MT lens insertion core male head and laser transmission device with same

Abstract

The invention discloses an MT lens insertion core male head and a laser transmission device with the same. The MT lens insertion core male head comprises a hollow-core anti-resonance optical fiber array, a transparent MT insertion core and an AR coating lens array. The insertion core port of the transparent MT insertion core is provided with a notch, and the AR coating lens array is fixed in the notch of the transparent MT insertion core. The two ends of the AR coating lens array are a ball lens end and an optical fiber end respectively, the optical fiber end is coated with an AR coating, the optical fiber end of the AR coating lens array makes contact with the end of the hollow-core anti-resonance optical fiber array, and the hollow-core anti-resonance optical fiber array is fixed to the tail of the transparent MT insertion core. The structure is simple, mode field conversion is realized, and the coupling efficiency of the laser and the hollow fiber is enhanced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of optical communication, and in particular to an MT lens ferrule male connector and a laser transmission device having the same. Background Art

[0002] See also Figure 1 Hollow Core Anti-Resonant Fiber (HC-ARF) is a new type of microstructured optical fiber with excellent properties such as low loss, large bandwidth, and anti-nonlinearity. It has broad application prospects in optical communication, laser transmission, sensing, etc. However, due to the special structure and optical properties of hollow core anti-resonant fiber, its connection and coupling has always been a technical problem, limiting its practical application.

[0003] With the continuous development of optical communication technology, the demand for high-speed and large-capacity optical signal transmission is increasing. Traditional solid-core optical fibers have problems such as dispersion, nonlinear effects and transmission loss during transmission, which limits the further improvement of their performance. As a new type of optical fiber structure, hollow-core antiresonant fiber has the advantages of low loss, low dispersion and high bandwidth, and has broad application prospects in the field of optical communications.

[0004] Hollow core antiresonant fiber (HCF) cannot be polished using traditional fiber connectors. It has a hollow microstructure and becomes fragile when the port is exposed to the air, and it is difficult to remove dust adsorbed by static electricity. Since the laser output light has a divergence angle, there will be a large power loss when the laser is connected to the hollow core antiresonant fiber. Therefore, how to achieve high-efficiency coupling between the laser and the hollow core fiber is an urgent problem to be solved. Summary of the invention The object of the present invention is to provide an MT lens ferrule male connector and a laser transmission device having the same, so as to realize high-efficiency coupling between a laser array light source and a hollow-core optical fiber.

[0005] In order to solve the above technical problems, the present invention provides a technical solution: an MT lens ferrule male connector, comprising a hollow core anti-resonant optical fiber array, a transparent MT ferrule, and an AR coating lens array; The ferrule port of the transparent MT ferrule is provided with a notch, and the AR coated lens array is fixed in the notch of the transparent MT ferrule; the optical fiber end of the AR coated lens array contacts the end of the hollow core anti-resonant optical fiber array, and the hollow core anti-resonant optical fiber array is fixed to the tail of the transparent MT ferrule.

[0006] According to the above scheme, the optical fiber end of the AR coating lens array is inclined at an angle of 1.8° to 2.2°.

[0007] According to the above scheme, the AR coating lens array is fixed in the notch of the transparent MT ferrule by glue, and the hollow core anti-resonant optical fiber array is fixed to the tail of the transparent MT ferrule by UV glue.

[0008] According to the above solution, a flexible connection joint is provided at the end where the transparent MT ferrule is connected to the hollow-core anti-resonance optical fiber array.

[0009] According to the above solution, a cavity is provided in the middle of the transparent MT ferrule.

[0010] According to the above scheme, the hollow core anti-resonant optical fiber array is arranged in parallel in a row.

[0011] The present invention also provides a laser transmission device, comprising an array lens, an isolator, a GRIN lens optical fiber array, the MT lens ferrule male connector and the MT lens ferrule female connector as described above; The array lens, isolator, and GRIN lens fiber array are aligned in sequence and arranged in the light emitting direction of the laser; one end of the GRIN lens fiber array is a ball head mirror end facing the laser direction, and the other end of the GRIN lens fiber array is connected to the hollow core anti-resonant fiber array of the MT lens ferrule male head; the MT lens ferrule male head is detachably connected to the MT lens ferrule female head, and the MT lens ferrule female head is connected to the external laser receiving end.

