A quick connector for manually aligning polarization-maintaining optical fibers and its use method

Abstract

The present invention relates to the technical field of polarization-maintaining optical fiber connection, and more specifically to a quick connector for manually aligning polarization-maintaining optical fibers and a method for using the same. The connector comprises a polarization-maintaining optical fiber, a moving component, a base, an alignment platform, and a rotating component. The alignment platform is fixedly mounted at the center of the top of the base, a coupling block is embedded in the top of the alignment platform, a protective flap is rotatably mounted at the edge of the back of the alignment platform, slide rails are fixedly mounted on the top of the base on both sides of the alignment platform, and moving components and rotating components are slidably mounted on the outer sides of two sets of slide rails. The quick connector for manually aligning polarization-maintaining optical fibers and the method for using the same achieve alignment and maintenance of the fast and slow axes between polarization-maintaining optical fibers by adjusting the moving component and the rotating component, and perform production coupling and debugging. The entire coupling process is simple to operate and low in cost, reducing the constraints of environmental factors on the polarization-maintaining optical fiber coupling process.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of polarization-maintaining optical fiber connection, and in particular to a quick connector for manually aligning polarization-maintaining optical fibers and a method for using the connector. Background Art

[0002] Optical fiber acts as a bridge between optoelectronic devices. With the development of polarization multiplexing technology and the needs of the fiber optic sensing field, polarization-maintaining fiber is more widely used. Compared with single-mode fiber, polarization-maintaining fiber can not only maintain the power transmission of the incident light into the fiber, but also maintain the polarization state of the light. After the light is coupled into the polarization-maintaining fiber, it is divided into two mutually perpendicular axes. Ideally, the transmission of light along the two axes is independent of each other. Therefore, if linearly polarized light is injected along one axis, the light can only be transmitted along this axis. In order to achieve this polarization-maintaining effect, the design of the optical fiber does not eliminate the birefringence of the optical fiber. Instead, the influence of stress on the polarization state of the incident light is eliminated by designing the geometric dimensions of the optical fiber to produce a larger birefringence. By applying asymmetric stress to the optical fiber, the optical fiber produces high birefringence. This is stress-type polarization-maintaining optical fiber. The birefringence of stress-type polarization-maintaining optical fiber is formed by synthetic materials with differential thermal expansion near the fiber core. The different material components in the cladding create a stress zone around the core. The direction connecting the two stress zones is called the slow axis, and the direction perpendicular to it is called the fast axis. The current main structures of stress-type polarization-maintaining optical fiber include panda-type optical fiber, bowtie-type optical fiber, and elliptical cladding optical fiber.

[0003] To connect two sections of polarization-maintaining optical fiber, not only must the fiber cores be precisely aligned, but the stress axes of the polarization-maintaining optical fibers must also be strictly aligned. This operation can only be accomplished using a polarization-maintaining optical fiber fusion splicer, or by using a relatively complex axial observation device to pre-align the axial direction and then perform position alignment. For temporary testing or production processes, this operation is completely unnecessary and time-consuming and labor-intensive. Therefore, the design of a quick connector for manually aligning polarization-maintaining optical fibers and its use method are urgently needed in the current field of polarization-maintaining optical fiber connection technology. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present invention provides a quick connector for manually aligning polarization-maintaining optical fibers and a method for using the same, in order to solve the problems existing in the prior art.

[0005] In order to achieve the above objectives, the embodiments of the present invention provide the following technical solutions:

[0006] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a quick connector for manually aligning polarization-maintaining optical fibers and a method for using the same include polarization-maintaining optical fibers, moving parts, a machine base, an alignment platform, and a rotating part. An alignment platform is fixedly installed at a central position on the top of the machine base, a connecting block is embedded in the top of the alignment platform, a protective flip cover is rotatably installed at the edge of the back of the alignment platform, slide rails are fixedly installed on the top of the machine base on both sides of the alignment platform, and moving parts and rotating parts are slidably installed on the outer sides of the two groups of slide rails, and rotation adjustment shafts are rotatably installed on the shaft positions of the moving parts and rotating parts away from the two ends of the alignment platform. A fixed structure is fixedly installed on the side of the moving parts and rotating parts close to the alignment platform, and optical fiber placement grooves are provided inside the rotation adjustment shaft, the moving parts, the rotating parts, and the fixed structure. The surface of the top of the connecting block is etched with a V-groove through a silicon wafer.

