Simplified molded lensed fiber optic ferrule
By fixing the lens core and allowing only the guide pin hole to move after the fiber optic sleeve molding, the lens core position uncertainty and undercut problems during the existing multi-fiber lens tube molding process are solved, and the loss of fiber optic connectors is increased performance.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202411690153.3
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2019-11-05
- Filing Date
- 2020-11-04
- Publication Date
- 2025-01-10
AI Technical Summary
During the molding process, the existing multi-fiber lens sleeves have difficulty in controlling the position of the lens core due to the uncertainty of the mold moving parts, which increases the undesirable undercut of the end surface of the refractive lens, affecting the loss performance of the optical fiber connector.
Design a fiber optic sleeve, whose lens core is fixed at the end of the molding process and does not move when discharged. Only the guide pin hole or the core of the alignment feature moves backward, avoiding the movement of excess mold parts and ensuring that the lens end surface is not Create an undercut.
It effectively reduces the undercut problem of lens casing, improves the loss performance of fiber optic connectors, simplifies the molding process, and reduces the uncertainty of position control.
Smart Images
Figure CN119291856A_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] This application is a divisional application of the invention patent application with application number No. 202080075869.6 filed on November 4, 2020, and the invention name is "Simplified Molded Lens Fiber Optic Ferrule".
[0002] Citation of Related Applications
[0003] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 930,754, filed on November 5, 2019, under 35 U.S.C. §119(e), the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Background Art
[0004] Many types of single-fiber and multi-fiber optical fiber ferrules have integrated lenses and are available in today's optical fiber connector industry. These ferrules are made at least in part of optically transparent materials. One such lens ferrule is provided by the applicant Sleeve (or PMT sleeve). A PMT sleeve has a lens on its end face. The lens is usually positioned along the same plane orthogonal to the light beam propagating through it. Molding an integral lens and sleeve requires two or more moving parts of the mold.
[0005] The fiber optic connector industry is continually in need of improving the loss performance of current multi-fiber lens tubes. One limiting factor stems from the basic manufacturing (molding) process. Current lens tube molding processes have two or more moving parts that need to move before the finished tube is ejected from the mold. One of the moving parts of the mold is the mold core, which manufactures the lens adjacent to the end face of the tube. By requiring the lens core to move between each injection cycle, the uncertainty of controlling the position of the lens core relative to the rest of the mold is increased. Since the tube is ejected in a direction perpendicular to the end face, it is advantageous to form a tube end face with a refractive lens that does not contain undesirable undercuts relative to the ejection direction.
[0006] Therefore, there is a need to create a tube end face with a refractive lens that does not contain undesirable undercuts relative to the ejection direction. Applicants have developed a new type of lens tube in which the core that holds the lens is fixed and does not move when the tube is ejected at the end of the molding process. Only the core that creates the guide pin hole or alignment feature of the tube moves back and the tube is released from the mold. Summary of the invention
[0007] The present invention relates to an optical fiber sleeve for receiving multiple optical fibers in an optical fiber support structure, comprising a main body extending between a front end and a rear end, the main body having a top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface and the bottom surface having different lengths between the front end and the rear end; a longitudinal axis extending between the front end and the rear end and parallel to the optical fiber support structure; a front face located at the front end of the main body, the front face not being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; a recessed portion located at the front face; and a plurality of optical lenses located in the recessed portion, wherein the front face has a plurality of points located on a plurality of vertical axes extending between the bottom surface and the top surface, wherein each of the plurality of points is flush with or located behind each of the plurality of points located above it.
[0008] In some embodiments, a plurality of optical lenses are positioned in at least one row extending between side surfaces of the optical fiber ferrule.
[0009] In some embodiments, the length of the bottom surface is shorter than the length of the top surface.
[0010] In other embodiments, the optical fiber ferrule is ejected in a direction parallel to the vertical axis after the molding process.
[0011] In some embodiments, each of the plurality of points is flush with or in front of each of the plurality of points below it.
[0012] In yet another aspect, there is a fiber optic sleeve for receiving multiple optical fibers in a fiber optic support structure, comprising a main body extending between a front end and a rear end, the main body having a top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface and the bottom surface having different lengths between the front end and the rear end; a longitudinal axis extending between the front end and the rear end and parallel to the fiber optic support structure; a front face located at the front end of the main body, the front face being not perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; a recessed portion located at the front face; and a plurality of optical lenses located within the recessed portion, wherein the front face has a plurality of points located on a plurality of vertical axes extending between the bottom surface and the top surface, wherein each of the plurality of points is flush with or located in front of each of the plurality of points located below it.