[0012] According to the above scheme, the preparation process of the GRIN lens fiber array includes: The graded-rate OM2 refractive fiber is fused with the single-mode fiber so that the focus of the graded-rate OM2 refractive fiber is exactly on the end face of the single-mode fiber; The unsplice end of the graded-rate OM2 refractive optical fiber is fused to form a ball lens end; Cut the spliced ​​graded-rate OM2 refractive fiber and single-mode fiber according to the pitch; Polishing and AR coating of the non-splice end of single mode optical fiber According to the above scheme, the method of connecting the GRIN lens fiber array and the hollow core anti-resonant fiber array includes: Place the cleaned V-groove on the fiber arrangement fixture; Clean and neatly cut each hollow-core anti-resonance optical fiber and place it on the V-groove; Place one end of the ball lens of each GRIN lens optical fiber on the V-groove with the ball lens facing outward, and make the length of each GRIN lens optical fiber exposed from the V-groove fixed and consistent; Push each hollow-core anti-resonance fiber to make the hollow-core anti-resonance fiber fully contact with the GRIN lens fiber; Adding a glass cover plate on the hollow core anti-resonant fiber and the GRIN lens fiber; Use the fiber arrangement clamp to press the glass cover plate, and use glue to fix the GRIN lens fiber and the hollow-core anti-resonance fiber.

[0013] According to the above scheme, the GRIN lens fiber and the hollow-core anti-resonance fiber are fixed using UV glue.

[0014] The beneficial effects of the present invention are: by setting an AR coated lens array matched with a hollow core anti-resonant optical fiber array, mode field conversion is realized in the MT lens core male head, so that the hollow core optical fiber matches the subsequent single-mode optical fiber mode field, ensuring the stability of information transmission, and the AR coated lens array realizes the convergence of the laser output light, which is beneficial to the transmission of optical signals, wherein the AR coating provided reduces the interference of reflection phenomena on optical signals. The MT lens core male head of the present invention can be stably connected with the MT lens core female head connected with a hollow anti-resonant optical array, reducing the insertion loss and the end face reflectivity when the hollow anti-resonant optical arrays at both ends are docked, thereby reducing the reflection loss of the optical signal and improving the coupling efficiency and stability of the optical signal.

[0015] Furthermore, by using UV glue for sealing and fixing, the external environmental impression is isolated, the life of the hollow-core anti-resonant optical fiber is extended, and its stability is enhanced.

[0016] Furthermore, by providing an inclined plane with a certain inclination angle at the optical fiber end of the AR coating lens array, the reflected light can be increased by a certain angle, thereby increasing the return loss.

[0017] Furthermore, by providing a flexible connection joint at the end of the transparent MT ferrule, effective protection of the hollow-core anti-resonant optical fiber array at the connection is achieved.

[0018] Furthermore, by providing a cavity in the middle of the transparent MT ferrule, it is beneficial to butt joint the hollow-core anti-resonant optical fiber array with the AR coating lens array in the transparent MT ferrule. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a hollow core antiresonant optical fiber; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the working principle of the gradient refractive fiber optic ball lens; Figure 3 is a schematic structural diagram of a laser transmission device according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the assembly of a laser transmission device according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an MT lens ferrule female connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 yes Figure 5 A partial enlarged view of Figure 7 It is a schematic diagram of assembling an MT lens ferrule female connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] In the figure: 1-laser, 2-array lens, 3-isolator, 4-glass cover, 5-V-groove, 6-GRIN lens fiber array, 7-hollow core anti-resonant fiber array, 8-MT lens ferrule male head, 801-transparent MT ferrule, 802-AR coated lens array, 9-MT lens ferrule female head. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] In order to make the purpose, technical solution and advantages of the embodiments of the present disclosure clearer, the technical solution of the embodiments of the present disclosure will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings of the embodiments of the present disclosure. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of the present disclosure, not all of the embodiments. Based on the described embodiments of the present disclosure, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present disclosure.