[0007] Furthermore, a moving knob is rotatably mounted on the top of the machine base, and the moving knob and the moving component are linked to each other, so that the moving component moves axially on the outside of the slide rail.

[0008] Furthermore, a locking structure is fixedly installed between the rotation adjustment shaft and the movable component and the rotating component, and the locking structure limits the rotation position of the rotation adjustment shaft.

[0009] Furthermore, rubber blocks are evenly arranged on the surface of the fixing structure that contacts the polarization-maintaining optical fiber.

[0010] The manual alignment polarization-maintaining optical fiber quick connector also includes a method of use, the specific steps are as follows:

[0011] Align the fiber placement groove and V-groove to the same horizontal plane. Decoat and clean the two polarization-maintaining fibers to be connected, then cut to obtain flat, mirrored end faces. Place these fibers into the fiber placement grooves within the movable and rotating components, respectively, and secure them with a fixed structure. Connect the outer ends of the two polarization-maintaining fibers to an optical power meter or extinction ratio tester via a rotating adjustment shaft. Adjust the position of the movable component by moving the knob and the axial direction of the polarization-maintaining fibers by rotating the adjustment shaft to align the two ends of the polarization-maintaining fibers to be connected within the V-groove. Use an optical power meter and extinction ratio tester to determine the optimal position of the polarization-maintaining fibers to be connected. Then, drip refractive index matching fluid into the V-groove and press the protective flap to couple the two polarization-maintaining fibers. If connecting the polarization-maintaining fibers for testing purposes only, open the protective flap after testing to remove the polarization-maintaining fibers. If permanent coupling is required, apply glue to the polarization-maintaining fiber connection within the V-groove. Remove the coupling block and polarization-maintaining fibers for permanent placement.

[0012] The present invention has the following advantages:

[0013] The manual-aligned polarization-maintaining optical fiber quick connector and its use method achieve the alignment and maintenance of the fast and slow axes between polarization-maintaining optical fibers by adjusting the moving parts and the rotating parts, and perform production coupling and debugging. The entire coupling process is simple to operate and low in cost, and reduces the constraints of environmental factors during the polarization-maintaining optical fiber coupling process. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] To more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for the embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are merely exemplary, and those skilled in the art can derive other implementation drawings based on the provided drawings without inventive effort.

[0015] The structures, proportions, sizes, etc. illustrated in this specification are intended solely to complement the contents disclosed herein and to facilitate understanding and reading by persons skilled in the art. They are not intended to limit the conditions under which the present invention may be implemented and therefore have no substantive technical significance. Any structural modifications, changes in proportions, or adjustments in sizes, without affecting the efficacy and objectives of the present invention, shall remain within the scope of the technical contents disclosed herein.

[0016] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention;

[0017] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the front structure of the present invention as a whole;

[0018] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of the overall top view of the present invention;

[0019] In the figure: 1. Rotating adjustment shaft; 2. Moving part; 3. Moving knob; 4. Machine base; 5. Slide rail; 6. Connecting block; 7. Alignment platform; 8. Rotating part; 9. Protective flap. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] The following describes the implementation of the present invention using specific embodiments. Those skilled in the art will readily understand the other advantages and benefits of the present invention from the disclosure herein. Obviously, the embodiments described are only a portion of the present invention, not all of it. All other embodiments derived by persons of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without inventive effort are intended to fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0021] The terms "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "middle", etc. used in this specification are only for the convenience of description and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Changes or adjustments to their relative relationships should be regarded as within the scope of the present invention without substantially changing the technical content.

