A three-dimensional cloth fiber structure and a manufacturing method thereof

Abstract

The present application relates to the field of optical communication technology, in particular to a three-dimensional fiber structure and a manufacturing method thereof. The three-dimensional fiber structure comprises at least two layers of fiber-in substrate, at least one layer of fiber-out substrate and a plurality of optical fibers; a first part of the optical fibers is fixed on the surface of any of the fiber-in substrates, and a second part of the optical fibers is fixed on the surface of any of the fiber-out substrates; the at least two layers of the fiber-in substrates are vertically stacked at different heights, and the plurality of optical fibers form a fiber cross area between the fiber-in substrates and the fiber-out substrates. The first part and the second part of the optical fibers are fixed on the surface of the fiber-in substrates and the fiber-out substrates respectively, and the fiber-in substrates are vertically stacked at different heights, so that a three-dimensional fiber cross area is formed between the fiber-in substrates and the fiber-out substrates, thereby meeting the requirement of three-dimensional fiber routing with a large height difference between the fiber-in and the fiber-out.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of optical communication technology, and in particular to a three-dimensional fiber optic structure and its fabrication method. Background Technology

[0002] Fiber shuffle is a novel fiber optic connection technology commonly used in high-speed optical communication systems. It arranges multiple optical fibers together using a flexible board to achieve more flexible and reliable fiber cabling and management. Fiber shuffle plays a crucial role in space-constrained environments or those requiring high-density connections, offering greater flexibility and adaptability to diverse equipment configurations and environmental needs.

[0003] With the increasing demands for bandwidth and power consumption from data center switches, and the continuous development of co-packaged optics (CPO) technology in recent years, flexible fiber optic boards (FFBs) are becoming increasingly widely applicable due to their ability to construct dense optical networks within limited spaces. Currently, single-layer and multi-layer FFBs are mainly used for fiber routing. The basic structure of a single-layer FFB consists of an upper cladding layer, a middle fiber layer, a lower substrate, and edge ports. All fibers at the edge of a single-layer FFB are on the same layer, resulting in a simple structure, low cost, and suitability for low-density applications. Multi-layer FFBs, on the other hand, are composed of multiple independent single-layer FFBs bonded together, improving density and compressive strength, making them suitable for medium- to high-density integrated applications in small spaces.

[0004] When using a single-layer fiber optic flexible board for fiber routing, the height of the fiber distribution at the inlet and outlet ends is limited because the fiber can only be laid in the same plane of the single-layer fiber optic flexible board. When multiple layers of fiber optic flexible boards are stacked, the fibers from different layers cannot be routed to the same multi-core connector, which cannot meet the three-dimensional fiber routing requirements with large differences in fiber inlet and outlet heights.

[0005] Therefore, overcoming the shortcomings of the existing technology is an urgent problem to be solved in this technical field. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is that the height of the fiber distribution at the inlet and outlet ends of the existing fiber laying scheme using fiber optic flexible plates is limited, which cannot meet the three-dimensional fiber laying requirements with a large difference in fiber inlet and outlet height.

[0007] The present invention adopts the following technical solution: In a first aspect, the present invention provides a three-dimensional fiber-layout structure, comprising at least two fiber-infeed substrates 1, at least one fiber-outfeed substrate 2, and multiple optical fibers 3; The first part 30 of the optical fiber 3 is fixed on the surface of any of the fiber inlet substrate 1, and the second part 31 of the optical fiber 3 is fixed on the surface of any of the fiber outlet substrate 2. At least two layers of the fiber-in board 1 are vertically stacked at different heights, and multiple optical fibers 3 form an optical fiber crossing area 4 between the fiber-in board 1 and the fiber-out board 2.

[0008] Furthermore, the first portion 30 of the multiple optical fibers 3 is fixed on the surface of at least two layers of the fiber input substrate 1 according to a preset fiber sequence, and the second portion 31 of the multiple optical fibers 3 is fixed on the surface of the fiber output substrate 2 according to a preset fiber sequence to form an optical fiber crossing area 4.

[0009] Furthermore, the first part 30 of the multiple optical fibers 3 is fixed on the surface of at least two layers of the fiber input substrate 1 according to a preset fiber sequence, and the second part 31 of the multiple optical fibers 3 is fixed on the surface of at least two layers of the fiber output substrate 2 according to a preset fiber sequence; the second part 31 of different optical fibers 3 fixed on the same surface of the fiber input substrate 1 is fixed on the same or different surfaces of the fiber output substrate 2 to form an optical fiber crossing area 4. In this configuration, at least two fiber-exit substrates 2 are vertically stacked at different heights.