[0022] Embodiment 1: See also Figure 3~Figure 7 , an MT lens ferrule male connector 8, comprising a hollow core anti-resonant fiber array 7, a transparent MT ferrule 801, and an AR-coated lens array 802; The ferrule port of the transparent MT ferrule 8 is provided with a notch, and the AR coated lens array 802 is fixed in the notch of the transparent MT ferrule 801 ; the optical fiber end of the AR coated lens array 802 contacts the end of the hollow core anti-resonant optical fiber array 7 , and the hollow core anti-resonant optical fiber array 7 is fixed to the tail of the transparent MT ferrule 8 .

[0023] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the optical fiber end of the AR coated lens array is inclined at an angle of 1.8° to 2.2°, so as to make the reflected light have a certain angle to increase the return loss.

[0024] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the AR coated lens array is fixed to the notch of the transparent MT ferrule by glue, and the hollow core anti-resonant optical fiber array is fixed to the tail of the transparent MT ferrule by UV glue. The sealing and fixing of the UV glue ensures that the AR coated lens array and the hollow core anti-resonant optical fiber are firmly fixed and can effectively isolate the influence of the external environment.

[0025] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a flexible connection joint is provided at the end where the transparent MT ferrule is connected to the hollow-core anti-resonant optical fiber array, so as to protect the hollow-core anti-resonant optical fiber array at the connection.

[0026] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a cavity is provided in the middle of the transparent MT ferrule to facilitate docking of the hollow-core anti-resonant fiber array and the AR-coated lens array in the transparent MT ferrule, thereby improving connection efficiency and connection reliability.

[0027] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the hollow core antiresonant optical fiber array is arranged in parallel in a row.

[0028] Embodiment 2: This embodiment discloses a method for fixing the hollow-core anti-resonant optical fiber array 7 in the first embodiment, which is specifically as follows: 1. Cut the cleaned fiber end face of the hollow-core anti-resonant fiber array 7 neatly, and insert it into the hole at the tail of the transparent MT ferrule 8 until it contacts the AR-coated lens array 802; 2. Apply a proper amount of UV glue to fix the hollow-core anti-resonant optical fiber array 7, and completely cure the UV glue under the irradiation of UV lamp; it should be noted that since the MT ferrule used is a transparent material, the UV glue cannot flow into the aperture of the hollow-core anti-resonant optical fiber before curing.

[0029] Embodiment three: This embodiment discloses a preparation process of the GRIN lens fiber array 6 in the first embodiment, including: 1. Splice the graded-rate OM2 refractive fiber with the single-mode fiber so that the focus of the graded-rate OM2 refractive fiber is exactly on the end face of the single-mode fiber; 2. Melt the unsplice end of the graded-rate OM2 refractive optical fiber (using the discharge of the fusion splicer) to form a spherical lens end; 3. Cut the spliced ​​graded-rate OM2 refractive fiber and single-mode fiber according to the pitch (use a fixed-length cutter to cut, and the length is controlled to 300μm, i.e. 1 / 4 pitch); 4. Polish the non-fused end of the single-mode optical fiber and apply AR coating.

[0030] Embodiment 4: This embodiment provides a laser transmission device, including an array lens 2, an isolator 3, a GRIN lens fiber array 6, the MT lens ferrule male connector 8 and the MT lens ferrule female connector 9 as described above (the MT lens ferrule female connector 9 lacks a detachable pin relative to the MT lens ferrule male connector 8); The array lens 2, the isolator 3, and the GRIN lens fiber array 6 are aligned and arranged in sequence in the light emitting direction of the laser (they can be adjusted, aligned and fixed by an adjustment frame); one end of the GRIN lens fiber array 6 is a ball head mirror end, facing the direction of the laser 1, and the other end of the GRIN lens fiber array 6 is connected to the hollow core anti-resonant fiber array 7 of the MT lens ferrule male connector 8; the MT lens ferrule male connector 8 is detachably connected to the MT lens ferrule female connector 9, and the MT lens ferrule female connector 9 is connected to the external laser receiving end.

