TWI468755B - Optical fiber connector and method for making the same - Google Patents

Description

Optical fiber connector and manufacturing method thereof

The present invention relates to a fiber optic connector, and more particularly to a fiber optic connector that reduces information loss and a method of fabricating the same.

With the continuous advancement of science and technology, optical fiber is widely used in communications and other industries. When the fibers are connected to each other, a fiber connector is usually used. See literature: Analysis on the effects of fiber end face scratches on return loss performance of optical fiber connectors,Zuyuan He; Mahmood, W.; Sahinci, E.; Ahmad, N.; Pradieu, Y.; Lightwave Technology, Journal of Volume 22, Issue 12, Dec. 2004 Page(s): 2749 - 2754.

Referring to FIG. 7, the fiber optic connector typically includes a housing 40 and an optical fiber 50. The optical fiber 50 is typically partially covered by a protective sleeve 51 to prevent it from being broken. The outer casing 40 includes an integrally formed lens 41 and a fiber receiving receptacle 42. The optical fiber receiving base 42 has a receiving space 43 for receiving the optical fiber 50 and the protective sleeve 51. The lens 41 and the optical fiber 50 in the accommodating space 43 are coupled to each other, so that the light can be concentrated and then transmitted to the optical fiber 50 to reduce the loss of information. The outer casing 40 is usually injection molded using a mold 60. Due to the complicated structure of the outer casing 40, the yield of the finished product obtained by injection molding is low. Further, in order to form the accommodating space 43, the mold 60 has a center pin 61 having a shape corresponding to the shape of the optical fiber, as shown in FIG. As shown, since the diameter of the tip of the fiber is only 0.1-0.2 mm, the diameter of the front end of the center pin 61 is only 0.1-0.2 mm. When injection molding, the molten material enters the cavity and the impact force is generated and causes The center pin 61 is offset. In this case, the receiving space 43 of the outer casing 40 is also offset, so that the optical fiber 50 and the lens 41 received in the receiving space may have different degrees of eccentricity, thereby causing a certain information loss. .

In view of the above, it is necessary to provide a fiber optic connector that reduces information loss and a method of manufacturing the same.

A fiber optic connector includes a lens, an optical fiber, a housing, and a fiber holder. The lens is optically coupled to the fiber. The outer casing includes a bottom wall, a side wall, and an introduction structure. The lens is formed on one side of the bottom wall. The side wall is connected to the bottom wall away from one side of the lens. The introduction structure has a lead-in surface connected between the bottom wall and the side wall. The bottom wall, the side wall and the introduction surface are enclosed to form a first receiving cavity. The optical fiber is embedded in the fiber receiving base. The optical fiber receiving base is received in the first receiving cavity, and has a top surface, a side surface, and an insertion surface connected between the top surface and the side surface. The top surface is in contact with the bottom wall. The side is in contact with the side wall. The insertion surface is in contact with the introduction surface.

A method of manufacturing a fiber optic connector as described above, comprising the steps of: providing a molding device corresponding to the fiber receiving receptacle, and injection molding the fiber receiving receptacle; embedding the optical fiber in the optical fiber receiving seat; The optical fiber accommodating socket is received in the first receiving cavity by the engagement of the lead-in surface and the insertion surface, and the optical fiber is opposed to the lens to obtain the optical fiber connector.

The optical fiber connector provided by the technical solution is a split type including a casing and a fiber receiving base. The structure and the lens have a high alignment ratio with the optical fiber accommodated in the optical fiber receiving seat, and the information loss can be effectively reduced. In the manufacturing method of the optical fiber connector, the outer casing and the optical fiber receiving base are both easily formed, and the introduction surface of the outer casing cooperates with the insertion surface of the optical fiber receiving seat to facilitate assembly.

