JP3705883B2 - Optical connector - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an optical connector, and more particularly to an optical connector in which a ferrule that terminates the tip of an optical fiber is internally fixed in a housing.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As an optical connector that connects optical fibers in a switchable manner, for example, a so-called MT type optical connector (Mechanically Transferable) as provided in JISC 5981 or the like is provided. FIG. 10 shows an example of an MT type optical connector. In the figure, reference numeral 1 is an optical fiber (tape core), 2 is a ferrule (optical connector plug), 3 is a boot, 4 is a guide pin, 5 is a guide pin hole, and 6 is a clamp spring. This MT-type optical connector has a structure in which a plurality of bare fibers 7 exposed at the tip of an optical fiber 1 are inserted and fixed in an optical fiber insertion hole 9 formed in a resin ferrule 2 molded using a precision mold. It has become. The optical fiber insertion hole 9 is opened in the joining end face 8 that is abutted with the other ferrule 2, and the bare fiber 7 is precisely positioned flush with the joining end face 8. The guide pin hole 5 is extremely precise in relative position and parallelism with respect to the optical fiber insertion hole 9, and the guide pin hole on both joint end faces 8 in which the metal guide pins 4 having precise cylindrical side faces are opposed to the pair of ferrules 2. The bare fibers 7 exposed on the joint end faces 8 of both ferrules 2 are precisely positioned by being inserted so as to span between 5 and 5. When the clamp springs 6 are fitted between the rear end surfaces 10 of the ferrules 2 after the joint end surfaces 8 of the ferrules 2 are brought into contact with each other, the pressure contact state between the joint end surfaces 8 is caused by the spring force of the clamp springs 6. A desired connection loss is stably secured between the bare fibers 7 which are maintained and butt-matched.
[0003]
By the way, since the MT type optical connector requires a dedicated jig for attaching and detaching the clamp spring 6, it is unsatisfactory in workability, and development of an optical connector that can easily perform operations such as connection and connection switching. Was demanded. Moreover, in order to prevent the ferrule 2 from being exposed, it is necessary to provide a protective means such as a cap, and there is a complaint that the handling is troublesome.
[0004]
In view of the above problems, in recent years, so-called MPO connectors (optical connectors having a structure in which an optical connector ferrule established in JIS C 5981 or the like is housed in a housing) are provided. 11 and 12 show the MPO connector 11. In FIG. 12 , this MPO connector 11 includes a pin housing 12 for clamping a ferrule 2 of an MT type optical connector and a guide pin 4 projecting to the rear end portion (right side of FIG. 12 ) of the ferrule 2 in a cylindrical housing 13. The interior of the housing 13 is supported and the rear end of the housing 13 is internally supported by a cylindrical coupling 14, and a spring 15 for generating a butt force is accommodated in the coupling 14. The ferrule 2 is movable in the front-rear direction (left and right in FIG. 12 ) in the housing 13, and the housing 13 is biased forward by a separately installed housing spring 16, and the ferrule 2 is pushed into the depth of the MPO connector 11. If the housing 13 does not follow the ferrule 2 and is at the tip end position of the MPO connector 11 at this time, the entire ferrule 2 enters the inside of the housing 13 and is protected. The housing 13 has an engagement projection 13a projecting on its side so that it can be detachably engaged with a receiving housing such as the optical connector adapter 17, etc., so that the MPO connector 11 inserted into the receiving housing is inserted. maintain.
