A poF female socket connector

Abstract

The application discloses a POF female seat connector, which comprises an insulating seat having a plug-in groove for plugging with a POF male connector and a mounting position in communication with the plug-in groove; a lens module is mounted in the mounting position; the lens module comprises a plastic optical fiber lens, an input end of a lens body in the plastic optical fiber lens is exposed in the plug-in groove, and an output end of the lens body is exposed at a lower end of the insulating seat; the insulating seat is mounted on a PCB, and the output end of the lens body is in butt joint with an optical fiber chip mounted on the PCB. The application does not need an optical fiber chip, and an additional structure for fixing the optical fiber chip is not needed, the structure is relatively simple, the lens body in the plastic optical fiber lens is only in butt joint with the optical fiber chip, optical signals are transmitted to the optical fiber chip, and finally, the optical signals are received by the optical fiber chip, and the application is particularly suitable for being applied to a scene where the optical fiber chip is welded and fixed on the PCB and only needs to transmit optical signals.

Description

Technical fields:

[0001] This invention relates to the field of connector technology, and specifically to a POF female connector. Background technology:

[0002] With the continuous development of optical fiber communication technology, the requirements for supporting optical fiber cables and optical fiber connectors are also becoming increasingly stringent.

[0003] Plastic optical fiber, or POF, is a type of optical fiber (optical waveguide fiber) made of highly transparent polymers such as polystyrene (PS), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), or polycarbonate (PC) as the core material, and PMMA, fluoroplastics, etc., as the cladding material. As an alternative to silica optical fiber, POF is a low-cost, lightweight, and easy-to-install data transmission medium. It is particularly suitable for short-distance, small-to-medium capacity systems with many connectors (such as access networks). Compared to multimode silica fiber, plastic optical fiber (POF) is more flexible, has better mechanical flexibility, is dust-resistant, and is easier to install and maintain. Crucially, POF core diameters are typically 0.5 mm or larger, while multimode silica fiber core diameters are 62.5 μm or 50 μm. POF, with its core diameter approximately ten times larger, is easier to align. For step-index POF with a core diameter of 980 μm and graded-index POF with a core diameter of 500 μm, even a ±30 μm offset during connection does not significantly affect coupling loss (increasing loss by approximately 0.03 dB). Inexpensive injection-molded connectors can be used, significantly reducing the overall system cost. Plastic optical fiber is widely used in civilian fields such as power, medical, and automotive industries.

[0004] Chinese invention patent (CN205562890U) discloses a plastic fiber optic socket structure, comprising: a plastic fiber optic socket including two grooves and fiber optic holes respectively located in the grooves; each groove has a notch on its lower sidewall; each side has a slot; and the bottom includes a fixing buckle; a fiber optic chip including a body and pins; the body includes a fiber optic chip receiver port, which is accommodated in the groove; and the pins extend through the notch in the groove; a plastic fiber optic cover plate with a buckle on each side, the buckles being fixed in the slots, such that the front end of the plastic fiber optic cover plate abuts against the body of the fiber optic chip; a PCB including fixing holes for fixing the fixing buckles and soldering holes for soldering to the pins; a plastic fiber optic cable passing through the fiber optic hole and connected to the fiber optic chip receiver port; and a plastic fiber optic handle for fixing the plastic fiber optic cable to the plastic fiber optic socket.

[0005] However, since the plastic fiber optic socket structure directly uses a plastic fiber optic socket and a plastic fiber optic cover plate to fix the fiber optic chip, and the pins of the fiber optic chip are soldered to the PCB, the plastic fiber optic socket structure directly comes with the fiber optic chip and requires an additional structure to fix the fiber optic chip. Its structure becomes complicated and is not suitable for scenarios where the fiber optic chip has already been soldered to the PCB and only optical signals need to be transmitted.

[0006] In view of the above, the inventors propose the following technical solution. Summary of the Invention:

[0007] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and provide a POF female connector.

[0008] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: The POF female connector includes: an insulating base having a mating slot for mating with a POF male connector and a mounting position communicating with the mating slot; a lens module installed in the mounting position; the lens module includes a plastic fiber optic lens, the input end of which is exposed in the mating slot, and the output end of which is exposed at the lower end of the insulating base; the insulating base is mounted on a PCB board, and the output end of which is connected to a fiber optic chip mounted on the PCB board.

[0009] Furthermore, in the above technical solution, the lens module also includes a bracket, in which the plastic fiber optic lens is fixed; wherein, the bracket has an inverted buckle on its outer side, and the mounting position has a locking hole on its inner wall, the inverted buckle being inserted into the locking hole and being able to move up and down relative to the locking hole, and a metal spring is also provided between the bracket and the mounting position, the metal spring elastically supporting the bracket relative to the insulating base, so that the bracket is fixed in the mounting position in a way that allows it to float elastically.

