A fiber optic connector and connector assembly

Abstract

The application relates to an optical fiber connector and a connector assembly, the optical fiber connector comprising: a connector shell, the front end of the connector shell being provided with a plug part, the inside of the connector shell being provided with a containing cavity penetrating along the axial direction; a ferrule is arranged at one end of the containing cavity close to the plug part, an optical cable is arranged at the other end of the containing cavity away from the plug part, the inside of the optical cable is provided with at least one optical fiber, and the optical fiber is connected to the ferrule along the containing cavity; the inside of the connector shell is further provided with a conductive terminal, at least one wire is arranged in the containing cavity of the connector shell, the wire is arranged separately from the optical cable or is arranged integrally with the optical cable, and the wire is connected to the conductive terminal through the containing cavity; the conductive terminal is partially arranged on the outer surface of the plug part to form a contact part; a locking elastic arm is arranged outside the connector shell, the end of the plug part away from the locking elastic arm is provided with a butt joint surface; and the contact part is located between the butt joint surface and the locking elastic arm. One connector of the application realizes photoelectric transmission, the volume is reduced, and the connector is convenient to install on a vehicle.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of automotive connector technology, specifically to an optical fiber connector and connector assembly. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, optical fiber communication has become one of the main pillars of modern communication, playing a crucial role in modern telecommunications networks. The development of network technology has led to the increasingly widespread use of optical fiber as a high-speed, broadband data communication transmission medium. An optical fiber connector is a device that allows for detachable connections between optical fibers. It precisely aligns the two end faces of the fibers to maximize the coupling of light energy from the transmitting fiber to the receiving fiber, minimizing the impact on the system caused by its intervention in the optical link. To cope with the increasing data communication volume in vehicles, optical fiber connectors are gradually being applied in the automotive field.

[0003] In related technologies, car cameras used to use copper wires for power supply and signal transmission. Now, fiber optic cables are being installed in cars to replace copper wires for signal transmission. However, fiber optic cables cannot power the camera, so an additional electrical connector is needed to power the camera. This means that each camera needs two connectors: one fiber optic connector and one electrical connector. The size of these connectors is quite large, making installation inconvenient due to space constraints in the car.

[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to design a new fiber optic connector and connector assembly to overcome the above problems. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides an optical fiber connector and connector assembly, which can solve the technical problem in the related art where two connectors are used to connect the camera, resulting in a large size that is inconvenient for installation in a vehicle.

[0006] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide an optical fiber connector, comprising: a connector housing, a plug portion at the front end of the connector housing, and a receiving cavity extending through the connector housing along an axial direction; a ferrule is disposed in the receiving cavity near the plug portion, and an optical cable is disposed in the receiving cavity away from the plug portion, the optical cable containing at least one optical fiber connected to the ferrule along the receiving cavity; the connector housing also contains a conductive terminal, and at least one wire is disposed in the receiving cavity of the connector housing, the wire being separately disposed from the optical cable or integrally disposed with the optical cable, the wire being connected to the conductive terminal through the receiving cavity; the conductive terminal portion forming a contact portion on the outer surface of the plug portion; a locking spring arm is provided on the outer side of the connector housing, and a mating surface is provided at the end of the plug portion away from the locking spring arm; the contact portion is located between the mating surface and the locking spring arm.

[0007] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one embodiment, the outer surface of the plug portion is provided with multiple raised ribs, and a concave conductive space is formed between two adjacent raised ribs, and the contact portion of the conductive terminal is located within the conductive space.

[0008] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one embodiment, the insert is confined within the receiving cavity by a fixing tube located within the receiving cavity, and the fixing tube and the inner wall of the receiving cavity form an adhesive injection channel containing adhesive for fixing the optical cable to the connector housing.

[0009] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one embodiment, the fixing tube includes: a fixing sleeve, which engages with the connector housing and, in conjunction with the connector housing, confines the ferrule within the receiving cavity; and an empty tube, which is inserted into the fixing sleeve, and the optical cable passes through the empty tube and the fixing sleeve.

[0010] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one embodiment, the fixing sleeve is provided with a boss that divides the fixing sleeve into a first cavity and a second cavity distributed along the axial direction of the fixing sleeve; the insert is inserted into the first cavity, and one end of the empty tube is inserted into the second cavity.

[0011] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one embodiment, the optical cable includes: an optical fiber, the optical fiber being fitted with a sleeve, the sleeve being inserted into the fixed sleeve and the empty tube; and an outer cable sheath, the outer cable sheath being fitted over the sleeve, and the other end of the empty tube being inserted into the outer cable sheath.

[0012] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one embodiment, the ferrule has a fixed platform, the connector housing has a step, and the step stops the fixed platform away from the fixed sleeve on the side. The step and the boss limit the movement space of the ferrule between the step and the boss. The ferrule is fitted with a spring, which is located between the fixed platform and the fixed sleeve.

[0013] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one embodiment, the connector housing has an injection port, which is connected to the injection channel.