[0010] Furthermore, the first end 32 and / or the second end 33 are coupled with a multi-core connector 5, wherein the number of cores in the multi-core connector 5 is less than or equal to the number of optical fibers 3 fixed on the corresponding substrate.

[0011] Furthermore, the fiber infeed substrate 1 and the fiber outlet substrate 2 are arranged at any angle and with any spacing.

[0012] Secondly, the present invention provides a method for manufacturing a three-dimensional fiber structure, comprising: At least two layers of the fiber inlet substrate 1 and at least one layer of the fiber outlet substrate 2 are laid flat, and multiple optical fibers 3 are fixed on the surface of the fiber inlet substrate 1 and the fiber outlet substrate 2 according to a preset fiber sequence. The fiber input substrate 1, which is laid flat, is stacked vertically at a preset height to form an optical fiber crossover area 4 between the fiber input substrate 1 and the fiber output substrate 2.

[0013] Furthermore, when the fiber output substrate 2 is configured as a multilayer, the fiber output substrate 2, which is laid flat, is stacked and arranged in the vertical direction according to a preset height.

[0014] Furthermore, when fixing the optical fiber 3, the preset length of the optical fiber 3 between the fiber inlet substrate 1 and the fiber outlet substrate 2 is determined according to the height difference and horizontal spacing between the fiber inlet substrate 1 and the fiber outlet substrate 2 where the optical fiber 3 is located, as well as the preset fiber sequence of the optical fiber 3, and the two ends of the optical fiber 3 are fixed according to the preset length.

[0015] Furthermore, the upper and lower stacked fiber input substrates 1 and fiber output substrates 2 are respectively fixed together using adhesive; Alternatively, the fiber input substrate 1 and the fiber output substrate 2 stacked on the upper and lower sides are wound together and then the winding structure is fixed with a sleeve 6.

[0016] Furthermore, the support structure 7 fixes the upper and lower stacked fiber input substrates 1 and fiber output substrates 2 at a preset height.

[0017] The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: the first part and the second part of the optical fiber are respectively fixed on the surface of the fiber inlet substrate and the fiber outlet substrate. By stacking the fiber inlet substrates at different heights, a three-dimensional optical fiber crossing area is formed between the fiber inlet substrate and the fiber outlet substrate to meet the three-dimensional fiber routing requirements with a large difference in the height of the optical fiber inlet and outlet. Attached Figure Description

[0018] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the accompanying drawings used in the embodiments of the present invention will be briefly described below. Obviously, the drawings described below are merely some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without any creative effort.

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a three-dimensional fiber structure provided by the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a three-dimensional fiber optic structure with a multi-core connector provided by the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of another three-dimensional fiber optic structure with a multi-core connector provided by the present invention. Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a three-dimensional fiber-laying structure with a multi-layer fiber-emerging substrate provided by the present invention. Figure 5 This is a flowchart illustrating a method for fabricating a three-dimensional fiber structure provided by the present invention; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram showing the relative positions of the fiber inlet substrate and the fiber outlet substrate in a method for fabricating a three-dimensional fiber structure provided by the present invention. Figure 7This is a schematic diagram of the XYZ directions in a method for fabricating a three-dimensional fiber structure provided by the present invention; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a sleeve provided by the present invention; Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a blade server provided by the present invention.

[0020] The attached figures are labeled as follows: Fiber inlet substrate 1, fiber outlet substrate 2, optical fiber 3, first part 30, second part 31, first end 32, second end 33, optical fiber crossover area 4, multi-core connector 5, inlet connector 50, outlet connector 51, sleeve 6, support structure 7, clamping component 70. Detailed Implementation

[0021] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the invention.

[0022] Unless the context otherwise requires, throughout the specification and claims, the term "comprising" is interpreted as openly inclusive, meaning "including, but not limited to." In the description of the specification, terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "exemplary embodiment," "example," "specific example," or "some examples" are intended to indicate that a particular feature, structure, material, or characteristic associated with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of this disclosure. The illustrative representations of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics mentioned may be included in any suitable manner in any one or more embodiments or examples; that is, although they may be incorporated into embodiments or examples using the above terms for reasons such as order and position, it does not limit them to be incorporated in combination by a single embodiment or example.

