KR102355876B1 - Optical Connector - Google Patents

Abstract

The present application relates to an optical connector, and an optical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a photoelectric conversion module for converting an electrical signal and an optical signal; and an optical cable connected to both ends so that the photoelectric conversion module is detachably attached, wherein the photoelectric conversion module includes: a lens unit formed of a light-transmitting material; an optical element for transmitting or receiving an optical signal; and a lens groove concavely formed so that the head of the optical cable is inserted into the lens unit.

Description

Optical Connector {Optical Connector}

The present application relates to an optical connector that transmits an optical signal using an optical cable, and more particularly, to a photoelectric conversion module for photoelectric conversion and an optical connector capable of attaching and detaching an optical cable.

Recent electronic device trends require high-quality, high-speed transmission of high-capacity data such as high-definition and 3D image content between boards within devices, and accordingly, signal attenuation, noise, EMI/EMC, impedance matching, cross talk, skew, and miniaturization of connection wiring, etc. This is emerging as a big issue.

As a technology to solve this problem, recently, optical wiring technology has been researched and developed. In other words, it is possible to realize high-capacity data high-speed transmission by replacing dozens of channels of parallel electrical signal lines with serial optical signal lines. it is possible

Here, when using the optical signal line, it is necessary to connect the optical signal line to the board in the device. In this case, an optical connector with a photoelectric conversion function can be used. That is, since photoelectric conversion can be performed at the end of the cable, the speed and distance performance of the cable can be improved while maintaining compatibility with standard electrical interfaces.

In general, as shown in FIG. 11 , in the optical connector, the photoelectric conversion unit 10 and the optical cable 20 may be integrally formed. That is, the optical fibers 21 of the optical cable 20 are directly connected and fixed to the AOC (Active Optical Cable) module 12 mounted on the circuit board 11 , and the copper wires 22 included in the optical cable 20 are It may also be formed by soldering on the circuit board 11 .

However, in the case of the conventional integrated optical connector, difficulties may occur during burial. For example, when the optical connector is used for connection of digital signage, etc., it may be embedded in a conduit tube, etc. In this case, the size of the photoelectric conversion unit of the optical connector may be relatively large compared to the limited size of the conduit tube. Accordingly, a problem such as that the photoelectric conversion unit is not easily inserted into the conduit may occur. In order to solve this problem, a method of reducing the size of the photoelectric conversion unit of the optical connector has also been proposed, but in this case, the difficulty of mounting internal components increases, and additional problems such as an increase in product production cost may occur.

An object of the present application is to provide a photoelectric conversion module for photoelectric conversion and an optical connector capable of attaching and detaching an optical cable.

An object of the present application is to provide an optical connector that can be precisely aligned and coupled with a photoelectric conversion module when an optical cable is attached and detached.

An optical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a photoelectric conversion module for performing conversion between an electrical signal and an optical signal; and an optical cable connected to both ends so that the photoelectric conversion module is detachably attached, wherein the photoelectric conversion module includes: a lens unit formed of a light-transmitting material; an optical element for transmitting or receiving an optical signal; and a lens groove concavely formed so that the head of the optical cable is inserted into the lens unit.

Here, the photoelectric conversion module includes: a circuit board; and a frame portion fixed on the circuit board and configured to set a reference position for mounting components of the circuit board, wherein the optical element is mounted at a designated position on the circuit board specified from the reference position, and received from an input terminal It may be a light emitting device that outputs an optical signal corresponding to the converted electrical signal.

Here, the circuit board may include: a first circuit board connected to the input terminal and on which a driver IC for driving the light emitting device according to an electric signal input from the input terminal is located; a second circuit board on which the frame part and the light emitting device are positioned; and a third circuit board that is a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) connecting the first circuit board and the second circuit board.

Here, the frame portion is formed in a rectangular frame shape, and the light emitting device is mounted on a specified position specified based on distances from horizontal and vertical axes of the rectangular frame, and the specified position is surrounded by the rectangular frame shape among the circuit boards. It may be located within an area.

Here, the frame portion includes a body portion having a rectangular flat plate shape; a plurality of reference holes formed on the body portion and configured to set the reference positions; and a fixing groove formed at a designated position on the body portion specified by the plurality of reference holes, and in which the light emitting device is mounted.

Here, the lens groove may be formed to be inserted therein only when the head part is inserted in a specific direction.

Here, the lens groove may have a polygonal prism-shaped groove, and a cross-section of the polygonal prism may have a bottom surface longer than an upper surface length.

Here, the photoelectric conversion module may further include a holder for fixing the optical cable in the through hole, including a through hole into which one end of the optical cable is inserted.

Here, the holder part may include a screw thread for coupling with the optical cable on the inner circumferential surface of the through hole.

Here, the photoelectric conversion module may further include a contact pin connected to the circuit board and exposed in the lens groove.

Here, the photoelectric conversion module includes: a circuit board; and a frame part fixed on the circuit board and setting a reference position for mounting components of the circuit board, wherein the optical element is mounted at a designated position on the circuit board specified from the reference position, and received from the optical cable It may be a light receiving element that outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the optical signal.

