WO2022195443A1 - Ferrules optiques - Google Patents

Ferrules optiques Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2022195443A1
WO2022195443A1 PCT/IB2022/052265 IB2022052265W WO2022195443A1 WO 2022195443 A1 WO2022195443 A1 WO 2022195443A1 IB 2022052265 W IB2022052265 W IB 2022052265W WO 2022195443 A1 WO2022195443 A1 WO 2022195443A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
attachment area
optical
cover
ferrule
fiber
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB2022/052265
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Changbao Ma
Daniel F. Cronch
Original Assignee
3M Innovative Properties Company
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by 3M Innovative Properties Company filed Critical 3M Innovative Properties Company
Publication of WO2022195443A1 publication Critical patent/WO2022195443A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
    • G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
    • G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
    • G02B6/3873—Connectors using guide surfaces for aligning ferrule ends, e.g. tubes, sleeves, V-grooves, rods, pins, balls
    • G02B6/3885—Multicore or multichannel optical connectors, i.e. one single ferrule containing more than one fibre, e.g. ribbon type
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
    • G02B6/3628—Mechanical coupling means for mounting fibres to supporting carriers
    • G02B6/3632—Mechanical coupling means for mounting fibres to supporting carriers characterised by the cross-sectional shape of the mechanical coupling means
    • G02B6/3636—Mechanical coupling means for mounting fibres to supporting carriers characterised by the cross-sectional shape of the mechanical coupling means the mechanical coupling means being grooves
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/42—Coupling light guides with opto-electronic elements
    • G02B6/4201—Packages, e.g. shape, construction, internal or external details
    • G02B6/4204—Packages, e.g. shape, construction, internal or external details the coupling comprising intermediate optical elements, e.g. lenses, holograms
    • G02B6/4214—Packages, e.g. shape, construction, internal or external details the coupling comprising intermediate optical elements, e.g. lenses, holograms the intermediate optical element having redirecting reflective means, e.g. mirrors, prisms for deflecting the radiation from horizontal to down- or upward direction toward a device

