Multi-core optical fiber connector and optical module

Abstract

The invention discloses a multi-core optical fiber connector and an optical module, the multi-core optical fiber connector comprises an outer sealing shell and an insertion core structure, the insertion core structure comprises a male head insertion core and a female head insertion core, at least one alignment channel is arranged in the outer sealing shell, and the male head insertion core and the female head insertion core are accommodated in the alignment channel; a transverse positioning structure, a longitudinal positioning structure and an axial limiting structure are arranged on the inner wall of the alignment channel; the outer surfaces of the male plug core and the female plug core are respectively provided with a matching structure matched with the transverse positioning structure and the longitudinal positioning structure, and the axial positions of the male plug core and the female plug core are limited by the axial limiting structure; correspondingly arranged optical fibers are arranged on the male head insertion core and the female head insertion core in a non-contact manner; and self-focusing structures are arranged at the end parts of the optical fibers. According to the invention, the multi-channel optical fiber end face can be reliably fitted with high precision and high repeatability, so that the coupling efficiency and the transmission quality of optical signals are remarkably improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a core insert structure, belonging to the technical field of optical modules, and in particular to a multi-core optical fiber connector and an optical module. Background Art

[0002] With the rapid development and large-scale application of emerging businesses such as cloud computing, big data, and artificial intelligence, the demand for computing power is growing. The large-scale construction of data centers and supercomputing centers has also driven the continuous expansion of the high-speed optical module market. Correspondingly, the demand for various optical devices and components used in high-speed optical modules is also growing.

[0003] In the field of high-density connector applications in data centers, traditional solutions generally use MT ferrule technology for mechanically aligned transmission. This principle relies on the precise alignment of guide pins (PINs) and guide holes within the ferrule to ensure one-to-one alignment of the cores of the multi-core optical fibers at both ends, thereby achieving efficient optical signal transmission. This technology places extremely high demands on the manufacturing precision of the ferrule itself, such as the eccentricity and spacing of the optical fibers, the molding accuracy of the ferrule, and the dimensional tolerances of the guide pins. This results in a complex manufacturing process and a high technical threshold.

[0004] However, the drawbacks of existing technology extend beyond the manufacturing difficulty of the ferrules themselves. A more critical technical pain point lies in the lack of a stable and reliable external alignment and locking mechanism when the male and female ferrules mate within the external housing. Traditional connector housings typically provide only a rough-cut channel, failing to precisely guide and ultimately lock the ferrules in the transverse, longitudinal, and axial directions.

[0005] The direct consequence of this design is that the alignment of the male and female ferrules is highly susceptible to installation tolerances, minor vibrations, or deformation during insertion and removal, resulting in lateral misalignment, longitudinal offset, or angular deviation. This severely impacts the quality of the fiber endface fit, leading to reduced coupling efficiency and unstable signal transmission. This alignment challenge is particularly amplified in multi-channel parallel applications, making it difficult to ensure high-precision, reliable connections across all channels simultaneously.

[0006] In view of the above problems, especially the technical defect in the existing technology that the male and female ferrules are difficult to accurately align, it is urgent to develop a new multi-core fiber optic connector with precise external guiding and locking functions to solve these technical difficulties and promote the advancement of optical communication technology. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to address the technical defects existing in the prior art and provide a new multi-core fiber optic connector and optical module with precise external guiding and locking functions. The connector not only has a simple structure and is easy to package, but also greatly improves the coupling efficiency of optical signals transmitted from one optical fiber to another and reduces optical power loss.

