Optical fiber bundle for parallel optical interconnection and processing method thereof

Abstract

The invention relates to an optical fiber bundle for parallel optical interconnection and a processing method thereof, and relates to the technical field of laser communication, the optical fiber bundle for parallel optical interconnection comprises a first functional section, a middle section and a second functional section, the first functional section, the middle section and the second functional section are integrally processed and formed by a plurality of optical fibers, and each optical fiber comprises a fiber core and a skin layer, the sheath wraps the periphery of the fiber core, the plurality of optical fibers extend from the first functional section to the second functional section through the middle section and are arranged on the connecting surface of the first functional section and the second functional section in a one-to-one correspondence manner to form a light passing surface with a set shape, and the first functional section and the second functional section are of a hard structure with a fixed shape. The middle section is of a flexible structure, a plurality of high-density optical signal channels can be formed between the first function section and the second function section, and the parallel transmission effect of data is improved. The invention further provides a processing method of the optical fiber bundle for parallel optical interconnection.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of optical communication technologies, and particularly to an optical fiber bundle for parallel optical interconnection. In addition, this application also relates to a processing method for an optical fiber bundle for parallel optical interconnection. Background Art

[0002] With the development of computing technologies, people can use computers to solve more and more complex problems, and the amount of data that computers need to process is increasing. Especially in recent years, with the rapid development of artificial intelligence technologies, the requirements for data processing capabilities, that is, computing power, have shown an explosive growth trend. Although the computing power of computer processors is also increasing rapidly, it still cannot keep up with the requirements of various complex data processing for computing power.

[0003] In order to better meet the needs of huge data processing capabilities, people have adopted parallel computing technologies. Parallel computing uses multiple processors to jointly solve the same problem, that is, the problem to be solved is decomposed into several parts, and each part is calculated and processed by an independent processor at the same time, and then the processing results are integrated and returned to the user. Parallel computing requires data to be quickly transmitted between different processors, so it is necessary to build a data interconnection path between different processors. The data interconnection path can be established between different chips of a computing device, between a chip and a board, or between boards, or between different computing devices, or between different computing centers. The interconnection path has also gradually evolved from the initial electrical signal path connected by metal wires to the current optical signal path connected by optical interconnections made of optical fibers. Optical interconnection has lower latency and power consumption, wider bandwidth, longer transmission distance, and more excellent scalability compared with electrical signal interconnection. These characteristics make optical interconnection more and more widely used in high-performance computing and communication systems.

[0004] Optical interconnection is usually formed by connecting different processors with an optical fiber bundle. The optical fiber bundle uses multiple optical fiber filaments inside it to build multiple connecting optical fiber connection paths between different processors, and uses multiple one-to-one corresponding connection paths for parallel transmission of multi-bit processed data. In order to ensure the correct transmission of data between multiple corresponding transmission points, existing optical interconnections usually set one-to-one corresponding plug-in points on the interconnection interfaces at both ends, and connect the optical fiber filaments between the corresponding plug-in points. A large number of optical fiber filament connection interfaces need to be made, which not only makes the operation cumbersome, affects the setting quantity and setting density of the optical fiber filaments inside the optical fiber bundle, but also makes it difficult to ensure the correctness of the connection of each optical fiber filament. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In order to increase the setting density of multiple interconnection optical paths between different processors and improve the parallel transmission effect of data, this application provides an optical fiber bundle for parallel optical interconnection and a processing method therefor.

[0006] The fiber optic bundle for parallel optical interconnection provided by this application adopts the following technical solution: A fiber optic bundle for parallel optical interconnection includes a first functional section, an intermediate section, and a second functional section. The first functional section, the intermediate section, and the second functional section are integrally formed by multiple optical fiber filaments. Each optical fiber filament includes a core and a cortex, and the cortex is coated on the outer periphery of the core. Multiple optical fiber filaments all extend from the first functional section through the intermediate section to the second functional section, and are arranged in one-to-one correspondence on the connection surface between the first functional section and the second functional section to form a light-transmitting surface with a set shape. The first functional section and the second functional section are rigid structures with fixed shapes, and the intermediate section is a flexible structure.

[0007] By adopting the above technical solution, by using the first functional section and the second functional section with rigid structures of fixed shapes, and forming a light-transmitting surface with a set shape formed by multiple optical fiber filaments connected in one-to-one correspondence on the connection surface between the first functional section and the second functional section, the shape and size of the light-transmitting surface respectively form a fixed connection relationship with the light-emitting element and the light-receiving element of different processor optical path interfaces, so that each light-emitting unit and each light-receiving unit in the processor optical path interface respectively correspond to an optical fiber filament on the connection surface between the first functional section and the second functional section, ensuring that each optical connection path inside the fiber optic bundle for parallel optical interconnection of this application is connected between the corresponding optical connection units of different processor optical path interfaces, and ensuring the correct transmission of data between different processors; by using the flexible intermediate section, the relative position between the first functional section and the second functional section can be conveniently changed, so that the first functional section and the second functional section can be connected between the corresponding connection interfaces on different processors, and the insertion between the first functional section and the second functional section and the processor interface is convenient; by using the cortex provided on the outer periphery of the core, the transmission performance of the optical signal in the core can be improved, and the anti-interference ability of the optical signal can be enhanced.

[0008] In a specific feasible implementation, the outer diameter of a single optical fiber filament is 10 - 70 μm; acid-soluble glass is further provided on the outer sides of the optical fiber filaments in the first functional section and the second functional section. The acid-soluble glasses infiltrate each other and coat all the optical fiber filaments to form a rigid structure with a fixed shape.

