Optical fiber connector, optical fiber connector system and polarity-changing optical fiber connector system

Abstract

The present invention mainly relates to the field of optical fiber connectors, and in particular to an optical fiber connector, an optical fiber connector system and a polarity-changing optical fiber connector system; comprising: at least two ceramic ferrules, a main shell, the main shell is provided with a step, the step intersects with the plane where each of the ceramic ferrules is located; the rear end is provided with a first elastic member abutment portion; a movable part, the front end of the movable part is provided with a limiting opening matched with the step, the rear part of the movable part is provided with a connecting part, and the main body of the movable part is provided with a second elastic member abutment portion; the movable part can move forward and backward along the main shell so that the limiting opening approaches or moves away from the step, and when the movable part is located at the extreme position close to the step, a gap is retained between the step and the movable part; a tail sleeve part is provided at the rear of the main shell and is relatively fixed to the movable part through the connecting part, and the tail sleeve part can move backward to drive the movable part.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention mainly relates to the field of optical fiber connectors, and in particular to an optical fiber connector, an optical fiber connector system and a variable polarity optical fiber connector system. Background Art

[0002] As the demand for bandwidth in data centers continues to increase, the requirements for fiber optic connection density continue to increase, and optical interface connector types for high density are also proposed. By increasing the number of optical connections, more data can be transmitted in a given space. In other words, more fiber optic connectors can be accommodated in the same floor space to provide backward compatibility with existing data center equipment, thereby improving service quality and reducing costs.

[0003] For example, in current small form factor pluggable transceiver (SFP and QSFP) applications, LC ferrule connector types are also used, and the footprint may currently need to accommodate two or four LC ferrule optical connections. However, in high-density applications, it may be necessary to accommodate double the number of LC ferrule optical connections in the same footprint.

[0004] However, designing fiber optic connectors that can provide high-density interconnects is a challenge. As fiber optic connectors and adapters are made smaller, connectors often become more difficult to handle and complex in structure, further reducing robustness. Summary of the invention

[0005] In order to solve the above technical problems, the present invention now provides an optical fiber connector, which is implemented by the following technical solutions:

[0006] An optical fiber connector,

[0007] include:

[0008] At least two ceramic ferrules, each of which is arranged on the same plane, and each of which is used to support an optical fiber;

[0009] A main housing, the main housing having a front end and a rear end, the ceramic ferrule extending from the front end; a step is provided on the main housing, the step intersects with the plane where each of the ceramic ferrules is located; a first elastic member abutment portion is provided at the rear end;

[0010] A movable part, wherein a limiting opening cooperating with the step is provided at the front end of the movable part, a connecting part is provided at the rear of the movable part, and a second elastic member abutting part is provided on the movable part body; the movable part can move forward and backward along the main shell so that the limiting opening approaches or moves away from the step, and when the movable part is located at an extreme position close to the step, a gap is reserved between the step and the movable part;

[0011] an elastic member, disposed between the first elastic member abutting portion and the second elastic member abutting portion;

[0012] The tail sleeve part is arranged at the rear part of the main shell and is relatively fixed with the movable part through the connecting part. The tail sleeve part can move backward to drive the movable part.

[0013] Preferably, the main shell includes a front body and a rear body, and the front body and the rear body are detachably fixed by a fixing part; the step is provided on the front body, and the first elastic member abutting part is provided on the rear body.

[0014] Preferably, the front body is provided with a head;

[0015] At least a part of the movable part is sleeved on the front body, and the limit position of the movable part close to the step is limited by the head.

[0016] Preferably, a slideway is provided at the rear of the front body;

[0017] The movable part is in a strip shape as a whole and is provided with a guide rail that cooperates with the slideway;

[0018] The slideway allows the movable part to be inserted from the rear end and stops at the front end of the slideway to define an extreme position of the movable part close to the step.

[0019] Preferably, the abutment portion of the second elastic member is disposed on the rear end surface of the guide rail to limit the limit position of the movable portion close to the step.