[0023] In the description of this invention, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Thus, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of embodiments of this disclosure, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more. Furthermore, for example, the description may use the prefix "A" or "B" to describe the same type of nouns as two independent entities. In this case, the corresponding features defined with "A" and "B" are used only to distinguish between similar entities and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features.

[0024] In describing some embodiments, the terms "coupled," "coupled," and "connected," and their derivative expressions, may be used. For example, the term "connected" may be used in describing some embodiments to indicate that two or more components have direct physical or electrical contact with each other. Similarly, the term "coupled" may be used in describing some embodiments to indicate that two or more components have direct physical or electrical contact. However, the terms "connected" or "coupled" may also refer to two or more components that do not have direct contact with each other but still cooperate or interact with each other, such as "optical coupling," "wireless connection," etc. The embodiments disclosed herein are not necessarily limited to the scope of this invention.

[0025] Furthermore, the technical features involved in the various embodiments of the present invention described below can be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other.

[0026] Example 1: See Figure 1 Embodiment 1 of the present invention provides a three-dimensional fiber-laying structure, which includes at least two fiber-in substrates 1, at least one fiber-out substrate 2, and multiple optical fibers 3; the first part 30 of the optical fiber 3 is fixed on the surface of any of the fiber-in substrates 1, and the second part 31 of the optical fiber 3 is fixed on the surface of any of the fiber-out substrates 2; the at least two fiber-in substrates 1 are vertically stacked at different heights, and the multiple optical fibers 3 form an optical fiber crossing area 4 between the fiber-in substrates 1 and the fiber-out substrates 2, so as to achieve the purpose of arbitrarily interconnecting the two ends of the optical fiber 3 with the fiber-in substrates 1 and the fiber-out substrates 2, thereby satisfying the interconnection requirements of any position of the two ends of the optical fiber 3 in a narrow three-dimensional space.

[0027] It should be noted that the aforementioned first part 30 and second part 31 only refer to the portion of optical fiber 3 fixed on the surface of the substrate. Optical fiber 3 has not been divided into the first part 30 and the second part 31. Optical fiber 3 is still a complete and continuous structure.

[0028] In an optional embodiment, the first part 30 of the optical fiber 3 is fixed to the upper surface of the fiber-feeding substrate 1 by an adhesive. In actual use, the adhesive can be a UV-curable epoxy, a two-component thermosetting epoxy, or a UV-thermal dual-curing epoxy. Since there are a large number of optical fibers 3, in order to achieve rapid batch curing, in a preferred embodiment, the adhesive is a UV-curable epoxy.

[0029] In one optional embodiment, the fiber inlet substrate 1 is configured as a multilayer substrate and the fiber outlet substrate 2 is configured as a single layer, such that the optical fiber 3 can form a three-dimensional optical fiber crossover area 4 between the fiber inlet substrate 1 and the fiber outlet substrate 2.

[0030] In one optional embodiment, the fiber inlet substrate 1 is configured as a multilayer substrate and the fiber outlet substrate 2 is configured as a multilayer substrate, such that the optical fiber 3 can form a three-dimensional optical fiber crossover area 4 between the fiber inlet substrate 1 and the fiber outlet substrate 2.

[0031] In fact, in order to form a three-dimensional optical fiber crossover area 4 between the fiber input substrate 1 and the fiber output substrate 2, the fiber input substrate 1 can be set as a single layer and the fiber output substrate 2 can be set as multiple layers. The number of the fiber input substrate 1 and the fiber output substrate 2 can be flexibly set by those skilled in the art according to the actual situation, and no specific limitation is made here.

[0032] In practical applications, the three-dimensional fiber structure can be encapsulated with soft / hard protective shells, protective sleeves, and special functional layers according to the requirements of the application scenario. The special functional layers include, but are not limited to, shielding layers, thermal conductive layers, and armor layers, and the encapsulation form is not limited. The type of optical fiber 3 is also not limited and can be optical fibers and cables of various modes and structures.

[0033] The following describes the three-dimensional wiring structure using two implementation methods: the fiber inlet substrate 1 is configured as a multilayer substrate and the fiber outlet substrate 2 is configured as a single layer substrate, and the fiber inlet substrate 1 is configured as a multilayer substrate and the fiber outlet substrate 2 is configured as a multilayer substrate.