[0009] By adopting the above technical solution, by using optical fiber filaments with an outer diameter between 10 - 70 μm, while ensuring the transmission effect of the optical path, the setting density of the optical signal paths inside the fiber optic bundle for parallel optical interconnection can be adapted to the setting density of the optical connection units in the processor optical path interface, ensuring that each optical signal path is connected between a group of corresponding optical connection units; by using acid-soluble glass that infiltrates each other and coats all the optical fiber filaments, a rigid structure with a fixed shape of the first functional section and the second functional section can be conveniently formed, and a flexible intermediate section can be conveniently formed by dissolving the acid-soluble glass.

[0010] In a specific feasible implementation, the light-transmitting surface on the joint surface of the first functional section and the second functional section is a hexagon, rectangle or parallelogram with corresponding directions and sizes.

[0011] By adopting the above technical solution, using the light-transmitting surfaces of hexagon, rectangle or parallelogram on the joint surface of the first functional section and the second functional section, it can be consistent with the shapes of common light-emitting elements and light-receiving elements in the optical path interface of the processor, and improve the applicability of the fiber bundle for parallel optical interconnection of the present application.

[0012] In a specific feasible implementation, the softening temperature of the acid-soluble glass is 50 - 200 °C lower than that of the cortex.

[0013] By adopting the above technical solution, using the acid-soluble glass with a softening temperature 50 - 200 °C lower than that of the cortex material is beneficial to the flow of the acid-soluble glass around the cortex material, enabling the acid-soluble glass material to fully infiltrate between the cortex materials while preventing the deformation of the shape of the optical fiber filaments to a greater extent, and ensuring the formation of a fixed distribution characteristic between the optical fiber filaments.

[0014] In a specific feasible implementation, on the joint surface of the first functional section and the second functional section, the end face shape of the optical fiber filament is circular, and the deviation of the filament spacing of the optical fiber filament is less than 1 μm.

[0015] By adopting the above technical solution, using the optical fiber filaments with circular end faces on the joint surface of the first functional section and the second functional section is beneficial to forming the consistency of the filament spacing between different optical fiber filaments, enabling the deviation of the filament spacing between different optical fiber filaments to be less than 1 μm, thereby improving the accuracy of the position of the optical fiber filaments on the joint surface of the first functional section and the second functional section, and ensuring the correctness of data transmission of each optical fiber filament.

[0016] In a specific feasible implementation, the fiber bundle for parallel optical interconnection of the present application further includes a plurality of dummy filaments. The dummy filaments only include the cortex. The dummy filaments extend from the first functional section through the intermediate section to the second functional section. The dummy filaments are arranged around the optical fiber filaments to form the external shapes of the first functional section and the second functional section.

[0017] By adopting the above technical solution, using the dummy filaments arranged around the optical fiber filaments can ensure that the shape of the light-transmitting surface is consistent with the shapes and sizes of the light-emitting elements and light-receiving elements in the optical path interface of the processor while ensuring that the external shapes of the first functional section and the second functional section are consistent with the interface shape of the optical path interface; using the dummy filaments that only include the cortex can reduce the manufacturing cost and manufacturing process difficulty of the dummy filaments while forming the specific external shapes of the first functional section and the second functional section.

[0018] In a specific feasible implementation, the outer shapes of the first functional segment and the second functional segment are hexagons or circles with the same shape and size.

[0019] By adopting the above technical solution, by using the first functional segment and the second functional segment with hexagonal or circular outer shapes, a fixed-position connection relationship can be formed between the ends of the first functional segment and the second functional segment and the optical path interface of the processor, which is beneficial to ensuring a stable connection relationship between the first functional segment and the second functional segment and the optical path interface.

[0020] The processing method of the fiber optic bundle for parallel optical interconnection provided by this application adopts the following technical solution: A processing method of a fiber optic bundle for parallel optical interconnection of this application includes the following steps: S10. Sequentially arrange a cortical material and acid-soluble glass on the outer side of the core layer material to make a fiber optic rod with a cortex and an acid-soluble layer; S20. Arrange a set number of the fiber optic rods in a set layer and bundle them into a set shape to form a fiber optic composite rod; S30. Draw the fiber optic composite rod to obtain a hard fiber optic bundle with a set shape; S40. After coating a set length of acid-resistant protective layers on both ends of the hard fiber optic bundle, soak it in acid solution to dissolve the acid-soluble glass in the middle part of the hard fiber optic bundle, so that the optical fiber filaments in the middle part are separated from each other to form the soft middle segment, and the parts coated with acid-resistant protective layers at both ends form the hard first functional segment and the second functional segment; S50. Perform end face grinding and polishing on the first functional segment and the second functional segment to obtain the fiber optic bundle for parallel optical interconnection.

[0021] By adopting the above technical solution, by arranging and bundling a set number of fiber optic rods to form a fiber optic composite rod with a set shape and then drawing it, it can be ensured that the two ends of the optical fiber filaments formed by drawing the fiber optic rods are located at the corresponding positions on the connection surfaces at both ends of the hard fiber optic bundle, so as to ensure the strict one-to-one correspondence of the optical fiber filaments inside the fiber optic bundle for parallel optical interconnection on the connection surfaces of the first functional segment and the second functional segment; by using the characteristic that the acid-soluble glass has a lower softening temperature than the cortical glass, during the heating process, the acid-soluble glass softens first and can better infiltrate into the gaps between the optical fiber filaments, while the cortical glass has a lower degree of softening and is easy to maintain the circular structure of the optical fiber filaments. While ensuring the light transmission efficiency, it is beneficial to ensure the consistency of the filament spacing between different optical fiber filaments; by using acid solution to dissolve the acid-soluble glass in the middle segment, the acid-soluble glass infiltrating between multiple optical fiber filaments in the middle segment can be removed to obtain multiple separated optical fiber filaments, forming a soft middle segment that can be bent by a certain degree, so that the relative positions between the first functional segment and the second functional segment at both ends can be conveniently changed.