Definitions

  • This disclosure relates generally to optical coupling devices such as optical ferrules.
  • Optical communications are increasingly used in systems to achieve data communication with a greater bandwidth and/or lower electromagnetic interference as compared to electrical communications.
  • optical and electrical communication interconnections may be used.
  • Optical fibers may be employed for optical input/output.
  • optical fibers may be coupled to other optical fibers and/or system components by an optical connector.
  • Optical connectors, including expanded beam optical connectors can include optical ferrules having elements for receiving and securing optical waveguides, elements for affecting light from the optical waveguides, and features for aligning the optical ferrule to a mating optical ferrule.
  • an optical ferrule including a ferrule body having an attachment area for receiving and attaching to a plurality of optical fibers, an input surface, and a light redirecting side.
  • the attachment area includes a second attachment area portion disposed between a first attachment area portion and the input surface.
  • the second attachment area portion includes a plurality of substantially parallel grooves extending along a first direction.
  • a cover is assembled to the ferrule body and includes at least a first cover portion.
  • the optical fiber includes a core surrounded by a buffer. The buffer is stripped between a buffer-end location on the fiber and a free end of the fiber to form a stripped fiber section next to an unstripped fiber section. The unstripped fiber section is disposed in the first attachment area portion.
  • the stripped fiber section is disposed in one of the grooves in the second attachment area portion and covered by, and making physical contact with, the first cover portion of the cover.
  • the input surface receives and transmits a central light ray from the optical fiber.
  • the light redirecting side receives, along a second direction, the central light ray transmitted by the input surface and redirects the received light along a third direction different from the second direction.
  • the redirected central light ray exits the ferrule body through an output surface of the ferrule body.
  • the second, but not the first, attachment area portion includes a plurality of substantially parallel grooves extending along a first direction.
  • a plurality of optical fibers are received by and attached to the attachment area.
  • Each of the optical fibers includes a core surrounded by a buffer.
  • the buffer is stripped between a buffer-end location on the fiber and a free end of the fiber to form a stripped fiber section next to an unstripped fiber section.
  • the unstripped fiber section is disposed in the first attachment area portion and the stripped fiber section is disposed in one of the grooves in the second attachment area portion.
  • a cover is assembled to the ferrule body, covering and making physical contact with at least portions of the stripped fiber sections of the optical fibers.
  • the cover further extends over and covers the light redirecting side so as to define a cavity between the cover and the ferrule body next to the light redirecting side.
  • FIG. 1 schematically shows an optical ferrule and a cover assembled to the optical ferrule according to some aspects of the disclosure
  • FIGS. 2-3 schematically show different exploded views of an optical ferrule and a cover according to some aspects of the disclosure
  • FIGS. 4-5 schematically show cross-sectional views of the optical ferrule with a cover assembled to the optical ferrule according to some aspects of the disclosure
  • FIG. 6 schematically shows a cross-sectional view of an optical fiber according to some aspects of the disclosure
  • FIG. 7 schematically shows a bottom view of an optical ferrule according to some aspects of the disclosure
  • FIG. 8 schematically shows a cross-sectional view of an optical ferrule and propagation of a central light ray within the ferrule according to some aspects of the disclosure
  • FIG. 9 schematically shows a cover for assembling to a ferrule body of an optical ferrule according to some embodiments of the disclosure.
  • FIGS. 10-12 schematically show different views of a ferrule body with optical fibers received thereon and a cover assembled to the ferrule body according to some aspects of the disclosure.
  • FIGS. 13-16 schematically show different views of an optical ferrule having a cover assembled on the ferrule body according to some other embodiments of the disclosure.
  • Optical interconnect systems are currently incorporated in both Datacom and telecommunication network systems.
  • high density multi -fiber interconnects are used.
  • high bandwidths can be achieved by harnessing multi-fibers like a fiber ribbon in one ferrule.
  • the optical fibers are aligned and bonded to the grooves in the ferrule body using adhesives. After bonding, the fibers and the adhesives are exposed to environmental conditions and there is a long-term reliability concern as the fibers may peel over time.
  • the embodiments disclosed herein address these and other challenges.
  • optical ferrules including a fiber cover for strengthening the adhesive bonding, relaxing/mitigating the long-term reliability concern, and regulating the adhesive flow and shape.
  • the optical ferrule (200) may have a unitary construction (e.g., a construction including a first piece integrally formed on a second piece).
  • the optical ferrule may be a ferrule that includes pieces formed separately and adhered or otherwise fastened together.
  • the ferrule may be made from any suitable materials including polymers, ceramics, glasses and metals.
  • the optical ferrule (200) may include a ferrule body (10).
  • the ferrule body in some cases, may be a unitary polymeric ferrule body including a cyclic olefin polymer or copolymer or the like.
  • the optical ferrule (200) may include one or more elements that guide or help guide the ferrule and a mating ferrule into alignment when the two ferrules are mated.
  • the optical ferrule and/or the mating optical ferrule may be hermaphroditic.
  • the ferrule body (10) of the optical ferrule (200) may include an attachment area (20) for receiving and attaching to a plurality of optical fibers (30).
  • the optical fibers (30) may form an optical waveguide array of an optical cable.
  • the term optical waveguide/fiber is used herein to refer to an optical element that propagates light.