[0020] Preferably, the steps are provided on both sides of the main housing;

[0021] The movable portion is arranged corresponding to the step.

[0022] Preferably, it further comprises a polarity block, wherein the polarity block is arranged on the movable part or the main shell; the polarity block is arranged on a side corresponding to the step.

[0023] Preferably, the step is used to abut against the arm of the adapter's lock, the limiting opening is used to receive the tongue of the adapter's lock, and the gap reserved between the step and the movable portion is used to allow the tongue of the adapter's lock to pass over the step and enter the limiting opening;

[0024] The step is used to hook the tongue portion of the adapter's lock and the limiting opening is used to limit the tongue portion of the adapter's lock away from the main housing, so that the optical fiber connector is fixed on the adapter;

[0025] When the optical fiber connector is fixed on the adapter, the tail sleeve is pulled backward to drive the movable part to move backward, so that the limiting opening is disengaged from the latching tongue of the adapter's latch, and the latching tongue of the adapter's latch can go over the step to separate the optical fiber connector from the adapter.

[0026] The present invention also provides an optical fiber connector system:

[0027] The optical fiber connector includes the above-mentioned

[0028] The adapter comprises a latch, wherein the latch comprises an arm portion and a latch tongue portion, wherein the arm portion can be elastically bent and rebounded outward;

[0029] When the optical fiber connector is inserted into the adapter, the arm portion bends outward, the latch portion abuts against the movable portion and pushes the movable portion to move backward until the latch portion passes over the step and hooks the step, at which time the arm rebounds and the movable portion returns to the original limit position close to the step and limits the latch portion through the limiting opening, thereby fixing the optical fiber connector on the adapter;

[0030] When the optical fiber connector fixed on the adapter is pulled out, the tail sleeve is pulled to drive the movable part to move backward, so that the limiting opening is separated from the tongue part, and the arm part is bent outward to make the tongue part pass over and separate from the step, thereby separating the optical fiber connector from the adapter.

[0031] The present invention also provides a variable polarity optical fiber connector system:

[0032] The optical fiber connector comprises the above-mentioned optical fiber connector, and a polarity block and an adapter are arranged on a side corresponding to the step;

[0033] The adapter comprises an adapter housing and a card block;

[0034] The top and bottom of the adapter housing are provided with an upper slideway and a lower slideway corresponding to the polarity block, and the card block is detachably arranged on the upper slideway or the lower slideway;

[0035] When in use, the card block is set on the lower slide, and the upper slide corresponds to the polarity block of the optical fiber connector when it is adapted to the first polarity; when the card block is set on the upper slide, the lower slide corresponds to the polarity block of the optical fiber connector when it is adapted to the second polarity.

[0036] The beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0037] The optical fiber connector provided by the present invention drives the movable part through the tail sleeve part to make the optical fiber connector detach from the adapter, and has a simple structure and reliable operation. The optical fiber connector system includes an optical fiber connector and an adapter, and the optical fiber connector cooperates with the adapter's lock through a step and a limit opening to fix or detach the two to each other. The polarity-changing optical fiber connector system achieves polarity change by arranging a detachable card block on the adapter and cooperating with the slideway and the polarity block of the optical fiber connector, without changing the optical fiber connector itself, so that the optical fiber connector itself has a simple structure. The structural design of the present invention is simple and reliable, and while reducing the overall footprint of the optical fiber connector, it is easier to insert and remove the connector, and the position of the adapter card block can be changed to achieve on-site polarity change. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the optical fiber connector of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 2 It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the optical fiber connector of the present invention when inserted into an adapter;

[0040] Figure 3 It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the optical fiber connector of the present invention when the adapter is pulled out;

[0041] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the natural state structure of Example 2 of the optical fiber connector of the present invention;

[0042] Figure 5 It is a schematic structural diagram of the optical fiber connector of Embodiment 2 of the present invention in the pulled-open state;