[0014] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one embodiment, the connector housing is further provided with a secondary locking mechanism. When the connector housing is locked to the mating member by the locking spring arm, the secondary locking mechanism stops on one side of the locking spring arm and prevents the locking spring arm from unlocking from the mating member.

[0015] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one embodiment, the secondary locking mechanism is sandwiched between the locking spring arm and the connector housing, and the secondary locking mechanism has a clearance groove. A stop surface is provided on one side of the clearance groove, and the stop surface and the clearance groove are distributed along the axial direction of the connector housing. The locking spring arm has a hook for locking with the mating member, and the hook and the secondary locking mechanism are located on opposite sides of the locking spring arm. When the connector housing is inserted into the mating member, the locking spring arm at least partially enters the clearance groove. And when the secondary locking mechanism is pushed towards the mating member to a locked state, the stop surface stops between the locking spring arm and the connector housing.

[0016] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one embodiment, the secondary locking mechanism has a locking protrusion, the locking protrusion and the stop surface are located on opposite sides of the clearance groove, and the secondary locking mechanism also has an abutment protrusion; the locking spring arm also has a spring arm protrusion. When the connector housing is not inserted into the mating member, the spring arm protrusion stops the locking protrusion on the side away from the stop surface, and the secondary locking mechanism is in an unlocked state; when the connector housing is inserted into the mating member, the protrusion of the mating member abuts the abutment protrusion, causing the locking protrusion to pass over the spring arm protrusion, and the stop surface stops between the locking spring arm and the connector housing, and the secondary locking mechanism is in a locked state.

[0017] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one embodiment, the connector housing is further provided with a first mis-proof portion, which at least partially overlaps with the contact portion along the axial direction of the connector housing.

[0018] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one embodiment, the connector housing has N foolproof positioning positions at different positions, and N / 2 or (N±1) / 2 of the N foolproof positioning positions are arbitrarily selected to set the first foolproof part, where N is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1; when N is even, the connector housing is provided with N / 2 of the first foolproof parts; when N is odd, the connector housing is provided with (N±1) / 2 of the first foolproof parts.

[0019] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide a connector assembly, which includes the aforementioned fiber optic connector and adapter.

[0020] The beneficial effects of the technical solutions provided in this application include:

[0021] By setting a ferrule and an optical cable inside the housing of the connector, with the optical fiber inserted into the ferrule, the fiber optic connector can transmit optical signals. At the same time, by setting conductive terminals inside the connector housing and electrically connecting the conductive terminals to the wires, the fiber optic connector can also transmit electrical signals. One connector can achieve photoelectric transmission, reduce size, and solve the technical problem in related technologies where cameras require two connectors, resulting in large sizes and inconvenience for installation in vehicles. Attached Figure Description

[0022] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0023] Figure 1 An exploded view of an optical fiber connector provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0024] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the combined structure of the fiber optic connector provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0025] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the back of the fiber optic connector provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0026] Figure 4 A cross-sectional schematic diagram of the fiber optic connector provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0027] Figure 5 An exploded view of the front sleeve and the fixed sleeve provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0028] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the combined structure of the front sleeve and the fixed sleeve provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0029] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the structure of the back cover assembled with optical cable and wire according to an embodiment of this application;

[0030] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of assembling optical cables and wires to the front sleeve according to an embodiment of this application;

[0031] Figure 9 A schematic diagram of the structure when the front sleeve and rear shell are not fastened together, as provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0032] Figure 10 A cross-sectional schematic diagram of the front sleeve provided for an embodiment of this application;

[0033] Figure 11A three-dimensional structural diagram of the secondary locking mechanism provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0034] Figure 12 A cross-sectional view of the secondary locking mechanism provided in the embodiment of this application in the unlocked state;

[0035] Figure 13 A cross-sectional schematic diagram of the secondary locking mechanism provided in the embodiment of this application in the locked state;

[0036] Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram of a connector housing with six foolproof positioning positions provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0037] In the picture:

[0038] 1. Connector housing; 11. Front sleeve; 111. Step; 112. Rib; 114. Retaining buckle;

[0039] 12. Back cover; 121. Glue inlet; 13. Glue inlet channel; 14. Plug part; 15. Mating surface; 16. Foolproof setting position; 17. First foolproof part;

[0040] 2. Insert; 21. Mounting platform;

[0041] 3. Fixed tube; 31. Fixed sleeve; 311. Boss; 312. Blocking part; 313. Directional key; 32. Empty tube;

[0042] 4. Optical cable; 41. Optical fiber; 42. Sheath; 43. Cable outer sheath;

[0043] 5. Spring; 6. Conductive terminal; 61. Contact part; 7. Wire; 8. Outer sealing ring;

[0044] 9. Secondary locking mechanism; 91. Locking body; 911. Stop surface; 92. Elastic arm; 921. Clearance groove; 922. Supporting protrusion; 923. Locking protrusion;

[0045] 10. Locking spring arm; 101. Hook; 102. Spring arm protrusion. Detailed Implementation

[0046] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the present application, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present application, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0047] This application provides an optical fiber connector and connector assembly, which can solve the technical problem in the related art where the camera is connected to two connectors, which are very large and inconvenient to install in a vehicle.

