TW201333570A - Opto-electrical connector and method of making the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention refers to an opto-electrical connector and a method of transmitting opto-electrical signals. The opto-electrical connector includes a housing, a circuit board horizontally received in the housing, a ferrule received in the housing and carrying a number of optical channels, an adaptor having a number of converting elements coupling with the optical channels for bidirectional opto-electrical signal conversion, and a connecting portion electrically connecting with the circuit board and the adaptor for transmitting the electrical signal between the circuit board and the adaptor.

Description

Photoelectric connector and photoelectric transmission method

The invention relates to an optoelectronic connector and a photoelectric transmission method, in particular to a structure and a photoelectric transmission method for an optical connector to tightly abut a sleeve and a lens.

The prior art related to the present invention can be found in U.S. Patent No. 7,494,287 issued on Feb. 24, 2009, and U.S. Patent No. 7,575,380 issued on Aug. 18, 2009. Each of these patents discloses an optoelectronic connector having an optical cable and a photoelectric conversion assembly coupled to the front end of the cable. Among the photoelectric conversion elements, there are a mirror and a photoelectric conversion element that convert a transmission path of light. The light transmission direction is reflected from the horizontal direction through the mirror and then changed to the vertical direction to the horizontally placed built-in circuit board to work with the photoelectric conversion elements on the built-in circuit board.

However, light is prone to loss during reflection by the mirror.

Therefore, it is necessary to improve the conventional optical connector to overcome the above drawbacks.

In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide an optoelectronic connector and an optoelectronic transmission method that effectively reduce optical loss.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an optoelectronic connector including a base, a built-in circuit board housed in the base portion in a horizontal arrangement, and a sleeve housed in the base portion and having an optical passage therein The optical connector further includes an adapter plate and an electrical connection component, the adapter plate is provided with a plurality of photoelectric conversion components, and the plurality of photoelectric conversion components are coupled to the optical channel for optical signal and electrical signal. During the conversion, the electrical connection component is electrically connected to the internal circuit board and the adapter board to transmit electrical signals between the internal circuit board and the adapter board.

An optoelectronic transmission method comprising the steps of: providing a base, accommodating a built-in circuit board in the base portion in a horizontal arrangement, and accommodating an adapter plate equipped with a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements and a sleeve containing the optical passage In the base portion and behind the built-in circuit board, the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements are coupled to the optical channel for converting between the optical signal and the electrical signal, and electrically connecting the electrical connection component to the built-in circuit board and the The adapter plate transfers the electrical signal between the internal circuit board and the adapter board.

Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects: in the prior art, the optical signal is first transmitted to the built-in circuit board through the mirror, and then the photoelectric signal is converted into the electrical signal by the photoelectric conversion component of the built-in circuit board. The optical signal in the optical fiber of the present invention is first converted into an electrical signal by a photoelectric conversion element on the interposer. The electrical signal is then transmitted to the internal circuit board through the electrical connection component. Compared to the prior art, the present invention does not require a transmission path of the mirror to convert light to avoid loss of light during reflection.

As shown in the first to seventh figures, the optoelectronic connector 100 in accordance with the present invention can be interfaced with a mating connector (not shown).

The photoelectric connector 100 includes a base portion 11 having a receiving cavity 110, a cover body 12 covering the base portion 11, a built-in circuit board 3 housed in the receiving cavity 110 of the base portion 11, a conductive member 4 containing the optical fiber 64, and a fixing member 51. And spring 52. The optoelectronic connector 100 further includes a cable 6 having an optical fiber 64 therein, an unlocking mechanism 2 mounted on the base 11, a spring 81 mated with the unlocking mechanism 2, and a cover plate 82. In other embodiments, the optical fiber 64 may also be disposed to etch other optical channels such as optical channels.

Referring to the fourth and fifth figures, the base 11 has a bottom wall 111 and a pair of side walls 112. The inner surface of each of the side walls 112 is provided with a blocking portion 1131 , a pair of holding portions 114 protruding toward the receiving cavity 110 , and a holding groove 115 between the pair of holding portions 114 . Each of the side walls 112 is bent outward at the front end of the holding portion 114 to form an insertion groove 1132 with the blocking portion 1131. The outer surface of each side wall 112 is provided with a fitting groove 118. The base portion 11 is further provided with a pair of fixing holes 117 extending up and down. The lower surface of the bottom wall 111 is provided with a limiting groove 119.

Two pairs of protrusions 121 are provided in the cover body 12. A snap groove 122 is formed in the middle of each pair of protrusions 121.