[0022] In a specific feasible implementation, between step S10 and step S20, there is also step S15 of disposing acid-soluble glass on the outer side of the cortical material to make a blind wire rod with an acid-soluble layer; in step S20, after arranging a set number of the optical fiber rods into a set shape in a set order, the blind wire rods are also arranged on the outer side of the optical fiber rods to form an optical fiber composite rod with a set external shape.

[0023] By adopting the above technical solution, with the blind wire rods formed by disposing acid-soluble glass on the outer side of the cortical material, a plurality of blind wire rods can be arranged on the outer side of the optical fiber rods arranged into a set shape in a set order to form an optical fiber composite rod with a set external shape. Thus, after the optical fiber composite rod is drawn into a wire, a blind wire layer without light-transmitting function can be formed on the outer side of the light-transmitting surface formed by the arrangement of the optical fiber filaments, forming an external shape that does not depend on the shape and size of the light-transmitting surface.

[0024] In summary, the present application includes at least one of the following beneficial technical effects: 1. By using the first functional section, the intermediate section, and the second functional section integrally processed from multiple optical fiber filaments, a plurality of connection optical paths can be formed between the connection surface of the first functional section and the connection surface of the second functional section, and the connection of the plurality of connection optical paths is realized through the connection on one side between the first functional section and the second functional section and the corresponding processor optical path interfaces, increasing the number of connection optical paths and simplifying the structure of the connection optical paths, thereby improving the data transmission efficiency between the processors forming the optical interconnection through the optical fiber bundle for parallel optical interconnection; 2. Through the light-transmitting surface with a set shape formed by arranging the two ends of multiple optical fiber filaments in one-to-one correspondence on the connection surfaces of the first functional section and the second functional section, the shape and size of the light-transmitting surface can correspond to the shape and size of the light-emitting elements and the light-receiving elements in the processor optical path interfaces, and by controlling the diameter of the optical fiber filaments, each optical fiber filament corresponds to one light-emitting unit in the light-emitting elements and one corresponding light-receiving unit in the light-receiving elements, so as to form a connection optical path between each light-emitting unit and the corresponding light-receiving unit, ensuring the correctness of data transmission between different processors while ensuring the effectiveness of data transmission; 3. By setting the first functional section and the second functional section as rigid structures with fixed shapes and setting the intermediate section as a flexible structure, the relative position between the first functional section and the second functional section can be changed through the deformation of the intermediate section, facilitating the insertion between the first functional section and the second functional section and the corresponding processor connection interfaces; and ensuring that the first functional section and the second functional section are connected to the connection interfaces of the processor at fixed positions, preventing the connection misalignment of the optical fiber filaments in the first functional section and the second functional section caused by the torsion of the flexible intermediate section, and ensuring the correct transmission of data between different processors. 4. By arranging blind wire rods outside the bundle of a set number of optical fiber rods arranged in a set shape and at a set level, an optical fiber composite rod with a set external shape is formed. After being drawn into a hard optical fiber bundle, the end face of each optical fiber filament on the light-transmitting surface is a complete circle, ensuring that each optical fiber filament on the light-transmitting surface corresponds one-to-one with each light-emitting / receiving unit in the light-emitting / receiving elements of the optical path interface of the processor, thereby ensuring the data transmission effect between different processors. Description of the Drawings

[0025] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the optical fiber bundle for parallel optical interconnection of the present application.

[0026] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the distribution of optical fiber filaments on the connection surface in an embodiment of the optical fiber bundle for parallel optical interconnection of the present application.

[0027] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of the distribution of optical fiber filaments on the connection surface in another embodiment of the optical fiber bundle for parallel optical interconnection of the present application.

[0028] Figure 4 It is a flowchart of an embodiment of the processing method of the optical fiber bundle for parallel optical interconnection of the present application.

[0029] Figure 5 It is a flowchart of another embodiment of the processing method of the optical fiber bundle for parallel optical interconnection of the present application.

[0030] Description of the reference numerals: 1, the first functional section; 11, the metal protective sleeve; 2, the middle section; 21, the rubber protective sleeve; 3, the second functional section; 4, the optical fiber filament; 41, the core; 42, the cortex; 43, the acid-soluble glass; 5, the light-transmitting surface; 6, the blind wire. Detailed Description of the Embodiment

[0031] The following will describe in detail the specific embodiments of the present application with reference to the drawings. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only for explaining and illustrating the present application, and are not used to limit the present application.

[0032] In the description of the present application, it should be noted that unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "arrangement" and "connection" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a direct connection, or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, and can be the communication inside two elements or the interaction relationship between two elements. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present application can be understood according to specific situations.

