Optical fiber connector having structure for ensuring predetermined spacing of optical elements

Claim 1

An optical fiber connector comprising: a holding member having a front part for holding an end of an optical fiber therein and a collar part extending radially outward from the optical fiber, wherein a selected length is provided between a front end surface of said front part and said collar part; a plug in which said holding member is disposed having an internal part extending radially inward toward the optical fiber which abuts against said collar part of said holding member to press it axially in an insertion direction, and an engaging part formed integrally with said internal part disposed toward a front end of said plug; a plug engaging member having a receptacle portion in which an optical element is mounted, a front portion for receiving said front part of said holding member, wherein said front end surface of said holding member is to be disposed opposite the optical element in said plug engaging member by a predetermined distance, and an engaged part formed on said front portion which is removably engaged with said engaging part of said plug; a spacer having a thickness corresponding to said predetermined distance and an optical path hole for light transmission therethrough and being interposed in abutting contact between said front end surface of said holding member and said optical element when said front part of said holding member is inserted in said front portion of said plug engaging member with said internal part of said plug abuttingly pressing said collar part of said holding member by a force of said engaging part of said plug engaged with said engaged part of said plug engaging member; wherein said length of said holding member is selected such that when said holding member is inserted in said front portion of said plug engaging member to bring said front end surface of said front part of said holding member into abutting contact with said spacer, a gap is provided between said collar part of said holding member and said front portion of said plug engaging member which allows sufficient space in case of differences in tolerances of said parts such that said front portion of said plug engaging member does not abut against said collar part, in order to ensure that said front end surface of said holding member can be tightly pressed against said spacer by the force of engagement of said engaging part of said plug with said engaged part of said plug engaging member, whereby the optical fiber end is accurately spaced opposite the optical element by the thickness of said spacer.