High-temperature-resistant multi-channel optical fiber connector and optical module

Abstract

The invention discloses a high-temperature-resistant multichannel optical fiber connector and an optical module, the high-temperature-resistant multichannel optical fiber connector comprises a substrate, a metal capillary tube, a cover plate and a metallized optical fiber, the outermost layer of the metallized optical fiber is provided with a metal coating, and the substrate is provided with an optical fiber positioning groove used for positioning the metallized optical fiber. The outer surface of each optical fiber positioning groove is provided with a metal layer, the metal capillary tube is provided with metalized optical fiber installation holes, the optical fiber positioning grooves and the optical fiber installation holes are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence mode, the metalized optical fibers and the metalized optical fiber installation holes are welded, the cover plate is connected with the substrate, and the metal capillary tube is provided with a metal layer. And the metal solder is arranged between the cover plate and the substrate. According to the invention, glue is replaced by the metal coating and the metal solder on the surface of the optical fiber, so that no gelling of the whole device is realized, the stability and reliability of an optical path are improved, the working temperature range is widened, direct welding and vacuum sealing can be realized, and gas release and influence on vacuum sealing are avoided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of optical modules, and in particular relates to a high temperature resistant multi-channel optical fiber connector and an optical module. Background Art

[0002] With the large-scale construction of data centers and supercomputing centers, the high-speed optical module market has shown a strong growth trend in recent years. In the field of short-distance optical communications, multimode optical fiber has become the main transmission medium due to its low loss. In order to meet the growing demand for data transmission, the number of parallel channels is increased to achieve simultaneous transmission of large-capacity data.

[0003] High-speed parallel optical modules have become a key solution for modern communication technology due to their significant advantages such as high-speed data transmission, large bandwidth, low latency and flexibility, and are widely used in data hubs, supercomputing, cloud computing, the Internet of Things and other fields. However, there are technical challenges in the manufacturing process of optical modules, especially the precise coupling and alignment of multi-channel optical chips and fiber connectors, which is directly related to the production yield of optical modules.

[0004] At present, multi-channel fiber optic connectors generally use a variety of glues to fix and protect optical fibers. The specific steps include engraving a V-groove on the glass substrate, then placing the exposed optical fiber part with the fiber coating removed in the V-groove, applying glue, pressing the cover plate down for curing, and then applying protective glue on the end point of the cover plate. Finally, the surface is ground and polished to the required accuracy. After the coupling is completed, it is necessary to fix it on the substrate with glue. The technical defects of the above technical solution are as follows: the use of glue will make the glass transition temperature (Tg) lower, and it cannot withstand the high temperature of more than 200°C during the packaging and welding of high-speed optical modules, and the temperature expansion coefficient is large and easy to deteriorate. Furthermore, during the operation of the optical module, the drastic temperature fluctuation further accelerates the aging of the glue, which may cause unstable optical path coupling, and eventually cause the optical module to fail, becoming a key technical bottleneck restricting the performance and reliability of high-speed optical modules. Therefore, it is urgent to develop a high-temperature resistant multi-channel optical fiber connector to solve the above technical problems. Summary of the invention

[0005] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a high-temperature resistant multi-channel optical fiber connector and optical module in response to the technical defects existing in the prior art. The metal coating on the surface of the optical fiber and the metal solder replace the glue, thereby realizing the glue-free nature of the entire device, improving the stability and reliability of the optical path, and the operating temperature range. The device can also be directly welded for vacuum sealing without releasing gas to affect the vacuum sealing.