[0048] See Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown in the figure, an optical fiber connector provided in this application embodiment may include: a connector housing 1, the connector housing 1 having a plug portion 14 at its front end, and a receiving cavity extending along the axial direction inside the connector housing 1; a ferrule 2 is disposed in the receiving cavity near the plug portion 14, and an optical cable 4 is disposed in the receiving cavity away from the plug portion 14, the optical cable 4 having at least one optical fiber 41 inside, the optical fiber 41 being connected to the ferrule 2 along the receiving cavity; the connector housing 1 also has a conductive terminal 6 inside, and at least one wire 7 is disposed in the receiving cavity of the connector housing 1, the wire 7 being separately disposed from the optical cable 4, or being integrally disposed with the optical cable 4, the wire 7 being connected to the conductive terminal 6 through the receiving cavity; the conductive terminal 6 is partially located on the outer surface of the plug portion 14 to form a contact portion 61; a locking spring arm 10 is provided on the outer side of the connector housing 1, and a mating surface 15 is provided at the end of the plug portion 14 away from the locking spring arm 10; the contact portion 61 is located between the mating surface 15 and the locking spring arm 10.

[0049] In this embodiment, the locking spring arm 10 is used to lock with the docking part (e.g., an adapter), and the docking surface 15 is used to dock with the docking part. The docking surface 15 is located at the front end of the plug portion 14.

[0050] In this embodiment, a ferrule 2 and an optical cable 4 are arranged in the receiving cavity of the connector housing 1. The optical fiber 41 of the optical cable 4 is inserted into the ferrule 2, enabling the optical fiber connector to transmit optical signals. At the same time, by setting a conductive terminal 6 in the connector housing 1 and electrically connecting the conductive terminal 6 to the wire 7, the optical fiber connector can also transmit electrical signals. One connector realizes photoelectric transmission, reduces the size, and solves the technical problem in related technologies where cameras are connected to two connectors, which are large in size and inconvenient to install in the space of a vehicle.

[0051] Furthermore, in one embodiment, see... Figure 2As shown, the outer surface of the plug portion 14 is provided with multiple raised ribs 112, and a concave conductive space is formed between two adjacent raised ribs 112. The contact portion 61 of the conductive terminal 6 is located within the conductive space. In this embodiment, three raised ribs 112 are provided on the left side of the plug portion 14, and the three raised ribs 112 are spaced apart to form two conductive spaces. The contact portion 61 of the conductive terminal 6 on the left side is exposed in the two conductive spaces on the left side. Three raised ribs 112 are also symmetrically provided on the right side of the plug portion 14, and the three raised ribs 112 are spaced apart to form two conductive spaces (see...). Figure 10 As shown, the contact portion 61 of the right-side conductive terminal 6 is exposed in the two conductive spaces on the right side. In this embodiment, a raised rib 112 is provided on the side of the plug portion 14. The raised rib 112 protrudes outward from the conductive terminal 6, which can prevent people from accidentally touching the conductive terminal 6. In this embodiment, the conductive terminal 6 is preferably fixed to the plug portion 14 by injection molding.

[0052] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the insert 2 is confined within the receiving cavity by a fixing tube 3 located within the receiving cavity, and the fixing tube 3 and the inner wall of the receiving cavity form an adhesive injection channel 13, which contains adhesive for fixing the optical cable 4 to the connector housing 1.

[0053] In this embodiment, the connector housing 1 can be either integral or separate. For ease of assembly, this embodiment preferably uses a separate connector housing 1. The receiving cavity inside the connector housing 1 extends through the connector housing 1 from front to back. The ferrule 2 is confined within the receiving cavity by the fixing tube 3, preventing the ferrule 2 from coming out of the receiving cavity, and allowing the ferrule 2 a certain amount of movement in the axial direction. After the optical cable 4 is inserted into the fixing tube 3, the fixing tube 3 can separate the internal optical cable 4 from the external glue injection channel 13. Before inserting the optical cable 4 into the fixing tube 3, a portion of the optical cable 4 can be stripped, and the optical fiber 41 and the sleeve 42 covering the optical fiber 41 can be inserted into the fixing tube 3. The portion of the cable sheath 43 outside the sleeve 42 can be fixed with glue in the glue injection channel 13, and the aramid yarn can also be stripped and fixed in the glue injection channel 13. In this way, not only can the optical cable 4 be fixed inside the connector housing 1, but the optical fiber 41 located inside the fixing tube 3 can also move within the fixing tube 3 without being fixed in place.