[0034] Implementation method 1: Continue reading Figure 1 When the fiber inlet substrate 1 is configured as a multilayer substrate and the fiber outlet substrate 2 is configured as a single layer substrate, the first part 30 of the multiple optical fibers 3 is fixed on the surface of at least two layers of the fiber inlet substrate 1 according to a preset fiber sequence, and the second part 31 of the multiple optical fibers 3 is fixed on the surface of the fiber outlet substrate 2 according to a preset fiber sequence to form an optical fiber crossing area 4.

[0035] To facilitate coupling of the second end 33 of the optical fiber 3 with subsequent components, a pre-generated fiber arrangement sequence, i.e., a preset fiber sequence, is generated for all the optical fibers 3. This ensures that when the optical fiber 3 is fixed on the fiber inlet substrate 1 and the fiber outlet substrate 2, the optical fiber 3 can be set in the optimal path within the fiber crossover area 4, preventing the bending radius of the optical fiber 3 from being too large and causing the optical fiber 3 to bend.

[0036] According to the preset fiber sequence, the first part 30 of each optical fiber 3 is pasted onto the corresponding fiber inlet substrate 1, and the second part 31 is pasted onto the fiber outlet substrate 2. Since there is a vertical height difference between different fiber inlet substrates 1, multiple optical fibers 3 form an optical fiber crossing area 4 between the fiber inlet substrate 1 and the fiber outlet substrate 2.

[0037] See Figure 1 and Figure 2In one optional embodiment, the first end 32 and / or the second end 33 of the optical fiber 3 are coupled to a multi-core connector 5. Specifically, see [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 3 The multi-core connector 5 coupled to the first end 32 serves as the inlet connector 50, and the multi-core connector 5 coupled to the second end 33 serves as the outlet connector 51. All optical fibers 3 leading out from the same inlet connector 50 are pasted on the same inlet substrate 1, and all optical fibers 3 leading out from the same outlet substrate 2 are coupled to the same outlet connector 51.

[0038] In another optional embodiment, one fiber inlet substrate 1 may correspond to multiple fiber inlet connectors 50, the first part 30 of the optical fiber 3 is pasted on the same fiber inlet substrate 1 according to a preset fiber sequence, and the first end 32 of the optical fiber 3 is coupled to multiple fiber inlet connectors 50 according to a preset fiber sequence; one fiber outlet substrate 2 may also correspond to multiple fiber outlet connectors 51, and the optical fiber 3 led out from the same fiber outlet substrate 2 is coupled to the corresponding fiber outlet connector 51 according to a preset fiber sequence.

[0039] In one optional embodiment, the fiber input substrate 1 and the fiber output substrate 2 are arranged at any angle and with any spacing. Due to the vertical height difference between the different fiber input substrates 1, the relative positions of the fiber input substrate 1 and the fiber output substrate 2 can be flexibly set, and the fiber crossing area 4 can be formed between the fiber input substrate 1 and the fiber output substrate 2 to meet the requirements of three-dimensional fiber routing.

[0040] In fact, the relative positions between different fiber-infeed substrates 1 can be flexibly set. Different fiber-infeed substrates 1 can be parallel to each other or set at a preset angle. The vertical height difference between different fiber-infeed substrates 1 can be the same or different. In actual use scenarios, the relative positions between different fiber-infeed substrates 1 are determined by those skilled in the art based on the actual situation.

[0041] Implementation Method Two: See Figure 4 When the fiber inlet substrate 1 is configured as a multilayer substrate and the fiber outlet substrate 2 is configured as a multilayer substrate, the first part 30 of multiple optical fibers 3 is fixed on the surface of at least two layers of the fiber inlet substrate 1 according to a preset fiber sequence, and the second part 31 of multiple optical fibers 3 is fixed on the surface of at least two layers of the fiber outlet substrate 2 according to a preset fiber sequence; the second part 31 of different optical fibers 3 fixed on the same surface of the fiber inlet substrate 1 is fixed on the same or different surfaces of the fiber outlet substrate 2 to form an optical fiber crossing area 4; wherein, at least two layers of the fiber outlet substrate 2 are vertically stacked at different heights.