[0006] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve its technical problem is: the present invention discloses a high-temperature resistant multi-channel optical fiber connector, including a substrate, a metal capillary, a cover plate and a metallized optical fiber, the outermost layer of the metallized optical fiber is provided with a metal coating, the substrate is provided with an optical fiber positioning groove for positioning the metallized optical fiber, the outer surface of the optical fiber positioning groove is provided with a metal layer, the metal capillary is provided with a metallized optical fiber mounting hole, the optical fiber positioning groove and the optical fiber mounting hole are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence, the metallized optical fiber and the metallized optical fiber mounting hole are welded, the metal capillary and the substrate are welded, the cover plate is connected to the substrate, and the cover plate and the substrate are connected by metal solder.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the upper end surface of the substrate includes a first end surface and a second end surface arranged in parallel, the first end surface is provided with the optical fiber positioning groove, and the second end surface and the first end surface are provided with a transition slope.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, cover plate mounting grooves for connecting the cover plate are arranged on both sides of the substrate, and the cover plate mounting grooves are arranged to extend along the axial direction of the metallized optical fiber.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cross-sectional shape of the metal capillary is L-shaped, the lower end face of the metal capillary includes a third end face and a fourth end face arranged in parallel up and down, the third end face is bonded to the second end face, the fourth end face is bonded to the substrate, and the end of the third end face is provided with a slope that matches the transition slope.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cover plate is provided with a mounting hole penetrating along the axial direction of the metallized optical fiber, the side wall of the mounting hole is provided with a boss for matching with the cover plate mounting groove, and the metal solder is located in the mounting hole.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the metallized optical fiber comprises a core, a cladding and a metal coating which are coaxially arranged in sequence from the inside to the outside.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a spherical lens is provided at the end of the metallized optical fiber.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the receiving half angle of the metallized optical fiber is The relationship between the core radius a of the metallized optical fiber and the radius r of the spherical lens is:

[0014] n1 is the refractive index of the core, and n2 is the refractive index of the cladding.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it further comprises a base plate, on which VCSEL chips are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence with the metallized optical fibers.

[0016] The invention also discloses an optical module, which comprises a high-temperature resistant multi-channel optical fiber connector.

[0017] The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: the present invention designs an innovative high-temperature resistant multi-channel optical fiber connector, which effectively solves many technical bottlenecks of traditional optical modules by systematically optimizing the structure and material selection of key components such as metalized optical fiber, substrate, metal capillary and cover plate. By replacing traditional glue with metal coating and metal solder on the surface of the optical fiber, the device is made glue-free, which significantly improves the stability and reliability of the optical path. This innovation not only expands the operating temperature range, but also has the advantages of direct welding and vacuum sealing, avoiding the influence of gas release on sealing.

[0018] This technical solution uses metal solder instead of traditional glue, allowing the connector to withstand temperatures above 200°C and reducing the adverse effects of temperature changes on optical path coupling. The ball lens design at the fiber coupling end increases the receiving angle of the fiber, and has the advantages of good coupling effect and large adjustment tolerance. Compared with traditional discrete optical coupling systems, the lens fiber coupling system of the present invention exhibits significant characteristics of high integration, excellent stability, convenient packaging and low cost.

[0019] The L-shaped structure of the metal capillary and the fiber positioning groove on the substrate achieve precise positioning and alignment of the metalized optical fiber, further ensuring the optical performance and production yield of the optical module. The high-temperature resistant multi-channel optical fiber connector can fully withstand the temperature changes during the packaging and use of high-speed optical modules, and provide higher coupling efficiency and more stable mechanical properties.

[0020] In addition, the metallized optical fiber with spherical lens, precise matching with VCSEL chip, and innovative design of cover plate mounting slot and mounting hole not only enhance the mechanical strength and sealing of optical fiber connector, but also optimize the transmission efficiency of optical signal. This technical innovation of multi-channel optical fiber connector will provide more stable and reliable technical solutions for the application of high-speed optical modules in data centers, supercomputing, cloud computing and other fields, with significant technical value and broad industrial prospects. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments, in which: Figure 1 An exploded view of a high temperature resistant multi-channel optical fiber connector of the present invention; Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a high temperature resistant multi-channel optical fiber connector of the present invention; Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a cross-section of a metallized optical fiber of a high temperature resistant multi-channel optical fiber connector of the present invention; Figure 4 A schematic diagram of a spherical lens coupling optical path of a high temperature resistant multi-channel optical fiber connector of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] In order to make the purpose, technical solution and advantages of the present invention more clearly understood, the present invention is further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present invention and are not used to limit the present invention.

[0023] Example 1 like Figure 1 As shown, the present invention provides a high temperature resistant multi-channel optical fiber connector, the structural design of which is intended to solve the key technical challenges in high-speed optical modules. The various components and structural features of the connector are now described in detail.