[0008] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve its technical problems is: a multi-core optical fiber connector, comprising an outer sealing shell and at least one ferrule structure, the ferrule structure comprising a male ferrule and a female ferrule; at least one alignment channel is provided in the outer sealing shell, the male ferrule and the female ferrule are accommodated in the alignment channel; a transverse positioning structure, a longitudinal positioning structure and an axial limiting structure are provided on the inner wall of the alignment channel; a matching structure that matches the transverse positioning structure and the longitudinal positioning structure is respectively provided on the outer surface of the male ferrule and the female ferrule, and the axial position of the male ferrule and the female ferrule is limited by the axial limiting structure; correspondingly arranged optical fibers are non-contactly provided on the male ferrule and the female ferrule, and a self-focusing structure is provided on the end of the optical fiber.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the transverse positioning structure is a transverse positioning dovetail mortise and tenon, and the matching structure of the male ferrule and the female ferrule includes a transverse positioning dovetail mortise and tenon engaged with the dovetail mortise and tenon.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the longitudinal positioning structure is a longitudinal positioning guide groove, and the matching structure of the male ferrule and the female ferrule correspondingly includes a longitudinal positioning guide column matched with the guide groove.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the axial limiting structure is an axial limiting step.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there are a plurality of alignment channels in the outer sealing shell, and the channels are arranged in parallel and at intervals.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the self-focusing structure provided at the end of the optical fiber includes: a self-focusing rod, a spherical lens or a hemispherical lens.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the self-focusing rod is fused to the optical fiber; or, the spherical lens or hemispherical lens is directly processed at the end of the optical fiber.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the lens is a hemispherical lens, and an oblique reflecting surface for changing the direction of the light path is processed on the hemispherical lens.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the elastic connection assembly includes a limit buckle, a spring, a guide pin bracket and a positioning guide pin fixed to the outer shell; the spring applies a continuous thrust to the male ferrule through the guide pin bracket, and the male ferrule is tightly fitted with the end face of the female ferrule. The invention also discloses an optical module, which comprises a multi-core optical fiber connector.

[0017] The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: the present invention innovatively designs a three-dimensional precision alignment and locking mechanism composed of a lateral positioning structure, a longitudinal positioning structure, and an axial limiting structure between the outer sealing shell and the male ferrule. This design transfers the alignment reference from the tiny guide pinhole inside the ferrule to the macroscopic and stable mechanical structure outside the entire shell and the ferrule, fundamentally solving the problem of the difficulty in accurately aligning the ferrule inside the shell in the prior art. This "external locking" mechanism greatly improves the guiding accuracy and final positioning stability during the ferrule docking process, ensuring that the multi-channel optical fiber end faces can achieve high-precision, high-repeatability and reliable fitting, thereby significantly improving the coupling efficiency and transmission quality of the optical signal.

[0018] Secondly, by placing a self-focusing rod or lens at the end of the optical fiber, the present invention collimates the divergent light beam emitted by the optical fiber into parallel or quasi-parallel light. This significantly relaxes the connector's tolerance for lateral, longitudinal, and angular alignment deviations. This optical optimization, combined with the aforementioned mechanical precision locking structure, forms a dual guarantee system of "macro-coarse adjustment and micro-tolerance." This effectively addresses the demanding high-precision optical alignment requirements of traditional technologies, thereby reducing production process complexity and improving product yield.

[0019] Furthermore, the design of this invention allows for a slight gap between the fiber end faces, enabling contactless docking. This feature makes the connector insensitive to environmental pollutants such as sand and dust, making it adaptable to even harsher operating environments. Furthermore, by avoiding the wear and tear caused by physical contact, repeated insertion and removal does not damage the fiber end faces, significantly extending the connector's service life. Combined with the continuous and stable pressure provided by the elastic connection component, the connector also exhibits excellent vibration and impact resistance.

[0020] In summary, the present invention is not only structurally reliable and easy to package, but also, through its unique external precision alignment locking mechanism and optical optimization design, significantly improves the optical signal coupling efficiency and reduces optical power loss, while significantly enhancing the environmental adaptability, reliability and service life of the connector, providing a high-performance connection solution for high-speed, high-density optical communication systems. 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 A schematic diagram of a multi-core optical fiber connector of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the ferrule structure in the multi-core optical fiber connector of the present invention; Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the outer sealing shell of the present invention; Figure 4 Book Figure 3 sectional view of Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a self-focusing rod; Figure 6 Schematic diagram of the simplified optical coupling model of the present invention; Figure 7 A schematic diagram of a ball lens of the present invention; Figure 8 Schematic diagram of the hemispherical lens of the present invention; Figure 9 A schematic diagram of the ferrule base of the present invention; In the figure, 1-limiting buckle, 2-spring guide pin, 3-spring, 4-guide pin bracket, 5-positioning guide pin, 6-male ferrule, 7-outer sealing shell, 8-female ferrule, 6-1-optical fiber, 6-2-self-focusing rod, 6-3-optical fiber limiting sleeve, 6-4-ferrule base, 6-5-pressure cover plate, 6-6-optical fiber positioning groove, 6-7-ball lens, 6-8-hemispherical lens, 6-9-lateral positioning dovetail tenon, 6-10-longitudinal positioning guide column, 7-1-lateral positioning dovetail mortise, 7-2-longitudinal positioning guide groove, 7-3-axial limiting step. DETAILED DESCRIPTION In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention more clearly understood, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to 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 intended to limit the present invention.