[0013] And in another aspect, a fiber optic sleeve for receiving multiple optical fibers in a fiber optic support structure is provided, including a main body extending between a front end and a rear end, the main body having a top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface and the bottom surface having different lengths between the front end and the rear end; a longitudinal axis extending between the front end and the rear end and parallel to the fiber optic support structure; a front face located at the front end of the main body, the front face being not perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; a recessed portion located at the front face; and a plurality of optical lenses located in the recessed portion, wherein the fiber optic sleeve moves in a direction orthogonal to the top surface after molding.
[0014] It should be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the current embodiments of the invention are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the invention as claimed. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate various embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles and operation of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an optical fiber ferrule according to the present invention;
[0016] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A front view of the optical fiber sleeve;
[0017] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A left side elevation view of the optical fiber sleeve in FIG.
[0018] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 A left side elevation view of a cross section of an optical fiber sleeve in FIG.
[0019] Figure 5 yes Figure 1 A perspective view of a front portion of an optical fiber ferrule in FIG.
[0020] Figure 6 yes Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the front portion of the optical fiber ferrule in FIG. 1 showing points along a vertical axis; and
[0021] Figure 7 yes Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a portion of an optical fiber ferrule in FIG. 1 , which shows the relationship of the components of the optical fiber ferrule. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] Reference will now be made in detail to one or more presently preferred embodiments of the present invention, which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Whenever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.
[0023] Applicants note that the term "front" or "forward" refers to the direction in which a fiber optic connector and / or ferrule will meet another fiber optic connector or device, while the term "rear" or "rearward" is used to refer to the direction from which the optical fiber enters the fiber optic ferrule or fiber optic connector. Thus, each of the fiber optic ferrules will have a front and a rear, and the two front or forward portions of the fiber optic ferrules will engage with each other. Thus, in Figure 1 The “front” of the fiber ferrule is located at Figure 1 The left side of the page and "forward" is toward the left side of the page and out of the page. The "rear" or "rear" is the portion of the fiber optic connector that is on the right side of the page, and "rear" and "backward" are toward the right side and into the page.
[0024] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the optical fiber sleeve 100 is Figure 1-7 Fiber optic ferrule 100 has a body 102 extending between a front end 104 and a rear end 106, the body 102 having a forward portion 108 and a rearward portion 110. The forward portion 108 is separated from the larger rearward portion 110 by a shoulder 112. The fiber optic ferrule 100 may not have the larger rearward portion 110, but the entire body 102 will have the same height and width as the forward portion 108.
[0025] The optical fiber ferrule 100 has a top 114, a bottom 116, and two sides 118, 120. The forward portion 108 has a top surface 130 and a bottom surface 132, and the top surface 130 and the bottom surface 132 have lengths L1, L2, respectively. The lengths L1, L2 can be different, or in another embodiment, they can be the same. Figure 1 and 3 As shown, the lengths L1, L2 are measured between the front end 104 and the shoulder 112. If the fiber optic ferrule 100 has a uniform height and width as described above, the length can be measured from the front end 104 to the rear end 106. The two sides 118, 120 each have a side surface 134, 136 (see FIG. Figure 2 ). It should be noted that the rearward portion 110 also has a top surface 130a, a bottom surface 132a, and side surfaces 134a, 136a, respectively. Although the top surface 130 is shown as the longer surface, the bottom surface 132 can also be longer, as long as the body has the appropriate configuration described herein - so it can just be a semantic change from "top" to "bottom".
[0026] There is a front face 140 located at the front end 104. Preferably, the front face 140 has a recessed portion 142. There may also be an alignment structure 144, which in one form takes the shape of a guide pin hole. The alignment structure 144 may or may not open at the front face 140 within the recessed portion 142. The recessed portion 142 may be completely surrounded by the front face 140 or the recessed portion 142 may extend to the top 114 or the bottom 116 or one of the sides 118, 120.
[0027] The body 102 has an opening 150 extending from the rear end 106 toward the front end 104 to receive the optical fiber in the fiber optic ferrule 100. The body 102 has a fiber optic support structure 152 located in the opening 150. The fiber optic support structure 152 can be a micro-hole, a V-shaped groove, or other structure that supports and aligns the optical fiber. The fiber optic ferrule 100 has a longitudinal axis A parallel to the fiber optic support structure 152 and the optical fiber inserted into the fiber optic ferrule. See Figure 3 and 4 .