[0054] This embodiment features a ferrule 2 and a fixing tube 3 within the receiving cavity of the connector housing 1. The ferrule 2 is confined within the receiving cavity by the fixing tube 3. Simultaneously, the optical cable 4 can pass through the fixing tube 3. Adhesive is contained within the injection channel 13 formed by the fixing tube 3 and the inner wall of the receiving cavity, preventing it from flowing into the fixing tube 3 and fixing the optical cable 4 within it. The optical fiber 41 within the optical cable 4 in the fixing tube 3 remains movable. When the optical fiber 41 is connected to an adapter or subjected to tension, it can retract, solving the technical problem in related technologies where the optical fiber 41 cannot retract during adapter connection, affecting its optical performance. The fiber optic connector in this embodiment is primarily used in the automotive field, but it can also be applied to other fields or scenarios requiring the use of optical fiber 41.

[0055] See Figure 1 and Figure 4 As shown, in some optional embodiments, the fixing tube 3 includes: a fixing sleeve 31, which is snapped into the connector housing 1 and cooperates with the connector housing 1 to confine the ferrule 2 within the receiving cavity; and an empty tube 32, which is inserted into the fixing sleeve 31, and the optical cable 4 passes through the empty tube 32 and the fixing sleeve 31.

[0056] In this embodiment, the fixing sleeve 31 can be provided with a snap-fit ​​position for snapping with the connector housing 1. After the fixing sleeve 31 snaps with the connector housing 1, the fixing sleeve 31 and the connector housing 1 are relatively fixed. At the same time, the connector housing 1 and the fixing sleeve 31 can be provided with corresponding limiting structures, so that after the fixing sleeve 31 and the connector housing 1 are fixed, the ferrule 2 can be limited by the connector housing 1 and the fixing sleeve 31 within the receiving cavity. One end of the empty tube 32 can be inserted into the fixing sleeve 31, and the other end can extend out of the fixing sleeve 31. When the optical cable 4 is inserted into the fixing tube 3, it first goes into the empty tube 32 and then into the fixing sleeve 31. The optical fiber 41 at the end of the optical cable 4 is inserted into the ferrule 2. In this embodiment, the fixing tube 3 is divided into two parts, the fixing sleeve 31 and the empty tube 32. This not only facilitates the processing and manufacturing of the fixing tube 3, but also makes it difficult for glue to enter the empty tube 32 from that end, thus making it difficult to fix the optical cable 4 in the empty tube 32.

[0057] Furthermore, in one embodiment, see... Figure 4As shown, the fixing sleeve 31 has a boss 311 inside, which divides the fixing sleeve 31 into a first cavity and a second cavity distributed along the axial direction of the fixing sleeve 31. The insert 2 is inserted into the first cavity, and one end of the empty tube 32 is inserted into the second cavity. In this embodiment, the boss 311 protrudes from the inner wall of the fixing sleeve 31. The boss 311 not only limits one end of the insert 2, but also blocks the end of the empty tube 32. This arrangement can prevent the empty tube 32 from moving forward, and even if glue enters between the empty tube 32 and the fixing sleeve 31, it will be blocked at the boss 311 and will not further enter the empty tube 32 from the end of the empty tube 32.

[0058] Further, see Figure 1 and Figure 4 As shown, in one embodiment, the optical cable 4 includes: an optical fiber 41, the optical fiber 41 is covered with a sleeve 42, the sleeve 42 is inserted into the fixed sleeve 31 and the empty tube 32; and an outer cable sheath 43, the outer cable sheath 43 is fitted over the sleeve 42, and the other end of the empty tube 32 is inserted into the outer cable sheath 43. In this embodiment, the optical fiber 41 is sheathed by a sleeve 42, and the sleeve 42 is sheathed by a cable outer sheath 43. The cable outer sheath 43 is located outside the empty tube 32. The sleeve 42 and the optical fiber 41 are inserted into the empty tube 32. The sleeve 42 can move within the empty tube 32, and the optical fiber 41 can also move within the sleeve 42 and the empty tube 32. The cable outer sheath 43 is located outside the empty tube 32 and can be fixed in the receiving cavity with glue. The end of the empty tube 32 is inserted into the cable outer sheath 43, which can further fix the optical cable 4. At the same time, there may also be aramid yarn outside the sleeve 42, which is also stripped outside the empty tube 32 and fixed with the glue in the glue injection channel 13. In this embodiment, the outer diameter of the sleeve 42 is preferably set to about 0.6 mm, and the outer diameter of the cable outer sheath 43 is preferably set to about 1.8 mm.

[0059] Preferred, see Figure 4As shown, the ferrule 2 has a fixed platform 21, and the connector housing 1 has a step 111 inside. The step 111 stops the fixed platform 21 on the side away from the fixed sleeve 31. The step 111 and the boss 311 limit the movement space of the ferrule 2 between the step 111 and the boss 311. The ferrule 2 is fitted with a spring 5, which is located between the fixed platform 21 and the fixed sleeve 31. In this embodiment, the step 111 stops at one end of the fixed platform 21, and the boss 311 stops at the end of the ferrule 2 where the fixed platform 21 is not provided. There is a gap between the boss 311 and the end of the ferrule 2, allowing the ferrule 2 to have a certain amount of movement within the movement space. At the same time, the spring 5 fitted outside the ferrule 2 is in a compressed state, and the elastic force of the spring 5 can drive the ferrule 2 to resist the step 111, maintaining a tight engagement with the mating part.