[0042] In practical application scenarios, according to the preset fiber sequence, the first part 30 of each optical fiber 3 is pasted onto the corresponding fiber input substrate 1, and the second part 31 is pasted onto the corresponding fiber output substrate 2. In practical application scenarios, the optical fiber 3 can form optical fiber crossover areas 4 in various situations according to different preset fiber sequences. Taking optical fiber A, optical fiber B and optical fiber C as examples, there are at least the following settings: (1) The first part 30 of optical fiber A, optical fiber B and optical fiber C is pasted onto the same fiber input substrate 1, and the second part 31 of optical fiber A, optical fiber B and optical fiber C is pasted onto the same fiber output substrate 2, wherein the fiber input substrate 1 and the fiber output substrate 2 are at different heights; (2) The first part 30 of optical fiber A, optical fiber B and optical fiber C is pasted onto the same fiber input substrate 1, and the second part 31 of optical fiber A, optical fiber B and / or optical fiber C is pasted onto different fiber output substrates 2; (3) The first part 30 of optical fiber A, optical fiber B and / or optical fiber C is pasted onto different fiber input substrates 1, and the second part 31 of optical fiber A, optical fiber B and optical fiber C is pasted onto the same fiber output substrate 2. Since there are vertical height differences between different fiber input substrates 1 and between different fiber output substrates 2, multiple optical fibers 3 form an optical fiber crossing area 4 between the fiber input substrate 1 and the fiber output substrate 2.

[0043] by Figure 4 For example, from a bottom-up perspective, the second part 31 of the optical fiber 3 on the third fiber-in substrate 1 is fixed to the surface of the second fiber-out substrate 2 (i.e., the same surface of the fiber-out substrate 2); the second part 31 of the optical fiber 3 on the second fiber-in substrate 1 is fixed to the surface of the first fiber-out substrate 2 and the surface of the third fiber-out substrate 2 (i.e., different surfaces of the fiber-out substrate 2).

[0044] Continue reading Figure 4 In an optional embodiment, the first portion 30 of the optical fiber 3 from the same input connector 50 can be attached to the same input substrate 1, and the second end 33 of the optical fiber 3 attached to the same output substrate 2 can be coupled to the same output connector 51.

[0045] In another optional embodiment, one fiber inlet substrate 1 can correspond to multiple inlet connectors 50, and one fiber outlet substrate 2 can correspond to multiple outlet connectors 51. The arrangement and correspondence are the same as in the first embodiment described above, and will not be repeated here. The number of pins in the inlet connector 50 coupled to the first end 32 and the number of pins in the outlet connector 51 coupled to the second end 33 can be the same or different.

[0046] In an optional embodiment, the fiber input substrate 1 and the fiber output substrate 2 are also arranged at any angle and any spacing. Since there is a vertical height difference between different fiber input substrates 1 and different fiber output substrates 2, the relative positions of the fiber input substrate 1 and the fiber output substrate 2 can be flexibly set, and the fiber crossing area 4 can be formed between the fiber input substrate 1 and the fiber output substrate 2 to meet the requirements of three-dimensional fiber routing.

[0047] In fact, the relative positions between different fiber input substrates 1 and between different fiber output substrates 2 can be flexibly set. Taking the fiber output substrate 2 as an example, different fiber output substrates 2 can be parallel to each other or set at a preset angle; the vertical height difference between different fiber output substrates 2 can be the same or different. In actual use scenarios, the relative positions between different fiber output substrates 2 are determined by those skilled in the art based on the actual situation.

[0048] Example 2: Continue reading Figure 4 To form the three-dimensional fiber crossover area 4, a vertical height difference is required between the fiber input substrate 1 and / or the fiber output substrate 2. Specifically, based on the fiber 3's orientation and spatial requirements, key points are selected during the fiber laying process, and fiber bending is added to ensure that the fiber 3 reaches the specified horizontal position and vertical height after completing horizontal and vertical turns, thus achieving three-dimensional fiber laying. To achieve three-dimensional fiber laying, Embodiment 2 of the present invention provides a method for fabricating a three-dimensional fiber laying structure. Taking any fiber input substrate 1 and fiber output substrate 2 as an example, the fabrication method specifically includes the following steps: Step 1: Fix the fiber inlet substrate 1 and the fiber outlet substrate 2 at a preset height using the support structure 7, and adjust the fiber inlet substrate 1 and the fiber outlet substrate 2 to a preset angle.