[0024] The high temperature resistant multi-channel optical fiber connector of the present invention comprises a substrate 6, a metal capillary 3, a cover plate 2, a metallized optical fiber 4, a bottom plate 5 and a VCSEL chip 7. The metallized optical fiber 4 is one of the core components of the present invention, and its internal structure adopts a coaxial design, and includes, from the inside to the outside, a core 41, a cladding 42 and a metal coating 43. The core 41 serves as the basic carrier for optical signal transmission, the cladding 42 plays a role in guiding and protecting the optical signal, and the outermost metal coating 43 provides additional mechanical strength and thermal stability. At the same time, the metal coating 43 can replace glue to achieve the glue-free of the entire device. Therefore, compared with the prior art, the present invention improves the stability and reliability of the optical path, as well as the operating temperature range, and can also be directly welded for vacuum sealing without releasing gas to affect the vacuum sealing.

[0025] The metal capillary 3 of the present invention can be manufactured by the following method: using metal as the coating material of the metallized optical fiber, the working temperature of this type of metallized optical fiber is as high as 400°C or above, far exceeding the traditional polymer coated optical fiber, has better high temperature resistance, can effectively protect the optical fiber surface from corrosion, and at the same time has excellent mechanical strength and heat dissipation, and can be welded.

[0026] The present invention first removes the polymer coating layer on the surface of the optical fiber, and then performs a series of pretreatments before placing it in a vacuum coating machine. The optical fiber is used as a substrate. Under the action of high vacuum, positive ions generated by gas glow discharge are used to bombard the coating material at high speed under the action of an electric field. At the same time, a planetary bracket is used to change the incident angle and distance from the coating material to the substrate as the planetary gear rotates. Through the revolution and rotation of the bracket, the metal layer is evenly coated on the surface of the optical fiber, and then thickened by electroplating. Finally, a metallized optical fiber 43 is formed.

[0027] Furthermore, the upper end surface of the precision structure substrate 6 of the substrate of the present invention adopts a unique design, including a first end surface and a second end surface arranged in parallel up and down. An optical fiber positioning groove is provided on the first end surface for accurately positioning and fixing the metallized optical fiber. A transition slope is provided between the second end surface and the first end surface. This design not only enhances the mechanical stability of the structure, but also provides a better alignment mechanism for subsequent assembly. Cover plate mounting grooves are provided on both sides of the substrate 6, and the grooves extend along the axial direction of the metallized optical fiber. This design enables the cover plate 2 to be accurately and firmly installed on the substrate, while ensuring the sealing and alignment accuracy of the overall structure.

[0028] At the same time, the metal capillary 3 of the present invention adopts an L-shaped cross-section, and its lower end surface includes a third end surface and a fourth end surface arranged in parallel. The third end surface is in contact with the second end surface of the substrate, and the fourth end surface is directly in contact with the substrate 6. At the end of the third end surface, a bevel is provided to match the transition bevel on the substrate, further enhancing the alignment and connection accuracy between components; a metallized optical fiber mounting hole 31 is provided on the metal capillary, and the hole corresponds precisely to the optical fiber positioning groove on the substrate. This one-to-one corresponding design ensures the precise positioning and stable fixation of the metallized optical fiber.

[0029] Furthermore, a mounting hole is designed on the cover plate 2 of the present invention, which penetrates along the axial direction of the metallized optical fiber, and the boss on the side wall of the mounting hole cooperates with the cover plate mounting groove on the substrate. The metal solder 1 is located in the mounting hole to achieve a firm connection between the cover plate and the substrate. This design not only provides excellent sealing, but also enhances the mechanical strength of the overall structure.

[0030] Furthermore, VCSEL chips 7 corresponding to the metallized optical fibers are arranged on the bottom plate 5 of the present invention. This precise alignment design ensures efficient coupling and transmission of optical signals and is the key to achieving high-performance optical modules.

