease claws41 aligned in the left/right direction (the first release claw and the second release claw) are configured so as to be relatively movable in the left/right direction. Thus, when theremoval tool40 is slid downward (toward the substrate3), the pair ofrelease claws41 can be moved outward along the respectivesloped sections34B on the edges (left edge and right edge) of each secondside plate part34, and thus, the pair of firstside plate parts32 can be spread outward and the engaged state can be released.
• Further, as illustrated inFIG. 3, the pair ofU-shaped release claws41 is connected by a connectingpart42, and as illustrated inFIG. 5B, respective tip end sections of the release claws can be inserted into the respective gaps on the inner side of the firstside plate part32 while the connectingpart42 is brought into connection with the firstside plate part32 from the outer side thereof. In this way, the firstside plate parts32 can be spread outward from the inner side of the firstside plate parts32, and also, because the pair ofrelease claws41 sandwiches and holds thefirst sideplate part32 from the front and rear thereof (cf.FIG. 5B), therelease claws41 are less prone to disengage from the gaps on the inner side of each firstside plate part32.
• Others:
• The foregoing embodiments are for facilitating the understanding of the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention. The present invention may be modified and/or improved without departing from the gist thereof, and it goes without saying that the present invention encompasses any equivalents thereof.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
• 1: Optical connector device;
• 3: Substrate;
• 5: Photoelectric conversion element;
• 7: Optical fiber tape;
• 10: Receptacle;
• 11: Connector housing part;
• 12: Base body part;
• 12A: Element housing part;12B: Positioning pin;
• 13: Frame body part;
• 131: Engagement claw (receptacle-side engagement section);
• 20: Optical connector;
• 21: Ferrule:
• 21B: Optical fiber hole;21C: Insertion opening;21D: Flange part;21F: Optical signal surface;21G: Contact surface;
• 22: Lens array;
• 23: Boot;
• 24: Spring part;
• 30: Fixing member;
• 31: Upper plate part;31A: Through hole;
• 32: First side plate part (engagement side plate part);
• 321: Engagement hole (connector-side engagement section);
• 322: Guide part;
• 33: First bent part;
• 34: Second side plate part;341: Regulating part;
• 34A: Straight-line section;34B: Sloped section;
• 35: Second bent part;
• 40: Removal tool;
• 41: Release claw;
• 42: Guide part;
• 43: Connecting part.

Claims (3)

What is claimed is:

1. A tool for releasing an engaged state in which a receptacle-side engagement section formed on a side surface of a receptacle provided on a substrate is engaged with a connector-side engagement section of an optical connector that is attachable to and detachable from said receptacle, said tool comprising:

release claws to be inserted into respective gaps, each said gap being formed between

a member arranged between a pair of engagement side plate parts each being provided with said connector-side engagement section, and

each said engagement side plate part; and

a guide part that comes into opposition with a side surface of said optical connector or said receptacle,

wherein, by bringing said guide part into opposition with said side surface and sliding said release claws toward said substrate, said engagement side plate parts are spread outward by said release claws and said engaged state is released.

2. The tool according toclaim 1, wherein:

said release claws include

a first release claw to be inserted between said member and one of said pair of engagement side plate parts, and

a second release claw to be inserted between said member and the other of said pair of engagement side plate parts; and

said first release claw and said second release claw are configured so as to be relatively movable in a direction in which said pair of engagement side plate parts is aligned.

3. The tool according toclaim 1, wherein:

said release claw is formed in a U-shape, and a pair of said U-shaped release claws is connected by a connecting part; and

respective tip end sections of said release claws can be inserted into said respective gaps while said connecting part is brought into opposition with said engagement side plate part from the outer side thereof.

Images