[0060] In one embodiment, see Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the connector housing 1 has a glue injection port 121, which communicates with the glue injection channel 13. In this embodiment, the glue injection port 121 penetrates the connector housing 1 radially, connecting the receiving cavity to the outside of the connector housing 1, facilitating glue injection into the glue injection channel 13. In other embodiments, the glue injection port 121 may not be provided on the surface of the connector housing 1.

[0061] Furthermore, in one embodiment, see... Figure 2 As shown, the connector housing 1 is also equipped with a secondary locking mechanism 9. When the connector housing 1 is locked to the mating member by the locking spring arm 10, the secondary locking mechanism 9 stops on one side of the locking spring arm 10 and prevents the locking spring arm 10 from unlocking from the mating member. In this embodiment, the locking spring arm 10 can be integrally formed with the connector housing 1, or it can be separately formed and then assembled together. In this embodiment, it is preferred that the locking spring arm 10 is integrally formed with the connector housing 1. In order to prevent the locking spring arm 10 from separating from the mating member during use, this embodiment also provides a secondary locking mechanism 9. The secondary locking mechanism 9 can stop on one side of the locking spring arm 10 after the locking spring arm 10 is locked to the mating member, thereby preventing the locking spring arm 10 from unlocking from the mating member. When unlocking is required, the secondary locking mechanism 9 can be unlocked first so that the secondary locking mechanism 9 no longer blocks the locking spring arm 10, and then the locking spring arm 10 can be unlocked, which can improve the locking reliability of the connector housing 1 and the mating member.

[0062] Furthermore, in one embodiment, see... Figures 11 to 13As shown, the secondary locking mechanism 9 is sandwiched between the locking spring arm 10 and the connector housing 1, and the secondary locking mechanism 9 has a relief groove 921. The secondary locking mechanism 9 has a stop surface 911 on one side of the relief groove 921. The stop surface 911 and the relief groove 921 are distributed along the axial direction of the connector housing 1. The locking spring arm 10 has a hook 101 for locking with the mating member. The hook 101 and the secondary locking mechanism 9 are located on opposite sides of the locking spring arm 10. When the connector housing 1 is inserted into the mating member, the locking spring arm 10 at least partially enters the relief groove 921. And when the secondary locking mechanism 9 is pushed toward the mating member to the locked state, the stop surface 911 stops between the locking spring arm 10 and the connector housing 1.

[0063] In this embodiment, the secondary locking mechanism 9 is preferably configured as a square frame, such that a clearance groove 921 is formed in the middle of the secondary locking mechanism 9, and the clearance groove 921 extends vertically through the secondary locking mechanism 9. See [reference needed] Figure 5 As shown, the top surface of the locking spring arm 10 in this embodiment is provided with a hook 101 for locking with the mating part. During the process of inserting the connector housing 1 into the mating part, the inner wall of the mating part will first contact the inclined surface on the hook 101, pressing the hook 101 and the locking spring arm 10 downward. The locking spring arm 10 will undergo elastic deformation downward. Then, it will be further inserted into the connector housing 1, and the hook 101 will smoothly enter the locking groove of the mating part. During this process, when the locking spring arm 10 undergoes elastic deformation downward, it will enter the relief groove 921. The relief groove 921 provides deformation space for the locking spring arm 10. After the hook 101 is locked into the locking groove, the secondary locking mechanism 9 can be pushed in along the insertion direction of the connector housing 1. After the secondary locking mechanism 9 moves to the locking state, the stop surface 911 will stop below the locking spring arm 10, preventing the locking spring arm 10 from deforming downward, thereby preventing the hook 101 from coming out of the locking groove.

[0064] Furthermore, in some alternative embodiments, see Figure 9 and Figure 11As shown, the secondary locking mechanism 9 has a locking protrusion 923, which is located on opposite sides of the stop surface 911 in the clearance groove 921. The secondary locking mechanism 9 also has an abutment protrusion 922. The locking spring arm 10 also has a spring arm protrusion 102. When the connector housing 1 is not inserted into the mating member, the spring arm protrusion 102 stops the locking protrusion 923 on the side away from the stop surface 911, and the secondary locking mechanism 9 is in an unlocked state. When the connector housing 1 is inserted into the mating member, the protrusion of the mating member presses against the abutment protrusion 922, causing the locking protrusion 923 to pass over the spring arm protrusion 102, and the stop surface 911 stops between the locking spring arm 10 and the connector housing 1, and the secondary locking mechanism 9 is in a locked state.

