Optical fiber switching contact, fixing plate, optical fiber connector and optical fiber connector assembly

Abstract

The invention discloses an optical fiber switching contact, a fixing plate, an optical fiber connector and an optical fiber connector assembly, and belongs to the technical field of optical communication connectors. According to the flexible modularized optical fiber switching contact, the beam expanding type contact part and the physical contact type contact part are connected through a section of flexible optical fiber, modularized prefabrication and replacement are achieved, axis deviation and tail stress are absorbed through the flexibility of the optical fiber, and the insertion loss fluctuation and the ceramic fragmentation risk are reduced. The fixing plate is provided with a positioning hole whose aperture is larger than the diameter of an optical fiber but smaller than the outer diameter of a pin, and a mounting groove communicated with the edge, so that the multi-channel contact element can be axially limited at the same time. According to the optical fiber connector and the assembly thereof, the adapter and the fixing plate are matched with a front / rear fixing frame and a supporting column to form an inner core fixing assembly, the multi-channel assembling process is remarkably simplified, the internal size is reduced, and the high-density transmission compatibility is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of connector technology, and specifically to an optical fiber transfer contact with a flexible modular design, a fixing plate adapted for multi-channel fixation, an optical fiber connector integrating the contact, and components thereof, which are mainly used in signal transmission scenarios in the field of optical communications. Background Art

[0002] In the communications field, fiber optic connectors are widely used as core components for optical signal transmission. Traditional fiber optic connectors rely on physical contact transmission. While they operate reliably in controlled and protected environments, they face significant technical bottlenecks. First, the optical interface is extremely sensitive to dirt, with even the smallest contaminants causing significant losses. Second, construction sites are difficult to clean, placing stringent demands on both the environment and the operator's skill level, severely restricting cabling efficiency.

[0003] To solve the above problems, beam-expanding fiber contacts achieve contactless transmission by expanding the light spot through a lens, effectively increasing the diameter of the light spot and significantly reducing the impact of dust on performance. However, the existing technology still has three technical defects: (1) Insufficient component versatility: The functional components of existing expanded beam connectors are directly installed in the mounting holes of the mounting body. Due to the lack of industry standards, the mounting hole structures of different series of connectors are different, resulting in the need for separate design and manufacturing of the expanded beam functional components, which are not interchangeable, resulting in a waste of manpower and material resources and extending the development cycle.

[0004] (2) Insufficient axis alignment accuracy and reliability: The light spot after beam expansion is extremely sensitive to changes in the axis angle. The existing solution relies on the alignment of the outer core and the ceramic sleeve, but the ceramic sleeve has poor bending resistance and is easy to break. Even if it does not break, the axis deviation will increase the insertion loss. In addition, the ellipticity error of the parts processing leads to poor repeatability and consistency of the test indicators. In a multi-channel scenario, when a core is defective and needs to be cut, it often affects the normal contact parts, resulting in a waste of resources.

[0005] (3) Complex multi-channel fixed structure: With the increase in the demand for high-density transmission, the number of optical contact components built into the connector increases. It is necessary to design a structure inside the connector to fix and position the optical contact components 1‵. Multi-channel connectors ( Figure 1 ) Use a split fixing sleeve 2' and positioning spring 3', and each channel is installed independently; when the number of channels increases, the assembly complexity increases exponentially and the space occupied increases. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a fiber optic transfer contact, a fixing plate, a fiber optic connector, and a fiber optic connector assembly. By utilizing a flexible modular design for the fiber optic transfer contact, a fixing plate structure adapted for multi-channel synchronous fixation, and the fiber optic connector (assembly) thus constructed, the present invention aims to address the technical issues of existing expanded beam connectors, such as poor component versatility, insufficient axis alignment accuracy and reliability, and a complex multi-channel fixing structure. Specifically, this solution significantly improves component standardization and production efficiency; utilizes flexible connections to effectively absorb axis deviation and tail stress, reducing insertion loss fluctuations and the risk of ceramic fracture; optimizes the multi-channel fixing structure, simplifies the assembly process, improves maintenance efficiency, and reduces the connector's internal volume to accommodate high-density transmission requirements.

[0007] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve the above technical problems is: In one aspect, the present invention discloses an optical fiber transfer contact, comprising: The expanded beam optical fiber contact portion comprises a first pin, a sleeve coaxially sleeved on the first pin, a lens disposed in the sleeve and mounted on the front end of the first pin, and a first flange fixedly accommodating the rear end of the first pin; A physical contact type optical fiber contact portion, comprising a second pin and a second flange fixedly accommodating a rear portion of the second pin; An optical fiber, with both ends fixed in the inner holes of the first pin and the second pin respectively, and an outer sheath of the optical fiber fixedly connected to the first flange and the second flange; The optical fiber can realize flexible connection and optical signal transmission between the beam expansion type optical fiber contact part and the physical contact type optical fiber contact part.

[0008] Furthermore, the optical fiber is fixedly connected to the first flange and the second flange by gluing or interference fitting.

[0009] Furthermore, the first flange and the first pin, and the second flange and the second pin are fixed by interference fit.

