WO2016197332A1

WO2016197332A1 - Optical fiber connector

Info

Publication number: WO2016197332A1
Application number: PCT/CN2015/081098
Authority: WO
Inventors: 赵庆; 冀瑞强; 宋小鹿; 李彦波; 郝玲
Original assignee: 华为技术有限公司
Priority date: 2015-06-09
Filing date: 2015-06-09
Publication date: 2016-12-15
Also published as: CN107250859A; CN107250859B

Abstract

An optical fiber connector (1) comprising a ferrule (11) and a waveguide block (12), the waveguide block (12) being fixedly connected to the ferrule (11), the optical fiber connector (1) being connected to an external device via the waveguide block (12), and the ferrule (11) being for fixing the optical fiber; an optical interface provided at a first end face of the waveguide block (12) near an external device for use with the external device; and an optical interface at a second end face of the waveguide block (12) near an optical fiber, to be aligned with an optical interface of the optical fiber.

Description

Optical fiber connector

Technical field

The present invention relates to the field of optical fiber communication technologies, and in particular, to a fiber optic connector.

Background technique

With the development of communication technologies, the requirements for the function and performance of fiber optic connectors are increasing. For example, a high-density single-mode fiber coupling, a function of a light-emitting direction perpendicular to a fiber exit direction, and the like. Currently, single mode fiber connectors can connect up to 24 single mode fibers. A fiber optic connector equipped with a mirror matrix can change the direction of the optical path through the mirror matrix, thereby realizing the function of the light exiting direction perpendicular to the fiber exit direction.

However, in general, each fiber optic connector can only perform one function. For example, an optical fiber connector capable of realizing a function in which the light outgoing direction is perpendicular to the fiber exit direction cannot be used to connect a single mode optical fiber. That is to say, the above-mentioned optical fiber connector has a small use range.

Summary of the invention

Embodiments of the present invention provide a fiber optic connector for expanding the range of use. In order to achieve the above object, embodiments of the present invention adopt the following technical solutions:

In a first aspect, a fiber optic connector is provided, comprising: a ferrule and a waveguide block; wherein the waveguide block is fixedly coupled to the ferrule, and the fiber optic connector is coupled to an external device through the waveguide block; The ferrule is used to fix the optical fiber;

An optical port on the waveguide block adjacent to the first end surface of the external device for alignment with an optical port on an end surface of the external device;

An optical port on the waveguide block adjacent to the second end surface of the optical fiber for alignment with an optical port of the optical fiber.

In combination with the first aspect, in a first possible implementation, in the waveguide block The waveguide can be expanded or shrunk.

In conjunction with the first aspect or the first possible implementation of the first aspect, in a second possible implementation, the waveguides in the waveguide block are capable of recombining or separating light energy entering the waveguide block.

With reference to the first aspect, the first possible implementation manner of the first aspect, or the second possible implementation manner, in a third possible implementation manner, the waveguide in the waveguide block can enable the light incident direction and the light exit direction The angle between the values is [0,360°).

In combination with the first aspect, the first possible implementation of the first aspect, or the third possible implementation, in a fourth possible implementation, the waveguide in the waveguide block enables the The different plaques on one end face are different in size, and/or at least a portion of the waveguides in the waveguide block are unevenly arranged on the first end face.

With reference to the first aspect, the first possible implementation manner of the first aspect, and the fourth possible implementation manner, in a fifth possible implementation manner, the two adjacent waveguides in the waveguide block The interval between the values is [0, 125 microns].

In combination with the first aspect, the first possible implementation manner of the first aspect, and the fifth possible implementation manner, in the sixth possible implementation manner, the ferrule is provided with a U-shaped slot, The waveguide block is located within the U-shaped slot.

With reference to the first aspect, the first possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the sixth possible implementation manner, in the seventh possible implementation manner, the ferrule is provided with a groove, The waveguide block is provided with a protrusion adapted to the groove; or, the ferrule is provided with a protrusion, and the waveguide block is provided with a groove adapted to the protrusion.

In combination with the first aspect, the first possible implementation manner of the first aspect, and the seventh possible implementation manner, in the eighth possible implementation manner, the first end surface is adjacent to the ferrule The end faces of the external device are flush.

In combination with the first aspect, the first possible implementation manner of the first aspect, and the eighth possible implementation manner, in the ninth possible implementation manner, the optical fiber is a single mode optical fiber or a multimode optical fiber.