Here, the optical cable includes: an optical fiber bundle including a plurality of optical fibers; a first member coupled to one end of the optical fiber bundle and forming a head portion protruding in a fastening direction of the optical cable; a second member formed to surround the optical fiber bundle and supporting the first member; a spring member positioned between the first member and the second member, supported by the second member, and providing elasticity for pushing the first member in the fastening direction; and a third member formed to cover the first member and the second member, supporting the second member in the fastening direction, and rotatably attached to the photoelectric conversion module. .

Here, the third member may further include a screw thread on its outer circumferential surface, rotate independently of the head in a state in which the head is inserted into the lens groove, and may be coupled to the photoelectric conversion module.

Here, the optical cable may further include a plurality of wires formed of a conductive material, and include a contact portion in which the wires are exposed on an outer peripheral surface of the head portion.

Here, in the optical cable, the optical fiber bundle is located in the center, the plurality of wires may be located in the outermost part of the optical cable, and the distance between each optical fiber included in the optical fiber bundle is, It may be shorter than the distance between the optical fibers and the wires.

Incidentally, the means for solving the above problems do not enumerate all the features of the present invention. Various features of the present invention and its advantages and effects may be understood in more detail with reference to the following specific embodiments.

According to the optical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, the photoelectric conversion module and the optical cable can be attached and detached, and when the optical cable is attached or detached, the optical cable can be precisely aligned and combined with the photoelectric conversion module.

According to the optical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, when embedding in a conduit or the like, since only the optical cable is embedded and the optical cable can be connected to each photoelectric conversion module, the optical connector can be easily embedded.

In addition, when the optical cable is damaged or the length adjustment is required, it can be easily replaced by simply separating and replacing the optical cable, and even if the photoelectric conversion module is damaged or broken, only the broken parts can be replaced do.

1A and 1B are perspective views illustrating an optical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a perspective view and an exploded perspective view showing the photoelectric conversion module of the transmission side of the optical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a front view and a cross-sectional view showing a photoelectric conversion module on the sending side of the optical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a perspective view and an exploded perspective view showing a receiving-side photoelectric conversion module of an optical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5A and 5B are a perspective view and an exploded perspective view showing an optical cable of an optical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a side view and a cross-sectional view showing an optical cable of an optical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.
7 is a cross-sectional view showing the coupling of an optical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.
8 is an exploded perspective view showing a photoelectric conversion module on the transmission side of an optical connector according to another embodiment of the present invention and a plan view showing a frame portion.
9 is a schematic view showing a lens groove and a content pin of an optical connector according to another embodiment of the present invention.
10 is a schematic diagram showing a head portion and a contact portion of an optical connector according to another embodiment of the present invention.
11 is a schematic diagram showing a conventional optical connector.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments will be described in detail so that those of ordinary skill in the art can easily practice the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, in describing the preferred embodiment of the present invention in detail, if it is determined that a detailed description of a related known function or configuration may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. In addition, the same reference numerals are used throughout the drawings for parts having similar functions and functions.

In addition, throughout the specification, when a part is 'connected' with another part, it is not only 'directly connected' but also 'indirectly connected' with another element interposed therebetween. include In addition, 'including' a certain component means that other components may be further included, rather than excluding other components, unless otherwise stated.

The optical connector includes photoelectric conversion modules connected to both ends of the optical cable, respectively, and may be used to connect modules in an electronic device to each other or to connect different electronic devices. Here, the optical connector may convert an electrical signal received from the sending side into an optical signal and then transmit it through an optical cable, and the transmitted optical signal may be converted back into an electrical signal and delivered to the receiving side. The optical connector can be used for signal connection of display devices such as TV and digital signage, and can also be used in various fields such as audio devices and communication equipment.

In the case of digital signage installed outside a building, there may be cases in which an optical connector is embedded in a conduit tube or the like. However, in the case of a conventional optical connector, since the receiving-side photoelectric conversion module, the sending-side photoelectric conversion module, and the optical cable are formed integrally, if a failure or damage occurs in some of the optical connectors, the entire embedded After removing the optical connector, it had to be replaced by a new optical connector and buried. This is the same even if the receiver and sender are incorrectly connected. That is, in the case of the conventional optical connector, it is difficult to deal with failure or damage, and there are problems such as excessively expensive repairs.

On the other hand, according to the optical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, the sending-side photoelectric conversion module and the receiving-side photoelectric conversion module are detachable from the optical cable. That is, if the optical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention is used, only the optical cable can be embedded except for the bulky photoelectric conversion module, and after the embedding is completed, the optical cable is connected to each photoelectric conversion module can be installed easily with

In addition, when the optical cable is damaged or the length adjustment is required, it can be easily dealt with by simply separating and replacing the optical cable. can

That is, according to the optical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, it is easy to deal with a failure, and only a part, not the whole, can be replaced, thereby reducing the cost of repair.

Hereinafter, an optical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

1A and 1B are schematic views showing an optical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

1A and 1B , the optical connector 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a transmitting-side photoelectric conversion module 110 , a receiving-side photoelectric conversion module 120 and an optical cable 130 . .