[0031] Figure 2The working principle of the GRIN lens fiber array 6 is shown. In the figure, LD represents the laser 1, Grin fiber represents the GRIN lens fiber array 6, and HCF represents the hollow core anti-resonant fiber array 7. It can be seen that the divergent light emitted from the laser 1 is refracted by the GRIN lens fiber array 6, and the light converges after entering the hollow core anti-resonant fiber array 7.

[0032] Embodiment five: This embodiment discloses a method for connecting the GRIN lens fiber array 6 and the hollow core anti-resonant fiber array 7 in the fourth embodiment, comprising: 1. Place the cleaned V-groove 5 on the fiber arrangement fixture; 2. Clean and neatly cut each hollow-core anti-resonance optical fiber and place it on the V-groove 5; 3. Place one end of the ball lens of each GRIN lens optical fiber on the V-groove 5 with one end facing outward, and make sure that the length of each GRIN lens optical fiber exposed from the V-groove 5 is fixed and consistent (fix the position with a baffle); 4. Push each hollow-core anti-resonance fiber to make the hollow-core anti-resonance fiber fully contact with the GRIN lens fiber; 5. Add a glass cover plate 4 on the hollow core anti-resonance fiber and the GRIN lens fiber; 6. Use the fiber arrangement clamp to press the glass cover plate and use glue to fix the GRIN lens fiber and the hollow-core anti-resonance fiber.

[0033] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, UV glue is used to fix the GRIN lens fiber and the hollow core anti-resonant fiber; it should be noted that the UV glue is not allowed to flow into the hollow core anti-resonant fiber and the surface of the ball lens.

[0034] Research has shown that in gradient refractive index fiber, light is transmitted along a sinusoidal trajectory, and the distance of each transmitted sinusoidal cycle is the pitch of the gradient refractive index fiber. The gradient refractive index fiber has a focusing effect, and focusing is achieved once every half pitch distance (corresponding to half a sinusoidal cycle), so high-efficiency coupling from LD to the fiber can be achieved based on the focusing effect. As long as the gradient refractive index fiber of appropriate length is selected so that the end face of the hollow-core fiber is exactly at the focus of the gradient refractive index fiber lens, all-fiber high-efficiency coupling from LD to the hollow-core fiber can be achieved.

[0035] In order to realize the interconnection between low-loss HCF and laser, the most important aspect that must be solved is to adjust the mode field diameter and converge the light emitted by the laser into the hollow-core optical fiber. The present invention connects the hollow-core antiresonant optical fiber with a matching quarter-graded-rate refractive optical fiber having a lens structure at one end and an antireflection coating at the other end, thereby solving the mode field conversion problem. An array lens is added at one end of the laser to solve the problem of converging the light emitted by the laser.

[0036] In the present invention, a hollow-core anti-resonance optical fiber is butt-jointed with a gradient-rate refractive optical fiber coated with an anti-reflection coating at one end, and then the gradient-rate refractive optical fiber lens is butt-jointed with an isolator, an optical fiber array lens and an array laser at one end, thereby reducing the reflection of the optical fiber connection end face and improving the coupling efficiency and stability of the optical signal. The present invention realizes high-efficiency coupling between a laser array light source and a hollow-core optical fiber, and the hollow-core anti-resonance optical fiber connector is stably and effectively butt-jointed, showing low insertion loss, reducing the reflectivity of the end face butt-jointed, reducing the reflection loss of the optical signal, and realizing the connectability between the hollow-core anti-resonance optical fiber and the laser, as well as the conditions for putting into practical application. The setting of the anti-reflection coating improves the stability and reliability of the connector, reduces the interference of reflection on the optical signal, and the mode field conversion optical fiber realizes the mode field matching between the hollow-core optical fiber and the single-mode optical fiber, ensuring the stability of signal transmission, and the UV glue sealed packaging isolates the influence of air (such as oxidation, dust, water vapor, etc.) on the life and performance of the hollow-core anti-resonance optical fiber.