[0049] Step 2: Introduce the first part 30 of the optical fiber 3 into the fiber inlet substrate 1 from the corresponding inlet connector 50, and attach the optical fiber 3 to the fiber inlet substrate 1 according to the design path and preset fiber sequence.

[0050] Step 3: Bend the optical fiber 3 at one end of the fiber inlet substrate 1 that is close to the fiber outlet substrate 2, so that it leaves the plane where the fiber inlet substrate 1 is located, and pull the second part 31 of the optical fiber 3 close to the corresponding fiber outlet substrate 2.

[0051] Step 4: Attach the second part 31 of the optical fiber 3 to the fiber output substrate 2 according to the design path and preset fiber sequence. End the fiber routing at the end of the fiber output substrate 2 away from the fiber input substrate 1, and cut the optical fiber 3 after leaving a certain length. This completes the fiber routing from the fiber input substrate 1 to the fiber output substrate 2. Couple the second end 33 with the corresponding output connector 51.

[0052] Specifically, the support structure 7 is provided with a clamping member 70, which is used to fix the fiber inlet substrate 1 and the fiber outlet substrate 2. It should be noted here that... Figure 4 The support structure 7 on the side of the fiber inlet substrate 1 is not shown in the figure. In actual use, the support structure 7 on the side of the fiber outlet substrate 2 can be used as a reference to set the support structure 7 on the side of the fiber inlet substrate 1.

[0053] Following the steps described above, the remaining optical fibers 3 are then sequentially laid between the corresponding fiber inlet substrate 1 and fiber outlet substrate 2, ultimately achieving the fiber laying operation that brings together the optical fibers 3 at different positions and heights.

[0054] Example 3: In Embodiment 2, fixing the fiber input substrate 1 and the fiber output substrate 2 at a preset height before wiring is quite difficult. In particular, when a certain number of optical fibers 3 are already fixed on the fiber input substrate 1 and the fiber output substrate 2, laying the optical fibers 3 will inevitably be blocked by the fixed optical fibers 3 in the optical fiber crossing area 4. Moreover, the more optical fibers 3 that need to be laid, the more difficult the fiber laying operation becomes. In order to reduce the difficulty of fiber laying, this embodiment provides another method for manufacturing a three-dimensional fiber laying structure. Unlike the aforementioned Embodiment 2, in this embodiment, the substrate is first laid flat, then the optical fibers 3 are placed on the surface of the corresponding substrate, and then the substrates are stacked in the vertical direction.

[0055] See Figure 5 The fabrication method of this three-dimensional fiber structure specifically includes the following steps: Step 101: Lay at least two layers of the fiber inlet substrate 1 and at least one layer of the fiber outlet substrate 2 flat, and fix multiple optical fibers 3 on the surface of the fiber inlet substrate 1 and the fiber outlet substrate 2 according to the preset fiber sequence.

[0056] Combination Figure 6At least two layers of the fiber-in substrate 1 are laid flat in a top-to-bottom order, and the fiber-out substrate 2 is laid flat on the other side. There is a preset gap between the fiber-in substrate 1 and the fiber-out substrate 2 to facilitate the subsequent formation of the fiber crossover area 4. The fiber 3 is attached to the fiber-in substrate 1 according to the designed path and preset fiber sequence. The second part 31 of the fiber 3 is pulled close to the corresponding fiber-out substrate 2, and the second part 31 of the fiber 3 is attached to the fiber-out substrate 2 according to the designed path and preset fiber sequence. The fiber routing ends at the end of the fiber-out substrate 2 away from the fiber-in substrate 1, and the fiber 3 is cut off after leaving a certain length, completing the fiber routing from the fiber-in substrate 1 to the fiber-out substrate 2. The second end 33 is coupled to the corresponding output connector 51. According to the above steps, the remaining fiber 3 is then routed between the corresponding fiber-in substrate 1 and fiber-out substrate 2 in sequence.

[0057] Step 102: The fiber inlet substrate 1, which is laid flat, is stacked vertically at a preset height to form an optical fiber crossover area 4 between the fiber inlet substrate 1 and the fiber outlet substrate 2.

[0058] After the fiber-in board 1 is laid flat and arranged vertically according to a preset height, the portion of the fiber 3 between the fiber-in board 1 and the fiber-out board 2 is in a three-dimensional crossing state, extending the fiber arrangement space in three dimensions to form the fiber crossing area 4 (e.g. Figure 7 (As shown).