[0033] An embodiment of the optical fiber bundle for parallel optical interconnection of the present application, as shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown in the figure, it includes a first functional section 1, an intermediate section 2, and a second functional section 3. The first functional section 1, the intermediate section 2, and the second functional section 3 are different parts on the same optical fiber bundle for parallel optical interconnection, and they are all integral structures containing multiple optical fiber light guiding optical paths formed by integrally processing multiple optical fiber filaments 4. The ends of the first functional section 1 and the second functional section 3 are set as flat connection surfaces. Each optical fiber filament 4 is connected from the connection surface of the first functional section 1 through the first functional section 1, the intermediate section 2, and the second functional section 3 to the connection surface of the second functional section 3, and is used to transmit optical signals between the connection surface of the first functional section 1 and the connection surface of the second functional section 3, forming an optical signal interconnection path from the connection surface of the first functional section 1 to the connection surface of the second functional section 3. The multiple optical fiber filaments 4 form multiple parallel optical signal interconnection paths from the connection surface of the first functional section 1 to the connection surface of the second functional section 3.

[0034] As Figure 2 shown in the figure, the optical fiber filament 4 includes a core 41 and a cortex 42. The core 41 is made of glass or quartz material with a relatively high refractive index, and the cortex 42 is made of glass or quartz material with a lower refractive index. The cortex 42 is coated on the outer periphery of the core 41. The optical signal is transmitted in the core 41, and the cortex 42 can ensure that total reflection occurs at the interface between the core 41 and the cortex 42, preventing the optical signal from leaking from the core 41 and improving the transmission efficiency of the optical signal.

[0035] The processor or other application devices for optical interconnection are provided with optical path interfaces. The optical path interfaces are provided with optical emission elements for emitting data optical signals, or optical reception elements for receiving data optical signals. Each optical emission element contains multiple optical emission units arranged in a set hierarchy, and each optical reception element contains multiple optical reception units arranged in a set hierarchy. The connection positions of each optical fiber filament 4 on the connection surface of the first functional section 1 are strictly arranged in one-to-one correspondence with the positions of the optical fiber filament 4 on the connection surface of the second functional section 3. When the first functional section 1 and the second functional section are respectively inserted into the optical path interfaces of different processors or other application devices, the light passing surfaces 5 on their connection surfaces respectively correspond to the optical emission elements and the optical reception elements in different optical path interfaces, so that the end faces of both ends of each optical fiber filament 4 respectively correspond to an optical emission unit and an optical reception unit, enabling the data optical signal to be transmitted between the corresponding optical emission unit and the optical reception unit, forming multiple high-density parallel optical signal transmission paths between the two application devices and ensuring the correctness of data transmission.

[0036] By controlling the diameter and arrangement of each optical fiber 4 in the light-transmitting surface, it is also possible to make the diameter of the optical fiber 4 equivalent to the size of the light-emitting / receiving unit in the light-emitting / receiving element, and the end-face arrangement of multiple optical fibers 4 is consistent with the arrangement of multiple light-emitting / receiving units in the light-emitting / receiving element, so that the end face of each optical fiber 4 corresponds to a group of corresponding light-emitting units and light-receiving units, ensuring the reliability and correctness of data transmission between each group of light-emitting units and light-receiving units.

[0037] The first functional section 1 and the second functional section 3 are rigid structures with fixed shapes. The first functional section 1 and the second functional section 3 of the rigid structure can ensure that the light-transmitting surface 5 is in a fixed position when the first functional section 1 and the second functional section 3 are inserted into the optical path interface, ensuring that the light-transmitting surface 5 corresponds to the transmitting / receiving element, and the end face of the optical fiber 4 corresponds to the light-emitting / receiving unit one by one. The middle section 2 is a flexible structure that can change its shape. The flexible middle section 2 enables the relative position between the first functional section 1 and the second functional section 3 to change, so that the parallel optical interconnection fiber bundle of the present application can be connected between two application devices such as processors at different distances and in different relative positions, and it is convenient to connect the first functional section 1 and the second functional section 3 to the connection interfaces of the application devices.

[0038] Compared with the image transmission fiber bundle containing multiple optical fibers inside, the parallel optical interconnection fiber bundle of the present application is provided with rigid first functional section 1 and second functional section 3 with fixed shapes at both ends, ensuring that each optical fiber 4 inside can be connected to a fixed point in the connection interface at a fixed position. The image transmission fiber bundle also requires the positions of each optical fiber at both end faces to correspond to each other, but the correspondence of the positions of the optical fibers in the image transmission fiber bundle only requires the relative positions between different optical fibers to remain unchanged, with the purpose of preventing the transmitted image from being distorted. Therefore, the overall offset or overall rotation of the positions of multiple optical fibers is not restricted. However, the parallel optical interconnection fiber bundle of the present application requires the absolute positions of each optical fiber 4 on the connection surface to correspond to each other, ensuring that each optical fiber 4 corresponds to a fixed light-emitting / receiving unit in the optical path interface. Any offset or torsion at any position will result in data transmission errors.

[0039] Compared with the light guide rod with multiple optical fibers arranged inside, the middle part of the parallel optical interconnection fiber bundle of the present application is provided with a soft middle section 2. By deforming the middle section 2, the distance and relative position between the first functional section 1 and the second functional section 3 can be changed, enabling it to be connected between two processors or other application devices at different distances and in different relative positions, and the connection with the processors or other application devices is also more convenient.