[0005]
According to the MPO connector 11, the optical fibers 1 can be easily connected to each other, connected and switched, and the like simply by being inserted into and removed from the receiving housing. In addition, since the ferrule 2 is accommodated and protected in the housing 13, it is not necessary to separately provide a protection means for the ferrule 2.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, the MPO connector 11 as described above has a dissatisfaction that it takes a lot of time and labor to assemble because the number of parts is large and the configuration is complicated. Further, since it is considerably larger than the MT type optical connector shown in FIG. 12 , it is unsuitable for mounting on a device at a high density, and there has been a limit to improving the mounting density. Further, when the dedicated adapter 17 is mounted on the apparatus, the adapter 17 becomes deep, and there is a complaint that it takes time to clean the joining end surface 8 of the ferrule 2. For this reason, this MPO connector 11 has not led to a fundamental solution to the problems of the MT type optical connector.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, has a low number of parts, has a simple configuration and is easy to assemble, and can easily perform operations such as connecting and switching optical fibers. It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical connector.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention employs the following configuration in order to solve the above problems. That is, in the optical connector according to claim 1, the concave portion in which at least a part of the MT type optical ferrule is provided in the two-divided housing that sandwiches the MT type optical ferrule that is fixed so that the end of the optical fiber is fixed internally and can be butt-connected. And an extension portion that allows displacement in the rotational direction of the MT optical ferrule housed in the concave portion, and a rear face that faces a joint end surface that is joined to another MT optical ferrule of the MT optical ferrule housed in the concave portion. The bearing surface that restricts the rearward movement of the MT-type optical ferrule when the contact surface is in contact with the housing that houses the MT-type optical ferrule on the other side of the joint is detachably engaged and abutted. And an urging means for urging the MT-type optical ferrule housed in the concave portion in the direction of the joining end face. The joint end surface of the MT type optical ferrule that is opened in the concave portion on the outer surface of the groove and faces the outer side of the housing so that the joint end surface of the MT type optical ferrule on the mating side can be joined. The featured optical connector is used as a means for solving the above problems.
[0009]
An optical fiber to which the optical connector of the present invention is applied adopts a structure in which a ferrule of a multi- fiber MT type optical connector is sandwiched between housings. Further, the present invention can employ a configuration in which a plurality of multi-core ferrules are sandwiched in the housing. In the configuration in which the ferrule of the MT type optical connector is sandwiched, positioning between the ferrules to be joined is performed by the guide pin and the guide pin hole of the ferrule . As an aligning means, an aligning sleeve, an aligning groove or the like can be employed. As the contact surface, the rear end surface of the MT type optical ferrule is applied. Further, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which a surface facing the rear of the MT-type optical ferrule such as a protrusion protruding from the MT-type optical ferrule is used as an abutment surface to abut the bearing wall. As the engaging means, a claw or the like protruding from the housing is applied. The position of the joining end face of the MT type optical ferrule internally held in the recess may be inside or outside the recess. In the female optical connector plug and the optical connector adapter, the joining end face is positioned inside the opening, and in the male optical connector plug, it is positioned outside the opening. The housing is preferably formed flat. In this case, it is preferable to provide a discriminating means for discriminating the front and back of the flat housing. According to this configuration, for example, when the MT type optical ferrule whose interior end face is inclined and polished is installed, the inclination direction of the end face can be easily known.
Further, the urging means provides a butt force at the time of joining the MT type optical ferrules, and a coil spring, a leaf spring, an elastic body or the like can be employed. This optical connector employs a housing having a structure that allows the MT-type optical ferrule to advance and retreat in and out of the recess.
[0010]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the pin holder (49) that holds the guide pin that is attached to the contact surface of the MT type optical ferrule housed in the recess and performs alignment with the MT type optical ferrule on the mating counterpart is provided. It was set as the solution means of the said subject to provide.
[0011]
In the invention according to claim 3, the means for solving the above-mentioned problems is that a slit extending from the opening of the recess to the back side is opened in the side wall of the housing. The slit preferably has a shape in which a cleaning tool (such as a cotton swab) for cleaning the MT-type optical ferrule joint end face can be inserted.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical connector laminate comprising a plurality of optical connectors according to the first to third aspects, and a holding means (52) for integrally holding the optical connectors. It was a solution to the problem.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter an embodiment of the optical connector of the present invention with reference to FIGS. 1-8 will be described. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 20 denotes an optical connector (female connector) which is a first embodiment of the optical connector of the present invention, and 21 denotes an optical connector (male connector) which is a second embodiment.
[0013]
The optical connector 20 has a structure in which a ferrule 2 ( MT-type optical connector plug shown in FIG. 10 ) that is fixed so that the end of the optical fiber 1 (tape core wire) is fixed internally and can be abutted and connected is sandwiched between two housings 24. It has become. The housing 24 has a concave portion 25 into which at least a part of the ferrule 2 is fitted, and a contact surface 10 (rear end surface) facing the rear (upper right upper part in FIG. 1) facing the joining end surface 8 of the ferrule 2 fitted into the concave portion 25. ) Are in contact with each other and the end faces 8 and 8 are butt-joined and engaged with the housing 29 of the male optical connector 21 in a detachable manner. Engaging means 30 (claws) for regulating the separation between them.