[0059] To increase the number of optical fibers 3 laid out, when the fiber output substrate 2 is configured as a multi-layer structure, the multiple fiber output substrates 2 are laid out sequentially in a top-to-bottom order, with a preset spacing between the multiple fiber input substrates 1 and the multiple fiber output substrates 2 to facilitate the subsequent formation of the optical fiber crossover area 4; after the fiber laying operation is completed, the laid-out fiber output substrates 2 are also stacked vertically according to a preset height (e.g., ...). Figure 7 (As shown).

[0060] After the fiber input substrate 1 and the fiber output substrate 2 are changed from a flat arrangement to a stacked arrangement, there is a certain height difference between the two ends of the optical fiber 3. If the reserved length of the optical fiber 3 in the optical fiber crossing area 4 is insufficient, the optical fiber 3 will be subjected to excessive tensile force, causing it to bend or even break. To avoid the above problems, refer to... Figure 7When fixing the optical fiber 3, the preset length of the optical fiber 3 between the fiber inlet substrate 1 and the fiber outlet substrate 2 is determined based on the height difference and horizontal spacing between the fiber inlet substrate 1 and the fiber outlet substrate 2 where the optical fiber 3 is located, as well as the preset fiber sequence of the optical fiber 3, and the two ends of the optical fiber 3 are fixed according to the preset length. Specifically, since the optical fiber crossing area 4 is a three-dimensional structure, the preset length should be determined by the spacing between the first part 30 and the second part 31 of the optical fiber 3 in the X, Y, and Z directions. The spacing in the X direction is the horizontal spacing between the fiber inlet substrate 1 and the fiber outlet substrate 2 where the optical fiber 3 is located, the spacing in the Y direction is the horizontal spacing between the preset fiber sequence of the first part 30 and the second part 31 of the optical fiber 3, and the spacing in the Z direction is the height difference between the fiber inlet substrate 1 and the fiber outlet substrate 2 where the optical fiber 3 is located.

[0061] To fix the aforementioned three-dimensional fiber structure, in an optional embodiment, the upper and lower stacked fiber-in substrates 1 or fiber-out substrates 2 are fixed at a preset height by a support structure 7. The preset height of the fiber-in substrates 1 and the fiber-out substrates 2 is determined by those skilled in the art based on the actual situation. In actual use scenarios, there may be misalignment in the vertical direction between the layers of fiber-in substrates 1 and between the layers of fiber-out substrates 2. The relative positions of the fiber-in substrates 1 and the fiber-out substrates 2 in space can be adaptively adjusted by adjusting the support structure 7.

[0062] To accommodate confined spaces, in another optional embodiment, the upper and lower stacked fiber-in substrates 1 and the lower and upper stacked fiber-out substrates 2 are fixed together using adhesive. Specifically, the upper and lower stacked fiber-in substrates 1 are bonded together, and adjacent fiber-in substrates 1 are fixed together with adhesive; the upper and lower stacked fiber-out substrates 2 are also bonded together, and adjacent fiber-out substrates 2 are fixed together with adhesive, to form a more compact three-dimensional structure.

[0063] To further reduce the volume of the three-dimensional fiber structure, refer to Figure 8 In another optional embodiment, after the upper and lower stacked fiber input substrates 1 and fiber output substrates 2 are respectively wound up, the winding structure is fixed with a sleeve 6.

[0064] Specifically, since the fiber-in board 1 is a flexible board, the space occupied by the fiber-in board 1 can be further reduced by winding multiple layers of the fiber-in board 1. Similarly, the fiber-out board 2 is also a flexible board, and the space occupied by the fiber-out board 2 can be further reduced by winding multiple layers of the fiber-out board 2. The wound fiber-in board 1 and the fiber-out board 2 are respectively fixed by the sleeve 6. Furthermore, each layer of the fiber-in board 1 or each layer of the fiber-out board 2 can also be wound and fixed separately. The specific winding method can be set by those skilled in the art according to the actual situation, and is not specifically limited here.

[0065] In one alternative implementation, after fiber optic cable 3 is deployed, its form in the blade server is as follows: Figure 9 As shown, the fixing method of the fiber inlet substrate 1 or the fiber outlet substrate 2 is selected according to the actual layout of each component in the blade server and the volume that the three-dimensional fiber structure can occupy.