[0065] See Figure 11 As shown, in this embodiment, the secondary locking mechanism 9 includes a locking body 91 and an elastic arm 92 connected to the locking body 91. The elastic arm 92 bends and extends from the connection point with the locking body 91, forming a frame shape and forming an avoidance groove 921. Two locking protrusions 923 are symmetrically arranged at the free end of the elastic arm 92, and abutment protrusions 922 are symmetrically arranged. The stop surface 911 is provided on the locking body 91. When the connector housing 1 is not inserted into the mating part, the secondary locking mechanism 9 needs to be in the unlocked state so that the locking spring arm 10 can deform normally. If the secondary locking mechanism 9 is in the locked state when the connector housing 1 is not inserted into the mating part, the locking spring arm 10 will be damaged during automated assembly. Therefore, in this embodiment, when the connector housing 1 is not inserted into the mating part, the spring arm protrusion 102 stops at the side of the locking protrusion 923 away from the stop surface 911. At this time, the lower part of the locking spring arm 10 is exactly the relief groove 921, and the locking spring arm 10 can elastically deform downwards. At this time, the secondary locking mechanism 9 is in the unlocked state. Then, the connector housing 1 is gradually inserted into the mating part. Before the hook 101 locks with the locking groove of the mating part, the secondary locking mechanism 9 is in the unlocked state. During the insertion of the connector housing 1... During the process, the inner wall of the mating part will contact the hook 101, driving the locking spring arm 10 to bend and deform downwards, and continue to be inserted into the connector housing 1. The protrusion on the mating part acts to hold the protrusion 922, pressing the holding protrusion 922 downwards. The holding protrusion 922, together with the elastic arm 92, bends and deforms downwards, and continues to be inserted into the connector housing 1. When the hook 101 moves to the locking groove, the hook 101 pops up and falls into the locking groove of the mating part, realizing the locking spring arm 10 and the mating part. At this time, the protrusion on the mating part continues to press down to hold the protrusion 922. When the secondary locking mechanism 9 is pushed towards the mating part, the locking protrusion 923 can pass over the spring arm protrusion 102 to reach the locking position, and the stop surface 911 stops below the locking spring arm 10. At this time, the secondary locking mechanism 9 is in the locked state, and the locking spring arm 10 cannot deform downwards.

[0066] In this embodiment, a locking protrusion 923 is provided in the secondary locking mechanism 9, and a spring arm protrusion 102 that cooperates with the locking protrusion 923 is provided in the locking spring arm 10. Because the spring arm protrusion 102 blocks the locking protrusion 923, when the connector housing 1 is not inserted into the mating part, directly pushing the secondary locking mechanism 9 cannot change the secondary locking mechanism 9 from the unlocked state to the locked state. That is, when the connector housing 1 is not mated, the secondary locking mechanism 9 can only be in the unlocked state, ensuring that the locking spring arm 10 can deform normally and reducing the damage to the locking spring arm 10 during the automated assembly of the fiber optic connector. Only when the connector housing 1 is mated with the mating part can the secondary locking mechanism 9 be pushed to the locked state.

[0067] Further, see Figure 1 and Figure 9 As shown, in some embodiments, the connector housing 1 includes a front sleeve 11 and a rear shell 12. The front sleeve 11 and the rear shell 12 are interlocked and fixed together, and the interiors of the front sleeve 11 and the rear shell 12 together form the receiving cavity. An injection port 121 is opened in the rear shell 12, and the conductive terminal 6 is fixed to the front sleeve 11. In this embodiment, to facilitate the assembly of the internal components of the connector housing 1, the connector housing 1 is divided into two independent parts, namely the front sleeve 11 and the rear shell 12. The front sleeve 11 and the rear shell 12 are interlocked and fixed together to form the connector housing 1. An outer sealing ring 8 is provided on the front sleeve 11 for sealing when mating with the mating parts.

[0068] See Figure 6 As shown, a retaining buckle 114 can extend from the bottom of the front sleeve 11, and a stop portion 312 is provided on the outer side of the retaining sleeve 31. When the retaining sleeve 31 is inserted into the front sleeve 11, the stop portion 312 on the outer side of the retaining sleeve 31 abuts against the end of the front sleeve 11, and the retaining buckle 114 of the front sleeve 11 is fastened in the groove of the retaining sleeve 31, so that the retaining sleeve 31 and the front sleeve 11 are fixed together. At the same time, a directional key 313 can be provided at the bottom of the retaining sleeve 31 for orientation when the retaining sleeve 31 is inserted into the front sleeve 11. A tail sleeve can be connected to the tail end of the rear shell 12, and the optical cable 4 and the wire 7 pass through the tail sleeve and are inserted into the rear shell 12 and the front sleeve 11.

[0069] When assembling the aforementioned fiber optic connectors, the optical cable 4 and the conductor 7 can be first inserted into the tail sheath and the rear shell 12. Figure 7 (As shown), then the wire 7 is soldered to the conductive terminal 6 inside the front sleeve 11, then the empty tube 32 is inserted into the fixing sleeve 31 inside the front sleeve 11, and the optical fiber 41 and the sleeve 42 are inserted into the empty tube 32 and the fixing sleeve 31. Figure 8(As shown); then, the rear shell 12 is fastened and fixed to the front sleeve 11; finally, glue is applied from the glue injection port 121, achieving both fixation and sealing. In this embodiment, the fiber optic connector uses an outer sealing ring 8 combined with glue application for sealing, which can achieve overall IP68 and IP69K sealing. Moreover, the fiber optic connector assembly operation is simple, with high consistency and yield.