[0014]
The housing 24 has a structure in which two elongated thin plate-like split bodies 31 formed of a material having a light weight and sufficient rigidity such as a resin are integrally fixed with screws 32. In addition, the integration means of the housing 24 is not limited to the screw 32, For example, the structure etc. which attach an elastic fastener to the pin penetrated to both the division bodies 31 so that engagement / disengagement etc. are employable. Thereby, opening and closing of the housing 24 becomes easy, and workability such as replacement of the ferrule 2 can be improved.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the concave portion 25 has a flange portion accommodating portion 34 that accommodates the flange portion 33 of the ferrule 2, and an opening portion 35 that opens to the outer surface of the housing 24. The flange portion accommodating portion 34 has a width dimension L1 and an axial direction dimension L2 that are slightly larger than the flange portion 33, and allows a slight displacement of the flange portion 33 inside. The ferrule 2 is accommodated in the recess 25 so that the joint end face 8 faces the outside of the recess opening 35 and the flange 33 is fitted into the flange accommodating portion 34. In FIG. 3, the concave portion 25 of each divided body 31 has a depth that accommodates about half of the thickness direction (upper and lower) of the ferrule 2. An inner surface shape that allows displacement in the inner and outer directions is formed. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the four corners of the flange portion accommodating portion 34 have extended portions 25a extending outward, and displacement of the ferrule 2 in the rotational direction is allowed by the extended portions 25a. As a result, when the butting force at the time of joining the ferrules 2 is unevenly distributed on either the left or right side of the joining end face 8 (upper and lower in FIG. 2), local stress concentration is avoided by the rotation of the ferrule 2 and the joining end face 8 Avoid damage.
As shown in FIG. 1, an engagement means 30 is provided in the recess opening 35, and engages with an engagement means 39 (claw) on the side portion of the housing 29 of the male optical connector 21 inserted into the opening 35. By engaging with the means 30, the disconnection of the optical connector 21 is regulated.
Note that the housing 24 is not limited to the shape shown in the figure, and for example, a configuration in which a depth for accommodating the ferrule 2 is given to the concave portion of one divided body and the other divided body has a flat lid shape may be employed.
[0015]
2 and 3, the bearing wall 28 is an outer wall of the housing 24 at the rear end of the optical connector 20 (right side of FIG. 2, right side of FIG. 3), and an optical fiber insertion groove communicating with the inside and outside of the recess 25 at the center. 36 is formed, and on both sides of the optical fiber insertion groove 36, urging means accommodation grooves 38 for accommodating urging means 37 (coil springs) for urging the ferrule 2 in the direction of the joining end face 8 are formed.
Each divided body 31 is formed with a slit 31 a extending from the recessed opening 35 to the back side (flange housing 34). The slit 31a is for inserting a cleaning tool (such as a cotton swab) for the joining end face 8 into the recess 25, and cleans the joining end face 8 of the ferrule 2 accommodated in the recess 25 without disassembling the optical connector 20. Make it possible to do.
[0016]
As shown in FIG. 1, the optical connector 21 has a flange portion 33 of the ferrule 2 sandwiched between a split housing 29 formed of a light and sufficiently rigid material such as a resin, and the joining end face 8 is connected to the optical connector 20. It is the structure located outside the front-end | tip part (upper right upper part of FIG. 1) inserted in the recessed part opening part 35 of this. The housing 29 is composed of two thin plate-like divided bodies 40, and when these divided bodies 40 are integrated, the flange portion 33 accommodated in the concave portion 41 formed at the distal end portion of both divided bodies 40 is sandwiched and fixed. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the ferrule 2 accommodated in the recess 41 is fixed by fitting the flange portion 33 into the fitting hole 42 opened in the recess 41. It is like that. A boot accommodating portion 44 for accommodating the boot 3 protruding from the rear portion of the ferrule 2 is formed at the rear portion of the concave portion 41 (left side in FIG. 4, left side in FIG. 5), and the ferrule 2 abuts on both sides of the boot accommodating portion 44. A bearing wall 45 that prevents the ferrule 2 from moving backward is formed by contacting the surface 10 (rear end surface). An optical fiber insertion groove 46 for inserting the optical fiber 1 is formed in the bearing wall 45. Knobs 47 project from both sides of the bearing wall 45, and engaging means 39 project from the outer side of each knob 47. This knob 47 can be deformed in the range of the gap 48 in FIG. 4, and is inserted into the recess opening 35 of the optical connector 20 and then deformed in a direction approaching each other, thereby engaging means 30, 39. The engagement between them is released, and the optical connector 21 can be pulled out from the recess opening 35.