[0028] Steering Figure 3 , the effect of the different lengths L1, L2 is that the front face 104 forms an angle α other than 90° with the longitudinal axis A. Typically, the angle α is about 84°, but can be larger or smaller depending on many factors (e.g., return loss, fiber mode, etc.). It should be noted that the optical fiber ferrule 100 is typically mated with another ferrule of the same construction but flipped 180° around the longitudinal axis so that the two front faces 104 are parallel to each other.
[0029] Steering Figure 1-2 5-7, the concave portion 142 has a plurality of distinct regions that extend across at least a portion of the front face 140. As shown herein, there are two regions 160, 162 having a plurality of integral lenses 164 arranged in rows. See in particular Figure 2 and 6 There may be more or fewer rows of integrated lenses in the fiber optic ferrule 100. There is also a region 166 above the first region 160 of integrated lenses 164. There is another region 168 between the two regions 160, 162 of multiple integrated lenses 164. Finally, there is a third region 170 below the second region 162 of integrated lenses 164.
[0030] For each row of integral lenses 164, each integral lens or exposed portion thereof is inclined at an angle θ to the vertical / Y axis. The term "integral" as applied to the integral lenses 164 means that the lenses are molded with the body 102, rather than being separately positioned on the front face 140 or its recessed portion 142. For example and with reference to Figure 6 and 7, the top lens is shown to be tilted at an angle θ relative to the top lens tangent line. Similarly, the bottom lens is tilted at the same angle relative to the bottom lens tangent line. Typically, θ is about 22°.
[0031] refer to Figure 2 , there are a plurality of vertical lines or axes B, which can be used with reference to the previous 140. Each of these vertical axes B is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A. Only four vertical lines or axes B are in Figure 2 In fact, there are theoretically an infinite number of vertical lines or axes B that can be placed on the front face 140 of the optical fiber ferrule 100. The front face 140 including the concave portion 142 is composed of a plurality of points 172 (in fact, there are also theoretically an infinite number of points). Figure 6 and 7 is a representation of some points 172 on the front face of the fiber ferrule 100 along the vertical axis B from the left side of the fiber ferrule 100. This view allows for relative viewing of points 172 along the vertical axis B that are not possible to see in the front view image (i.e. Figure 2 )Other points of an axis describe point 172.
[0032] Because in Figure 6 and 7 Only a portion of the front face 140 is shown in FIG. 1 , so the top 114 of the fiber optic ferrule 100 will be at (or even beyond) the top of the page. The same considerations apply to the bottom 116, which is located below the position identified in the figure. The solid black line on the far left of the image is the front face 140, which forms an angle α with the top 114 and the bottom 116. As will be appreciated (and referenced to FIG. 1 ), the front face 140 is substantially parallel to the top 114 and the bottom 116. Figure 3 and Figure 4 ), the front face 140 at the top of the optical fiber ferrule 100 is the most forward point on the optical fiber ferrule 100 along the vertical axis B ( Figure 3 and 4 The next solid line represents points 172 that make up the concave portion 142 and include regions 160, 162 having multiple integral lenses 164 and spacing regions 166, 168, and 170 (and the front face 140 if the figure is so shown). For each point 172 along the front face 140 and concave portion 142 and along the vertical axis B, the point directly above it is flush with or in front of that point ( Figure 6 and 7 ). For example, Figure 6 Point P1 (reference point) and second point P2 are shown in FIG. Figure 6It can be clearly seen that P2 is directly above or in front of (to the left of) P1. P2 is not behind or to the right of P1, thereby eliminating any undercuts on the front face 140 of the fiber optic ferrule 100. In contrast, by using P2 as the first (reference) point, P1 (the point below P2) is directly below or behind P2. Due to this relationship of point 172 along the vertical axis, there are no undercuts on the front face 140 of the fiber optic ferrule 100. Figure 6 and 7 This relationship allows the optical fiber ferrule 100 to be ejected from the mold in a vertical direction (perpendicular to the top surface 130) and upwardly without removing or moving more of the mold—eg, the portion that forms the front face 140.