  • An optical waveguide may have at least one core with a cladding, wherein the core and cladding are configured to propagate light, e.g., by total internal reflection.
  • an optical waveguide can be any structure that can propagate light, such as photonic crystal waveguides or the like.
  • An optical waveguide may be, for example, a single core optical fiber, a multi-core optical fiber, a hollow core fiber, a polymeric waveguide, or planar waveguides disposed on a substrate.
  • a waveguide may have any suitable cross-sectional shape, e.g., circular, square, rectangular etc.
  • the individual waveguides in the waveguide array may be optical fibers made of glass with a protective buffer coating. Multiple parallel waveguides of a waveguide array may be enclosed by a jacket.
  • the optical fiber may be a single mode optical fiber or a multi-mode optical fiber. Normally, for a multimode optical fiber, the telecommunication wavelengths are 850 nm and 1300 nm, and for single mode optical fiber, the telecommunication wavelength band is about 1250 nm-1675 nm.
  • the optical ferrule (200) includes an input surface (40) and a light redirecting side (50). Light from the optical fibers (30) attached in the attachment area (20) of the optical ferrule (200) may be received and transmitted by a input surface (40) and redirected by the light redirecting side (50).
  • the optical ferrule includes an output surface (80) as shown in FIG. 7. The redirected light may exit the optical ferrule (200) through the output surface (80) of the optical ferrule (200) and may be configured to enter a mating optical ferrule (not shown).
  • the attachment area (20) may include a first attachment area portion (22) and a second attachment area portion (21) as shown in FIG. 2.
  • the second attachment area portion (21) may be disposed between a first attachment area portion (22) and the input surface (40).
  • the second attachment area portion (21), according to some embodiments, may include fiber receiving grooves, which can be u-shaped, v-shaped, or contain chamfer or tapered edges to ease insertion and/or reception of the optical fiber (30).
  • the second attachment area portion (21) may include a plurality of substantially parallel grooves (23) extending along a first direction (x-axis).
  • the first attachment area portion does not include any fiber receiving groove.
  • One or each of the optical fibers in the plurality of optical fibers (30) includes a core (31) surrounded by a buffer (33) as best shown in FIG. 6.
  • the core may include one or more of a glass and a polymer.
  • the core (31) may be surrounded by a cladding (32a, 32b).
  • the cladding (32a, 32b) may be disposed between the core (31) and the buffer (33) and may include at least one cladding layer (32a, 32b).
  • the at least one cladding layer (32a, 32b) may include one or more of a glass and a polymer, for instance.
  • the cladding may include at least two cladding layers (32a, 32b).
  • indices of the core (31) and the cladding (32a, 32b) may be substantially equal at or near an interface (31b) therebetween.
  • the core (31) of the optical fiber (30) may have a graded index profile.
  • the graded index optical fiber (30) may have a core (31) having a generally parabolic fiber refractive index profile that has a maximum value at or near the center (31a) of the core (31) and that gradually decreases as the core (31) extends radially away from the center (31a) of the core (31).
  • the index of the core (31) near a center (31a) of the core (31) may be greater than the index of the core (31) at an interface (3 lb) between the core (31) and the cladding (32a, 32b).
  • the index of the core (31) near the center (31a) of the core (31) may be greater than the index of the core (31) near a perimeter (3 lb) of the core.
  • the core (31) may have a substantially constant index profile The index of the core (31) near a center (31a) of the core may be substantially equal to the index of the core near a perimeter (3 lb) of the core.
  • the buffer (33) of the optical fiber (30) is stripped away to allow only the bare optical fibers to lie aligned with the second attachment area portion (21).
  • the buffer may be stripped between a buffer-end location (34) on the fiber (30a) and a free end (35) of the fiber (30a) to form a stripped fiber section (36) next to an unstripped fiber section (37).
  • the unstripped fiber section (37) may be disposed in the first attachment area portion (22) and the stripped fiber section (36) may be disposed in one of the grooves in the second attachment area portion (21).
  • a cover (60) may be assembled to the ferrule body (10).
  • the cover (60) may be assembled to the ferrule body to cover the attachment area (20) having the fiber receiving grooves (23).
  • the cover (60) may cover and make physical contact with at least portions of the stripped fiber sections (36) of the optical fibers (30).
  • the cover may further extend over and cover the light redirecting side (50) of the ferrule body (10). As shown in FIG. 8, the cover (60) extends over and covers the light redirecting side (50) and defines a cavity (12) between the cover (60) and the ferrule body next to the light redirecting side (50).
  • the cover (60) may be permanently assembled to the ferrule body (10). In other cases, the cover (60) may be removably assembled to the ferrule body (10).
  • the cover (60) may include a material that is the same material as the ferrule body (10). In some cases, the cover may include materials such as glass, metal, ceramic or plastic.
  • the cover (60) may include at least a first cover portion (61).
  • the input surface (40) receives and transmits a central light ray (70) from the optical fiber (30a) and the light redirecting side receives the central light ray transmitted by the input surface and redirects the received light (72).
  • the redirected central light ray (74) exits the ferrule body through an output surface (80) of the ferrule body (10).
  • the light redirecting side (50) receives the central light ray transmitted by the input surface (40) along a second direction (71) and redirects the received light (72) along a third direction (73) different from the second direction (71).
  • the cover (60) may further include a second cover portion (62) and, in some cases, a third cover portion (63).
  • the second cover portion (62) may extend from the first cover portion (61) toward a mating end (11) of the ferrule body.