In FIG. 1, the optical connector 21 does not require a component for fixing the two divided bodies 40 in an integrated state, and the inserted state is maintained by simply inserting the tip portion into the concave opening 35 of the optical connector 20. The optical connector 21 may be provided with a separate unit for the divided body 40 separately. As a part of the integration means, a clamp member made of a spring or the like, or a fixing member using a screw or the like is applied.
[0017]
FIG. 6 shows another aspect of the male optical connector.
In FIG. 6, an optical connector 100 (male optical connector plug) is configured such that almost the entire ferrule 2 is attached to one end in the longitudinal direction of a thin and thin plate-shaped housing 101 formed of a light and sufficiently rigid material such as resin. An elastic knob 104 that forms a recessed portion 102 to be accommodated and extends from both sides in the width direction (direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction) of the housing 101 in the vicinity of the recessed portion 102 to the vicinity of the other end portion 103 in the longitudinal direction of the housing 101. Is protruding. Both elastic knobs 104 are provided with engaging means (claws) 105 that engage with the engaging means 30 when the optical connector 100 is inserted into the female optical connector 20. Note that the elastic knob 104 can be elastically deformed within a gap 106 interposed between the other end 103 of the housing 101 and the engaging means 105 when deformed in a direction approaching the other end 103 of the housing. Accordingly, the engagement state of the engagement means 105 engaged with the engagement means 30 on the female optical connector 20 side can be released.
The concave portion 102 is opened in the direction to be inserted into the female optical connector 20 (longitudinal front end direction of the housing 101, upper left rear in FIG. 6), and the vicinity of the joint end face 8 protrudes outward from the housing 101 from this opening portion. The ferrule 2 is stored and supported. Further, the rear wall facing the recess 102 (in front of the lower left side in FIG. 6, the other end in the longitudinal direction of the housing 101) functions as a bearing wall 107 against which the rear contact surface 10 of the ferrule 2 comes into contact. The reaction force is ensured when 2 is matched with the ferrule 2 on the other side. An optical fiber groove 108 through which the optical fiber 1 and the boot 3 in which the ferrule 2 housed in the recess 102 is terminated is opened in the bearing wall 107.
According to this optical connector 100, since the whole is formed by one component, the cost can be extremely reduced. Further, since the whole is a single component, for example, higher formation accuracy can be obtained in the concave portion 102 than the optical connector 21 having two components like the optical connector 21 shown in FIG. If it is within the fixed position, it can be accurately positioned.
In this optical connector 100, since the ferrule 2 is pressed into the recess 102 by the housing 24 of the female optical connector 20 when inserted into the female optical connector 20, a separate pressing member is prepared. There is no need.
[0018]
FIG. 7 shows the pin holder 49. The pin holder 49 is attached to the contact surface 10 of the ferrule 2 housed in the concave portion 25 on the optical connector 20 side, so that the guide pin hole 50 is inserted into the two pin holding holes 50 corresponding to the guide pin holes 5 of the ferrule 2. An end portion of the guide pin 4 inserted into 5 is held to provide a pulling resistance, and the guide pin 4 is prevented from moving when the optical connector 21 is inserted into or extracted from the recess opening 35 of the optical connector 20.
In the present embodiment, the configuration in which the ferrule 2 fitted with the pin holder 49 is mounted only in the optical connector 20 is shown. However, if the recessed portion 41 is expanded, the ferrule 2 can be mounted in the optical connector 21.