[0022] The present invention provides a technical solution:

[0023] A quick connector for manually aligning polarization-maintaining optical fibers and a method for using the same include a polarization-maintaining optical fiber, a moving component 2, a base 4, an alignment platform 7, and a rotating component 8. The alignment platform 7 is fixedly installed at the center of the top of the base 4. A coupling block 6 is embedded on the top of the alignment platform 7. The coupling block 6 and the alignment platform 7 are detachably installed. A protective flip cover 9 is rotatably installed on the edge of the back of the alignment platform 7. Slide rails 5 are fixedly installed on the top of the base 4 on both sides of the alignment platform 7. The slide rails 5 are installed at a certain inclination angle to the base 4. The inclination angle is determined according to the length between the two ends of the base 4. The present invention provides a method for determining an angle. When the length between the two ends of the base 4 is 150 mm, the inclination angle of the slide rail 5 is 2°. The main purpose of the tilting setting is to form an angle between the opposite ends of the moving part 2 and the rotating part 8 and the alignment platform 7, which is conducive to the close fit of the polarization-maintaining optical fiber inside the V-groove and prevents the polarization-maintaining optical fiber from relative displacement during the coupling process. The moving part 2 and the rotating part 8 are slidingly installed on the outer sides of the two sets of slide rails 5. The axial positions of the moving part 2 and the rotating part 8 away from the two ends of the alignment platform 7 are both rotatably installed with a rotation adjustment shaft 1. The side of the moving part 2 and the rotating part 8 close to the alignment platform 7 is fixedly installed with a fixed structure. The fixed structure facilitates the effective fixation of the polarization-maintaining optical fiber. The interior of the rotation adjustment shaft 1, the moving part 2, the rotating part 8 and the fixed structure are all provided with optical fiber placement grooves, and the surface of the top of the connecting block 6 is etched with a V-groove through a silicon wafer.

[0024] In the present invention, a moving knob 3 is rotatably installed on the top of the machine base 4, and the moving knob 3 and the moving component 2 are linked to each other, so that the moving component 2 moves axially on the outside of the slide rail 5. During use, the main function of the moving component 2 is axial movement. By rotating the adjustment shaft 1, it can also rotate within a certain angle range, achieving the same purpose as the rotating component 8.

[0025] In the present invention, a locking structure is fixedly installed between the rotation adjustment shaft 1 and the movable component 2 and the rotating component 8. The locking structure limits the rotation position of the rotation adjustment shaft 1. The setting of the locking structure effectively prevents the polarization-maintaining optical fiber from positionally shifting during the coupling process, thereby improving the coupling effect of the polarization-maintaining optical fiber.

[0026] In the present invention, rubber blocks are evenly arranged on the contact surface of the fixing structure and the polarization-maintaining optical fiber. The fixed installation of the rubber blocks can effectively increase the friction between the fixing structure and the polarization-maintaining optical fiber, thereby improving the fixing effect of the polarization-maintaining optical fiber.

[0027] The manual alignment polarization-maintaining optical fiber quick connector also includes a method of use, the specific steps are as follows:

[0028] Adjust the fiber placement groove and the V-groove to the same horizontal plane, remove the coating of the two sections of polarization-maintaining optical fibers to be connected, clean them, and then cut them to obtain flat end faces with mirror areas. Place them in the fiber placement grooves inside the moving part 2 and the rotating part 8 respectively, and fix them through the fixed structure. The two ends of the outer sides of the two sections of polarization-maintaining optical fibers are connected to the optical power meter or extinction ratio test equipment through the rotating adjustment shaft 1 respectively. Adjust the position of the moving part 2 by moving the knob 3, and adjust the axis position of the polarization-maintaining optical fiber by rotating the adjustment shaft 1 so that the two ends of the polarization-maintaining optical fiber to be connected are aligned. Align in the V-groove and detect with an optical power meter and an extinction ratio tester to obtain the optimal position and axis of the polarization-maintaining optical fiber to be connected. Then, drop a refractive index matching liquid into the V-groove and press down the protective flap 9 to couple the two sections of polarization-maintaining optical fiber to be connected. If the purpose of connecting the polarization-maintaining optical fiber here is only for testing, then after the test is completed, open the protective flap 9 and take out the polarization-maintaining optical fiber. If the polarization-maintaining optical fiber needs to be permanently coupled, glue the connection of the polarization-maintaining optical fiber in the V-groove, then take out the connecting block 6 and the polarization-maintaining optical fiber for permanent placement.