[0070] Furthermore, in one embodiment, the connector housing 1 is further provided with a first anti-fooling portion 17, which at least partially overlaps with the contact portion 61 along the axial direction of the connector housing 1. See also Figure 2 As shown, in this embodiment, a first anti-mistake part 17 is provided on both the front sleeve 11 and the rear shell 12. The first anti-mistake part 17 is used to prevent mistake when the connector housing 1 is inserted into the mating part. At the same time, the first anti-mistake part 17 located on the front sleeve 11 overlaps with the contact part 61 of the conductive terminal 6 along the axial direction of the connector housing 1, so that the connector housing 1 can achieve mistake-proofing at the position where conductivity is achieved, which can reduce the length of the connector housing 1.

[0071] Furthermore, in one embodiment, see... Figure 14 As shown, the connector housing 1 has N foolproof setting positions 16 at different positions, and N / 2 or (N±1) / 2 of the N foolproof setting positions 16 are arbitrarily selected to set the first foolproof part 17, where N is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1; when N is even, the connector housing 1 is provided with N / 2 of the first foolproof parts 17; when N is odd, the connector housing 1 is provided with (N±1) / 2 of the first foolproof parts 17.

[0072] To completely eliminate insertion errors between the male connector (i.e., the aforementioned fiber optic connector) and the female connector (or adapter) while minimizing the number of first anti-misalignment parts 17, the number and location of anti-misalignment positions 16 need to be planned at the initial design stage. This embodiment plans N anti-misalignment positions 16, which are distributed differently on the connector housing 1, and can be adjacent to or spaced apart. To maximize the combination of the first anti-misalignment parts 17 and ensure a one-to-one correspondence between the male and female connectors after the first anti-misalignment parts 17 are installed on the male connector, this embodiment selects N / 2 (N is even) or (N±1) / 2 (N is odd) anti-misalignment positions 16 from the planned N to install the first anti-misalignment parts 17 in connectors used in specific scenarios. This allows the male and female connectors to not only be inserted into each other but also to achieve a one-to-one correspondence. In this embodiment, N can be a positive integer such as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6.

[0073] By planning N anti-misalignment positions 16 at different positions on the connector housing 1, various combinations of N anti-misalignment positions 16 at different positions can be obtained, with each group containing N / 2 or (N±1) / 2 anti-misalignment positions 16. At least one anti-misalignment position 16 will be in a different position in each combination. Different connectors select different combinations of anti-misalignment positions 16; that is, N / 2 or (N±1) / 2 anti-misalignment positions 16 are selected on each connector housing 11, and a first [missing information] is set on these anti-misalignment positions 16. The first anti-fooling part 17 is provided, but different connector housings 1 have at least one first anti-fooling part 17 in different positions, so that multiple connectors can be distinguished by N / 2 or (N±1) / 2 first anti-fooling parts 17 on them, so as to mate with the unique mating connector. The arrangement of the first anti-fooling part 17 in this embodiment can distinguish a large number of connectors one by one and has the most combination forms, which solves the technical problem in the related technology that only one anti-fooling structure is set on the male connector and the female connector, and a large number of male connectors and female connectors cannot be matched one by one.

[0074] This application also provides a connector assembly, which may include the aforementioned fiber optic connector and adapter. The fiber optic connector in this embodiment can be any of the fiber optic connectors described above, and will achieve the corresponding functions, which will not be elaborated further here. Meanwhile, the adapter here is the aforementioned mating component.

[0075] In this embodiment, the adapter is provided with a locking groove that cooperates with the hook 101 of the locking spring arm 10, and the adapter is also provided with a protrusion that can act on the abutment protrusion 922 and press the abutment protrusion 922 downward; the adapter is also provided with a second anti-fool part that cooperates with the first anti-fool part 17.

[0076] In the description of this application, it should be noted that the terms "upper," "lower," etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application. Unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installed," "connected," and "linked" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication between two elements. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in this application can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0077] It should be noted that in this application, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used merely to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element.

[0078] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, enabling those skilled in the art to understand or implement this application. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of this application. Therefore, this application is not to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features claimed herein.