[0043] Figure 6 It is a schematic structural diagram of the optical fiber connector of Example 1 of the present invention in the pulled-open state;

[0044] Figure 7 It is a schematic diagram of the exploded structure of Embodiment 1 of the optical fiber connector of the present invention;

[0045] Figure 8 It is a schematic diagram of the exploded structure of Embodiment 2 of the optical fiber connector of the present invention;

[0046] Fig. 9 It is a structural schematic diagram of the movable part of the embodiment 2 of the optical fiber connector of the present invention;

[0047] Fig.10 It is a schematic structural diagram of the main housing of the optical fiber connector of Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

[0048] Fig.11 It is a structural schematic diagram of the optical fiber connector of Example 1 of the present invention when the active part is provided with a polarity block;

[0049] Fig.12It is a schematic structural diagram of a second embodiment of the optical fiber connector of the present invention when the active part is provided with a polarity block;

[0050] Fig.13 It is a schematic structural diagram of the optical fiber connector of Example 1 of the present invention in a pulled-apart state from a second viewing angle;

[0051] Fig.14 It is a schematic structural diagram of the optical fiber connector of Example 2 of the present invention in a pulled-apart state from a second viewing angle;

[0052] Fig.15 This is a schematic diagram of the appearance structure of Embodiment 1 of the optical fiber connector of the present invention;

[0053] Fig.16 This is a schematic diagram of the appearance structure of Embodiment 2 of the optical fiber connector of the present invention;

[0054] Fig.17 The diagram is a schematic diagram of the adapter structure of the polarity-changing optical fiber connector system of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0055] The preferred mechanism and motion realization method of the present invention are further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0056] An optical fiber connector,

[0057] include:

[0058] like Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, at least two ceramic ferrules 1 are arranged on the same plane, and each ceramic ferrule 1 is used to support an optical fiber; two ceramic ferrules 1 are usually arranged, and for general optical fiber connectors, the same ceramic ferrules as LC optical fiber connectors are generally used, and an optical fiber is fixed in each optical fiber connector. The ceramic ferrule 1 is driven by a spring 2 arranged in the main housing so that it can be tightly matched with the adapter, but the main improvement of this patent is not related to the corresponding structure, so only a brief description is given.

[0059] The main housing 5 has a front end 3 and a rear end 4, and the ceramic ferrule 1 extends from the front end 3; the main housing 5 is provided with a step 6, and the step 6 intersects with the plane where each of the ceramic ferrules 1 is located; the rear end 4 is provided with a first elastic member abutment portion 7; the main housing 5 is usually a flat rectangular parallelepiped, and the ceramic ferrules 1 are arranged vertically and used, so the plane where the ceramic ferrules 1 are located intersects with the narrower side of the main housing 5, so the step 6 is also arranged on the relatively narrow side of the main housing 5; the step 6 is a protrusion, and its role It is mainly used to abut against the lock 12 in the adapter 11, so it allows a relatively smooth transition for smooth use; the elastic member abutment portion 7 can be a protruding plane, and to save space it is also arranged on both sides of the relatively narrow side of the main shell 5; to facilitate the insertion of the lock 12 of the adapter 11, side walls 10 are arranged on both sides of the step 6, and the two side walls 10 form a structure similar to a slide, so that the lock 12 can accurately enter the optical fiber connector without shaking left and right; for easy use, the step 6 is usually arranged on both sides of the main shell 5.

[0060] The movable part 8 has a limit opening 9 matched with the step 6 at its front end, a connecting part 18 at its rear, and a second elastic member abutting part 13 at its main body; the movable part 8 can move forward and backward along the main shell 5 so that the limit opening 9 approaches or moves away from the step 6, and when the movable part 8 is located at the extreme position close to the step 6, a gap is reserved between the step 6 and the movable part 8; an elastic member 14 is provided between the first elastic member abutting part 7 and the second elastic member abutting part 13 to provide elastic force for the movable part 8 to return to the extreme position close to the step 6; a tail sleeve part 17 is provided at the rear of the main shell 5 and is relatively fixed to the movable part 8 through the connecting part 18, such as Figure 5 , Figure 6 , Fig.13 and Fig.14 As shown, the tail sleeve portion 17 can move backward to drive the movable portion 8, and the connecting portion 18 and the tail sleeve portion 17 are relatively fixed in the form of a bayonet and a hook.