[0019]
According to the optical connector 20, the ferrule 2 can be sandwiched in the housing 24 only by integrating the divided body 31, and the assembly is extremely simple. In addition, the number of parts is extremely small compared to the MPO connector 11 shown in FIGS . 11 and 12 , and the cost can be reduced. Further, since the optical connector 20 can be made extremely small, it can be mounted on the apparatus at a high density, can cope with the increase in the number of cores of the apparatus, and further, after the mounting, due to the presence of the slit 31a. The ferrule joint end face 8 can be easily cleaned. In addition, since the ferrule 2 is built in the recess 25, it is not necessary to provide a separate protection means. Further, in the optical connector 20, since the ferrules 2 are joined and released just by inserting and removing the optical connector 21 into and from the recess opening 25, workability such as connection and connection switching between the optical fibers 1 is improved. The optical connector 20 can be inserted into optical connector plugs of various structures other than the optical connector 21 only by adjusting the shape of the housing 24, and can also be used as an optical connector plug to be inserted into a housing such as an optical connector adapter. Is possible.
[0020]
According to the optical connector 21, the number of parts is further reduced and the structure is simpler than that of the optical connector 20. Therefore, the effects of improving the assembly workability and reducing the cost can be obtained more remarkably. In the optical connector 21 shown in FIG. 1, since the ferrule joint end face 8 is located outside the housing 29, the joint end face 8 can be easily cleaned. Further, since the flange portion 33 of the ferrule 2 and the vicinity thereof are protected in the recess 41, there is no need to provide a separate protection means.
The optical connector 21 can be inserted into a housing having various structures other than the female optical connector 20. However, in this case, it is necessary to incorporate an urging means for applying a butt force between the ferrules 2 to be joined to the optical connector 21 or the housing side.
[0021]
Since the optical connectors 20 and 21 are both flat, when a discriminating means such as a mark 51 for discriminating the front and back is provided as shown in FIG. In addition, the inclination direction of the joining end surfaces 8 can be easily determined, and the joining workability between the joining end surfaces 8 is improved.
[0022]
Also, as shown in FIG. 9, when a plurality of optical connectors 20 are stacked, it is easy to insert and remove them from the mating housing. At this time, the workability can be improved by holding the plurality of stacked optical connectors 20 by the holding means 52. As the holding means 52, in addition to the clamp spring shown in FIG. 9, it is possible to apply a structure in which a plurality of optical connectors 20 are fixed together using a long screw 32 that integrates the divided bodies 31 and 31. . Furthermore, it is also possible to replace the divided bodies 31, 31 that are in contact with each other between the adjacent optical connectors 20 with a single shared body, thereby further improving the mounting density of the optical connectors 20. .
Even when a plurality of optical connectors 20 are stacked, the joining end face 8 using the slits 31a can be cleaned by substantially aligning the slits 31a of the optical connectors 20.
Similarly, the optical connector 21 can also be inserted into and removed from the mating housing in a lump by integrating with the holding means 52 formed in a suitable shape by stacking a plurality of optical connectors.
[0028]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the optical connector of the first aspect, the MT-type optical ferrule that is fixed so that the tip of the optical fiber is fixed in the interior and can be butt-connected is sandwiched between the two-divided housings. Excellent effect. (1) It can be assembled in a short time just by integrating the housing and sandwiching the MT type optical ferrule. (2) The number of parts is extremely small, and the cost can be reduced. (3) Since it is easy to reduce the size, it can be mounted on the device at a high density, and can cope with the increase in the number of devices. (4) By installing the engaging means that can be engaged and disengaged, it is possible to simply perform operations such as connection between optical fibers and connection switching by simply inserting and removing from the housing on the other side. (5) Since the MT type optical ferrule is structured to protect the interior of the housing, it is not necessary to provide a separate protection means.
In addition, since the expansion part is provided, when the butting force at the time of joining of the MT type optical ferrules is unevenly distributed to either the left or right of the joining end face, the stress concentration on the local area is avoided by the rotation of the MT type optical ferrule. , Damage to the joint end face can be avoided.
Further, since the housing is provided with an urging means for urging the MT type optical ferrule accommodated in the concave portion in the direction of the joining end face, there is no need to separately install means for applying a butt force between the joined MT type optical ferrules. It is possible to obtain an excellent effect that a desired connection loss can be reliably obtained between optical fibers that are butt-connected only by being inserted into and removed from the other housing.