[0040] In some embodiments of the fiber optic bundle for parallel optical interconnection of the present application, the diameter of the fiber core 41 is generally between 8 - 10 μm. The cortex 42 is coated on the outer periphery of the fiber core 41 to form an optical fiber filament 4 with an outer diameter of 10 - 70 μm. The outer diameter of the optical fiber filament 4 can be determined according to the size of the light emitting / receiving unit in the adapted light emitting / receiving element. The latest optical path interface uses MicroLED as the light emitting element, and the diameter of each light emitting unit in the Micro LED is generally about 50 μm. To adapt to the optical path interface using Micro LED as the light emitting element, the diameter of the optical fiber filament 4 can be set to 50 μm.

[0041] As Figure 2 shown, in the first functional section 1 and the second functional section 3, acid-soluble glass 43 is further provided outside the optical fiber filament 4. The acid-soluble glasses 43 infiltrate each other in the gaps outside the optical fiber filaments 4 to form an integral structure covering all the optical fiber filaments 4. Each optical fiber filament 4 is fixed at a fixed position within the acid-soluble glass 43. While forming the rigid structures with fixed shapes of the first functional section 1 and the second functional section 3, it is ensured that the positions of each optical fiber filament 4 on the connection surface of the first functional section 1 and the positions of the same optical fiber filament 4 on the connection surface of the second functional section 3 are strictly arranged in one-to-one correspondence and remain fixed during use.

[0042] In some embodiments of the fiber optic bundle for parallel optical interconnection of the present application, as Figure 1 and Figure 2 shown, multiple optical fiber filaments 4 are bonded to each other within the first functional section 1 and the second functional section 3 to form a fixed shape. Specifically, acid-soluble glass 43 with a relatively low melting point is provided on the outer periphery of the multiple optical fiber filaments 4. The acid-soluble glasses 43 on the outer peripheries of the multiple optical fiber filaments 4 infiltrate and fuse with each other to weld the multiple optical fiber filaments 4 together, such that the multiple optical fiber filaments 4 are located at fixed positions within the first functional section 1 and the second functional section 3. The end faces of both ends of the multiple optical fiber filaments 4 are respectively located on the connection surfaces of the first functional section 1 and the connection surfaces of the second functional section 3, and a light transmitting surface 5 with a set shape is formed by arranging them on the connection surfaces. The shape of the light transmitting surface 5 is preferably set as a regular hexagon as Figure 2 shown, or a rectangle as Figure 3 shown. In some other embodiments, the light transmitting surface 5 can also be set into other suitable shapes such as a parallelogram. Generally, the shape and size of the light transmitting surface 5 formed by arranging the end faces of the optical fiber filaments 4 on the connection surface of the first functional section 1 are the same as the shape and size of the light transmitting surface 5 formed by arranging them on the connection surface of the second functional section 3, and the arrangement direction with respect to the shape of the connection surface of the first functional section 1 and the shape of the connection surface of the second functional section 3 is also the same. Additionally, the end of each optical fiber filament 4 is also at the same corresponding position on the light transmitting surface 5.

[0043] In a preferred embodiment of the fiber optic bundle for parallel optical interconnection of the present application, the softening temperature of the acid-soluble glass 43 is 50-200 °C lower than the softening temperature of the cortical glass in the cortex 42. The softening temperature difference of 50-200 °C enables the acid-soluble glass 43 to soften first during the drawing process of the fiber optic bundle for parallel optical interconnection of the present application, which is beneficial to the flow and infiltration of the acid-soluble glass 43 in the gaps between the optical fiber filaments 4, so that the acid-soluble glass 43 is coated on the outside of all the optical fiber filaments 4 and forms a certain degree of fusion with the cortical glass. After the acid-soluble glass 43 is cured, a rigid structure with a fixed shape of the first functional section 1 and the second functional section 3 is formed, and the position of each optical fiber filament 4 inside is ensured to be stable.

[0044] If the softening temperature difference between the acid-soluble glass 43 and the cortical glass is too large, the fluidity of the acid-soluble glass 43 will be too large, reducing the ability to maintain the position of the optical fiber filaments 4 and decreasing the infiltration and fusion between the acid-soluble glass 43 and the cortical glass, making it difficult to accurately define the position of the optical fiber filaments 4 coated in the acid-soluble glass 43; if the softening temperature difference is too small, the optical fiber filaments 4 are more likely to deform during the drawing process, which is not conducive to maintaining the position accuracy of the optical fiber filaments 4 on the connection surface between the first functional section 1 and the second functional section 3 and the consistency of the filament spacing between different optical fiber filaments 4.

[0045] As a specific embodiment of the fiber optic bundle for parallel optical interconnection of the present application, as Figure 2 and Figure 3 shown, on the connection surface between the first functional section 1 and the second functional section 3, the end face of each optical fiber filament 4 remains a complete circle with the same diameter, and the acid-soluble glass 43 infiltrates between different optical fiber filaments 4, ensuring the consistency of the filament spacing between adjacent optical fiber filaments 4 through the consistency of the shape of the optical fiber filaments 4.

[0046] A total of 331 optical fiber filaments 4 are provided in the fiber optic bundle for parallel optical interconnection, forming 331 optical signal transmission channels; the diameter of each optical fiber filament 4 is 30 μm, and the diameter of the fiber optic bundle formed by 331 optical fiber filaments 4, that is, the diameter of the middle section 2, is about 1 mm. The numerical aperture NA of the optical fiber filament 4 is 0.56, and the point-to-point deviation of the positions of the two ends of the optical fiber filament 4 on the connection surface of the first functional section 1 and the connection surface of the second functional section 3 is less than 2.5 μm, and the deviation of the filament spacing between different optical fiber filaments 4 is less than 1 μm.