[0010] Furthermore, in the above technical solution, the lower end of the bracket is provided with a mounting groove, and the upper end of the bracket is provided with a docking window that passes through the mounting groove. The plastic fiber optic lens is installed in the mounting groove, the input end of the plastic fiber optic lens is exposed in the docking window, and the output end of the plastic fiber optic lens is exposed outwards.

[0011] Furthermore, in the above technical solution, the metal spring is embedded in the limiting groove provided at the upper end of the bracket, and multiple upwardly protruding elastic arms are formed on the metal spring, all of which are in contact with the bottom surface of the mounting position.

[0012] Furthermore, in the above technical solution, a non-circular positioning buckle is also provided in the mounting groove; the plastic optical fiber lens is provided with a through second positioning hole, and the positioning buckle passes through the second positioning hole to engage and position with the plastic optical fiber lens.

[0013] Furthermore, in the above technical solution, the mounting groove is also formed with a plurality of pressing protrusions, which abut against the periphery of the plastic optical fiber lens to define the plastic optical fiber lens.

[0014] Furthermore, in the above technical solution, the plastic fiber optic lens includes a base and a lens body integrally fixed on the base. The lens body has an input end and an output end, which are distributed correspondingly.

[0015] Furthermore, in the above technical solution, the lower end face of the bracket is also provided with a relief groove for accommodating the optical fiber chip, and the output end of the plastic optical fiber lens is exposed in the relief groove.

[0016] Furthermore, in the above technical solution, the lower end face of the insulating base is formed with multiple positioning protrusions; the four corners of the insulating base are provided with guide grooves that pass through the installation position; the four corners of the bracket are provided with guide blocks, which are embedded in the guide grooves.

[0017] Furthermore, in the above technical solution, the positioning protrusion has an upward-opening groove along its bottom surface, which divides the positioning protrusion into a first positioning post and a second positioning post, and the lower periphery of the second positioning post is also formed with an outwardly protruding buckle.

[0018] By adopting the above technical solution, the present invention has the following beneficial effects compared with the prior art:

[0019] 1. This invention does not include an optical fiber chip and does not require additional structure to fix the optical fiber chip. Its structure is relatively simple. It only connects to the optical fiber chip through the lens body in the plastic optical fiber lens and transmits the optical signal to the optical fiber chip. Finally, the optical fiber chip receives the optical signal. This invention is particularly suitable for scenarios where the optical fiber chip has been soldered and fixed on the PCB board and only the transmission of optical signals is required.

[0020] 2. The bracket and the plastic fiber optic lens fixed on the bracket in this invention can elastically float relative to the insulating base. So, in actual use, after the POF female connector of this invention is fixedly installed on the PCB board, the plastic fiber optic lens and the fiber optic chip on the PCB board form elastic contact, which can avoid the formation of gaps between the two. This ensures the optical signal transmission quality of the plastic fiber optic lens, and also avoids rigid contact that could damage the plastic fiber optic lens or the fiber optic chip, thus ensuring the service life and quality of the product. Attached image description:

[0021] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the invention from a first-person perspective;

[0022] Figure 2 This is a perspective view of the invention from a second viewpoint;

[0023] Figure 3 This is an exploded perspective view of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 4 This is a perspective view of the invention from a third-person angle;

[0025] Figure 5 This is a perspective view of the insulating base in this invention;

[0026] Figure 6 This is an assembly diagram of the lens module in this invention;

[0027] Figure 7 This is a perspective view of the bracket in this invention;

[0028] Figure 8 This is a three-dimensional view of the present invention interfacing with an optical fiber chip;

[0029] Figure 9 This is an assembly diagram of the present invention with a PCB board and a POF male connector. Detailed implementation method:

[0030] The present invention will be further described below with reference to specific embodiments and accompanying drawings.

[0031] See Figure 1-9 As shown, a POF female connector 100 is mounted on a PCB board 4 and is used to transmit optical signals to an optical fiber chip 41 mounted on the PCB board 4, which receives the optical signals.

[0032] The POF female connector 100 includes: an insulating base 1 and a lens module 300.

