Optical fiber flange capable of adjusting coaxiality

Abstract

The invention discloses an optical fiber flange capable of adjusting coaxiality. The optical fiber flange comprises a fixed base, a pressing plate, a rotatable optical fiber interface, a ceramic sleeve and a set screw, when two polarization-maintaining optical fibers are connected, one polarization-maintaining optical fiber is fixed in the first through hole of the fixed base and is placed in the ceramic sleeve, the other polarization-maintaining optical fiber is fixed in the second through hole of the rotatable optical fiber interface and is placed in the ceramic sleeve, and the two polarization-maintaining optical fibers are connected by adjusting the swing of the flange of the rotatable optical fiber interface in the circular groove of the fixed base. Therefore, the slow axes are accurately aligned after the two polarization maintaining optical fibers are connected. According to the invention, the extinction ratio during the connection of the polarization maintaining optical fiber is effectively improved, the optical power fluctuation is reduced, and the anti-interference capability of the optical fiber to the outside is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical fields of optical communication and optical sensing, and particularly to an optical fiber flange with adjustable coaxiality. Background Art

[0002] With the rapid development of technology, the fields of optical communication and optical sensing have increasingly become key forces driving the progress of numerous industries. In these cutting-edge fields, the accurate and stable transmission of optical signals is one of the core elements for the efficient operation of complex systems. As a key component for ensuring the stable transmission of the polarization state of optical signals, the problem of the connection accuracy of polarization-maintaining optical fiber joints has become increasingly prominent.

[0003] Traditional optical fiber connection flanges have exposed many defects when facing the connection requirements of polarization-maintaining optical fibers. Since polarization-maintaining optical fibers have strict requirements for maintaining the polarization state of optical signals, ordinary flanges are difficult to ensure the precise alignment of the slow axes of two polarization-maintaining optical fibers after connection. During the transmission of optical signals, even a slight deviation in the polarization state will cause a sharp drop in the extinction ratio, thereby severely damaging the quality of optical signals. This not only significantly increases the bit error rate in optical communication systems, affecting the accuracy and reliability of information transmission, but also causes a significant reduction in measurement accuracy in the field of optical sensing, such as in atomic magnetometer arrays, fiber optic gyroscopes, and fiber optic hydrophones, and cannot meet the requirements of high-precision detection. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide an optical fiber flange with adjustable coaxiality in view of the deficiencies of the prior art. In optical communication and optical sensing systems, there are extremely high requirements for the accuracy and stability of optical signal transmission. As a key component therein, the connection accuracy of polarization-maintaining optical fibers directly affects the performance of the system. The present invention adopts a structure of a fixed base, a pressure plate, a rotatable optical fiber interface, a ceramic sleeve, and a set screw; when two polarization-maintaining optical fibers are connected, one is fixed in the first through hole of the fixed base and placed in the ceramic sleeve, and the other is fixed in the second through hole of the rotatable optical fiber interface and placed in the ceramic sleeve. By adjusting the swing of the flange of the rotatable optical fiber interface in the circular groove of the fixed base, the precise alignment of the slow axes of the two polarization-maintaining optical fibers after connection can be achieved. The present invention can greatly improve the overall polarization extinction ratio of the output light of the optical fiber splitting system, reduce the optical power fluctuation, and improve the anti-interference ability of the optical fiber to the outside world.

[0005] The specific technical solution for achieving the object of the present invention is as follows:

[0006] An optical fiber flange with adjustable coaxiality, characterized by being composed of a fixed base, a pressure plate, a rotatable optical fiber interface, a ceramic sleeve, and a set screw;

[0007] The fixed base is a combination of a rectangular flange and a cylindrical shape in a "T" shape. It is provided with a first through hole along the axial direction of the cylindrical shape, a first external thread is provided on the outer side of the cylindrical shape, a circular groove coaxial with the first through hole is provided on the end face of the rectangular flange, a sector-shaped groove is provided on one side of the circular groove, and first screw holes are provided at the four corners of the rectangular flange;

[0008] The pressing plate is the same shape as the rectangular flange of the fixed base. A pressing plate hole is provided at its center, a set screw hole is provided around the pressing plate hole, and second screw holes corresponding to the rectangular flange are provided at the four corners of the pressing plate;