10‧‧‧Fiber Optic Connectors

11‧‧‧Fiber

12‧‧‧ lens

13, 23‧‧‧ Shell

14‧‧‧Fiber holder

110‧‧‧ Subject

111‧‧‧protective sleeve

112‧‧‧First end

113‧‧‧second end

130, 230‧‧‧ bottom wall

131, 231‧‧‧ side wall

132, 232‧‧‧ import structure

133, 233‧‧‧ import side

134, 234‧‧‧ first containment chamber

135, 235‧‧‧ first contact surface

136‧‧‧second contact surface

140‧‧‧ top surface

141‧‧‧ side

142‧‧‧ insert face

143‧‧‧ bottom

144‧‧‧Second containment chamber

145‧‧‧First receiving hole

146‧‧‧Second receiving hole

147‧‧‧ first side

148‧‧‧ first bottom surface

149‧‧‧ first opening

237‧‧‧ bumps

30‧‧‧Molding device

31‧‧‧Female model

32‧‧‧Male model

33‧‧‧Center Sales

34‧‧‧Clamp

310‧‧‧The first parting surface

311‧‧‧ alignment slot

320‧‧‧Second parting surface

321‧‧‧ second opening

35‧‧‧ molding cavity

350‧‧‧First molding surface

351‧‧‧Second molding surface

352‧‧‧ Third molding surface

353‧‧‧Four forming surface

330‧‧‧First cylinder

331‧‧‧Second cylinder

332‧‧‧ front end

340‧‧‧ Block

341‧‧‧Clamped concave surface

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an assembled state of a fiber optic connector according to a first embodiment of the present technical solution.

2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the exploded state of the optical fiber connector provided by the first embodiment of the present technical solution.

3 is a right side view of the outer casing of the optical fiber connector provided by the first embodiment of the present technical solution.

4 is a right side view of the outer casing of the optical fiber connector provided by the second embodiment of the present technical solution.

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a molding apparatus of a fiber receiving base provided by the first embodiment of the present technical solution.

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a mold clamping state of a molding apparatus for an optical fiber receiving seat according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a prior art fiber optic connector.

Fig. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a conventional optical fiber connector molding apparatus.

The optical fiber connector of the present technical solution and the manufacturing method thereof will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and the embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 together, the optical fiber connector provided by the first embodiment of the present technical solution is provided. 10 includes an optical fiber 11, a lens 12, a housing 13 and a fiber receiving receptacle 14.

The optical fiber 11 includes a body 110 and a protective sleeve 111. The body 110 has opposite first and second ends 112, 113. The protective sleeve 111 is sleeved on the body 110 near the second end 113 . The protective sleeve 111 may be made of a plastic material for protecting the body 110 from breaking.

The lens 12 is optically coupled to the optical fiber 11 for concentrating light and then transmitting it to the optical fiber 11. The lens 12 can be a convex lens.

The outer casing 13 can be integrally formed with the lens 12. The outer casing 13 includes a bottom wall 130, side walls 131 and an introduction structure 132. The lens 12 is formed on one side of the bottom wall 130. The side wall 131 is connected to the bottom wall 130 away from one side of the lens 12. In this embodiment, the introduction structure 132 is an annular structure including an introduction surface 133, a first contact surface 135, and a second contact surface 136. The first contact surface 135 is in contact with the sidewall 131. The second contact surface 136 is in contact with the bottom wall 130. The introduction surface 133 is connected between the first contact surface 135 and the second contact surface 136, that is, between the bottom wall 130 and the sidewall 131. Preferably, the introduction surface 133 is in contact with the 130 and the sidewalls 131 at an obtuse angle. The bottom wall 130 , the side wall 131 , and the introduction surface 133 are enclosed to form a first receiving cavity 134 .