[0033] The insulating base 1 has a mating slot 12 for mating with a POF male connector 200 and a mounting position 11 communicating with the mating slot 12. The lens module 300 is mounted in the mounting position 11. The lens module 300 includes a plastic fiber optic lens 2, in which the input end 221 of the lens body 22 is exposed in the mating slot 12, and the output end 222 of the lens body 22 is exposed at the lower end of the insulating base 1. The insulating base 1 is mounted on a PCB board 4, and the output end 222 of the lens body 22 is connected to the fiber optic chip 41 mounted on the PCB board 4. In other words, this invention does not include the fiber optic chip 41 and does not require additional structures to fix the fiber optic chip. Its structure is relatively simple. It only connects the lens body 22 in the plastic fiber optic lens 2 to the fiber optic chip 41 and transmits the optical signal to the fiber optic chip 41, which then receives the optical signal. This invention is particularly suitable for scenarios where the fiber optic chip has already been soldered and fixed on the PCB board and only the transmission of optical signals is required.

[0034] The lens module 300 also includes a bracket 3, in which the plastic fiber optic lens 2 is fixed. The bracket 3 has an inverted buckle 31 on its outer side, and a locking hole 111 on the inner wall of the mounting position 11. The inverted buckle 31 engages with the locking hole 111 and can move up and down relative to the locking hole 111. A metal spring 32 is also provided between the bracket 3 and the mounting position 11, elastically supporting the bracket 3 relative to the insulating base 1, allowing the bracket 3 to be fixed in the mounting position 11 in a flexible, floating manner. In other words, the bracket 3 and the plastic fiber optic lens 2 fixed on it can elastically float relative to the insulating base 1. Therefore, in actual use, after the POF female connector of this invention is fixedly mounted on the PCB board, the plastic fiber optic lens 2 and the fiber optic chip 41 on the PCB board 4 form elastic contact, avoiding gaps between them. This ensures the optical signal transmission quality of the plastic fiber optic lens 2 and prevents rigid contact that could damage the plastic fiber optic lens or fiber optic chip, thus guaranteeing the product's lifespan and quality.

[0035] The specific assembly structure of the bracket 3 and the plastic fiber optic lens 2 is as follows:

[0036] The bracket 3 has a mounting groove 33 at its lower end and a docking window 34 through the mounting groove 33 at its upper end. The plastic fiber optic lens 2 is installed in the mounting groove 33, with its input end 221 exposed in the docking window 34 and the slot 12, and its output end 222 exposed outwards. A non-circular positioning buckle 331 is also provided within the mounting groove 33. The plastic fiber optic lens 2 has a through second positioning hole 201, through which the positioning buckle 331 passes to engage and position with the plastic fiber optic lens 2, ensuring stable installation of the plastic fiber optic lens 2 within the mounting groove 33. To further improve the stability of the assembly structure, multiple pressing protrusions 332 are formed inside the mounting groove 33. These pressing protrusions 332 abut against the periphery of the plastic fiber optic lens 2 to confine it, thereby improving the stability of the assembly structure.

[0037] The metal spring 32 is embedded in the limiting groove 35 provided at the upper end of the bracket 3. Multiple upwardly protruding elastic arms 321 are formed on the metal spring 32. All elastic arms 321 are in contact with the bottom surface of the mounting position 11, thereby eliminating the gap between the bracket 3 and the mounting position 11, and at the same time, it can stably elastically support the bracket 3, so that the bracket 3 can elastically float relative to the insulating seat 1.

[0038] The plastic fiber optic lens 2 includes a base 21 and a lens body 22 integrally fixed on the base 21. The lens body 22 has an input end 221 and an output end 222, which are distributed correspondingly.

[0039] The lower end face of the bracket 3 is also provided with a relief groove 36 for accommodating the optical fiber chip 41. The output end 222 of the plastic optical fiber lens 2 is exposed in the relief groove 36, thereby achieving the effect of light shielding and improving the transmission performance of optical signals.

[0040] The lower end face of the insulating base 1 is formed with a plurality of positioning protrusions 13, which are used to be embedded and fixed with the PCB board. The positioning protrusions 13 have an upward-opening groove 130 along their bottom surface, which divides the positioning protrusions 13 into a first positioning post 131 and a second positioning post 132. The lower periphery of the second positioning post 132 is also formed with an outwardly protruding buckle 133. This not only realizes the function of embedding and fixing with the PCB board, but also prevents the insulating base 1 from accidentally detaching from the PCB board.

[0041] The insulating base 1 has guide grooves 14 that pass through the mounting position 11 at each of its four corners; the bracket 3 has guide blocks 37 at each of its four corners, which are embedded in the guide grooves 14, thereby ensuring that the bracket 3 is stably assembled in the mounting position 11 and can play a guiding role.

[0042] In summary, the present invention does not include the fiber optic chip 41 and does not require additional structure to fix the fiber optic chip. Its structure is relatively simple. It only connects to the fiber optic chip 41 through the lens body 22 in the plastic fiber optic lens 2 and transmits the optical signal to the fiber optic chip 41. Finally, the fiber optic chip 41 receives the optical signal. Moreover, the present invention is particularly suitable for application in scenarios where the fiber optic chip has been soldered and fixed on the PCB board and only the transmission of optical signals is required.