The sending-side photoelectric conversion module 110 may include an AOC (Active Optical Cable) module that converts the received electrical signal into an optical signal, and may output the converted optical signal through the optical cable 130 . Specifically, referring to FIG. 2 , the photoelectric conversion module 110 at the transmitting side includes an input terminal 111 , a circuit board 112 , a frame unit 113 , a light emitting device 114 , a lens unit 115 , and a lens groove. 116 , a holder portion 117 and case portions 118A and 118B may be included.

The input terminal 111 may receive an electrical signal from a connected electronic device, etc., and transmit the received electrical signal to the light emitting device 113 to be converted into an optical signal. Here, the input terminal 111 may be a High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) terminal, and it is also possible to use various types of terminals such as a Digital Visual Interface (DVI) according to an embodiment. Here, the input terminal 111 may have the same shape as the output terminal 121 of the receiving-side photoelectric conversion module 120 .

The circuit board 112 may be equipped with components for converting an electrical signal into an optical signal. That is, the input terminal 111 , the light emitting device 114 , the driving chip D and the like are mounted on the circuit board 112 to convert an electrical signal into an optical signal. According to an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2 , it is also possible to divide the circuit boards into a plurality of circuit boards 112A, 112B, and 112C and then implement them in a form that combines them.

Specifically, after placing the input terminal 111 and the driving chip D on the first circuit board 112A and the light emitting device 114 on the second circuit board 112B, a Flexible Printed Circuit Board (FPCB) ) may be used to connect the first circuit board 112A and the second circuit board 112B using the third circuit board 112C. In this case, as shown in FIG. 2 , it is possible to place the second circuit board 112B upright to be perpendicular to the first circuit board 112A. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the overall size of the photoelectric conversion module 110 at the transmitting side, and it is possible to more easily implement alignment with the light emitting device 114 when the optical cable 130 is inserted.

The frame part 113 is fixed on the circuit board 112 , and may set a reference position for mounting components on the circuit board 112 . That is, each component may be mounted based on the position of the frame part 113 .

According to an embodiment, the frame part 113 may be formed in a rectangular frame shape as shown in FIG. 2 , and in this case, the positions for mounting each component are specified based on the distances from the horizontal and vertical axes of the rectangular frame. can do. The frame part 113 may be formed of a metal material, and a rectangular frame shape may be implemented through a press process or the like.

In the case of the optical connector 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, the sending-side photoelectric conversion module 110 and the receiving-side photoelectric conversion module 120 are not formed integrally with the optical cable 130, but are detachable. is implemented In this case, for accurate optical signal transmission, alignment is very important when the optical cable 130 is attached. To this end, the transmitting-side photoelectric conversion module 110 may include the configuration of the frame unit 113 to accurately specify the designated position of the light emitting device 114 connected to the optical cable 130 . Specifically, when the light emitting device 114 is mounted, the designated position of the light emitting device 114 may be specified based on the frame 113 , and in this case, the designated position of the light emitting device 114 is the circuit board 112 . Among them, it can be limited to a region surrounded by a rectangular frame shape.

The photoelectric conversion module may include an optical element that transmits or receives an optical signal, and in the case of the photoelectric conversion module 110 on the sending side, it may include a light emitting element that transmits an optical signal among the optical elements. Specifically, the light emitting device 114 may be mounted at a specified position on the circuit board 112 specified from the reference position, and may output an optical signal corresponding to the electrical signal received from the input terminal 111 . Here, the electrical signal input through the input terminal 111 may be a multi-channel signal, and the light emitting device 114 may convert the received electrical signal into a multi-channel optical signal. That is, the light emitting device 114 may include a plurality of light emitting diodes (L1, L2, L3, and L4), and each of the light emitting diodes (L1, L2, L3, L4) is used to correspond to a multi-channel signal. It is possible to generate an optical signal of a channel. Thereafter, multi-channel optical signals may be transmitted through the optical fibers of the optical cable 130 corresponding to each of the light emitting diodes L1, L2, L3, and L4 on a one-to-one basis. Here, although an embodiment including four light emitting diodes is exemplified, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the number of light emitting diodes can be variously set as needed.

The light emitting diodes L1, L2, L3, and L4 are devices that generate an optical signal in response to an input electrical signal, and the optical signal generated by the light emitting diodes L1, L2, L3, and L4 is transmitted through the optical cable 130 . can be transmitted. Here, in order to accurately output the optical signal generated by the light emitting diodes L1, L2, L3, and L4 to the optical cable 130, the light emitting diodes L1, L2, It is necessary to align the positions of L3, L4). To this end, a designated position may be preset based on the frame unit 113 , and each of the light emitting diodes L1 , L2 , L3 , and L4 may be accurately mounted on the designated position. Here, the designated position may be set by setting the horizontal axis and the vertical axis of the frame unit 113 as the x-axis and the y-axis, respectively, and specifying corresponding coordinates therefrom. That is, the light emitting diodes L1 , L2 , L3 , and L4 may be positioned on a designated position specified by the coordinates.