The fiber receiving seat 14 is received in the first receiving cavity 134 of the outer casing 13 . The fiber receiving seat 14 is substantially cylindrical and includes a top surface 140, a side surface 141, an insertion surface 142 and a bottom surface 143. The top surface 140 is in contact with the bottom wall 130. The side surface 141 is in contact with the side wall 131. The insertion surface 142 is connected between the top surface 140 and the side surface 141 and is in contact with the introduction surface 133. The bottom surface 143 is coupled to the side surface 141 and is parallel to the top surface 140.

The fiber receiving socket 14 further has a second receiving cavity 144 for receiving the optical fiber 11 , and the second receiving cavity 144 is opposite to the lens 12 . The second receiving cavity 144 is a through hole penetrating through the top surface 140 and the bottom surface 143 , and includes a first receiving hole 145 and a second receiving hole 146 . The first receiving hole 145 is located away from one side of the lens 12 and has a first side surface 147 and a first bottom surface 148 connected thereto. The first side 147 is for contacting the protective sleeve 111 of the optical fiber 11. The aperture of the second receiving hole 146 is smaller than the aperture of the first receiving hole 145 , and is opened from the first bottom surface 148 toward the lens 12 . The second receiving hole 146 has a second side surface 148 for contacting the body 110 of the optical fiber 11. When the optical fiber 11 is received in the second receiving cavity 144, the main body 110 is exposed to the top surface 140, is in contact with the bottom wall 130 of the outer casing 13, and is opposite to the lens 12.

Two first openings 149 communicating with the second receiving cavity 144 are oppositely disposed on the fiber receiving base 14 .

Referring to FIG. 4 , the optical fiber connector provided by the second embodiment of the present invention is substantially the same as the optical fiber connector 10 of the first embodiment, except that the introduction structure 232 of the outer casing 23 is located in the first receiving cavity 234 . a plurality of protrusions 237 each having a first contact surface 235 in contact with the sidewall 231, a second contact surface (not shown) in contact with the bottom wall 230, and a first connection The introduction surface 233 between the contact surface 235 and the second contact surface. That is, each of the lead-in surfaces 233 is connected between the side wall 230 and the bottom wall 231. The introduction surface 233 is also at an obtuse angle with the side wall 231 and the bottom wall 230. In this embodiment, the number of the plurality of protrusions 237 is four, and is equiangularly distributed around the central axis of the outer casing 23.

The optical fiber connector provided by the technical solution is a split structure including a casing and a fiber receiving base, and the lens has a high alignment ratio with the optical fiber received in the optical fiber receiving seat, and can effectively Reduce information loss.

Referring to FIG. 2, FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the technical solution further provides a manufacturing method of the optical fiber connector 10 according to the above item, which can adopt the following steps:

In a first step, a molding device 30 corresponding to the fiber holder 14 is provided, and the fiber holder 14 is injection molded. The fiber receiving seat 14 has the top surface 140, the side surface 141, and the insertion surface 142 connected between the top surface 140 and the side surface 141.

Specifically, the molding device 30 of the fiber receiving seat 14 includes a female die 31, a male die 32, a center pin 33, and a jig 34.

The master mold 31 has a first parting surface 310 opposite to the male mold 32. The master mold 31 also has a registration groove 311 for inserting the center pin 33 to prevent the center pin 33 from being displaced during molding. The male mold 32 is disposed opposite to the female mold 31 and has a second partial mold surface 320 opposite to the first split mold surface 310. The male mold 32 also has two second openings 321 disposed opposite each other.

The male mold 32 and the female mold 31 together form a molding cavity 35 corresponding to the shape of the optical fiber receiving seat 14. The molding cavity 35 has a first molding surface 350, a second molding surface 351, a third molding surface 352, and a fourth molding surface 353. The first molding surface 350 is located on the master mold 31 and corresponds to the top surface 140. The second molding surface 351 is formed by the male mold 32 and the female mold 31, and corresponds to the side surface 141. The third molding surface 352 is located between the first molding surface 350 and the second molding surface 351. The third molding surface 352 corresponds to the insertion surface 142. The fourth molding surface 353 is located on the male mold 32 and corresponds to the bottom surface 143.