Claims

1. An optical fiber connector, characterized in that, It includes: A connector housing (1) has a plug portion (14) at its front end and a receiving cavity extending along the axial direction inside the connector housing (1). A ferrule (2) is provided at one end of the receiving cavity near the plug portion (14) and an optical cable (4) is provided at one end of the receiving cavity away from the plug portion (14). The optical cable (4) has at least one optical fiber (41) inside and the optical fiber (41) is connected to the ferrule (2) along the receiving cavity. The connector housing (1) also has a conductive terminal (6) inside, and at least one wire (7) is provided in the receiving cavity of the connector housing (1). The wire (7) is separately provided from the optical cable (4) or is integrated with the optical cable (4). The wire (7) is connected to the conductive terminal (6) through the receiving cavity. The conductive terminal (6) is located on the outer surface of the plug portion (14) to form a contact portion (61). The connector housing (1) is provided with a locking spring arm (10) on the outside, and the plug part (14) is provided with a mating surface (15) at one end away from the locking spring arm (10). The contact portion (61) is located between the mating surface (15) and the locking spring arm (10); The connector housing (1) is also equipped with a secondary locking mechanism (9), which is sandwiched between the locking spring arm (10) and the connector housing (1). The secondary locking mechanism (9) has a relief groove (921) and a stop surface (911) on one side of the relief groove (921). The stop surface (911) and the relief groove (921) are distributed along the axial direction of the connector housing (1). The secondary locking mechanism (9) has a locking protrusion (923), which is located on opposite sides of the relief groove (921). The secondary locking mechanism (9) also has an abutment protrusion (922). The locking spring arm (10) is also provided with a spring arm protrusion (102). When the connector housing (1) is not inserted into the mating part, the spring arm protrusion (102) stops on the side of the locking protrusion (923) away from the stop surface (911), and the secondary locking mechanism (9) is in the unlocked state. When the connector housing (1) is inserted into the mating member, the protrusion of the mating member presses against the abutment protrusion (922), causing the locking protrusion (923) to pass over the spring arm protrusion (102), and the stop surface (911) stops between the locking spring arm (10) and the connector housing (1), and the secondary locking mechanism (9) is in a locked state.

2. The fiber optic connector as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The outer surface of the plug portion (14) is provided with multiple ribs (112), and a concave conductive space is formed between two adjacent ribs (112). The contact portion (61) of the conductive terminal (6) is located in the conductive space.

3. The fiber optic connector as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The insert (2) is confined within the cavity by a fixing tube (3) located within the cavity, and the fixing tube (3) forms an injection channel (13) with the inner wall of the cavity. The injection channel (13) contains glue for fixing the optical cable to the connector housing (1).

4. The fiber optic connector as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The fixed tube (3) includes: A fixing sleeve (31) is engaged with the connector housing (1), and the fixing sleeve (31) cooperates with the connector housing (1) to confine the ferrule (2) within the receiving cavity; And an empty tube (32), which is connected to the fixed sleeve (31), and the optical cable (4) is inserted into the empty tube (32) and the fixed sleeve (31).

5. The fiber optic connector as described in claim 4, characterized in that: The fixing sleeve (31) is provided with a boss (311), which divides the fixing sleeve (31) into a first cavity and a second cavity distributed along the axial direction of the fixing sleeve (31). The insert (2) is inserted into the first cavity, and one end of the empty tube (32) is inserted into the second cavity.

6. The fiber optic connector as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The optical cable (4) includes: An optical fiber (41) is provided with a sleeve (42) which is inserted into the fixed sleeve (31) and the empty tube (32); The cable outer sheath (43) is fitted over the sleeve (42), and the other end of the empty tube (32) is inserted into the cable outer sheath (43).

7. The fiber optic connector as described in claim 5, characterized in that: The ferrule (2) has a fixed platform (21), and the connector housing (1) has a step (111) inside. The step (111) stops the fixed platform (21) on the side away from the fixed sleeve (31). The step (111) and the boss (311) limit the movement space of the ferrule (2) between the step (111) and the boss (311). The ferrule (2) is covered with a spring (5), which is located between the fixed platform (21) and the fixed sleeve (31).

8. The fiber optic connector as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The connector housing (1) has an injection port (121) which is connected to the injection channel (13).

9. The fiber optic connector as described in claim 1, characterized in that, When the connector housing (1) is locked to the mating part by the locking spring arm (10), the secondary locking mechanism (9) stops on one side of the locking spring arm (10) and prevents the locking spring arm (10) from unlocking from the mating part.

10. The fiber optic connector as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, The locking spring arm (10) is provided with a hook (101) for locking with the docking part. The hook (101) and the secondary locking mechanism (9) are located on opposite sides of the locking spring arm (10). When the connector housing (1) is inserted into the mating part, the locking spring arm (10) enters at least partially into the clearance groove (921); and when the secondary locking mechanism (9) is pushed toward the mating part to the locking state, the stop surface (911) stops between the locking spring arm (10) and the connector housing (1).

11. The fiber optic connector as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The connector housing (1) is further provided with a first anti-fool part (17), which overlaps at least partially with the contact part (61) along the axial direction of the connector housing (1).

12. The fiber optic connector as described in claim 11, characterized in that, The connector housing (1) has N foolproof setting positions (16) at different positions, and N / 2 or (N±1) / 2 of the N foolproof setting positions (16) are randomly selected to set the first foolproof part (17), where N is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1; When N is even, the connector housing (1) is provided with N / 2 of the first anti-fooling parts (17); when N is odd, the connector housing (1) is provided with (N±1) / 2 of the first anti-fooling parts (17).

13. A connector assembly, characterized in that, It includes: The fiber optic connector and adapter as described in any one of claims 1-12.

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