In combination with the first aspect, the first possible implementation manner of the first aspect, and the ninth possible implementation manner, in the tenth possible implementation manner, the optical fiber is a single-core optical fiber or a multi-core optical fiber.

The optical fiber connector provided by the embodiment of the invention comprises a ferrule and a waveguide block; wherein the waveguide block is fixedly connected with the ferrule; the optical fiber connector is connected to the external device through the waveguide block; and the ferrule is used for fixing the optical fiber. An optical port on the first end face of the waveguide block adjacent to the external device is used for alignment with an optical port on the end surface of the external device; an optical port on the second end face of the waveguide block adjacent to the optical fiber is used for the optical port of the optical fiber alignment. Waveguides can be used to inscribe waveguides of any shape and different spot size in waveguide blocks, and waveguides of a particular shape and/or specific spot size enable fiber optic connectors to perform specific functions, for example, when written When the waveguide can enlarge the size of the fiber spot, the coupling tolerance of the fiber connector can be increased, thereby achieving high-density single-mode fiber coupling; when the direction of the incoming light of the waveguide is perpendicular to the light-emitting direction, the fiber connector can be made. The function of making the light direction and the fiber exit direction perpendicular. In this way, when the written waveguide can enlarge the fiber spot size and the light incident direction of the waveguide is perpendicular to the light exiting direction, the optical fiber connector can simultaneously realize the function of high-density single-mode fiber coupling and vertical direction of the light exiting direction and the fiber exit direction. Therefore, the optical fiber connector provided by the embodiment of the present invention has a larger use range than the prior art.

DRAWINGS

In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly described below. It is obvious that the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present invention. Other drawings may also be obtained from those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the drawings.

1 is a perspective view of a fiber optic connector according to an embodiment of the present invention;

2 is a perspective view of another optical fiber connector according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the optical fiber connector shown in Figure 1 taken along line VI-VI;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the optical fiber connector shown in Figure 2 taken along line VI-VI;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a fiber optic connector with an optical fiber fixed according to FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another optical fiber connector with an optical fiber fixed according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a fiber optic connector 1 mated with a fiber optic connector 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of an optical coupling based on FIG. 7 according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a fiber optic connector 1 docked with a common fiber optic connector 3 according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of an optical coupling based on FIG. 9 according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a fiber optic connector 1 docked with a VGC waveguide block 4 according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of an optical coupling based on FIG. 11 according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of a fiber optic connector 1 docked with a VGC waveguide block 5 according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged schematic view showing a first end face of FIG. 13 according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG.

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram of optical coupling based on FIG. 13 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

detailed description

The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention are clearly and completely described in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. It is obvious that the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, but not all embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative efforts are within the scope of the present invention.

The term "and/or" in this document is merely an association that describes an associated object. It is indicated that there may be three kinds of relationships, for example, A and/or B, which may indicate that there are three cases where A exists separately, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists separately. "Multiple" as used herein means two or more.

1 and 2 are schematic perspective views of an optical fiber connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. The optical fiber connector 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes a ferrule 11 and a waveguide block 12. The waveguide block 12 is fixedly connected to the ferrule 11, and the optical fiber connector 1 is connected to the external device through the waveguide block 12; the ferrule 11 is used for fixing the optical fiber.

An optical port on the first end face of the waveguide block 12 adjacent to the external device is used for alignment with an optical port on the end face of the external device; an optical port on the second end face of the waveguide block 12 adjacent to the optical fiber is used for the optical fiber The optical port is aligned.

Referring to FIG. 3, a cross-sectional view of the optical fiber connector shown in FIG. 1 taken along line VI-VI. Referring to FIG. 4, a cross-sectional view of the optical fiber connector shown in FIG. 2 taken along line VI-VI. Referring to FIG. 5, it is a perspective view of a fiber optic connector with an optical fiber fixed based on FIG.

For example, the ferrule 11 may specifically be a ceramic ferrule or a plastic ferrule or the like. The optical fiber can be a single mode fiber or a multimode fiber, and can be a single core fiber or a multi-core fiber. The material of the waveguide block 12 may be: glass, polymer, crystal, silicon, or the like.

The optical fiber connector 1 and the external device are respectively connected to the adapter to realize the docking of the optical fiber connector 1 with an external device, thereby realizing optical coupling between the optical fiber connector 1 and an external device. Specifically, the optical port on the first end face of the waveguide block 12 in the optical fiber connector 1 is aligned with the optical port on the end surface of the external device through the adapter to achieve the interface between the optical fiber connector 1 and the external device. Wherein, the optical coupling between the optical fiber connector 1 and the external device is implemented, including: coupling the optical energy output by the optical fiber connector 1 into the external device, or coupling the optical energy output by the external device into the optical fiber connector 1.