The center pin 33 is configured to form the second receiving cavity 144, which is fixed to the male die 32. In this embodiment, the center pin 33 is detachably disposed on the fourth molding surface 353. The center pin 33 includes a first cylinder 330 and a second cylinder 331 that are connected. The first pillar 330 is located on one side of the fourth molding surface 353 for forming the first receiving hole 145. The second cylinder 331 is located on one side of the female mold 31 for forming the second receiving hole 146. The second cylinder 331 has a front end 332 having a shape corresponding to the alignment groove 311 of the female mold 31. When the injection molding is performed, the front end 332 is disposed in the alignment groove 311 so that the second cylinder 331 can be prevented from being displaced.

The clamp 34 is disposed on the male mold 32 for holding the center pin 33. The clamp 34 includes two blocks 340 that are disposed opposite each other. The two blocks 340 are slidably disposed on opposite sides of the center pin 33, and each block 340 can slide into or out of the molding cavity 35 through a second opening 321 of the male die 32. . The block 340 is substantially a rectangular parallelepiped corresponding to the shape of the second opening 321 , and has a clamping concave surface 341 corresponding to the shape of the center pin 33 near one end of the center pin 33 . In this embodiment, the two blocks 340 are oppositely disposed on opposite sides of the first cylinder 330 of the center pin 33, and the shape of the clamping concave surface 341 corresponds to the first cylinder 330.

When the fiber holder 14 is injection molded using the molding device 30 of the fiber holder 14 of the present invention, the following steps may be included: first, the center pin 33 is disposed on the male mold 32 and aligned with the mother The alignment groove 311 of the die 31; secondly, the male die 32 is clamped to the master mold 31. Moving the male mold 32 until its second parting surface 320 is in contact with the first parting surface 310, while the front end 332 of the center pin 33 is just placed in the alignment groove 311; again, using the clamp 34 to hold the The center pin 33 is described. Specifically, both the blocks 340 are slid through the second opening 321 toward the center pin 33 until they are in contact with the first cylinder 330 of the center pin 33 to firmly clamp the center pin 33. In the meantime. It can be understood that the two first openings 149 on the fiber receiving seat 14 are clamped. Formed with 34; finally, molten molding material is injected into the molding cavity 35 to form the fiber receiving seat 14. The injection molding material can be a resin. For example, it may be an acrylic resin such as polymethyl methacrylate, a propylene resin such as polydiallyl carbonate or a polycarbonate. Preferably, the injection molding material enters the molding cavity 35 in the direction of the central axis of the center pin 33 to avoid impact to the center pin 33 causing it to shift.

In the second step, the optical fiber 11 is buried in the fiber receiving base 14. Specifically, the body 110 of the optical fiber 11 is exposed to the top surface 140 of the fiber receiving seat 14.

In the third step, the outer casing 13 is provided. The outer casing 13 has the bottom wall 130, the side wall 131 and the introduction structure 132. The side wall 131 is connected to one side of the bottom wall 130. The introduction structure 132 has a connection to the bottom wall 130 and the side wall. The introduction surface 132 between the 131, the bottom wall 130, the side wall 131 and the introduction surface 132 are enclosed to form the first receiving cavity 134, and the lens 12 is formed on the bottom wall 130 away from the side wall 131. One side.

Specifically, the outer casing 13 can be manufactured by a method or a step similar to the method of manufacturing the optical fiber housing 14 by using a mold corresponding to the shape of the outer casing 13. In the present embodiment, the outer casing 13 and the lens 12 are integrally formed by a mold corresponding to the shape of the outer casing 13 and the lens 12.

In the fourth step, the optical fiber receiving base 14 is received in the first receiving cavity 134 by the insertion surface 142 and the introduction surface 133, and the optical fiber 11 is opposed to the lens 12, thereby obtaining a The fiber optic connector 10 is described.