[0043] Of course, the above description is only a specific embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. All equivalent changes or modifications made to the structure, features and principles described in the claims of the present invention should be included in the scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A POF female connector, characterized in that: The POF female connector does not have an optical fiber chip (41). The optical fiber chip (41) is installed on the PCB board (4). When the POF female connector is installed on the PCB board (4), the lens (22) inside the POF female connector is connected to the optical fiber chip (41) and transmits the optical signal to the optical fiber chip (41). The POF female connector includes: An insulating base (1) has a mating slot (12) for mating with a POF male connector and a mounting position (11) communicating with the mating slot (12). A lens module (300) is installed in the mounting position (11); the lens module (300) includes a plastic fiber optic lens (2), the input end (221) of the lens body (22) of the plastic fiber optic lens (2) is exposed in the slot (12), and the output end (222) of the lens body (22) is exposed at the lower end of the insulating base (1); The insulating base (1) is mounted on the PCB board (4), and the output end (222) of the lens body (22) is connected to the fiber optic chip (41) mounted on the PCB board (4); The lens module (300) also includes a bracket (3), in which the plastic fiber lens (2) is fixed; wherein, the bracket (3) is provided with a buckle (31) on the outside, and the mounting position (11) is provided with a locking hole (111) on the inner wall. The buckle (31) is inserted into the locking hole (111) and can move up and down relative to the locking hole (111). A metal spring (32) is also provided between the bracket (3) and the mounting position (11). The metal spring (32) elastically supports the bracket (3) relative to the insulating seat (1), so that the bracket (3) is fixed in the mounting position (11) in an elastic floating manner. In actual use, after the POF female connector is fixedly installed on the PCB board, the plastic fiber lens and the fiber chip on the PCB board form an elastic contact, which can avoid the formation of a gap between the two, thus ensuring the optical signal transmission quality of the plastic fiber lens, and also preventing rigid contact that could damage the plastic fiber lens or the fiber chip. The metal spring (32) is embedded in the limiting groove (35) provided at the upper end of the bracket (3). The metal spring (32) has multiple upwardly protruding elastic levers (321) formed on it, and the elastic levers (321) are all in contact with the bottom surface of the mounting position (11). The bottom of the limiting groove (35) is formed with an upward protrusion. The metal spring (32) is provided with a positioning hole in the middle of the protrusion. The metal spring (32) is embedded in the limiting groove (35) to form a primary positioning. The metal spring (32) is set to be located outside the protrusion through the positioning hole to form a secondary positioning. The bracket (3) is provided with a mounting groove (33) at its lower end, and a non-circular positioning buckle (331) is also provided in the mounting groove (33); the plastic fiber lens (2) is provided with a through second positioning hole (201), and the positioning buckle (331) passes through the second positioning hole (201) to engage and position with the plastic fiber lens (2); The mounting groove (33) is also formed with a plurality of pressing protrusions (332), which abut against the periphery of the plastic fiber lens (2) to define the plastic fiber lens (2).

2. The POF female connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bracket (3) has a docking window (34) for a through mounting groove (33) at its upper end. The plastic fiber lens (2) is installed in the mounting groove (33). The input end (221) of the plastic fiber lens (2) is exposed in the docking window (34), and the output end (222) of the plastic fiber lens (2) is exposed outwards.

3. A POF female connector according to any one of claims 1-2, characterized in that: The plastic fiber optic lens (2) includes a base (21) and a lens body (22) integrally fixed on the base (21). The lens body (22) has an input end (221) and an output end (222), with the input end (221) and the output end (222) distributed correspondingly.

4. A POF female connector according to any one of claims 1-2, characterized in that: The lower end face of the bracket (3) is also provided with a relief groove (36) for accommodating the optical fiber chip (41), and the output end (222) of the plastic optical fiber lens (2) is exposed in the relief groove (36).

5. A POF female connector according to any one of claims 1-2, characterized in that: The lower end face of the insulating seat (1) is formed with multiple positioning protrusions (13); the four corners of the insulating seat (1) are provided with guide grooves (14) that pass through the mounting position (11); the four corners of the bracket (3) are provided with guide blocks (37), and the guide blocks (37) are embedded in the guide grooves (14).

6. A POF female connector according to claim 5, characterized in that: The positioning protrusion (13) has an upward-opening groove (130) along its bottom surface, which divides the positioning protrusion (13) into a first positioning post (131) and a second positioning post (132), and the lower periphery of the second positioning post (132) is also formed with an outwardly protruding buckle (133).

Images