The "external device" may include, but is not limited to, any of the following devices: another fiber optic connector 1 (hereinafter referred to as fiber optic connector 2), a common fiber optic connector (ie, a fiber optic connector without the waveguide block 12) ), VGC (Vertical Grating Coupler) waveguide block, and the like.

The "first end face" and the "second end face" are for distinguishing the two different end faces of the waveguide block 12, and the two end faces are not in the order of division. Wherein, the first end face refers to an end face of the waveguide block 12 close to the external device, and the second end face refers to an end face of the waveguide block 12 close to the optical fiber. The first end surface and the second end surface may be opposite end faces of the waveguide block 12, or may be two end faces perpendicular to each other.

For example, any surface of the waveguide block 12 that is "naked" outside the ferrule 11 can serve as the first end face. For example, in FIG. 1, any one of the upper surface, the lower surface, or the left side surface of the waveguide block 12 may serve as the first end surface. In FIG. 2, the left side face of the waveguide block 12 may serve as a first end face. Of course not limited to this. In addition, in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2, the right side surface of the waveguide block 12 is a second end surface.

The optical port on the first end face is for aligning with the optical port on the end surface of the external device, specifically: when the optical fiber connector 1 is connected to the external device, the optical port on the first end face and the light on the end face of the external device The mouth is aligned. Wherein, the first end surface and the end surface of the external device may have the following relationship: the number of optical ports on the first end surface is equal to the number of optical ports on the end surface of the external device, and the arrangement rule of the optical ports on the first end surface The arrangement pattern of the optical ports on the end faces of the external device is the same as the size of the spot on the end faces of the external device. Similarly, those skilled in the art can know the specific meaning of the optical port on the second end face for alignment with the optical port of the optical fiber, and details are not described herein again.

The shape of the waveguide block 12 is not limited in the embodiment of the present invention. The shape of the first end face and/or the second end face may be a regular figure (for example, a rectangle, a circle, or the like), or may be an irregular figure.

It should be noted that, in a specific implementation, the optical fiber connector 1 may further include: a housing that is sleeved outside the ferrule 11 . A guiding hole may be disposed on the housing, and the optical fiber is fixedly connected to the ferrule 11 through the guiding hole.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 6, the ferrule 11 may be provided with a positioning device 111 for connection with an external device. In FIG. 6 , two positioning devices 111 are disposed on the ferrule 11 as an example for description. Illustratively, the positioning device 111 can be a locating pin or a locating hole. It should be noted that the end surface of the ferrule 11 on which the positioning device 111 is disposed is an end surface of the ferrule 11 close to the external device.

In order to make the fiber connector 1 tightly interface with the external device, in an alternative implementation, the first end face is flush with the end face of the ferrule 11 adjacent to the external device, as shown in FIG. In Fig. 6, the "first end face" is the left side face of the waveguide block 12, and the end face where the positioning device 111 is located is the end face of the ferrule 11 close to the external device.

The optical fiber connector provided by the embodiment of the present invention can write a waveguide of any shape and different spot size in the waveguide block by using the waveguide writing technology, and the waveguide of a specific shape and/or a specific spot size can realize the optical fiber connector. Specific functions, for example, when the written waveguide can expand the fiber spot size, the coupling tolerance of the fiber connector can be increased, thereby achieving high-density single-mode fiber coupling; when the light-injecting direction and the light-emitting direction of the written waveguide are achieved When it is vertical, the fiber connector can be made to be perpendicular to the outgoing direction and the outgoing direction. In this way, when the written waveguide can enlarge the fiber spot size and the light incident direction of the waveguide is perpendicular to the light exiting direction, the optical fiber connector can simultaneously realize the function of high-density single-mode fiber coupling and vertical direction of the light exiting direction and the fiber exit direction. Therefore, the optical fiber connector provided by the embodiment of the present invention has a larger use range than the prior art.

In order to achieve simplicity, in an alternative implementation, the ferrule 11 is provided with a U-shaped groove, and the waveguide block 12 is located in the U-shaped groove, as shown in FIG. Of course, in the specific implementation, other shapes of slots or holes may be provided on the ferrule 11 for placing the waveguide block 12.