The lens unit 115 may be formed of a light-transmitting material, and may be positioned so as to be in contact with the light emitting surface of the light emitting device 114 . Here, when the optical cable 130 is inserted, the lens unit 115 may also come into contact with the head unit A of the optical cable 130 , and in this case, the light emitting element 114 and the head unit A are connected to the lens unit 115 . may be positioned to face each other with interposed therebetween. That is, in order to prevent the optical signal from being refracted or distorted by the space between the light emitting diodes L1, L2, L3, and L4 and the head part A, the light emitting diodes L1, L2, L3, L4 and the optical cable 130 ) may include a lens unit 115 positioned so as to be in contact with each other. In this case, the light output from the light emitting diodes L1, L2, L3, and L4 may pass through the lens unit 115 and be input to the optical cable 130, and in some embodiments, the light emitting diodes L1, L2, L3 , L4), the refractive index or transparency of the lens unit 115 may be preset so that the optical signal outputted from the optical cable 130 is accurately input to each optical fiber included in the optical cable 130 .

The lens groove 116 may be concave so that the head portion A of the optical cable 130 can be inserted into the lens portion 115 . Here, the lens groove 116 may be formed to correspond to the shape of the head portion A, and may be formed to be concave in the fastening direction of the optical cable 130 . That is, the lens groove 116 may be formed to correspond to the shape and size of the head portion A so that the head portion A is fixed therein. In this case, since the head part A inserted into the lens groove 116 is fixed so as not to move by the lens part 115, it is precisely aligned with the light emitting diodes L1, L2, L3, and L4 to receive the optical signal. it is possible

Meanwhile, the lens groove 116 may be formed to be inserted therein only when the head portion A is inserted in a specific direction. That is, since the direction of the head portion (A) can be distinguished, it is possible to prevent a case in which the head portion (A) is connected in an inverted state when the optical cable 130 is fastened. For example, the lens groove 116 may have a polygonal prism-shaped groove, and in this case, the cross-section of the polygonal prism may be formed so that the length of the bottom surface is longer than the length of the top surface. That is, it is possible to limit the specific direction of the insertable head portion A by using the lengths of the upper and lower surfaces of the lens groove 116 .

The holder part 117 may include a through hole (H) into which one end of the optical cable 130 is inserted, and when the optical cable 130 is inserted, the optical cable 130 may be fixed in the through hole (H). Here, one side of the through hole (H) may be positioned so as to be in contact with the lens unit 115 , and the head unit A protruding from one end of the optical cable 130 has a lens groove 116 through the holder unit 117 . can be inserted into

Specifically, the holder portion 117 may include a screw thread on the inner peripheral surface of the through hole (H) in order to fix the optical cable 130 in the through hole (H). Here, a corresponding thread may be formed on the outer peripheral surface of the optical cable 130 , and in this case, the optical cable 130 may be rotated and fixed in the holder part 117 in a manner such as coupling. That is, the optical cable 130 is strongly fixed in the holder part 117 to stably receive the optical signal of the light emitting device 114 . Here, a case where a screw thread is formed in the holder part 117 to be coupled with the optical cable 130 has been exemplified, however, it is also possible to apply various coupling methods such as a snap coupling using a groove and a catch according to an embodiment. In addition, the holder part 117 may be formed through injection molding, such as plastic, but depending on the embodiment, it is also possible to improve durability and strength by forming a metal material.

The case portions 118A and 118B may form an outer surface of the outgoing photoelectric conversion module 110, and may function to protect internal elements from external shocks and the like. The input terminal 111 may protrude out of the case portions 118A and 118B, and the through hole H may be opened for insertion of the optical cable 130 .

The receiving-side photoelectric conversion module 120 may include an AOC module that converts the received optical signal into an electrical signal, and when receiving the optical signal from the optical cable 130 , converts it into an electrical signal through the output terminal 121 . can be printed out. Specifically, referring to FIG. 4 , the receiving-side photoelectric conversion module 120 includes an output terminal 121 , a circuit board 122 , a frame unit 123 , a light receiving element 124 , a lens unit 125 , and a lens groove ( 126), a holder portion 127 and case portions 128A and 128B may be included. The photoelectric conversion module may include an optical element for transmitting or receiving an optical signal, and in the case of the receiving-side photoelectric conversion module 120 , it may include a light receiving element for receiving an optical signal from among the optical elements.

The output terminal 121 may receive an electrical signal converted from the optical signal from the light receiving element 124 , and may provide an electrical signal to a connected electronic device. That is, the output terminal 121 may be connected to an electronic device such as a display device, and may provide an electrical signal to the electronic device so that the electronic device operates in response to the electrical signal. Here, the output terminal 121 may be an HDMI terminal, but is not limited thereto, and may correspond to various types of terminals such as a DVI terminal.