  • the third cover portion (63) may extend from the first cover portion (61) toward a rear end (13), opposite the mating end (11), of the ferrule body (10).
  • the second cover portion (62) may extend over and cover the light redirecting side (50) so that the ferrule body (10) and the second cover portion (62) may define the cavity (12) therebetween next to the light redirecting side (50).
  • the third cover portion (63) may extend over to cover and make physical contact with the unstripped fiber section (37) of the optical fiber (30a).
  • the first cover portion (61) may project from the second cover portion (62) along a thickness direction (z-axis) of the cover (60) to define a first step portion (64) therebetween.
  • the first cover portion (61) may project from the third cover portion (63) along a thickness direction (z-axis) of the cover (60) to define a second step portion (65) therebetween.
  • the cover (60a) may include a pair of legs (66) projecting from opposite lateral sides (67) of the cover (60a) along a thickness direction of the cover (60a).
  • the legs (66) make contact with the attachment area (20), such that when the plurality of optical fibers (30) are received by and attached to the attachment area (20), the first and second legs (66) are disposed on opposite lateral sides of the optical fibers (30).
  • the legs (66) can be designed to control the gap, and thereby control the thickness of an optical adhesive, between the cover (60a) and the optical fiber (30).
  • the legs (66) can also be designed to fill gaps between edge optical fibers (30b) and side walls (20a) of the attachment area (20) to contain and prevent the optical adhesive from flowing out of the area covered by the cover (60a).
  • the cover (60b) may include a first through opening (68) having a closed perimeter (69). At least portions of the stripped fiber sections (36) of at least some of the optical fibers may be exposed through the first through opening (68) when the plurality of optical fibers is received by and attached to the attachment area (20). In other aspects, when the plurality of optical fibers (30) is received by and attached to the attachment area, at least a portion of the stripped fiber section (36) of each of the optical fibers (30) may be exposed through the first through opening (68).
  • the first through opening (68) allows an application of an optical adhesive (90), such as epoxy, or acrylic, or acrylate, or silicone, or the like, to the attachment area (20) as shown in FIG. 14. In some aspects, the first through opening (68) may be substantially filled with the optical adhesive (90).
  • the cover (60) may be placed over the optical ferrule (200) using a pick-and-place probe and pressed and held against the ferrule body (10), aligning the fibers (30) against the grooves (23).
  • the cover (60) aligns the fibers (30) to the bottom of the U-grooves.
  • the cover (60) pushes the fibers downward against the two side walls of the V-grooves thus aligning the fibers to the V-grooves.
  • Optical adhesive such as epoxy, may be applied using a probe through the first through opening (68) in the cover (60). Once the adhesive flows completely and optionally actinically cured, the probe is disengaged.
  • the specific location and shape of the first through opening (68) may be designed depending on the flow dynamics of the optical adhesive, balancing the flow speed and uniformity of the optical adhesive (90).
  • the first through opening (68) can be a rectangle slot, an oval, a circle or other shapes.
  • the cover may include a second through opening (91).
  • the second through opening (91) may have a closed perimeter.
  • an optical adhesive (90) is applied to the attachment area (20) through the first through opening (68)
  • the second through opening (91) allows a passage therethrough of any air or air bubbles formed during the application of the optical adhesive (90).
  • the second through opening (91) may have an open perimeter.
  • the second through opening (91) may be disposed at the input surface (40) of the ferrule body (10). At least a portion of an open portion of the perimeter of the second through opening (91) faces the input surface (40) thereby defining a gap (92) between the cover (60b) and the input surface (40).
  • the ferrule body (10a) may include at least one first locking feature (14) and the cover (60c) may include at least one second locking feature (93).
  • the at least one first and second locking features (14, 93) may engage each other to secure the cover (60c) to the ferrule body (10a).
  • One (14) of the first and second locking features may be a post and the other one (93) of the first and second locking features may be an opening.
  • the first and second locking features (14, 93) assist in preventing the fibers (30) from peeling or delaminating.
  • the cover (60) as described herein facilitates faster and repeatable bonding of the fibers to the grooves that can be automated since the bonding process does not depend much on the quality of the interference pattern between the fibers and the grooves.
  • the fibers are sandwiched between the ferrule body (10) and the cover (60), providing suitable bonding strengths of the fibers to the grooves.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Coupling Of Light Guides (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un ensemble ferrule optique comprenant un corps de ferrule ayant une zone de fixation, une surface d'entrée et un côté de réorientation de lumière. La zone de fixation comprend une seconde partie de zone de fixation disposée entre une première partie de zone de fixation et la surface d'entrée. La seconde partie de zone de fixation comprend une pluralité de rainures sensiblement parallèles. Une pluralité de fibres optiques sont reçues par et fixées à la zone de fixation. Chacune des fibres optiques comprend une âme entourée par un tampon dénudé entre un emplacement d'extrémité tampon et une extrémité libre de la fibre. Une section de fibre non dénudée est disposée dans la première partie de zone de fixation, et la section de fibre dénudée est disposée dans l'une des rainures dans la seconde partie de zone de fixation. Un couvercle est assemblé au corps de ferrule, recouvrant et établissant un contact physique avec au moins des parties des sections de fibre dénudées des fibres optiques.
PCT/IB2022/052265 2021-03-17 2022-03-14 Ferrules optiques WO2022195443A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US202163200602P 2021-03-17 2021-03-17
US63/200,602 2021-03-17