In order to achieve a fixed connection between the ferrule 11 and the waveguide block 12, in an alternative implementation, the ferrule 11 is provided with a recess, and the waveguide block 12 is provided with a projection adapted to the recess. In another optional implementation, the ferrule 11 is provided with a protrusion, and the waveguide block 12 is provided with a groove adapted to the protrusion.

The desired waveguide can be written in the waveguide block 12 using waveguide block writing techniques. The waveguides may include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following properties: a plurality of waveguides may be coupled into one waveguide, and the same waveguide may be separated into a plurality of waveguides, and the apertures of different waveguides may be the same or different, and the same waveguide The size of the plaque at different positions can be The same or different, all the waveguides can be arranged according to any arrangement rule, and the number of waveguides can be any number.

In a specific implementation, the size, arrangement rule, number, and the like of the waveguide on the first end surface of the waveguide in the waveguide block 12 may be determined according to the size of the stencil on the end surface of the external device, the arrangement rule, the number, and the like; The size of the spot, the arrangement rule, the number, and the like, determine the size of the spot on the second end face of the waveguide in the waveguide block 12, the arrangement rule, the number, and the like.

The following describes the nature of the waveguide provided in the embodiment of the present invention and the scenario in which the optical fiber connector including the waveguide is applied. Of course, the specific implementation is not limited thereto.

It should be noted that the optical fiber connector 1 and the external device in the following examples are both connected by an adapter, which is not shown in the drawing. In addition, in the following examples, the "connection between the optical fiber connector 1 and the external device by the positioning pin on the optical fiber connector 1 and the positioning hole on the external device" will be described.

"Waveguide" includes but is not limited to one or more of the following properties:

1) Expanding or shrinking.

A scenario in which the fiber optic connector 1 having the waveguide is mated with the fiber optic connector 2 is shown in FIG. In this scenario, the "external device" is the fiber optic connector 2.

Before and after the "expansion beam", the spot size becomes larger from small to large; before and after the "shrinking beam", the spot size changes from large to small.

As shown in FIG. 8, it is a schematic diagram of an optical coupling based on FIG. In Fig. 8, the waveguide has a property of expanding the beam, specifically: the diameter of the spot on the second end face of the waveguide is larger than the diameter of the spot on the first end face of the waveguide.

In addition, when the waveguide has a reduced beam property, the diameter of the spot on the second end face of the waveguide is equal to the spot diameter of the waveguide on the first end face. Of course, in specific implementation, the diameter of the spot on the second end face of the waveguide may also be equal to the diameter of the spot on the first end face.

It should be noted that the alignment tolerance can be increased by the expansion beam, and thus, the coupling of more optical fibers can be realized. For example, when the plaque size is 10 μm (micrometers), the fiber connector can make up to 24 fibers, achieving alignment accuracy less than 10% of the plaque size. (1μm) requirement; when the diameter of the spot is expanded from 10μm to 30μm, as long as the alignment tolerance is less than 3μm, the alignment accuracy can be less than 10% of the die size, so that the fiber connector can achieve more Multi-fiber coupling.

2) Combining or separating the light energy entering the waveguide block 12.

A scenario in which the fiber optic connector 1 having the waveguide is mated with the VGC waveguide block 5 is shown in FIG. 9; in this scenario, the "external device" is a normal connector 3.

As shown in FIG. 10, it is a schematic diagram of an optical coupling based on FIG. In Figure 10, the number of optical ports on the second end face of the waveguide is greater than the number of optical ports on the first end face of the waveguide. If the direction of propagation of the light is from the normal connector 3 to the fiber connector 1, the number of optical ports becomes large and small before and after coupling, so that the waveguide in the waveguide block 12 can recombine the light energy entering the waveguide block 12 (Mux If the direction of light propagation is opposite, the number of optical ports increases from small to large before and after coupling, so that the waveguide in the waveguide block 12 can separate the light energy entering the waveguide block 12.

Similarly, when the number of optical ports on the first end face of the waveguide is smaller than the number of optical ports on the second end face of the waveguide, if the direction of propagation of the light is from the common connector 3 to the optical fiber connector 1, the waveguide block 12 is The waveguide can separate the light energy entering the waveguide block 12; if the light propagates in the opposite direction, the waveguide in the waveguide block 12 can recombine the light energy entering the waveguide block 12.

It should be noted that the essence of optical energy recombination is to synthesize n waveguides into m waveguides; the essence of optical energy separation is to divide m waveguides into n waveguides. Where m<n, m, and n are all positive integers.

3) The angle between the light entering direction and the light exiting direction is in the range of [0, 360°).