Components for converting an optical signal into an electrical signal may be mounted on the circuit board 122 . That is, the output terminal 121 , the light receiving element 124 , the amplifier AMP, etc. are mounted on the circuit board 122 to convert the optical signal into an electrical signal. In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 4 , it is also possible to divide the circuit boards into a plurality of circuit boards and then implement them in the form of combining them. Specifically, the output terminal 121 and the amplifier AMP are positioned on the first circuit board 122A, and the light receiving element 124 is positioned on the second circuit board 122B, and then the third circuit board formed of the FPCB. The first circuit board 122A and the second circuit board 122B may be connected using the 122C. In this case, as shown in FIG. 4 , it is possible to place the second circuit board 122B upright to be perpendicular to the first circuit board 122A. Therefore, the overall size of the photoelectric conversion module 120 on the receiving side can be reduced, and when the optical cable 130 is inserted, alignment with the light receiving element 124 can be implemented more easily.

The frame unit 123 may be fixed on the circuit board 122 , and the frame unit 123 may set a reference position for mounting components on the circuit board 122 . That is, a position for mounting each component may be specified based on the position of the frame unit 113 . The frame part 123 may be formed of a metal material, and a rectangular frame shape may be implemented through a press process or the like.

For example, a designated position at which the light receiving element 124 is mounted may be specified with respect to the frame portion 123 . In this case, the designated position of the light receiving element 124 is a region surrounded by a rectangular frame shape among the circuit board 122 . can be limited to That is, the specified position of the light receiving element 124 can be precisely specified using the frame 123 , and the optical cable 130 connected to the receiving-side photoelectric conversion module 120 is precisely aligned with the light receiving element 124 . can be

The light receiving element 124 may be mounted at a designated position on the circuit board 122 specified from the reference position, and may output an electrical signal corresponding to the optical signal received from the optical cable 130 . Here, the optical cable 130 may include a plurality of optical fibers, and may provide an optical signal from each optical fiber. That is, the optical signal transmitted by the optical cable 130 may be a multi-channel signal transmitted from a plurality of optical fibers.

However, the light receiving element 124 may include a plurality of photodiodes P1 , P2 , P3 , and P4 corresponding to a plurality of optical fibers included in the optical cable 130 one-to-one, and each photodiode P1 , P2, P3, P4), it is possible to simultaneously receive a plurality of optical signals input as multi-channel signals. Here, an embodiment including four photodiodes is exemplified, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the number of photodiodes can be variously set as needed.

The photodiodes P1, P2, P3, and P4 are devices that detect an input optical signal and generate a corresponding electrical signal. The electrical signal generated by the photodiodes P1, P2, P3, and P4 is output terminal 121 ) can be output through Here, in order for the photodiodes P1, P2, P3, and P4 to accurately receive the optical signal from the optical cable 130, the photodiodes P1, P2, P3, It is necessary to align the position of P4). To this end, a designated position may be preset based on the frame unit 123 , and each of the photodiodes P1 , P2 , P3 , and P4 may be accurately mounted on the designated position. Here, the designated position may be set by setting the horizontal axis and the vertical axis of the frame unit 123 as the x-axis and the y-axis, respectively, and specifying corresponding coordinates therefrom.

The lens unit 125 may be formed of a light-transmitting material, and may be positioned so as to be in contact with the light-receiving surface of the light-receiving element 124 . Here, when the optical cable 130 is inserted, the lens unit 125 may also come into contact with the head unit A of the optical cable 130 , and in this case, the light receiving element 124 and the head unit A are connected to the lens unit 125 . may be positioned to face each other with interposed therebetween. That is, in order to prevent the optical signal from being refracted or distorted by the space between the photodiodes P1, P2, P3, and P4 and the head part A, the photodiodes P1, P2, P3, P4 and the optical cable 130 ) may include a lens unit 125 positioned so as to be in contact with each other. In this case, the optical signal output from the head unit A may pass through the lens unit 125 to be input to the photodiodes P1, P2, P3, and P4, and the optical signal may be transmitted through the photodiodes P1, P2, P3, P4), the refractive index or transparency of the lens unit 125 may be preset.

The lens groove 126 may be concavely formed so that the head portion A of the optical cable 130 can be inserted into the lens portion 125 . Here, the lens groove 126 may be formed to correspond to the shape of the head portion A, and may be formed to be concave in the fastening direction of the optical cable 130 . That is, the lens groove 126 may be formed to correspond to the shape and size of the head portion A so that the head portion A is fixed therein. In this case, since the head portion A inserted into the lens groove 126 is fixed so as not to move by the lens portion 125, it is precisely aligned with the photodiodes P1, P2, P3, and P4 to receive the optical signal. can

Meanwhile, the lens groove 126 may be formed to be inserted therein only when the head portion A is inserted in a specific direction. That is, by distinguishing the direction of the head portion (A), it is possible to prevent a case in which the head portion (A) is connected in an inverted state when the optical cable 130 is fastened.

For example, the lens groove 126 may have a polygonal prism-shaped groove, and in this case, the cross-section of the polygonal prism may be formed so that the length of the bottom surface is longer than the length of the top surface. That is, it is possible to limit the specific direction of the insertable head portion A using the lengths of the upper and lower surfaces of the lens groove 126 . Accordingly, when the head portion A having a shape corresponding to the lens groove 126 is inserted, it can be inserted only in a specific direction, and it is possible to prevent the head portion A from being connected in an inverted state.