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2022195443A1 true WO2022195443A1 (fr) 2022-09-22

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ID=83321987

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/IB2022/052265 WO2022195443A1 (fr) 2021-03-17 2022-03-14 Ferrules optiques

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WO (1) WO2022195443A1 (fr)

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20050018974A1 (en) * 2003-07-24 2005-01-27 Rolston David Robert Cameron Optical connector assembly
US20130259423A1 (en) * 2012-03-30 2013-10-03 Mathieu Charbonneau-Lefort Misalignment-tolerant total-internal-reflection fiber optic interface modules and assemblies with high coupling efficiency
US20140064662A1 (en) * 2012-09-04 2014-03-06 Sony Corporation Connector, method of manufacturing same, and optical communication system
US20150205058A1 (en) * 2014-01-23 2015-07-23 Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. Optical coupling lens and optical fiber coupling connector
US20160231510A1 (en) * 2011-09-26 2016-08-11 3M Innovative Properties Company Transceiver interface having staggered cleave positions

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20050018974A1 (en) * 2003-07-24 2005-01-27 Rolston David Robert Cameron Optical connector assembly
US20160231510A1 (en) * 2011-09-26 2016-08-11 3M Innovative Properties Company Transceiver interface having staggered cleave positions
US20130259423A1 (en) * 2012-03-30 2013-10-03 Mathieu Charbonneau-Lefort Misalignment-tolerant total-internal-reflection fiber optic interface modules and assemblies with high coupling efficiency
US20140064662A1 (en) * 2012-09-04 2014-03-06 Sony Corporation Connector, method of manufacturing same, and optical communication system
US20150205058A1 (en) * 2014-01-23 2015-07-23 Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. Optical coupling lens and optical fiber coupling connector

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