[0029]
According to the optical connector of the second aspect, the two pins corresponding to the guide pin holes of the MT type optical ferrule are mounted by attaching the pin holder to the contact surface of the MT type optical ferrule built in the recess on the optical connector side. An end portion of the guide pin inserted into the guide pin hole is held in the holding hole to provide a pulling resistance, and the guide pin is prevented from moving when the optical connector is inserted into and extracted from the recess opening of the optical connector.
[0030]
According to the optical connector of the third aspect, since the slit extending from the opening of the concave portion to the back side is opened in the side wall portion of the housing, the optical connector is not disassembled by inserting the cleaning tool into the slit. The MT type optical ferrule joint end face can be cleaned, and an excellent effect is obtained in that a desired connection loss can be reliably obtained when connecting optical fibers.
According to the optical connector of the fourth aspect, it becomes easy to insert and remove the optical connector in a mating housing at a time. Moreover, the workability can be improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing first and second embodiments of an optical connector of the present invention.
2 is a plan view showing a divided body constituting the housing of the female optical connector shown in FIG. 1; FIG.
3 is a front sectional view showing a divided body constituting the housing of the female optical connector shown in FIG. 1; FIG.
4 is a plan view showing a divided body constituting the housing of the male optical connector shown in FIG. 1. FIG.
5 is a front sectional view showing a divided body constituting the housing of the male optical connector shown in FIG. 1; FIG.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing another aspect of the male optical connector.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a pin holder attached to the contact surface of the ferrule.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the optical connector of FIG. 1, and is an exploded perspective view showing an optical connector in which a ferrule whose joining end surface is obliquely polished is housed.
9 is a diagram showing the operation of the optical connector of FIG. 1, and is a perspective view showing the laminated state of the optical connector and the holding means in the laminated state. FIG.
FIG. 10 is a view showing a conventional optical connector, and is an exploded perspective view showing an MT type optical connector.
FIG. 11 is a view showing a conventional optical connector, and is a perspective view showing an MPO connector.
12 is a front sectional view of the MPO connector of FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Optical fiber (tape core wire), 2 ... Ferrule ( MT type optical connector plug), 8 ... Joining end surface, 10 ... Contact surface (rear end surface), 20 ... Optical connector (female type optical connector plug), 21 ... Optical connector (male optical connector plug), 24 ... housing, 25 ... recess, 28 ... pressure wall, 29 ... housing, 30 ... engaging means (claw), 31a ... slit, 35 ... opening, 37 ... biasing Means (coil spring), 39 ... engaging means (claw), 41 ... recess, 45 ... bearing wall, 100 ... optical connector (male optical connector plug), 101 ... housing, 102 ... recess, 105 ... engaging means ( Nail), 107 ... bearing wall.

Claims (4)

The split fiber- shaped housing (24, 29, 101) sandwiching the MT type optical ferrule (2) that can be butt-connected with the tip of the optical fiber (1) fixed internally,
A recess (25, 41, 102) for interiorizing at least a part of the MT type optical ferrule;
An extension portion (25a) that allows displacement in the rotational direction of the MT type optical ferrule incorporated in the recess;
An abutting surface (10) facing the joining end surface (8) to be joined with another MT type optical ferrule of the MT type optical ferrule provided in the recess is brought into contact with the rear side of the MT type optical ferrule. Bearing walls (28, 45, 107) that restrict the movement of
Engaging means (30, 39, 105) for restricting the separation between the joining end faces that are detachably engaged with the housing that houses the MT-type optical ferrule on the mating counterpart;
A biasing means (37) for biasing the MT-type optical ferrule housed in the recess in the direction of the joining end surface;
With
An opening (35) of a concave portion is opened on the outer surface of the housing, and the joining end surface of the MT type optical ferrule that is built in the concave portion faces the outside of the housing, and can be joined to the joining end surface of the MT type optical ferrule on the mating side. An optical connector (20, 21, 100) characterized by the above. It is equipped with a pin holder (49) that holds a guide pin (4) that is mounted on a contact surface of an MT-type optical ferrule that is housed in a recess and that aligns with the MT-type optical ferrule on the mating counterpart. The optical connector according to claim 1.   The optical connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein slits (31a, 72) extending from the opening of the recess to the back side are opened in the side wall of the housing. 4. An optical connector laminate comprising a plurality of optical connectors according to claim 1 and a holding means (52) for holding them integrally.