[0022] Example 1 like Figure 1-4 As shown, the present invention also discloses a multi-core fiber optic connector. This connector includes a limit buckle 1, a spring guide pin 2, a spring 3, a guide pin bracket 4, a positioning guide pin 5, a male ferrule 6, an outer shell 7, and a female ferrule 8. The operating principle and structural relationship of this multi-core fiber optic connector are as follows: the main body of the outer shell 7 is a through-hole multi-channel aligner. The internal channel of the outer shell 7 is provided with a transverse positioning dovetail mortise and tenon 7-1 for achieving precise transverse positioning, a longitudinal positioning guide groove 7-2 for achieving precise longitudinal positioning, and an axial limiting step 7-3 for limiting the axial movement range of the ferrule.

[0023] The male ferrule 6 and the female ferrule 8 are non-contactly provided with correspondingly arranged optical fibers 6-1, and the ends of the optical fibers 6-1 are provided with self-focusing structures. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the self-focusing structures include: self-focusing rods 6-2, ball lenses 6-7, or hemispherical lenses 6-8.

[0024] The male ferrule 6 and female ferrule 8 extend from opposite ends of the outer housing 7 into the alignment tunnels within it. The outer surfaces of the male ferrule 6 and female ferrule 8 are provided with corresponding transverse positioning dovetail mortise and tenon joints 6-9 that mate with transverse positioning dovetail mortise and tenon joints 7-1 in the outer housing 7. The two mesh together to form a mortise and tenon structure, thereby limiting and securing the transverse position of the male ferrule 6. Furthermore, the male ferrule 6 and female ferrule 8 are provided with longitudinal positioning guide posts 6-10 that mate with longitudinal positioning guide grooves 7-2. Together, these two structures form a guide structure that limits and secures the longitudinal position of the male ferrule 6 and female ferrule 8.

[0025] The limiting buckle 1 is used to limit and fix the entire ferrule assembly on the outer shell 7, providing a structural fixing point for the entire connector.

[0026] The spring guide pin 2 is inserted into the interior of the limit buckle 1 , and its main function is to limit and guide the direction of the elastic force of the spring 3 to ensure that the elastic force can be applied stably.

[0027] The spring 3 is located between the limit buckle 1 and the guide needle bracket 4. When the limit buckle 1 is fixed to the outer sealing shell 7, the spring 3 is compressed, thereby providing a continuous axial elastic force to the guide needle bracket 4.

[0028] A positioning guide pin 5 is fixed to the guide pin bracket 4. The positioning guide pin 5 passes through the guide holes on both sides of the male ferrule 6 and is further inserted into the positioning hole of the female ferrule 8, thereby achieving precise alignment and docking of the male ferrule 6 and the female ferrule 8.

[0029] In the assembled state, the guide pin bracket 4 and the male ferrule 6 are connected together via the positioning guide pin 5. The elastic force generated by the spring 3 is transmitted to the male ferrule 6 through the guide pin bracket 4, continuously pushing the male ferrule 6 toward the female ferrule 8, so that the end faces of the two ferrules maintain a tight and stable fit within the outer enclosure 7, thereby ensuring high-quality coupling between the optical fiber end faces and efficient transmission of optical signals.

[0030] This structural design enables the multi-core optical fiber connector of the present invention to have high shock resistance and docking stability. At the same time, the elastic connection provided by the spring also reduces the wear on the optical fiber end face caused by repeated plugging and unplugging, thereby extending the service life of the connector.