[0029] Although the present invention has been described in detail above using general descriptions and specific embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and improvements may be made thereto. Therefore, such modifications and improvements, without departing from the spirit of the present invention, are intended to be within the scope of protection claimed herein.

Claims

1. A quick connector for manually aligning polarization-maintaining optical fibers, comprising a polarization-maintaining optical fiber, a moving component (2), a base (4), an alignment platform (7), and a rotating component (8), characterized in that: An alignment platform (7) is fixedly installed at the central position of the top of the machine base (4), a connecting block (6) is embedded on the top of the alignment platform (7), a protective flip cover (9) is rotatably installed on the edge of the back of the alignment platform (7), and slide rails (5) are fixedly installed on the top of the machine base (4) on both sides of the alignment platform (7), and the slide rails (5) are installed at an inclined angle with the machine base (4), with the lower end facing the alignment platform (7); the outer sides of the two groups of slide rails (5) are respectively slidably installed with a moving part (2) and a rotating part (8), and the shaft positions of the moving part (2) and the rotating part (8) away from the two ends of the alignment platform (7) are rotatably installed with a rotation adjustment shaft (1), and the side of the moving part (2) and the rotating part (8) close to the alignment platform (7) are fixedly installed with a fixed structure, and the interior of the rotation adjustment shaft (1), the moving part (2), the rotating part (8) and the fixed structure are all provided with an optical fiber placement groove, and the surface of the top of the connecting block (6) is etched with a V-shaped groove by a silicon wafer; A locking structure is fixedly installed between the rotation adjustment shaft (1), the moving component (2), and the rotating component (8), and the locking structure limits the rotation position of the rotation adjustment shaft (1); and rubber blocks are evenly arranged on the surface of the fixed structure that contacts the polarization-maintaining optical fiber.

2. The quick connector for manually aligned polarization-maintaining optical fibers according to claim 1, characterized in that: A moving knob (3) is rotatably mounted on the top of the machine base (4), and the moving knob (3) and the moving component (2) are linked to each other, so that the moving component (2) moves axially on the outside of the slide rail (5).

3. The quick connector for manually aligned polarization-maintaining optical fibers according to claim 1, characterized in that: The manual alignment polarization-maintaining optical fiber quick connector also includes a method of use, the specific steps are as follows: Adjust the fiber placement groove and the V-groove to the same horizontal plane, remove the coating of the two polarization-maintaining optical fibers to be connected, clean them, and then cut them to obtain flat end faces with mirror areas. Place them in the fiber placement grooves inside the moving part (2) and the rotating part (8), respectively, and fix them through a fixed structure. The two ends of the outer sides of the two polarization-maintaining optical fibers are connected to the optical power meter or extinction ratio test equipment through the rotating adjustment shaft (1). The position of the moving part (2) is adjusted by moving the knob (3), and the axis position of the polarization-maintaining optical fiber is adjusted by rotating the adjustment shaft (1) so that the polarization-maintaining optical fiber to be connected is smooth. The two ends of the connection are aligned in the V-groove and tested by an optical power meter and an extinction ratio device to obtain the optimal position and axis of the polarization-maintaining optical fiber to be connected. Then, a refractive index matching liquid is dripped into the V-groove, and the protective flap (9) is pressed down to couple the two polarization-maintaining optical fibers to be connected. If the purpose of connecting the polarization-maintaining optical fibers here is only for testing, the protective flap (9) is opened after the test is completed and the polarization-maintaining optical fibers are taken out. If the polarization-maintaining optical fibers need to be permanently coupled, the polarization-maintaining optical fibers are glued in the V-groove at the connection point, and then the connecting block (6) and the polarization-maintaining optical fibers are taken out for permanent placement.

Images