[0009] The ceramic sleeve is a pipe fitting;

[0010] The rotatable optical fiber interface is cylindrical. It is provided with a second through hole along the axial direction of the cylindrical shape, a second external thread is provided on the outer side of the cylindrical shape, a keyway and a dial pin hole are provided along the axial direction on the second external thread, a flange is provided at one end of the cylindrical shape, and a limiting block is provided on the flange;

[0011] The rotatable optical fiber interface is arranged in the circular groove of the fixed base through the flange, and the limiting block is located in the sector-shaped groove;

[0012] The ceramic sleeve is arranged in the first through hole of the fixed base and the second through hole of the rotatable optical fiber interface;

[0013] The pressing plate passes through the second external thread of the rotatable optical fiber interface through the pressing plate hole and fits with the rectangular flange of the fixed base, and the screw is fixedly connected through the first screw hole and the second screw hole;

[0014] The set screw is arranged in the set screw hole of the pressing plate and touches the limiting block.

[0015] Further, the pressing plate hole on the pressing plate is concentric with the circular groove on the rectangular flange of the fixed base.

[0016] Further, the width of the sector-shaped groove is greater than the width of the limiting block.

[0017] Further, both the first external thread and the second external thread are external threads of a general optical fiber interface.

[0018] The beneficial effects of the present invention:

[0019] The present invention can manually adjust the coaxiality of polarization-maintaining fiber optic connections. By adjusting the swing of the flange of the rotatable fiber optic interface in the circular groove of the fixed base, the precise alignment of the slow axes of the two polarization-maintaining fibers after connection can be achieved, greatly improving the extinction ratio, which is increased to 35 dB. This means that during the optical signal transmission process, the stability of the polarization state is significantly enhanced, enabling better adaptation to complex installation and usage environments, and the quality of optical signals is more reliable. Furthermore, it can meet the high-precision operation of the spectroscopic system of the array-type atomic magnetometer. The purpose of the present invention is to fill the shortcoming of traditional flanges in the connection accuracy of polarization-maintaining fibers. Through a unique structural design, the problem of too low extinction ratio is fundamentally solved, providing a solid connection technology support for the high-performance operation of optical communication and optical sensing systems. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Figure 1 is a schematic structural diagram of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 2 is an expanded schematic structural diagram of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 3 is a schematic structural diagram of the assembly of the ceramic sleeve and the fixed base;

[0023] Figure 4 is a schematic structural diagram of the assembly of the rotatable fiber optic interface and the fixed base;

[0024] Figure 5 is a schematic structural diagram of the assembled present invention;

[0025] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the usage state of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] Referring to Figure 1 and Figure 2 , the present invention is composed of a fixed base 1, a pressing plate 2, a rotatable fiber optic interface 3, a ceramic sleeve 4 and a set screw 5.

[0027] Referring to Figure 2 and Figure 3 , the fixed base 1 is a combination of a rectangular flange and a cylindrical shape in a "T" shape. It is provided with a first through hole 11 along the axial direction of the cylindrical shape, a first external thread 12 is provided on the outer side of the cylindrical shape, a circular groove 13 coaxial with the first through hole 11 is provided on the end face of the rectangular flange, a sector groove 14 is provided on one side of the circular groove 13, and first screw holes 15 are provided at the four corners of the rectangular flange.

[0028] Referring to Figure 2 and Figure 5, the pressing plate 2 has the same shape as the rectangular flange of the fixed base 1. A pressing plate hole 21 is provided at its center, a set screw hole 23 is provided around the pressing plate hole 21, and second screw holes 22 corresponding to the rectangular flange are provided at the four corners of the pressing plate 2.

[0029] Refer to Figure 2 , Figure 3 , the ceramic sleeve 4 is a pipe fitting.

[0030] Refer to Figure 2 , Figure 4 , the rotatable optical fiber interface 3 is cylindrical. A second through hole 31 is provided along the axial direction of the cylinder. A second external thread 32 is provided on the outside of the cylinder. A keyway 35 and a dial pin hole 36 are provided along the axial direction on the second external thread 32. A flange 33 is provided at one end of the cylinder, and a limit block 34 is provided on the flange 33;

[0031] The rotatable optical fiber interface 3 is arranged in the circular groove 13 of the fixed base 1 through the flange 33, and the limit block 34 is located in the sector-shaped groove 14.