[0047] In some embodiments of the fiber optic bundle for parallel optical interconnection of the present application, as Figure 3 shown, a plurality of blind filaments 6 are also provided in the fiber optic bundle for parallel optical interconnection of the present application. The blind filaments 6 are drawn from the cortical glass and are glass filaments that only contain the cortex 42 without a core layer 41 and have no light guiding function. The blind filaments 6 also extend from the first functional section 1 through the middle section 2 to the second functional section 3, and the end faces of both ends of the blind filaments 6 are respectively located on the connection surface of the first functional section 1 and the connection surface of the second functional section 3.

[0048] The blind wires 6 are arranged around the optical fiber filaments 4, and form the outer shapes of the first functional segment 1 and the second functional segment 3 outside the light-transmitting surface 5 formed by the arrangement of the optical fiber filaments 4. In Figure 3 , multiple optical fiber filaments 4 are arranged to form a rectangular light-transmitting surface 5, and multiple blind wires 6 are arranged outside the light-transmitting surface 5 to form the circular outer shapes of the first functional segment 1 and the second functional segment 3. The arrangement of the blind wires 6 enables the connection surface between the first functional segment 1 and the second functional segment 3 and the light-transmitting surface 5 on the connection surface to be set to different sizes and different shapes, so that the shape and size of the connection surface are adapted to the shape and size of the optical path interface of the processor or other application devices. At the same time, the size and shape of the light-transmitting surface 5 are consistent with the shape and size of the light-emitting element or light-receiving element in the optical path interface. A connection positioning structure can also be provided on the outer periphery of the first functional segment 1 and the second functional segment 3, so as to better ensure the one-to-one correspondence between the multiple optical fiber filaments 4 and the multiple light-emitting / light-receiving units in the light-emitting / light-receiving element.

[0049] In some embodiments of the optical fiber bundle for parallel optical interconnection of the present application, the cross-sectional shapes and cross-sectional sizes of the first functional segment 1 and the second functional segment 3 are the same. Generally, the cross-sectional shapes of the first functional segment 1 and the second functional segment 3 are usually set to hexagons, preferably regular hexagons, and can also be set to circles. This enables the cross-sectional shapes of the first functional segment 1 and the second functional segment 3 to be consistent with the usually regular hexagon or circular shape of the optical path interface of the processor or other application devices. The cross-sectional shapes of regular hexagons or circles make the connection between the ends of the first functional segment 1 and the second functional segment 3 and the optical path interface of the application device more convenient to plug and unplug, and the connection stability between them is also higher.

[0050] As Figure 1 and Figure 2 shown, a metal protective sleeve 11 can also be sleeved outside the first functional segment 1 and the second functional segment 3. The metal protective sleeve 11 covers the outer surfaces of the first functional segment 1 and the second functional segment 3, forms effective protection for the first functional segment 1 and the second functional segment 3, and can prevent the wear of the first functional segment 1 and the second functional segment 3 when they are inserted into the connection interface of the application device, and ensure the stable and reliable connection between the first functional segment 1 and the second functional segment 3 and the connection interface of the application device.

[0051] The middle segment 2 is formed by combining multiple mutually separated optical fiber filaments 4. A rubber protective sleeve 21 can also be sleeved outside the middle segment 2. The rubber protective sleeve 21 constrains the multiple optical fiber filaments 4 together to form an optical fiber bundle, which forms effective protection for the optical fiber filaments 4 while ensuring that the optical fiber bundle is flexible and bendable, and prevents accidental breakage of the optical fiber filaments 4.

[0052] The two ends of the rubber protective sleeve 21 extend outward respectively, covering a part or even all of the first functional section 1 and the second functional section 3. The rubber protective sleeve 21 can cover the first functional section 1 and the second functional section 3 that are not covered by the metal protective sleeve 11, or can cover the outside of the metal protective sleeves 11 of the first functional section 1 and the second functional section 3. Reinforcing sections with a relatively thick thickness and high toughness are provided in the areas where the two ends of the rubber protective sleeve 21 cover the outside of the connection parts between the first functional section 1 and the middle section 2, and the areas where the two ends of the rubber protective sleeve 21 cover the outside of the connection parts between the second functional section 3 and the middle section 2. The reinforcing sections cover the transition areas of the optical fiber filaments 4 from the rigid first functional section 1 and the second functional section 3 to the flexible middle section, and can limit the excessive bending at the joints between the soft middle section 2 and the rigid first functional section 1 and the second functional section 3, ensuring the reliability of the structure of the optical fiber filaments 4.

[0053] An embodiment of the processing method of the optical fiber bundle for parallel optical interconnection of the present application is as Figure 4 shown, and includes the following steps: S10. Arrange a cortical material on the outside of the core material, and then arrange an acid-soluble glass with a relatively low softening temperature on the outside of the cortical material to form an optical fiber preform with a core layer, a cortical layer and an acid-soluble layer.

[0054] The optical fiber preform can be processed and formed by the crucible method or can be processed and formed by the drawing method. When using the crucible method for processing, three crucibles are used for processing. The core material is added to the upper layer of the crucible, the cortical material is added to the middle layer of the crucible, and the acid-soluble glass is added to the lower layer of the crucible. The crucible is heated so that the core material, the cortical material and the acid-soluble glass in the crucible flow out from the nozzles of the inner layer, the middle layer and the outer layer of the three crucible mouths respectively, and are drawn into a set diameter to form an optical fiber preform with a core layer, a cortical layer and an acid-soluble layer.