The holder unit 127 may include a through hole (H) into which one end of the optical cable 130 is inserted, and when the optical cable 130 is inserted, the optical cable 130 may be fixed in the through hole (H). Here, one side of the through hole (H) may be positioned so as to be in contact with the lens unit 125 , and the head unit A protruding from one end of the optical cable 130 has a lens groove 126 through the holder unit 127 . can be inserted into

Additionally, the holder portion 127 may include a screw thread on the inner circumferential surface of the through hole (H) in order to fix the optical cable 130 in the through hole (H). In this case, a thread corresponding to the outer circumferential surface of the optical cable 130 may be formed, and the optical cable 130 may be rotated and fixed in the holder part 127 in a manner such as coupling. That is, the optical cable 130 is fixed in the holder part 127 to stably transmit an optical signal to the light receiving element 124 . Here, the case of coupling with the optical cable 130 by forming a screw thread in the holder part 127 has been exemplified. However, depending on the embodiment, it is also possible to couple in various ways, including snap coupling using a groove and a catch. In addition, the holder part 127 may be formed through injection molding such as plastic, but according to an embodiment, it is also possible to improve durability and strength by forming it with a metal material.

The case portions 128A and 128B may form an outer surface of the photoelectric conversion module 120 on the receiving side, and may function to protect internal elements from external shocks and the like. The output terminal 121 may protrude out of the case portions 128A and 128B, and the through hole H may be opened for insertion of the optical cable 130 .

As shown in FIGS. 5A, 5B and 6 , the optical cable 130 includes an optical fiber bundle 131 , a first member 132 , a second member 133 , a spring member 134 , and a third member 135 . ) and a fourth member 136 .

The optical fiber bundle 131 may include a plurality of optical fibers, and the plurality of optical fibers may be surrounded by an outer coating. Here, each optical fiber may individually transmit an optical signal.

The first member 132 may be coupled to one end of the optical fiber bundle 131 , and may form a head portion A protruding in the fastening direction of the optical cable 130 . Here, the optical fiber bundle 131 may extend to the end of the head part A, and the cross-section of the optical fiber bundle 131 may be exposed at the end of the head part A. That is, an optical signal may be input into each optical fiber through the end of the head portion A, or an optical signal transmitted through the optical fiber may be input. Each of the optical fiber bundles 131 exposed at the end of the head portion A may be arranged according to a preset arrangement. That is, each light emitting diode (L1, L2, L3, L4) or photodiode (P1, P2, P3, P4) connected through the head part (A) may be uniformly arranged at a designated position, so corresponding to this Thus, each optical fiber exposed through the head part A may be arranged correspondingly. According to an embodiment, it is possible to designate that preset signals are input or output according to each arrangement position. Here, the head part A may be made of an insulator, and by inserting each optical fiber into a plurality of grooves formed in the head part A, insert molding the optical fiber, etc., the optical fiber bundle ( 131) can be fixed.

On the other hand, the head portion (A) may be formed in the shape of a hexagonal prism, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B , wherein the hexagonal prism has a cross-section that connects two vertices having a right angle to the bottom and the bottom. It may include a parallel upper surface positioned on the side. In this case, the bottom surface may be longer than the top surface, and the direction of the head part A can be distinguished using this. Here, since the lens grooves 116 and 126 also have the same shape, when the optical cable 130 is fastened, it is impossible to fasten the optical cable 130 in a state in which the head portion A is inverted. Accordingly, it is possible to distinguish the direction of the head portion (A), and it is possible to prevent the connection of the head portion (A) in an inverted state when the optical cable 130 is fastened.

The second member 133 may be formed to surround the optical fiber bundle 131 , and may support the first member 132 in a fastening direction. The spring member 134 may be positioned between the first member 132 and the second member 133 , and may be supported by the second member 133 . That is, as shown in FIG. 4 , since the spring member 134 is positioned between the first member 132 and the second member 133 , when the position of the second member 133 is fixed, the spring member 134 . ) may be compressed to provide elasticity for pushing the first member 132 in the fastening direction.

The third member 135 may be formed to cover the outer peripheral surfaces of the first member 132 and the second member 133 , and the third member 135 connects the second member 133 in the fastening direction. can support In addition, the third member 135 may be rotatably coupled on the first member 132 and the second member 133 , and the first member 132 and the second member 133 are the third member 135 . ) can be maintained in a fixed state despite the rotation. That is, when the head portion A is inserted into the lens grooves 116 and 126 , the third member 135 may be rotated while the head portion A is fixed. Here, the third member 135 may include a thread S on the outer circumferential surface, and may be coupled with a thread positioned in the through hole H by rotation of the third member 135 . That is, as shown in Figure 7, after inserting the optical cable 130 into the through hole (H) to combine the thread (S) and the thread in the through hole (H) of the third member 135, the third member 135 can be rotated. In this case, the optical cable 130 may move in the fastening direction along the thread in the through hole H by the rotation of the third member 135, and the head portion A may be in close contact with the lens grooves 116 and 126. have. In addition, when the optical cable 130 is inserted into the through hole H by rotating the third member 135, the spring member 134 may be compressed. At this time, the position of the second member 133 is fixed by the third member 135 , and the first member 132 may be continuously provided with elasticity in the fastening direction by the spring member 134 . Accordingly, the head portion A can maintain a strongly adhered state within the lens grooves 116 and 126 .