[0061] The adapter comprises a latch 12, wherein the latch 12 comprises an arm portion 15 and a latch tongue portion 16, wherein the arm portion 15 can be elastically bent and rebounded outward;

[0062] The step 6 is used to abut against the arm 15 of the adapter's latch 12, and the limiting opening 9 is used to receive the tongue portion 16 of the adapter's latch 12, and the gap between the step 6 and the movable portion 8 is used to allow the tongue portion 16 of the adapter's latch 12 to pass over the step 6 and enter the limiting opening 9;

[0063] In this way, the tongue portion 16 of the adapter's lock 12 is hooked by the step 16 and the tongue portion 16 of the adapter's lock 12 is limited by the limit opening 9 to be away from the main shell body 5, so that the optical fiber connector is fixed on the adapter 11; specifically, when the optical fiber connector is inserted into the adapter 11, the arm portion 15 bends outward, the tongue portion 16 abuts against the movable portion 8 and pushes the movable portion 8 to move backward until the tongue 16 passes over the step 6 and hooks the step 6, at which time the arm portion 15 rebounds and the movable portion 8 returns to its original position, and the limit opening 9 clamps and limits the tongue 16 from moving outward, so that the optical fiber connector is fixed on the adapter 11.

[0064] When the optical fiber connector is fixed on the adapter 11, the movable part 8 is moved backward by pulling the tail sleeve part 17 backward, so that the limiting opening 9 is disengaged from the tongue part 16 of the lock 12 of the adapter 11, and the tongue part 16 passes over the step 6 to separate the optical fiber connector from the adapter 11; specifically, when the optical fiber connector fixed on the adapter 11 is pulled out, the tail sleeve part 17 is pulled to drive the movable part 8 to move backward, so that the limiting opening 9 is disengaged from the tongue part 16, and the arm part 15 is bent outward, so that the tongue part 16 passes over and separates from the step 6, thereby separating the optical fiber connector from the adapter 11.

[0065] The main housing 5 can be configured to include a front body 19 and a rear body 20, and the front body 19 and the rear body 20 are detachably fixed by a fixing portion 21; specifically, the fixing portion 21 is provided at a bayonet and a hook on the wider side; the step 6 is provided at the front body 19, and the first elastic member abutting portion 7 is provided at the rear body 20; the front body 19 is a cavity for arranging a spring 2 and a ceramic ferrule 1, and the rear body 20 is used to close the cavity, so that the ceramic ferrule 1 has a rebound ability.

[0066] The arrangement of the movable part 8 and the main housing 5 may be:

[0067] Embodiment 1, as Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, the front body 19 is provided with a head; the head is formed by a small section of the side wall 10 only provided near the front end 3, and the step 6 is still located between the side walls 10, but the rear half of the front body 19 is not provided with the side wall 10;

[0068] At least a part of the movable part 8 is sleeved on the front main body 19, and the head part is used to limit the extreme position of the movable part 8 close to the step 6; the movable part 8 as a whole is similar to a sleeve-like structure, which is sleeved on the front main body 19 and moves back and forth; since it is an integral part, the limit openings 9 on both sides are arranged on the movable part 8 of the whole.

[0069] Embodiment 2, as Figure 5 , Figure 8 , Fig. 9 and Fig.10 As shown, a slideway 22 is provided at the rear of the front body 19; the slideway 22 is formed by the side wall 10; the movable portion 8 is strip-shaped as a whole and is provided with a guide rail 23 that cooperates with the slideway 22; if steps 6 are provided on both sides, two movable portions 8 need to be provided accordingly;

[0070] The slide 22 allows the movable part 8 to be inserted from the rear end and stop at the front end of the slide 22 to limit the extreme position of the movable part 8 close to the step 6. The second elastic member abutment portion 13 is arranged on the rear end surface of the guide rail 23. In this way, two independent movable parts 8 are arranged. In theory, this structure can make the optical fiber connector thinner so that more optical fiber connectors can be configured in a limited space.