[0066] Compared with the planar fiber optic layout in the prior art, the three-dimensional fiber optic structure adopted in this invention occupies a smaller substrate size, has a higher space utilization rate, and is more flexible in fiber optic layout. All fiber sequence changes are achieved through crossovers. The optical fibers 3 in the fiber crossover area 4 are in a three-dimensional spatial state. After the product is completed, it will eventually form a three-dimensional fiber bundle structure, extending the arrangement in the X and Y directions to the X, Y, and Z directions. Therefore, it reduces the excessively large board area occupied by the two-dimensional fiber optic layout in the X or Y direction, expands the fiber optic layout space to three dimensions, and saves two-dimensional space.

[0067] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A three-dimensional fiber structure, characterized in that, It includes at least two fiber-in substrates (1), at least one fiber-out substrate (2), and multiple optical fibers (3). The first part (30) of the optical fiber (3) is fixed on the surface of any of the fiber inlet substrates (1), and the second part (31) of the optical fiber (3) is fixed on the surface of any of the fiber outlet substrates (2). At least two layers of the fiber-in board (1) are stacked vertically at different heights, and multiple optical fibers (3) form an optical fiber crossover area (4) between the fiber-in board (1) and the fiber-out board (2).

2. The three-dimensional fiber structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first part (30) of the multiple optical fibers (3) is fixed on the surface of at least two layers of the fiber input substrate (1) according to a preset fiber sequence, and the second part (31) of the multiple optical fibers (3) is fixed on the surface of the fiber output substrate (2) according to a preset fiber sequence to form an optical fiber crossover area (4).

3. The three-dimensional fiber structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first part (30) of multiple optical fibers (3) is fixed on the surface of at least two layers of fiber-in substrate (1) according to a preset fiber sequence, and the second part (31) of multiple optical fibers (3) is fixed on the surface of at least two layers of fiber-out substrate (2) according to a preset fiber sequence; the second part (31) of different optical fibers (3) fixed on the same surface of fiber-in substrate (1) is fixed on the same or different surfaces of fiber-out substrate (2) to form an optical fiber crossing area (4); Among them, at least two fiber-exit substrates (2) are vertically stacked at different heights.

4. The three-dimensional fiber structure according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The first end (32) and / or the second end (33) of the optical fiber (3) are coupled to a multi-core connector (5).

5. The three-dimensional fiber structure according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The fiber infeed substrate (1) and the fiber outlet substrate (2) are arranged at any angle and at any distance.

6. A method for fabricating a three-dimensional fiber structure, characterized in that, Fabricating the three-dimensional fiber structure according to any one of claims 1-5, comprising: At least two layers of the fiber inlet substrate (1) and at least one layer of the fiber outlet substrate (2) are laid flat, and multiple optical fibers (3) are fixed on the surface of the fiber inlet substrate (1) and the fiber outlet substrate (2) according to a preset fiber sequence. The fiber inlet substrate (1) is laid flat and stacked vertically at a preset height to form an optical fiber crossover area (4) between the fiber inlet substrate (1) and the fiber outlet substrate (2).

7. The method for fabricating a three-dimensional fiber structure according to claim 6, characterized in that, When the fiber-exit substrate (2) is configured as a multilayer, the fiber-exit substrate (2) that is laid flat is stacked in the vertical direction according to a preset height.

8. The method for fabricating a three-dimensional fiber structure according to claim 6, characterized in that, When fixing the optical fiber (3), the preset length of the optical fiber (3) between the fiber inlet substrate (1) and the fiber outlet substrate (2) where the optical fiber (3) is located is determined according to the height difference and horizontal spacing between the fiber inlet substrate (1) and the fiber outlet substrate (2) and the preset fiber sequence of the optical fiber (3), and the two ends of the optical fiber (3) are fixed according to the preset length.

9. The method for fabricating a three-dimensional fiber structure according to claim 6, characterized in that, The upper and lower fiber input substrates (1) and the lower fiber output substrates (2) are fixed together with adhesive. Alternatively, after winding up each of the upper and lower stacked fiber input substrates (1) and fiber output substrates (2), a sleeve (6) is used to fix the winding structure.

10. The method for fabricating a three-dimensional fiber structure according to claim 6, characterized in that, The fiber inlet substrate (1) or fiber outlet substrate (2) stacked on the upper and lower sides is fixed at a preset height by the support structure (7).

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