[0055] When using the drawing method for processing, first process the core material into a core material rod, process the cortical material and the acid-soluble glass into cortical material tubes and acid-soluble glass tubes with different diameters respectively, then sleeved the cortical material tube on the outside of the core material rod, and sleeved the acid-soluble glass tube on the outside of the cortical material tube to form an optical fiber preform material. After heating, the optical fiber preform material is drawn to a set diameter, and the core material, the cortical material and the acid-soluble glass are fused with each other to form an optical fiber preform with a core layer, a cortical layer and an acid-soluble layer.

[0056] The refractive index of the core layer material is usually greater than that of the skin layer material, without restricting the magnitude of the refractive index between the skin layer material and the acid-soluble glass. The acid-soluble glass can use commercially available products that meet the requirements or can be configured and produced independently. An acid-soluble glass used in a fiber optic bundle for parallel optical interconnection is formed by high-temperature melting of raw materials such as SiO2, B2O3, ZnO, A12O3, Na2CO3, CaCO3, K2CO3, and Sb2O3. Among them, the mass percentage of SiO2 and B2O3 is 1:4. The acid-soluble glass tube can be dissolved by a dilute acid solution. An acid solution that can better dissolve acidic glass is an acid solution formed by mixing H2SO4 and HNO3 with a molar concentration ratio of 2:1 at 1M. The softening temperature of the acid-soluble glass that can acid-dissolve the acid-soluble glass is usually between 500 - 900 °C, while the softening temperature of the fiber optic glass is usually between 800 - 1000 °C.

[0057] S20. Arrange a set number of, for example, 331 optical fiber rods in layers according to the set requirements to form a set shape, such as a regular hexagon, and perform bunching and shaping on multiple optical fiber rods to obtain an optical fiber composite rod.

[0058] S30. Heat the optical fiber composite rod and perform drawing after the optical fiber composite rod softens. The softening temperature of the acid-soluble glass is usually between 500 - 800 °C, while the softening temperature of the fiber optic glass is usually between 800 - 1000 °C. In the same optical fiber composite rod, the softening temperature of the acid-soluble glass is usually 50 - 200 °C lower than that of the skin layer glass. During the heating process, the acid-soluble glass is more likely to soften and deform. After drawing, the acid-soluble glass in multiple optical fiber rods fuses with each other to form an overall structure as shown in Figure 2 . The fiber optic glass also softens and elongates to form multiple optical fiber filaments 4 arranged at set positions in the acid-soluble glass. After cooling, a hard fiber optic bundle with a set shape, such as a regular hexagon, and an overall hard structure is obtained.

[0059] S40. Coat a set length of acid-proof protective layers on the surfaces of the two ends of the hard fiber optic bundle corresponding to the first functional section 1 and the second functional section 3. For example, after coating a layer of paraffin on the outer surfaces and end faces corresponding to the first functional section 1 and the second functional section 3, place the interconnected light-guiding rod in a dilute acid solution, such as a mixed solution of H2SO4 and HNO3 with a molar concentration ratio of 2:1 at 1M, and soak it for 8 - 10 hours to dissolve the acid-soluble glass in the position corresponding to the middle section 2, so that the multiple optical fiber filaments 4 in the corresponding position are discrete and non-adhesive to each other, obtaining a soft middle section 2; the acid-soluble glass in the parts coated with acid-proof protective layers at both ends is not affected and respectively forms a hard first functional section 1 and a hard second functional section 3.

[0060] S50. Grind and polish the end faces of the first functional section 1 and the second functional section 3 to ensure the light transmission performance of the end faces of the optical fiber filaments 4, obtaining the fiber optic bundle for parallel optical interconnection of the present application.

[0061] After acid-dissolving the hard optical fiber bundle to form the first functional section 1, the middle section 2, and the second functional section 3, the optical fiber bundle is usually armored. Specifically, it may include sheathing a metal protective sleeve 11 on the outer sides of the first functional section 1 and the second functional section 3, and sheathing a rubber protective sleeve 21 on the outer side of the middle section 2, etc. Plug connectors may also be fixedly arranged at the ends of the first functional section 1 and the second functional section 3 respectively, to form a reliable connection between the plug connectors and the connection interfaces of the application devices, prevent the first functional section 1 or the second functional section 3 from slipping off the connection interfaces of the application devices, and help define the connection positions between the ends of the first functional section 1 and the second functional section 3 and the connection interfaces of the application devices, ensuring the correctness of data transmission.

[0062] In a preferred embodiment of the processing method of the optical fiber bundle for parallel optical interconnection in the present application, as Figure 5 shown, between step S10 and step S20, there is also included step S15 of laying acid-dissolving glass on the outer side of the cortical material to make a blind wire rod with an acid-dissolving layer.

[0063] The blind fiber rod can also be processed and formed by the crucible method or the drawing method. When using the crucible method for processing, a double crucible is used for processing. The cortical material is added to the upper layer of the crucible, and the acid-dissolving glass is added to the lower layer of the crucible. The crucible is heated so that the cortical material and the acid-dissolving glass in the crucible flow out from the inner and outer nozzles at the mouths of the double crucibles respectively, and are drawn into a set diameter to form a blind wire rod with a cortex and an acid-dissolving layer.

[0064] When using the drawing method for processing, first the cortical material is processed into a cortical material rod, the acid-dissolving glass is processed into an acid-dissolving glass tube, and then the acid-dissolving glass tube is sleeved on the outer side of the cortical material rod to form a blind wire preform. After heating, the blind wire preform is drawn to a set diameter, and the cortical material and the acid-dissolving glass are fused with each other to form a blind wire rod with a cortex and an acid-dissolving layer.