[0071] In addition, due to the dual core and symmetrical design, Fig.11 , Fig.12 , Fig.15 and Fig.16 As shown, it also includes a polarity block 24 or it can be called an anti-fool block. The polarity block 24 is arranged on the movable part 8 or the main shell 5, preferably on the movable part 8, so as to save space; specifically, there is only one polarity block 24, and it corresponds to the step 6 on one side. It is only arranged on one side, so that the ceramic ferrule 1 close to or far away from the polarity block 24 can be distinguished, thereby distinguishing the polarity; the polarity block 24 is arranged on a side corresponding to the step 6.

[0072] The present invention also provides an optical fiber connector system.

[0073] The optical fiber connector structure is similar to the above, which will not be repeated here, and also includes:

[0074] The adapter 11 includes a latch 12, wherein the latch 12 includes an arm portion 15 and a latch tongue portion 16, and the arm portion 15 can be elastically bent and rebounded outward;

[0075] When the optical fiber connector is inserted into the adapter 11, the arm portion 15 bends outward, the tongue portion 16 abuts against the movable portion 8 and pushes the movable portion 8 to move backward until the tongue portion 16 passes over the step 6 and hooks the step 6, at which time the arm portion 15 rebounds and the movable portion 8 returns to its original position and limits the tongue portion 16 through the limiting opening 9, so that the optical fiber connector is fixed on the adapter 11;

[0076] When the optical fiber connector fixed on the adapter 11 is pulled out, the tail sleeve portion 17 is pulled to drive the movable portion 8 to move backward, so that the limiting opening 9 is disengaged from the tongue portion 16, and the optical fiber connector moves outward. The step 6 causes the arm portion 15 to bend outward, and the tongue portion 16 passes over and disengages from the step 6, thereby detaching the optical fiber connector from the adapter 11.

[0077] The present invention also provides a variable polarity optical fiber connector system.

[0078] The optical fiber connector structure is similar to the above, which will not be described here, and also includes an adapter 11;

[0079] like Fig.17 As shown, the adapter 11 includes an adapter housing and a card block 25;

[0080] An upper slideway 26 and a lower slideway 27 corresponding to the polarity block 24 are disposed on the top and bottom of the housing of the adapter 11 , and the clamping block 25 is detachably disposed on the upper slideway 26 or the lower slideway 27 .

[0081] When in use, the card block 25 is set on the upper slide 26 or the lower slide 27, so that the adapter with the polarity block 24 can only be inserted in one of the situations of being located at the top or the bottom, thus limiting the polarity of the optical fiber connector when inserted; if the polarity needs to be changed, the card block 25 is removed and replaced to the other side, and then the optical fiber connector is reversed and inserted; when in use, the card block 25 is set on the lower slide 27 at the bottom, and the upper slide 26 corresponds to the polarity block 24 of the optical fiber connector when it is adapted to the first polarity; when the card block 25 is set on the upper slide 26 at the top, and the lower slide 27 corresponds to the polarity block 24 of the optical fiber connector when it is adapted to the second polarity.

