OPTICAL CONNECTOR AND SWITCHING METHOD THEREOF

摘要

PURPOSE:To shorten the time when communication is interrupted at the time of switching of optical connectors by setting the length of a sleeve at the length smaller than the length in the front end part of the ferrule. CONSTITUTION:The ferrule 1 mounted to the end part of an optical fiber 3 has a circular columnar front end part 5 to be fitted to a sleeve 2 at the end of a collar part 4 and the peripheral face of this part 5 is so formed that the axial center thereof aligns to the fiber 3. On the other hand, the sleeve 2 is longitudinally formed with a slit 6 and is so formed as to tighten the part 5 by its own elasticity. The length L of the sleeve 2 is made shorter than the length M of the part 5. The switching method using the optical connector constituted in such a manner is executed by first pulling the sleeve 2 onto the one ferrule while maintaining the butt state of the two ferrules. The ferrule is then laterally moved together with the sleeve 2 and is butted against the 3rd ferrule and the sleeve 2 is moved so as to be disposed across the front end parts of the two ferrules. The rapid switching is executed by eliminating or sufficiently lessening the movement of the ferrule in the axial line direction at this time.