[0065] In step S20, after arranging and bundling a set number of the optical fiber rods in a set order into a set shape, blind wire rods are then arranged on the outer sides of the optical fiber rods to form an optical fiber composite rod formed by the common arrangement of the optical fiber rods and the blind wire rods.

[0066] Among them, multiple optical fiber rods are arranged adjacent to each other to form a shape corresponding to the light-transmitting surface 5; multiple blind wire rods are arranged around the optical fiber rods, and are jointly arranged with the optical fiber rods into a shape corresponding to the first functional section 1 and the second functional section 3. After being drawn into a hard optical fiber bundle, the acid-soluble glass is fused into one body, and the optical fiber rods are drawn into optical fiber filaments 4 with a core layer 41 and a cortical layer 42 for transmitting optical signals; the blind wire rods are drawn into blind wires 6 with only the cortical layer 42, and the blind wires 6 cannot transmit optical signals and are only used to form the external shapes of the first functional section 1 and the second functional section 3, that is, the shape of the connection surface.

[0067] In the description of the present invention, the description referring to terms such as "one embodiment", "specific embodiment", "preferred embodiment", etc. means that the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described in connection with the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In the present invention, the schematic representation of the above terms does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described can be combined in a suitable manner in any one or more embodiments or examples.

[0068] The above are all the preferred embodiments of this application, and do not limit the protection scope of this application accordingly. Therefore, all equivalent changes made according to the structure, shape, and principle of this application should be covered within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. An optical fiber bundle for parallel optical interconnection, characterized in that: It includes a first functional section (1), an intermediate section (2) and a second functional section (3). The first functional section (1), the intermediate section (2) and the second functional section (3) are integrally formed by a plurality of optical fiber filaments (4). The optical fiber filaments (4) include a core (41) and a cortex (42). The cortex (42) is coated on the outer periphery of the core (41). A plurality of the optical fiber filaments (4) all extend from the first functional section (1) through the intermediate section (2) to the second functional section (3), and are arranged in one-to-one correspondence on the joint surface of the first functional section (1) and the second functional section (3) to form a light-transmitting surface (5) with a set shape. The first functional section (1) and the second functional section (3) are rigid structures with fixed shapes, and the intermediate section (2) is a flexible structure.

2. The fiber optic bundle for parallel optical interconnection according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outer diameter of a single optical fiber filament (4) is 10 - 70 μm; acid-soluble glass (43) is also arranged on the outer side of the optical fiber filaments (4) in the first functional section (1) and the second functional section (3). The acid-soluble glasses (43) infiltrate each other and coat all the optical fiber filaments (4) to form a rigid structure with a fixed shape.

3. The fiber optic bundle for parallel optical interconnection according to claim 2, wherein: The light-transmitting surface (5) on the joint surface of the first functional section (1) and the second functional section (3) is a hexagon, a rectangle or a parallelogram with corresponding directions and sizes.

4. The fiber optic bundle for parallel optical interconnection according to claim 2, wherein: The softening temperature of the acid-soluble glass (43) is 50 - 200 °C lower than the softening temperature of the cortex (42).

5. The fiber optic bundle for parallel optical interconnection according to claim 4, characterized in that: On the joint surface of the first functional section (1) and the second functional section (3), the end face shape of the optical fiber filament (4) is circular, and the deviation of the filament spacing of the optical fiber filament (4) is less than 1 μm.

6. The fiber optic bundle for parallel optical interconnection according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that: It further includes a plurality of blind filaments (6). The blind filaments (6) only include the cortex (42). The blind filaments (6) extend from the first functional section (1) through the intermediate section (2) to the second functional section (3). The blind filaments (6) are arranged around the optical fiber filaments (4) to form the outer shape of the first functional section (1) and the second functional section (3).

7. The fiber optic bundle for parallel optical interconnection according to claim 6, wherein: The outer shapes of the first functional section (1) and the second functional section (3) are hexagons or circles with the same shape and size.

8. A processing method for an optical fiber bundle for parallel optical interconnection according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that: It includes the following steps: S10: Sequentially arrange cortex material and acid-soluble glass on the outer side of the core layer material to make an optical fiber rod with a cortex and an acid-soluble layer; S20: Arrange a set number of the optical fiber rods in a set layer and bundle them into a set shape to form an optical fiber composite rod; S30: Draw the optical fiber composite rod to obtain a hard optical fiber bundle with a set shape; S40: After coating a set length of acid-proof protective layers at both ends of the hard optical fiber bundle, soak it in an acidic solution to dissolve the acid-soluble glass in the middle part of the hard optical fiber bundle, so that the optical fiber filaments in the middle part are separated from each other to form the soft intermediate section (2), and the parts coated with acid-proof protective layers at both ends form the hard first functional section (1) and the second functional section (3); S50: Carry out end face grinding and polishing on the first functional section (1) and the second functional section (3) to obtain the optical fiber bundle for parallel optical interconnection.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein: Between step S10 and step S20, there is also step S15, where acid-soluble glass is arranged on the outer side of the cortical material to make a blind wire rod with an acid-soluble layer. In step S20, after arranging and bundling a set number of the optical fiber rods into a set shape in a set order, the blind wire rods are also arranged on the outer side of the optical fiber rods to form an optical fiber composite rod with a set external shape.

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