[0082] Finally, it should be noted that the above are only preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the embodiments, those skilled in the art can still modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments or make equivalent substitutions for some of the technical features therein. However, any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An optical fiber connector, characterized in that: include: At least two ceramic ferrules, each of which is arranged on the same plane, and each of which is used to support an optical fiber; A main housing, the main housing having a front end and a rear end, the ceramic ferrule extending from the front end; a step is provided on the main housing, the step intersects with the plane where each of the ceramic ferrules is located; a first elastic member abutment portion is provided at the rear end; A movable part, wherein a limiting opening cooperating with the step is provided at the front end of the movable part, a connecting part is provided at the rear of the movable part, and a second elastic member abutting part is provided on the movable part body; the movable part can move forward and backward along the main shell so that the limiting opening approaches or moves away from the step, and when the movable part is located at an extreme position close to the step, a gap is reserved between the step and the movable part; an elastic member, disposed between the first elastic member abutting portion and the second elastic member abutting portion; A tail sleeve portion, which is disposed at the rear of the main housing and is relatively fixed to the movable portion through the connecting portion, and the tail sleeve portion can move backward to drive the movable portion; The step is used to abut against the arm of the adapter's lock, the limiting opening is used to receive the tongue of the adapter's lock, and the gap reserved between the step and the movable portion is used to allow the tongue of the adapter's lock to pass over the step and enter the limiting opening; The step is used to hook the tongue portion of the adapter's lock and the limiting opening is used to limit the tongue portion of the adapter's lock away from the main housing, so that the optical fiber connector is fixed on the adapter; When the optical fiber connector is fixed on the adapter, the tail sleeve is pulled backward to drive the movable part to move backward, so that the limiting opening is disengaged from the latching tongue of the adapter's latch, and the latching tongue of the adapter's latch can go over the step to separate the optical fiber connector from the adapter.

2. The optical fiber connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The main housing includes a front body and a rear body, and the front body and the rear body are detachably fixed by a fixing part; the step is arranged on the front body, and the first elastic member abutting part is arranged on the rear body.

3. The optical fiber connector according to claim 2, characterized in that: The front body is provided with a head; At least a part of the movable part is sleeved on the front body, and the limit position of the movable part close to the step is limited by the head.

4. The optical fiber connector according to claim 2, characterized in that: A slideway is provided at the rear of the front body; The movable part is in a strip shape as a whole and is provided with a guide rail that cooperates with the slideway; The slideway allows the movable part to be inserted from the rear end and stops at the front end of the slideway to define an extreme position of the movable part close to the step.

5. The optical fiber connector according to claim 4, characterized in that: The second elastic member abutting portion is disposed on the rear end surface of the guide rail.

6. The optical fiber connector according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The steps are arranged on both sides of the main shell; The movable portion is arranged corresponding to the step.

7. The optical fiber connector according to claim 6, characterized in that: It also includes a polarity block, which is arranged on the movable part or the main shell; The polarity block is disposed at a side portion corresponding to the step.

8. An optical fiber connector system, characterized in that: The optical fiber connector comprises the optical fiber connector according to any one of claims 1 to 6, and The adapter comprises a latch, wherein the latch comprises an arm portion and a latch tongue portion, wherein the arm portion can be elastically bent outward and rebound; When the optical fiber connector is inserted into the adapter, the arm portion bends outward, the latch portion abuts against the movable portion and pushes the movable portion to move backward until the latch portion passes over the step and hooks the step, at which time the arm rebounds and the movable portion returns to the original limit position close to the step and limits the latch portion through the limiting opening, thereby fixing the optical fiber connector on the adapter; When the optical fiber connector fixed on the adapter is pulled out, the tail sleeve is pulled to drive the movable part to move backward, so that the limiting opening is separated from the tongue part, and the arm part is bent outward to make the tongue part pass over and separate from the step, thereby separating the optical fiber connector from the adapter.

9. A variable polarity optical fiber connector system, characterized in that: An optical fiber connector comprising any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a polarity block and an adapter are provided on a side portion corresponding to the step; The adapter comprises an adapter housing and a card block; The top and bottom of the adapter housing are provided with an upper slideway and a lower slideway corresponding to the polarity block, and the card block is detachably arranged on the upper slideway or the lower slideway; When in use, the card block is set on the lower slide, and the upper slide corresponds to the polarity block of the optical fiber connector when it is adapted to the first polarity; when the card block is set on the upper slide, the lower slide corresponds to the polarity block of the optical fiber connector when it is adapted to the second polarity.

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