[0031] Example 2 like Figure 5-9As shown, this embodiment 2 discloses a ferrule structure for a multi-core optical fiber connector, including a ferrule base 6-4 and an optical fiber 6-1. The end of the ferrule base 6-4 is provided with a fiber limiting sleeve 6-3, and the fiber limiting sleeve 6-3 is used to realize the axial limitation of the optical fiber 6-1. The ferrule base 6-4 is processed with a fiber positioning groove 6-6 and a pressure cover plate 6-5. The optical fibers 6-1 are arranged in an array. Each optical fiber 6-1 passes through the fiber limiting sleeve 6-3 and is positioned on the fiber positioning groove 6-6. The end of each optical fiber 6-1 is provided with a self-focusing rod 6-2. The self-focusing rod 6-2 is cylindrical. The self-focusing rod 6-2 and the end of the optical fiber 6-1 are fused. The self-focusing rod 6-2 uses ion heat exchange technology to generate a radial refractive index distribution in the cylindrical glass base rod. The distribution conforms to:

[0032] in is the focusing constant, r is the off-axis radius of the self-focusing rod, and n0 is the refractive index at the center of the self-focusing rod.

[0033] The focal length of the self-focusing rod is:

[0034] Where z is the length of the self-focusing rod.

[0035] Because the self-focusing rod can be directly fused with the optical fiber, it is simple and reliable, and can be packaged more compactly and conveniently.

[0036] During assembly, the optical fiber 6-1 is put into the optical fiber limiting sleeve 6-3, inserted into the core base 6-4, fixed to the core base through the core pressure cover 6-5 plate, and finally fixed with glue at the core window to form a complete core.

[0037] The coupling principle of this embodiment is that the length of the self-focusing rod used is , where P is the pitch of the self-focusing rod, that is , according to the mode field coupling theory and Gaussian beam transmission theory, it can be deduced that: The off-axis coupling efficiency is:

[0038] The off-angle coupling efficiency is:

[0039] The spacing coupling efficiency is:

[0040] in

[0041] Where ω0 is the mode field radius, λ is the wavelength, d is the spacing between the two connectors, x0 is the interaxial spacing between the two self-focusing rods, and θ is the angle between the two self-focusing rods. ω0, λ, and the parameters of the self-focusing rods are all fixed. The formula shows that the coupling efficiency of the present invention has a high tolerance for axial deviation, angular deviation, and spacing deviation. It is particularly insensitive to a certain range of axial spacing. Within this range, the coupling loss value changes very little when the distance between the front and back of the core changes. This significantly improves the stability of traditional multi-core fiber optic connectors.

[0042] Example 3 like Figure 5-9 As shown, this embodiment provides a ferrule structure for a multi-core fiber optic connector, including a ferrule base 6-4 and an optical fiber 6-1. A fiber limiting sleeve 6-3 is provided at the end of the ferrule base 6-4. The fiber limiting sleeve 6-3 is used to realize axial limitation of the optical fiber 6-1. The ferrule base 6-4 is processed with a fiber positioning groove 6-6 and a pressure cover plate 6-5. The optical fibers 6-1 are arranged in an array. Each optical fiber 6-1 passes through the fiber limiting sleeve 6-3 and is positioned on the fiber positioning groove 6-6. A spherical lens 6-7 is prepared at the end of each optical fiber 6-1 by micromachining or sintering. The spherical lens 6-7 fused at the front end of each optical fiber 6-1 can converge the divergent light emitted by the optical fiber into parallel light or quasi-parallel light, making the light energy more concentrated; compared with the direct coupling of two optical fibers, when the optical fibers with the spherical lens 6-7 are coupled to each other, the coupling efficiency during transmission can be greatly improved and the optical power loss can be reduced; at the same time, the convergence and collimation effects of the spherical lens 6-7 can allow lateral deviation within a certain range when the optical fibers are coupled, reducing the difficulty of alignment; the lens can also effectively couple light within a certain angle range, compensate for the angle to a certain extent, increase the angle tolerance, and improve the stability of the coupling.