The fourth member 136 may be connected to the second member 133 and may be formed to surround the optical fiber bundle 131 . The fourth member 136 may prevent the optical fiber bundle 131 from being bent and damaged when the optical fiber bundle 131 is bent. That is, the fourth member 136 may be formed of a flexible material, and may induce the optical fiber bundle 131 to be gently bent together with the fourth member 136 .

Meanwhile, FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view and a plan view of a frame part showing a light emitting module of an optical connector according to another embodiment of the present invention. That is, depending on the embodiment, the frame portion 113 may be implemented in the shape of a square flat plate. In this case, the frame portion 113 may include a body portion 113A, a reference hole 113B, and a fixing groove 113C. can

The body portion 113A is formed in the shape of a rectangular flat plate made of a metal material, and may be fixed on the circuit board 112 . Here, a plurality of reference holes 113B may be formed in the body portion 113A, and a reference position for component mounting may be set based on the position of each reference hole 113B. In addition, the fixing grooves 113C may be located at a designated position on the body portion 113A specified by the reference hole 113B, and the light emitting device 114 may be mounted in each of the fixing grooves 113C.

Here, since the light emitting device 114 includes a plurality of light emitting diodes L1, L2, L3, and L4, the fixing groove 113C may be formed in plurality to correspond to each of the light emitting diodes L1, L2, L3, and L4. can However, since the body portion 113A in the shape of a square flat plate covers the circuit board 112, if it is not accurately mounted in the fixing groove 113, the light emitting diodes L1, L2, L3, L4 are located on the body portion 113A. It may not be mounted on the circuit board 112 because it is blocked. That is, it is possible to limit the light emitting diodes L1, L2, L3, and L4 to be accurately mounted in the fixing groove 113C using the frame 113, and some light emitting diodes L1, L2, L3, and L4 are mounted. If it does not, it can be recognized immediately that a defect has occurred. On the other hand, it is possible to apply the frame portion of the same shape to the photoelectric conversion module 120 on the receiving side.

9 and 10 are schematic views showing a lens groove and a head portion of an optical connector according to another embodiment of the present invention. 9 and 10 , the lens grooves 116 and 126 and the head portion A may further include a content pin C1 and a contact portion C2, respectively. That is, according to an embodiment, a wire such as copper may be further included in the optical connector 100 to transmit an electrical signal in addition to the optical signal. In this case, a high-speed signal such as an image signal or a communication signal may be transmitted using an optical fiber, and a low-speed signal such as power may be transmitted using an electric wire.

Specifically, the sending-side photoelectric conversion module 110 and the receiving-side photoelectric conversion module 120 may further include contact pins C1 exposed on the inner peripheral surfaces of the lens grooves 116 and 126, respectively, and in this case, the contact pins (C1) may be electrically connected to the circuit board (112, 122). In addition, the optical cable 130 may further include a plurality of wires formed of a conductive material such as copper, and may form a contact portion C2 to which the respective wires are exposed on the outer circumferential surface of the head portion A. Here, since the contact pin C1 and the contact unit C2 are formed at positions corresponding to each other as shown in FIG. 9 , when the optical cable 130 is coupled, the contact pin C1 and the contact unit C2 are electrically can be connected to

On the other hand, the electric wire included in the optical cable 130 may be disposed around the optical cable 130 so as to be spaced apart from the optical fiber bundle 131 . That is, a relatively large amount of heat may be generated in the wire formed of a conductive material such as copper, and the heat in the wire may affect the optical signal transmitted through the optical fiber bundle 131 . Therefore, in order to minimize the effect of heat generation, the optical fiber bundle 131 is positioned in the center of the optical cable 130, and the electric wire is positioned as the outermost part of the optical cable, so that they can be spaced apart from each other. That is, the distance between each optical fiber included in the optical fiber bundle 131 may be shorter than the distance between each optical fiber and the electric wire.

The present invention is not limited by the above embodiments and the accompanying drawings. For those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains, it will be apparent that the components according to the present invention can be substituted, modified and changed without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention.

100: optical connector 110: sending-side photoelectric conversion module
111: input terminal 112: circuit board
113: frame portion 114: light emitting element
115: lens unit 116: lens groove
117: holder part 118A, 118B: case part
120: receiving-side photoelectric conversion module 121: input terminal
122: circuit board 123: frame portion
124: light receiving element 125: lens unit
126: lens groove 127: holder part
128A, 128B: case part 130: optical cable

Claims (15)