The conductive member 4 includes a vertically disposed adapter plate 41, a flexible circuit board 42 and a sleeve 43. A plurality of photoelectric conversion elements are provided on the adapter plate 41. The flexible circuit board 42 has a substantially "Z" shape, and includes a vertically disposed sheet portion 421, an upper mounting portion 422 that is bent over the sheet portion 421 and is bent into a hook shape, and a lower mounting portion that extends horizontally from the bottom of the sheet portion 421. Department 423. A plurality of optical fibers 64 are mounted in the sleeve 43.

The fixing member 51 has a main body portion 511, a cavity 512 provided in the main body portion 511, a step portion 5111 located in the cavity 512, and a mounting portion 516 extending rearward from the rear end of the main body portion 511. A pair of snap arms 513 are provided outside the main body portion 511. An elastic deformation space (not numbered) is formed between each of the latch arms 513 and the main body portion 511. Barbs 514 are provided at the end of each of the latch arms 513.

In the present embodiment, the spring 52 is provided as a coil spring. In other embodiments, the spring 52 can also be configured as other resilient members as long as it can provide the sleeve 43 with a forward resilient force.

Referring to the seventh drawing, the cable 6 includes a braid 63 having an optical fiber 64, a covering portion 62 covering the braid 63, and a connecting portion 61 attached to the front end of the covering portion 62. The connecting portion 61 of the cable 6 is attached to the mounting portion 516 of the fixing member 51 by riveting or crimping.

The unlocking mechanism 2 includes an unlocking member 21 and a draw tape 22. The unlocking member 21 has a pair of unlocking arms 211. Each unlocking arm 211 is provided with an unlocking portion 212 that cooperates with a fitting groove 118 of the base portion 11.

Referring to the first to seventh embodiments, when the optoelectronic connector 100 is assembled, the built-in circuit board 3, the conductive member 4 with the optical fiber 64, the fixing member 51, and the spring 52 are housed in the receiving cavity 110 of the base 11. The built-in circuit board 3 is horizontally arranged and the interposer board 41 is vertically arranged. The upper mounting portion 422 and the lower mounting portion 423 of the flexible circuit board 42 are respectively soldered to the rear surface of the interposer 41 and the lower surface of the built-in circuit board 3, thereby being electrically connected to the rear surface of the interposer 41 and the circuit on the lower surface of the built-in circuit board 3. Both sides of the adapter plate 41 are respectively limited to the pair of insertion slots 1132. The sleeve 43 containing the optical fiber 64 abuts against the rear surface of the adapter plate 41. The photoelectric conversion elements on the interposer 41 are aligned with the optical fibers 64 to convert the optical signals in the optical fibers 64 into electrical signals or to convert the electrical signals on the interposer 41 into optical signals. The electrical signal is transmitted between the interposer 41 and the built-in circuit board 3 through the flexible circuit board 42.

The spring 52 is compressed and received in the cavity 512 of the fixing member 51 and is located between the sleeve 43 and the step portion 5111 in the fixing member 51 to provide a forward elastic force to the sleeve 43 to make the sleeve 43 is in close contact with the adapter plate 41. The two barbs 514 of the fixing member 51 are limited to the two holding grooves 115. The fixing member 51 and the spring 52 are both disposed in a hollow structure to pass the optical fiber 64. The cover 12 is covered on the base 11. The two barbs 514 of the fixing member 51 are snapped into the two locking grooves 122 of the cover body 12. In other embodiments, the hooking arm 513 provided with the barbs 514 may also be provided as a protruding portion that protrudes laterally from the main body portion 511.

The unlocking portion 212 of the unlocking member 21 is engaged with the fitting groove 118 of the base portion 11. Referring to the fourth figure, the spring 81 is bent into a "V" shape and received in the limiting groove 119 of the base portion 11. Both ends of the spring 81 are connected to the unlocking member 21. The spring 81 is elastically deformed during unlocking of the unlocking mechanism 2 to provide an elastic force to the unlocking mechanism 2. The cover plate 82 is covered on the spring 81. The bolt 83 passes through the fixing hole 117 to fix the cover plate 82 to the base 11.

In another embodiment, the interposer 41 and the built-in circuit board 3 can be configured to hold the upper mounting portion 422 and the lower mounting portion 423 of the flexible circuit board 42 to the interposer 41 and the built-in circuit board 3, respectively. The upper portion is electrically connected to the adapter plate 41 and the built-in circuit board 3, respectively. In still another embodiment, the flexible circuit board 42 can also be replaced with a wire or other electrical connection component that electrically connects the adapter plate 41 and the built-in circuit board 3. In other embodiments, a lens aligned with the optical fiber 64 may be added to the adapter plate 41 to concentrate light and then perform photoelectric conversion.

The optical signal in the optical fiber 64 is first converted into an electrical signal by the photoelectric conversion element on the interposer 41. The electrical signal is then transmitted to the built-in circuit board 3 through the flexible circuit board 42. In the prior art, the optical signal is first transmitted to the built-in circuit board through the mirror, and the photoelectric signal is converted into the electrical signal by the photoelectric conversion component of the built-in circuit board. The present invention does not require a transmission path for the mirror to convert light to avoid loss of light during reflection.