[0032] Refer to Figure 2 , Figure 3 , the ceramic sleeve 4 is arranged in the first through hole 11 of the fixed base 1 and the second through hole 31 of the rotatable optical fiber interface 3;

[0033] Refer to Figure 2 , Figure 5 , the pressing plate 2 is attached to the rectangular flange of the fixed base 1 through the second external thread 32 of the rotatable optical fiber interface 3 via the pressing plate hole 21, and the screw is fixedly connected to the second screw hole 22 through the first screw hole 15.

[0034] Refer to Figure 4 , the set screw 5 is arranged in the set screw hole 23 of the pressing plate 2 and touches the limit block 34.

[0035] Refer to Figure 2 , the pressing plate hole 21 on the pressing plate 2 is concentric with the circular groove 13 of the rectangular flange on the fixed base 1.

[0036] Refer to Figure 4 , the width of the sector-shaped groove 14 is greater than the width of the limit block 34.

[0037] Refer to Figure 5 , Figure 6 , both the first external thread 12 and the second external thread 32 are external threads of a general optical fiber interface.

[0038] Refer to Figure 1 , Figure 2 , the first screw holes 15 provided at the four corners of the rectangular flange on the fixed base 1 and the second screw holes 22 provided at the four corners of the pressing plate 2.

[0039] Example 1

[0040] See also Figure 2 , Figure 4 , Figure 6 When the present invention is used, the connector 6 of one polarization-maintaining optical fiber is inserted from the fixed base 1 and connected via the first external thread 12; the connector 6 of another polarization-maintaining optical fiber is inserted from the rotatable optical fiber interface 3 through the pressure plate hole 21 of the pressure plate 2 and connected via the second external thread 32; when the rotatable optical fiber interface 3 is docked with the fixed base 1, the rotatable optical fiber interface 3 is arranged in the circular groove 13 of the fixed base 1 via the flange 33, because the width of the fan-shaped groove 14 of the fixed base 1 is greater than the width of the limit block 34 of the rotatable optical fiber interface 3, and the limit block 34 is located in the fan-shaped groove 14; when the optical fiber 6 is connected, when adjusting the coaxiality of the optical fiber 6 on one side relative to the optical fiber 6 on the other side, the adjustment is performed by rotating the optical fiber 6 or manually turning the pin hole 36, so that the rotatable optical fiber interface 3 swings relative to the fixed base 1, thereby realizing the precise alignment of the slow axes of the two polarization-maintaining optical fibers after connection; the function of the keyway 35 is to play a positioning role when cooperating with the optical fibers on both sides. Compared with the traditional connection flange, the present invention can adjust the coaxiality of the connection between the two optical fibers by subsequent rotation, thereby fundamentally solving the problem of too low extinction ratio.

[0041] See also Figure 2 , Figure 4 , Figure 6 In order to ensure stability after adjustment, the present invention is provided with a set screw 5. When the set screw 5 is set in the top screw hole 23 of the pressure plate 2 and touches the limit block 34, the relative position between the flange 33 of the rotatable optical fiber interface 3 and the circular groove 13 of the fixed base 1 can be fixed, thereby ensuring the stability of the coaxiality of the two optical fiber connections after adjustment.

[0042] See also Figure 2 The fixed base 1, the pressing plate 2 and the rotatable optical fiber interface 3 described in the present invention are all made of 304 stainless steel.

[0043] See also Figure 2 , Figure 6 The ceramic sleeve of the present invention is made of zirconium oxide and is used to connect the ceramic ferrules of two optical fiber connectors to achieve the transmission of optical signals.

[0044] See also Figure 2 , Figure 6 The first external thread 12 of the fixed base 1 and the second external thread 32 of the rotatable optical fiber interface 3 of the present invention are both external threads of the universal optical fiber interface, adapted to the FC optical fiber connector.