An optical connector comprising a photoelectric conversion function, comprising:
a transmitting-side photoelectric conversion module for converting an electrical signal input from the first electronic device into an optical signal;
a receiving-side photoelectric conversion module for converting the received optical signal into an electrical signal and outputting it to a second electronic device; and
The photoelectric conversion module on the sending side and the photoelectric conversion module on the receiving side are respectively detachably connected at both ends, and it includes an optical cable for transmitting the optical signal received from the sending side photoelectric conversion module to the receiving side photoelectric conversion module,
The sending-side photoelectric conversion module is
an input terminal detachably connected to the first electronic device and receiving an electrical signal from the first electronic device;
a light emitting device outputting an optical signal corresponding to the electrical signal received from the input terminal;
a lens unit formed of a light-transmitting material and positioned so as to be in contact with the light emitting surface of the light emitting device; and
and a lens groove concavely formed so that the head of the optical cable is inserted into the lens unit,
The sending-side photoelectric conversion module is
circuit board; and
It is fixed on the circuit board and includes a frame portion having a rectangular frame shape for setting a reference position for mounting components on the circuit board,
The light emitting device is
To be mounted on a specified position specified based on the distance from the horizontal and vertical axes of the rectangular frame, the specified position is located in an area surrounded by the rectangular frame shape among the circuit board,
The lens groove is
An optical connector having a polygonal prism-shaped groove, wherein a cross-section of the polygonal prism has a bottom surface longer than an upper surface length.
delete According to claim 1, wherein the circuit board is
a first circuit board connected to the input terminal and on which a driver IC for driving the light emitting device according to an electric signal input from the input terminal is located;
a second circuit board on which the frame part and the light emitting device are positioned; and
and a third circuit board which is a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) connecting the first circuit board and the second circuit board.
delete According to claim 1, wherein the frame portion
a body part of a square plate shape;
a plurality of reference holes formed on the body portion and configured to set the reference positions; and
and a fixing groove formed at a designated position on the body portion specified by the plurality of reference holes and in which the light emitting element is mounted.
delete The photoelectric conversion module of claim 1, wherein the photoelectric conversion module
The optical connector further comprising a holder for fixing the optical cable in the through hole, including a through hole into which one end of the optical cable is inserted therein.
The method of claim 7, wherein the holder portion
Optical connector, characterized in that it comprises a screw thread for coupling with the optical cable on the inner peripheral surface of the through hole.
The photoelectric conversion module of claim 1, wherein the photoelectric conversion module
The optical connector according to claim 1, further comprising a contact pin connected to the circuit board and exposed in the lens groove.
An optical connector comprising a photoelectric conversion function, comprising:
a transmitting-side photoelectric conversion module for converting an electrical signal input from the first electronic device into an optical signal;
a receiving-side photoelectric conversion module for converting the received optical signal into an electrical signal and outputting it to a second electronic device; and
The photoelectric conversion module on the sending side and the photoelectric conversion module on the receiving side are respectively detachably connected at both ends, and it includes an optical cable for transmitting the optical signal received from the sending side photoelectric conversion module to the receiving side photoelectric conversion module,
The receiving-side photoelectric conversion module is
a light receiving element for outputting an electrical signal corresponding to the optical signal received from the optical cable;
an output terminal detachably connected to the second electronic device and outputting the electrical signal to the second electronic device;
a lens part formed of a light-transmitting material and positioned to be in contact with the light-receiving surface of the light-receiving element; and
and a lens groove concavely formed so that the head of the optical cable is inserted into the lens unit,
The receiving-side photoelectric conversion module is
circuit board; and
It is fixed on the circuit board and includes a frame portion having a rectangular frame shape for setting a reference position for mounting components on the circuit board,
The light receiving element is
To be mounted on a specified position specified based on the distance from the horizontal and vertical axes of the rectangular frame, the specified position is located in an area surrounded by the rectangular frame shape among the circuit board,
The lens groove is
An optical connector having a polygonal prism-shaped groove, the cross-section of the polygonal prism, characterized in that the length of the bottom surface is longer than the length of the top surface
According to claim 1, wherein the optical cable is
an optical fiber bundle comprising a plurality of optical fibers;
a first member coupled to one end of the optical fiber bundle and forming a head portion protruding in a fastening direction of the optical cable;
a second member formed to surround the optical fiber bundle and supporting the first member;
a spring member positioned between the first member and the second member, supported by the second member, and providing elasticity for pushing the first member in the fastening direction; and
a first member formed to cover the first member and the second member, supporting the second member in the fastening direction, and rotatably attached to be coupled to the photoelectric conversion module at the transmitting side or the photoelectric conversion module at the receiving side An optical connector comprising three members.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the third member is
An optical connector, characterized in that it further comprises a screw thread on the outer peripheral surface, and rotates independently of the head part in a state in which the head part is inserted into the lens groove, and is coupled with the sending-side photoelectric conversion module or the receiving-side photoelectric conversion module.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the optical cable is
The optical connector further comprises a plurality of electric wires formed of a conductive material, wherein the electric wires include a contact portion exposed on an outer peripheral surface of the head portion.
The method of claim 13, wherein the optical cable is
An optical connector, characterized in that the optical fiber bundle is located in the center, and the plurality of wires are located in the outermost part of the optical cable.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the optical cable is
An optical connector, characterized in that the distance between each optical fiber included in the optical fiber bundle is shorter than the distance between the respective optical fibers and the electric wires.

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