In summary, the present invention complies with the requirements of the invention patent and submits a patent application according to law. However, the above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and those skilled in the art will be able to make equivalent modifications or variations in accordance with the spirit of the present invention. It should be covered by the following patent application.

100. . . Optical connector

11. . . Base

110. . . Containment chamber

111. . . Bottom wall

112. . . Side wall

1131. . . Blocking

1132. . . Insert slot

114. . . Holding unit

115. . . Holding groove

117. . . Fixed hole

118. . . Matching slot

119. . . Limit slot

12. . . Cover

121. . . Protruding

122. . . Buckle slot

2. . . Unlocking mechanism

twenty one. . . Unlocking piece

211. . . Unlocking arm

212. . . Unlocking department

twenty two. . . Drawstring

3. . . Built-in board

4. . . Conductor

41. . . Adapter plate

42. . . Flexible circuit board

421. . . Sheet portion

422. . . Upper mounting

423. . . Lower installation

43. . . casing

51. . . Fastener

511. . . Main body

5111. . . Step

512. . . Cavity

513. . . Snap arm

514. . . Barb

516. . . Installation department

52. . . spring

6. . . Cable

61. . . Connection

62. . . Covering part

63. . . Woven layer

64. . . optical fiber

81. . . spring

82. . . Cover

83. . . bolt

The first figure is a perspective assembled view of the optoelectronic connector of the present invention.

The second drawing is a partial assembled view of the cover of the photoelectric connector shown in the first figure when it is not assembled on the base.

The third figure is a partially assembled view of another angle of the optoelectronic connector shown in the second figure.

The fourth figure is an exploded view of the optoelectronic connector shown in the first figure.

The fifth drawing is an exploded view of another angle of the photoelectric connector shown in the fourth figure.

The sixth drawing is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in the first drawing, in which the cable portion is omitted.

The seventh diagram is an exploded view of the cable shown in the first figure.

100. . . Optical connector

11. . . Base

110. . . Containment chamber

1131. . . Blocking

12. . . Cover

3. . . Built-in board

41. . . Adapter plate

42. . . Flexible circuit board

43. . . casing

51. . . Fastener

6. . . Cable

Claims (10)

An optoelectronic connector comprising:
Base
a built-in circuit board housed in the base in a horizontal arrangement;
a sleeve housed in the base and having a light passage therein;
An interposer having a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements being coupled to the optical channel for converting between the optical signal and the electrical signal; and an electrical connection element electrically connecting the electrically connected element The built-in circuit board and the interposer board transmit electrical signals between the built-in circuit board and the interposer board. The optical connector of claim 1, wherein the adapter plate is vertically disposed, and the adapter plate is provided with a lens aligned with the optical channel, and the optical signal in the optical channel passes through the lens. After being concentrated, the photoelectric conversion element is converted into an electrical signal. The photoelectric connector of claim 1, wherein the adapter plate is vertically disposed, and the photoelectric conversion element on the adapter plate is aligned with the optical channel to directly direct the optical signal in the optical channel Convert to a telecommunication signal. The optoelectronic connector of claim 1, wherein the electrical connection element is provided as an electric wire. The optoelectronic connector of claim 1, wherein the electrical connection component is provided as a flexible circuit board. The optical connector of claim 5, wherein the flexible circuit board comprises a sheet portion extending from the sheet portion for soldering to the upper mounting portion of the adapter plate and extending horizontally from the sheet portion for soldering to The lower mounting part of the built-in board. The photoelectric connector of claim 1, wherein the photoelectric connector further comprises a fixing member, a spring and a cover covering the base, the spring being retained in the fixing member and elastically biased forward Hold the sleeve. The optical connector of claim 7, wherein the optical channel is an optical fiber, the fixing member is provided with a mounting portion, and the optical connector further comprises a cable, the cable comprising an optical fiber. The braided layer, the covering portion covering the braid layer, and the connecting portion attached to the front end of the covering portion, and the connecting portion of the cable are attached to the mounting portion of the fixing member by caulking or crimping. An optoelectronic transmission method comprising the following steps:
Providing a base;
Storing the built-in circuit board in the base in a horizontal arrangement;
Providing an adapter plate with a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements;
Storing a sleeve with an optical channel in the base and behind the built-in circuit board, the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements being coupled to the optical channel for converting between the optical signal and the electrical signal; and electrically connecting the electrical connection component The built-in circuit board and the interposer board are connected to transmit an electrical signal between the built-in circuit board and the interposer board. The method of photoelectric transmission according to claim 9, wherein the electrical connection element is provided as a flexible circuit board.