It can be understood that the steps of the above manufacturing method can be adjusted according to actual production conditions, and are not limited to the sequence provided by the embodiment.

In the manufacturing method of the optical fiber connector, the outer casing and the optical fiber receiving base are both easily formed, and the introduction surface of the outer casing is matched with the insertion surface of the optical fiber receiving seat. Assembly.

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 the preferred embodiment of the present invention, and equivalent modifications or variations made by those skilled in the art will be covered by the following claims.

10‧‧‧Fiber Optic Connectors

11‧‧‧Fiber

12‧‧‧ lens

13‧‧‧Shell

14‧‧‧Fiber holder

132‧‧‧Introduction structure

134‧‧‧First containment chamber

144‧‧‧Second containment chamber

Claims (10)

An optical fiber connector comprising an optically coupled lens and an optical fiber, wherein the optical fiber comprises a main body, the optical fiber connector further comprising a housing and a fiber receiving seat, the housing comprising a bottom wall, a sidewall and an introduction structure, the lens forming On one side of the bottom wall, the side wall is connected to the bottom wall away from one side of the lens, and the introduction structure has a lead-in surface connected between the bottom wall and the side wall, the bottom wall, the side wall and the introduction Forming a first receiving cavity, the optical fiber is embedded in the fiber receiving seat, and the fiber receiving seat is received in the first receiving cavity, and has a top surface, a side surface, and is connected between the top surface and the side surface An insertion surface, the top surface is in contact with the bottom wall, the side surface is in contact with the side wall, the insertion surface is in contact with the introduction surface, and the fiber receiving seat has a second receiving body for receiving the optical fiber a cavity, the second receiving cavity having a second side for contacting the body of the optical fiber. The fiber optic connector of claim 1, wherein the lens is integrally formed with the bottom wall. The optical fiber connector of claim 1, wherein the bottom wall and the side wall are integrally formed with the introduction structure. The optical fiber connector of claim 1, wherein the bottom wall is perpendicular to the side wall, and an angle between the introduction surface and the side wall is an obtuse angle. The optical fiber connector of claim 1, wherein the optical fiber is exposed to a top surface of the optical fiber receiving seat and is in contact with a bottom wall of the outer casing. The fiber optic connector of claim 1, wherein the introduction structure is annular, and further has a first contact surface in contact with the sidewall and a second contact surface in contact with the bottom wall, The introduction surface is connected between the first contact surface and the second contact surface. The fiber optic connector of claim 1, wherein the introduction structure comprises a plurality a protrusion, each protrusion having a first contact surface in contact with the sidewall, a second contact surface in contact with the bottom wall, and a lead-in surface, the lead-in surface being coupled to the first Between the contact surface and the second contact surface. The fiber optic connector of claim 7, wherein the plurality of protrusions are equiangularly distributed around a central axis of the first receiving cavity. A method of manufacturing a fiber optic connector according to claim 1, comprising the steps of: providing a molding device corresponding to the fiber receiving receptacle, and injection molding the fiber receiving receptacle; embedding the optical fiber in the Providing the outer casing; the optical fiber receiving base is received in the first receiving cavity by the introduction surface and the insertion surface, and the optical fiber is opposed to the lens, thereby obtaining The fiber optic connector. The manufacturing method of the optical fiber connector according to claim 9, wherein the molding device comprises a female mold, a male mold and a center tip, and the female mold is disposed opposite to the male mold for forming and a molding cavity corresponding to the fiber receiving seat, the molding cavity having a first molding surface, a second molding surface, and a third molding surface connected between the first molding surface and the second molding surface, the first molding surface and Corresponding to the top surface, the second molding surface corresponds to the side surface, the third molding surface corresponds to the insertion surface, the center pin is fixed to the male mold, and the shape thereof is opposite to the optical fiber Correspondingly, the master mold further has an alignment groove corresponding to the center tip for inserting the center pin.