[0031] Another core point of the present invention is that the present invention sets a spherical lens 8 at the end of the metallized optical fiber 4, which is a key innovative design. The introduction of the spherical lens significantly improves the coupling performance of the optical fiber. According to the invention scheme, there is a specific mathematical relationship between the radius r of the spherical lens and the core radius a, which is closely related to the refractive index (n1 and n2) of the core and cladding, ensuring the best optical coupling effect.

[0032] At the same time, the receiving half angle of the metallized optical fiber 4 The relationship between the core radius a of the metallized optical fiber 4 and the radius r of the spherical lens 8 is:

[0033] n1 is the refractive index of the core, n2 is the refractive index of the cladding; When the radius r tends to infinity, , which is the NA of the planar fiber. Substituting the a, n1 and n2 data of the actually used optical fiber, it can be seen that the receiving angle of the spherical lens fiber is much larger than that of the planar fiber, so its coupling efficiency is also much greater than that of the planar fiber. At the same time, the radius of the spherical lens fiber can be designed according to the parameters of the optical chip, so that the coupling distance and coupling efficiency are improved to the maximum. Compared with the discrete optical coupling system, the lens fiber coupling system of the present invention has the advantages of high integration, good stability, easy packaging, low cost, etc.

[0034] In summary, the present invention uses metal coatings and metal solders to replace traditional glue, and the connector achieves a completely glue-free design. This not only improves the temperature resistance of the device, enabling it to withstand temperatures above 200°C, but also significantly improves the stability and reliability of the optical path. The high-temperature resistant multi-channel optical fiber connector of the present invention, through innovative structural design and material selection, realizes a highly integrated and highly reliable optical signal transmission solution, providing strong technical support for the application of high-speed optical modules in data centers, supercomputing and other fields.

[0035] Example 2 This embodiment is based on the basic structure of Embodiment 1, and focuses on the preparation process of the metallized optical fiber 4 and the assembly process of the connector.

[0036] Preparation of Metallized Optical Fiber 4 First, the optical fiber is surface treated. Through precise processes, the original polymer coating on the optical fiber surface is completely stripped off to prepare for the subsequent metallization treatment. After pretreatment, the optical fiber is placed in a vacuum coating machine and the metal coating is prepared in a high vacuum environment.

[0037] The gas glow discharge technology is used to bombard the coating material with positive ions at high speed under the action of an electric field. In order to ensure the uniform distribution of the metal layer, an innovative planetary bracket is designed. The bracket orbits and rotates, allowing the coating material to be incident on the optical fiber surface at different angles and distances, effectively ensuring the uniformity of the metal layer. After the coating is completed, the metal layer is further thickened through an electroplating process to finally form a metallized optical fiber 4.

[0038] Connector assembly process (1) Pretreatment and positioning of metallized optical fiber 4 Four metallized optical fibers 4 are strictly cleaned and then inserted into the 4-hole metal capillary 3. They are fixed with metal solder 1 to form a metal ribbon fiber structure. The optical fiber spacing is precisely controlled by the hole spacing of the metal capillary 3.

[0039] (2) Installation of substrate 6 Place the metal ribbon fibers side by side into the groove of substrate 6 and align the front ends precisely. The tail end of the L-shaped metal capillary 3 fits tightly with the grooved substrate 6 to ensure the stability and spacing consistency of the optical fibers 4.

[0040] (3) Installation and welding of cover plate 2 The circular cover plate 2 is precisely positioned and pressed against the optical fiber 4 through the guide grooves on both sides of the substrate 6. The metal solder 1 fills the middle gap, and the groove design of the cover plate 2 and the substrate 6 jointly ensures that the spacing and height of the front lens optical fiber are consistent.

[0041] (4) Hot melt molding The metal solder 1 is heated to achieve a hot melt molding effect, completely replacing the traditional adhesive packaging process.

[0042] (5) Preparation of Spherical Lens Fiber The front end of the optical fiber 4 is heated to a molten state by high-temperature sintering or arc discharge technology, and condensed into a spherical shape to form a spherical lens 8. This process significantly increases the acceptance angle of the optical fiber, improves the optical coupling efficiency, and has the advantages of large adjustment tolerance.

[0043] This embodiment 2 realizes high-precision assembly of a high-temperature resistant multi-channel optical fiber connector, ensuring the optical performance and reliability of the device.