This property enables the angle between the light transmission direction of the waveguide on the first end face and the light transmission direction of the waveguide on the second end face to be in the range of [0°, 360°). That is, the angle between the light exiting direction and the fiber exiting direction is in the range of greater than or equal to 0° and less than 360°.

a scenario in which the fiber optic connector 1 having the waveguide interfaces with the VGC waveguide block 4, As shown in FIG. 11; in this scenario, the "external device" is the VGC waveguide block 4, and the first end face is perpendicular to the second end face. This scenario enables the fiber optic connector to function in a direction perpendicular to the direction of fiber exit.

It should be noted that, in theory, the optical fiber connector 1 can realize a function of any angle between the light exiting direction and the fiber exiting direction of [0, 360°).

As shown in FIG. 12, it is a schematic diagram of an optical coupling based on FIG.

4) The different plaque sizes on the first end face are different, and/or at least part of the waveguide is unevenly arranged on the first end face.

"At least part of the waveguide is unevenly arranged on the first end face", and the optical ports on the first end face can be unevenly arranged.

A scene in which the optical fiber connector 1 having the waveguide is butted against the VGC waveguide block 5 is as shown in FIG. 13; in this scenario, the "external device" is the VGC waveguide block 5.

As shown in FIG. 14, it is an enlarged schematic view of the end face (ie, the first end face) of the optical fiber connector 1 that is butted against the VGC waveguide block 5. The different stencil sizes of the waveguide on the first end surface may be the same or different, and the optical ports may be arranged according to any rule.

Figure 15 is a schematic diagram of an optical coupling based on Figure 13. Wherein, the angle between the waveguide in the waveguide block 12 and the grating plane of the VGC waveguide block 5 is 80°, that is, the angle between the light exiting direction and the exiting direction is 80°, which is known from the nature of the planar waveguide, which ensures The most efficient coupling between the fiber optic connector 1 and the VGC waveguide block 5.

5) The spacing between adjacent two waveguides ranges from [0, 125 microns].

This property enables the matrix period interval (Pitch) of the optical port on the first end face to be in the range of [0, 125 micrometers].

Among them, in theory, the value of the pitch can be 0 without considering crosstalk. Preferably, the value ranges from [20 micrometers, 50 micrometers], or (50 micrometers, 100 micrometers). In addition, the Pitch may also have a value greater than 125 micrometers.

The fiber optic connector 1 having the waveguide can be connected to an external device of any Pitch.

The above is only a specific embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto, and any person skilled in the art can easily think of changes or substitutions within the technical scope of the present invention. It should be covered by the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the invention should be determined by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

An optical fiber connector, comprising: a ferrule and a waveguide block; wherein the waveguide block is fixedly connected to the ferrule, and the optical fiber connector is connected to an external device through the waveguide block; The core is used to fix the optical fiber;

An optical port on the waveguide block adjacent to the first end surface of the external device for alignment with an optical port on an end surface of the external device;

An optical port on the waveguide block adjacent to the second end surface of the optical fiber for alignment with an optical port of the optical fiber.
The fiber optic connector of claim 1 wherein the waveguide in the waveguide block is capable of expanding or contracting.
The fiber optic connector of claim 1 or 2 wherein the waveguides in the waveguide block are capable of recombining or separating light energy entering the waveguide block.
The optical fiber connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the waveguide in the waveguide block is capable of setting an angle between the light incident direction and the light exiting direction to be [0, 360°]. ).
The fiber optic connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the waveguide in the waveguide block is capable of different sizes of different plaques on the first end face, and/or the waveguide At least a portion of the waveguides in the block are unevenly arranged on the first end face.
The fiber optic connector of any of claims 1-5, wherein the spacing between adjacent two waveguides in the waveguide block ranges from [0, 125 microns].
The optical fiber connector according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the ferrule is provided with a U-shaped groove, and the waveguide block is located in the U-shaped groove.
The fiber optic connector of any of claims 1-7, wherein

The ferrule is provided with a groove, and the waveguide block is provided with a protrusion adapted to the groove; or the ferrule is provided with a protrusion, and the waveguide block is provided with the Raised groove.
The fiber optic connector of any of claims 1-8, wherein the first end face is flush with an end face of the ferrule adjacent the external component.
The fiber optic connector of any of claims 1-9, wherein the fiber is a single mode fiber or a multimode fiber.
The optical fiber connector according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the optical fiber is a single-core optical fiber or a multi-core optical fiber.