[0043] Example 4 like Figure 5-9As shown, this embodiment provides a ferrule structure for a multi-core fiber optic connector, including a ferrule base 6-4 and an optical fiber 6-1. A fiber limiting sleeve 6-3 is provided at the end of the ferrule base 6-4. The fiber limiting sleeve 6-3 is used to realize axial limitation of the optical fiber 6-1. A fiber positioning groove 6-6 and a pressure cover plate 6-5 are processed on the ferrule base 6-4. The optical fibers 6-1 are arranged in an array. Each optical fiber 6-1 is positioned on the optical fiber positioning groove 6-6 after passing through the optical fiber limiting sleeve 6-3. A hemispherical lens 6-8 is prepared at the end of each optical fiber 6-1 by micromachining or sintering. The hemispherical lens 6-8 fused at the front end of each optical fiber 6-1 can converge the divergent light emitted by the optical fiber into parallel light or quasi-parallel light, making the light energy more concentrated; compared with the direct coupling of two optical fibers, when the optical fibers with the hemispherical lens 6-8 are coupled to each other, the coupling efficiency during transmission can be greatly improved and the optical power loss can be reduced; at the same time, the convergence and collimation effects of the hemispherical lens 6-8 can allow lateral deviation within a certain range when the optical fibers are coupled, reducing the difficulty of alignment; the lens can also effectively couple light within a certain angle range, compensate for the angle to a certain extent, increase the angle tolerance, and improve the stability of the coupling.

[0044] It should be understood that those skilled in the art can make improvements or changes based on the above description, and all such improvements and changes should fall within the scope of protection of the appended claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A multi-core optical fiber connector, comprising an outer shell (7) and at least one ferrule structure, wherein the ferrule structure comprises a male ferrule (6) and a female ferrule (8); characterized in that: At least one alignment channel is provided in the outer sealing shell (7), and the male ferrule (6) and the female ferrule (8) are accommodated in the alignment channel; a transverse positioning structure, a longitudinal positioning structure and an axial limiting structure are provided on the inner wall of the alignment channel; a matching structure that matches the transverse positioning structure and the longitudinal positioning structure is provided on the outer surface of each of the male ferrule (6) and the female ferrule (8), and the axial position of the male ferrule (6) and the female ferrule (8) is limited by the axial limiting structure; correspondingly arranged optical fibers (6-1) are non-contactly provided on the male ferrule (6) and the female ferrule (8), and a self-focusing structure is provided at the end of the optical fiber (6-1).

2. The multi-core optical fiber connector according to claim 1, wherein: The transverse positioning structure is a transverse positioning dovetail mortise and tenon (7-1), and the matching structure of the male ferrule (6) and the female ferrule (8) includes a transverse positioning dovetail mortise and tenon (6-9) engaged with the dovetail mortise and tenon (7-1).

3. The multi-core optical fiber connector according to claim 1, wherein: The longitudinal positioning structure is a longitudinal positioning guide groove (7-2), and the matching structure of the male plug core (6) and the female plug core (8) correspondingly includes a longitudinal positioning guide column (6-10) matched with the longitudinal positioning guide groove (7-2).

4. The multi-core optical fiber connector according to claim 1, wherein: The axial limiting structure is an axial limiting step (7-3).

5. The multi-core optical fiber connector according to claim 1, wherein: There are a plurality of alignment channels in the outer sealing shell (7), and the channels are arranged in parallel and at intervals.

6. The multi-core optical fiber connector according to claim 1, wherein: The self-focusing structure arranged at the end of the optical fiber (6-1) comprises a self-focusing rod (6-2), a spherical lens (6-7) or a hemispherical lens (6-8).

7. The multi-core optical fiber connector according to claim 6, wherein: The self-focusing rod (6-2) is fused with the optical fiber (6-1); or the spherical lens (6-7) or the hemispherical lens (6-8) is directly processed at the end of the optical fiber (6-1).

8. The multi-core optical fiber connector according to claim 6, wherein: The hemispherical lens (6-8) is processed with an oblique reflection surface for changing the direction of the light path.

9. The multi-core optical fiber connector according to claim 1, wherein: It also includes an elastic connection component, which includes a limit buckle (1), a spring (3), a guide needle bracket (4) and a positioning guide needle (5) fixed to the outer sealing shell (7); the spring (3) applies a continuous thrust to the male plug (6) through the guide needle bracket (4), and the male plug (6) and the end face of the female plug (8) are tightly fitted.

10. An optical module, characterized in that: The multi-core optical fiber connector comprises the multi-core optical fiber connector according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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