[0045] See also Figure 2 , Figure 5In the present invention, a pressing plate hole 21 is provided on the pressing plate 2. When the pressing plate 2 is fitted with the rectangular flange of the fixed base 1 and is fixedly connected with the second screw hole 22 by screws through the first screw hole 15, the pressing plate hole 21 limits the flange 33 of the rotatable optical fiber interface 3, thereby limiting the axial displacement of the rotatable optical fiber interface 3 relative to the fixed base 1 to prevent the collision of the two optical fiber ceramic ferrules.

[0046] Example 2

[0047] See also Figure 2 , Figure 4 , Figure 6 When the present invention is used, the connector 6 of one polarization-maintaining optical fiber is inserted from the fixed base 1 and connected via the first external thread 12; the connector 6 of the other polarization-maintaining optical fiber is inserted from the rotatable optical fiber interface 3 through the pressure plate hole 21 of the pressure plate 2 and connected via the second external thread 32; when the rotatable optical fiber interface 3 is docked with the fixed base 1, the rotatable optical fiber interface 3 is arranged in the circular groove 13 of the fixed base 1 via the flange 33. When the width of the fan-shaped groove 14 is set to accommodate the limit block 34 to swing around the circular groove 13 within the range of ±15°, and the limit block 34 is located in the fan-shaped groove 14, the rotatable optical fiber interface 3 is swung within the range of ±15° relative to the fixed base 1 by manually dialing the key slot 35 or the pin hole 36, thereby achieving precise alignment of the slow axes of the two polarization-maintaining optical fibers after connection; compared with the traditional connecting flange, the present invention can adjust the coaxiality of the two optical fiber connections by later rotation, fundamentally solving the problem of too low extinction ratio.

Claims

1. An optical fiber flange with adjustable coaxiality, characterized in that, It is composed of a fixed base (1), a pressing plate (2), a rotatable optical fiber interface (3), a ceramic ferrule (4) and a set screw (5). The fixed base (1) is a combination of a rectangular flange and a cylindrical shape in a "T" shape. It is provided with a first through hole (11) along the axial direction of the cylindrical shape, a first external thread (12) on the outer side of the cylindrical shape, a circular groove (13) coaxial with the first through hole (11) on the end face of the rectangular flange, a sector-shaped groove (14) on one side of the circular groove (13), and first screw holes (15) at the four corners of the rectangular flange. The pressing plate (2) has the same shape as the rectangular flange of the fixed base (1). It is provided with a pressing plate hole (21) at the center, set screw holes (23) around the pressing plate hole (21), and second screw holes (22) corresponding to the rectangular flange at the four corners of the pressing plate (2). The ceramic ferrule (4) is a pipe fitting. The rotatable optical fiber interface (3) is cylindrical. It is provided with a second through hole (31) along the axial direction of the cylindrical shape, a second external thread (32) on the outer side of the cylindrical shape, a keyway (35) and a pick pin hole (36) along the axial direction on the second external thread (32), a flange (33) at one end of the cylindrical shape, and a limiting block (34) on the flange (33). The rotatable optical fiber interface (3) is arranged in the circular groove (13) of the fixed base (1) through the flange (33), and the limiting block (34) is located in the sector-shaped groove (14). The ceramic ferrule (4) is arranged in the first through hole (11) of the fixed base (1) and the second through hole (31) of the rotatable optical fiber interface (3). The pressing plate (2) fits with the rectangular flange of the fixed base (1) through the pressing plate hole (21) over the second external thread (32) of the rotatable optical fiber interface (3), and the screw is fixedly connected through the first screw hole (15) and the second screw hole (22). The set screw (5) is arranged in the set screw hole (23) of the pressing plate (2) and touches the limiting block (34).

2. The fiber optic flange with adjustable coaxiality according to claim 1, wherein The pressing plate hole (21) on the pressing plate (2) is concentric with the circular groove (13) of the rectangular flange on the fixed base (1).

3. The fiber optic flange with adjustable coaxiality according to claim 1, characterized in that, The width of the sector-shaped groove (14) is greater than the width of the limiting block (34).

4. The fiber optic flange with adjustable coaxiality according to claim 1, characterized in that, Both the first external thread (12) and the second external thread (32) are external threads of a general optical fiber interface.

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