[0037] It should be pointed out that, according to the needs of implementation, the various steps / components described in this application can be split into more steps / components, and two or more steps / components or partial operations of steps / components can be combined into new steps / components to achieve the purpose of the present invention.

[0038] It will be easily understood by those skilled in the art that the above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An MT lens ferrule male connector, characterized in that: Including hollow core anti-resonant fiber array, transparent MT ferrule, AR coating lens array; The ferrule port of the transparent MT ferrule is provided with a notch, and the AR coated lens array is fixed in the notch of the transparent MT ferrule; the optical fiber end of the AR coated lens array contacts the end of the hollow core anti-resonant optical fiber array, and the hollow core anti-resonant optical fiber array is fixed to the tail of the transparent MT ferrule.

2. The MT lens ferrule male connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The optical fiber end of the AR-coated lens array is inclined at an angle of 1.8° to 2.2°.

3. The MT lens ferrule male connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The AR coated lens array is fixed in the notch of the transparent MT ferrule by glue, and the hollow core anti-resonant fiber array is fixed to the tail of the transparent MT ferrule by UV glue.

4. The MT lens ferrule male connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The end where the transparent MT ferrule is connected to the hollow-core anti-resonance optical fiber array is provided with a soft connection joint.

5. The MT lens ferrule male connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: A cavity is arranged in the middle of the transparent MT ferrule.

6. The MT lens ferrule male connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The hollow core antiresonant optical fiber array is arranged in parallel in a row.

7. A laser transmission device, characterized in that: It comprises an array lens, an isolator, a GRIN lens optical fiber array, an MT lens ferrule male connector and an MT lens ferrule female connector as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7; The array lens, isolator, and GRIN lens fiber array are aligned in sequence and arranged in the light emitting direction of the laser; one end of the GRIN lens fiber array is a ball head mirror end facing the laser direction, and the other end of the GRIN lens fiber array is connected to the hollow core anti-resonant fiber array of the MT lens ferrule male head; the MT lens ferrule male head is detachably connected to the MT lens ferrule female head, and the MT lens ferrule female head is connected to the external laser receiving end.

8. The laser transmission device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The preparation process of GRIN lens fiber array includes: The graded-rate OM2 refractive fiber is fused with the single-mode fiber so that the focus of the graded-rate OM2 refractive fiber is exactly on the end face of the single-mode fiber; The unsplice end of the graded-rate OM2 refractive optical fiber is fused to form a ball lens end; Cut the spliced ​​graded-rate OM2 refractive fiber and single-mode fiber according to the pitch; The non-fused end of the single-mode optical fiber is polished and AR coated.

9. The laser transmission device according to claim 7, characterized in that: The method of connecting the GRIN lens fiber array to the hollow core antiresonant fiber array includes: Place the cleaned V-groove on the fiber arrangement fixture; Clean and neatly cut each hollow-core anti-resonance optical fiber and place it on the V-groove; Place one end of the ball lens of each GRIN lens optical fiber on the V-groove with the ball lens facing outward, and make the length of each GRIN lens optical fiber exposed from the V-groove fixed and consistent; Push each hollow-core anti-resonance fiber to make the hollow-core anti-resonance fiber fully contact with the GRIN lens fiber; Adding a glass cover plate on the hollow core anti-resonant fiber and the GRIN lens fiber; Use the fiber arrangement clamp to press the glass cover plate, and use glue to fix the GRIN lens fiber and the hollow-core anti-resonance fiber.

10. The laser transmission device according to claim 9, characterized in that: Use UV glue to fix the GRIN lens fiber and the hollow-core antiresonant fiber.

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