[0033] like Figure 7 As shown, the integral lens 164 in region 160 is further to the left than the integral lens 164 in lower region 162. Again, this helps eliminate undercuts in typical fiber ferrules, where if the lens is aligned on a vertical axis, an undercut region exists. The integral lens 164 can be a portion of a sphere, although other aspherical refractive surfaces having similar inclinations as the integral lens 164 can be used in another embodiment.
[0034] It is obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is intended to cover modifications and variations of the present invention as long as they fall within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
Claims
1. An optical fiber sleeve for receiving a plurality of optical fibers in an optical fiber support structure, comprising: a body extending between a front end portion and a rear end portion, the body having a top surface and a bottom surface and two side surfaces connecting the top surface and the bottom surface, wherein the optical fiber support structure is at least partially disposed within the body, the top surface and the bottom surface having different lengths between the front end portion and the rear end portion; a longitudinal axis extending between the front end and the rear end and parallel to the fiber support structure; a front face, which is located at the front end of the body; a recessed portion located at the front face, the recessed portion being at a non-perpendicular angle to the longitudinal axis; a plurality of optical lenses located in the concave portion; wherein the concave portion has a plurality of points on its surface and the plurality of points are flush with or behind each point of the plurality of points located above it in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; and Each of the plurality of optical fibers has a respective end at a vertical opening located within the body, the vertical opening extending downwardly toward the bottom surface.
2. The optical fiber sleeve according to claim 1, wherein: The front face is non-perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
3. The optical fiber sleeve according to claim 1, wherein: The multiple optical lenses are integrated lenses.
4. The optical fiber sleeve according to claim 3, wherein: The plurality of optical lenses are part of a sphere.
5. The optical fiber sleeve according to claim 3, wherein: The plurality of optical lenses are aspherical.
6. The optical fiber sleeve according to claim 1, wherein: The plurality of optical lenses are in at least one row extending between side surfaces of the fiber optic ferrule.
7. The optical fiber sleeve according to claim 1, wherein: The plurality of optical lenses are in at least two rows.
8. The optical fiber sleeve according to claim 1, wherein: The optical fiber ferrule is ejected after a molding process in a direction parallel to a vertical axis between the top surface and the bottom surface, the vertical axis being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
9. The optical fiber sleeve according to claim 1, wherein: Each of the plurality of optical lenses is offset from the longitudinal axis by an angle θ.
10. An optical fiber ferrule for receiving a plurality of optical fibers in a corresponding optical fiber support structure, comprising: a body extending between a front end portion and a rear end portion, the body having a top surface and a bottom surface and an opening at the rear end portion to receive the plurality of optical fibers in the corresponding optical fiber support structures, the top surface and the bottom surface having different lengths between the front end portion and the rear end portion; a longitudinal axis extending between the front end and the rear end and parallel to the fiber support structure; a front face, which is located at the front end of the body; a recessed portion located at the front face; as well as a plurality of optical lenses located in the concave portion; wherein the recessed portion has a plurality of points on its surface and the plurality of points are located on a plurality of vertical axes extending between the bottom surface and the top surface, wherein each of the plurality of points is flush with or in front of each of the plurality of points located below it.
11. The optical fiber sleeve according to claim 10, wherein: The plurality of optical lenses are in at least one row extending between side surfaces of the fiber optic ferrule.
12. The optical fiber sleeve according to claim 11, wherein: The plurality of optical lenses are in at least two rows.
13. The optical fiber sleeve according to claim 10, wherein: The length of the bottom surface is shorter than the length of the top surface.
14. The optical fiber sleeve according to claim 10, wherein: The length of the bottom surface is longer than the length of the top surface.
15. The optical fiber sleeve according to claim 10, wherein: The optical fiber ferrule is ejected from the die in a direction parallel to the vertical axis.
16. The optical fiber sleeve according to claim 10, further comprising: A vertical opening is located in the body forward of each of the plurality of optical fibers located in the fiber support structure, the vertical opening extending downwardly toward the bottom surface.
17. An optical fiber ferrule for receiving a plurality of optical fibers in an optical fiber support structure, comprising: a body extending between a front end and a rear end, the body having a top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface and the bottom surface having a different length, the bottom surface having an opening extending partially into the body forward of the fiber support structure; a longitudinal axis extending between the front end and the rear end and parallel to the fiber support structure; a front face, which is located at the front end of the body; a recessed portion located at the front face; a plurality of optical lenses positioned within the recessed portion at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis; Wherein, the optical fiber sleeve moves in a direction orthogonal to the top surface after molding.