[0044] The present invention removes the outer polymer coating of the optical fiber, and then plates multiple layers of metal together with the glass V-groove by PVD+electroplating to replace the polymer coating, and then uses metal solder to weld and fix, without using polymer glue at all, to achieve the glue-free of the entire device, greatly improving the stability and reliability of the optical path, as well as the operating temperature range, and can also be directly welded for vacuum sealing, and will not release gas to affect the vacuum sealing. At the same time, the front end of the optical fiber is sintered at high temperature or arc discharge to melt the end of the optical fiber and condense it into a spherical shape, thereby increasing the receiving angle of the optical fiber, and having the advantages of good coupling effect and large adjustment tolerance.

[0045] It should be understood that the size of the serial numbers of the steps in the above embodiments does not mean the order of execution. The execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of the present application.

[0046] It should be understood that those skilled in the art can make improvements or changes based on the above description, and all these improvements and changes should fall within the scope of protection of the appended claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A high temperature resistant multi-channel optical fiber connector, characterized in that: The invention comprises a substrate (6), a metal capillary (3), a cover plate (2) and a metallized optical fiber (4), wherein the outermost layer of the metallized optical fiber (4) is provided with a metal coating (43), the substrate is provided with an optical fiber positioning groove for positioning the metallized optical fiber (4), the outer surface of the optical fiber positioning groove is provided with a metal layer, the metal capillary (3) is provided with a metallized optical fiber mounting hole (31), the optical fiber positioning groove and the optical fiber mounting hole (31) are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence, the metallized optical fiber (4) and the metallized optical fiber mounting hole (31) are welded, the metal capillary (3) and the substrate (6) are welded, the cover plate (2) is connected to the substrate (6), and the cover plate (2) and the substrate (6) are connected via a metal solder (1).

2. The high temperature resistant multi-channel optical fiber connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The upper end surface of the substrate (6) comprises a first end surface and a second end surface which are arranged in parallel up and down, the first end surface is provided with the optical fiber positioning groove, and the second end surface and the first end surface are provided with a transition slope.

3. The high temperature resistant multi-channel optical fiber connector according to claim 2, characterized in that: Cover plate mounting grooves for connecting the cover plate (2) are arranged on both sides of the base plate (6), and the cover plate mounting grooves are arranged to extend along the axial direction of the metallized optical fiber.

4. The high temperature resistant multi-channel optical fiber connector according to claim 2, characterized in that: The cross-sectional shape of the metal capillary (3) is L-shaped, and the lower end face of the metal capillary (3) comprises a third end face and a fourth end face which are arranged in parallel up and down, the third end face is bonded to the second end face, the fourth end face is bonded to the substrate (6), and the end of the third end face is provided with an inclined surface which cooperates with the transition inclined surface.

5. The high temperature resistant multi-channel optical fiber connector according to claim 3, characterized in that: The cover plate (2) is provided with a mounting hole penetrating along the axial direction of the metallized optical fiber, a boss for matching with the cover plate mounting groove is provided on the side wall of the mounting hole, and the metal solder (1) is located in the mounting hole.

6. The high temperature resistant multi-channel optical fiber connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The metallized optical fiber (4) comprises a core (41), a cladding (42) and a metal coating (43) which are coaxially arranged in sequence from the inside to the outside.

7. The high temperature resistant multi-channel optical fiber connector according to claim 6, characterized in that: A spherical lens (8) is provided at the end of the metallized optical fiber (4).

8. The high temperature resistant multi-channel optical fiber connector according to claim 7, characterized in that: The receiving half angle of the metallized optical fiber (4) The relationship between the core radius a of the metallized optical fiber (4) and the radius r of the spherical lens (8) is: Among them, n1 is the refractive index of the core, and n2 is the refractive index of the cladding.

9. The high temperature resistant multi-channel optical fiber connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also comprises a base plate (5), on which VCSEL chips (7) arranged in one-to-one correspondence with the metallized optical fibers (4) are arranged.

10. An optical module, characterized in that: It comprises a high temperature resistant multi-channel optical fiber connector as described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

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