[0010] On the other hand, the present invention discloses a fixing plate for axially limiting a multi-channel optical fiber contact, characterized in that it comprises a plate body, on which is provided: A positioning hole, wherein the aperture of the positioning hole is configured to be larger than the diameter of the optical fiber and smaller than the maximum outer diameter of the corresponding pin, and is used to accommodate the optical fiber and block the pin from passing through by the aperture difference to achieve axial limitation; A mounting groove is used to connect at least one positioning hole with the edge of the plate body, and the width of the mounting groove is configured to be larger than the diameter of the optical fiber and smaller than the maximum outer diameter of the corresponding pin, so as to provide a path for the optical fiber adapter contact to enter the positioning hole from the edge of the plate body; The fixing structure is used to realize the installation of the fixing plate and the associated structure through a detachable connection.

[0011] Furthermore, the fixing structure includes a central hole and edge holes, the central hole is located at the center of the plate body, and the edge holes are distributed at the edge of the plate body.

[0012] Furthermore, the edge hole is provided at the end of the mounting groove.

[0013] In another aspect, the present invention discloses an optical fiber connector, comprising a housing and an inner core fixing assembly, wherein the inner core fixing assembly comprises: A front fixed frame having a first channel; The rear fixed frame is provided with a second channel; At least two of the above-mentioned fiber optic transfer contacts, wherein the beam expansion type fiber optic contact portion is installed in the first channel, and the physical contact type fiber optic contact portion is installed in the second channel; The fixing body is used for integrating and fixing a plurality of the optical fiber transfer contacts.

[0014] Furthermore, the fixed body includes: A first fixing plate is provided on the contact portion side of the expanded beam optical fiber; A second fixing plate is provided on the side of the physical contact type optical fiber contact portion; A support column connects the two fixing plates to maintain the bending space of the optical fiber; The first fixing plate is fixedly connected to the front fixing frame and cooperates to prevent the axial displacement of the first pin; The second fixing plate is fixedly connected to the rear fixing frame and cooperates to block the axial displacement of the second pin.

[0015] Furthermore, the first fixing plate or the second fixing plate is the above-mentioned fixing plate, the positioning holes of the first fixing plate correspond one-to-one to the first channels on the front fixing frame, and the positioning holes of the second fixing plate correspond one-to-one to the second channels on the rear fixing frame.

[0016] Furthermore, there are at least two support columns, which are symmetrically installed in the edge holes of the first fixing plate and the second fixing plate.

[0017] Furthermore, the first fixing plate and the front fixing frame, and the second fixing plate and the rear fixing frame are fixed via fixing blocks, and the fixing blocks match the center holes of the first fixing plate or the second fixing plate.

[0018] Furthermore, the shell has a cavity for installing the inner core fixing component, and the inner wall of the cavity is provided with a step for limiting the inner core fixing component.

[0019] In a final aspect, the present invention discloses an optical fiber connector assembly, comprising: Optical fiber connector as described above; The external optical cable contact piece is inserted into the second channel of the rear fixing frame and is connected with the physical contact type optical fiber contact portion of the optical fiber transfer contact piece.

[0020] Furthermore, a ceramic tube is provided in the second channel of the rear fixing frame, and the physical contact type optical fiber contact portion and the external optical cable contact piece are butted together in the ceramic tube.

[0021] Furthermore, a third fixing plate is provided at the tail of the rear fixing frame for limiting the position of the external optical cable contact piece; The third fixing plate is the fixing plate mentioned above.

[0022] Furthermore, the edge holes of the third fixing plate are fixed to the rear fixing frame via fasteners.

[0023] Beneficial effects: As described above, the optical fiber transfer contact, fixing plate, optical fiber connector, and optical fiber connector assembly of the present invention have the following beneficial effects: (1) Flexible modular design improves standardization and efficiency: Fiber optic adapter contacts adopt a modular structure, and the lens and pins are standardized, which can be mass-produced in standardized workshops. When producing connectors, only ordinary pins need to be processed to connect with the module, and there is no need to design components for different mounting holes separately, which shortens the development cycle and reduces production costs while ensuring quality consistency.

[0024] (2) Flexible connection solves the problem of axis deviation: The two ends of the contact part are connected by flexible optical fibers. When the tail optical cable is heavy or the hole position is deviated, the flexibility of the optical fiber can absorb the bending stress caused by the deflection. Compared with the traditional ceramic sleeve docking solution, this design significantly reduces the insertion loss caused by axis angle deviation, avoids the risk of ceramic sleeve breakage, and eliminates the impact of part ellipticity error on test indicators, improving test repeatability consistency.

[0025] (3) The multi-channel fixed structure optimizes maintainability and assembly efficiency: The fixed plate can simultaneously limit the axial position of the multi-channel contact parts through the positioning holes and the installation slot structure, and cooperate with the support column to form an integral fixed body. When a core in the multi-channel is defective, only the adapter component of the corresponding channel needs to be disassembled and replaced, without scrapping the entire optical cable or connector, which significantly improves maintenance efficiency. In addition, this fixed structure can simplify the multi-channel assembly process, reduce the internal structure volume of the connector, and significantly improve assembly efficiency in high-density transmission scenarios.

[0026] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative work.

[0028] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the tail fixing structure of a multi-channel connector in the prior art.

[0029] Figure 2 It is a structural diagram of a fiber optic transfer contact.

[0030] Figure 3 It is a structural diagram of the connector assembly.

[0031] Figure 4 This is a disassembled view of the fiber optic connector assembly (disassembled into the fiber optic connector and external fiber optic cable contacts).

[0032] Figure 5 It is a structural diagram of the housing in the optical fiber connector.

[0033] Figure 6 It is a structural diagram of the inner core fixing component in the optical fiber connector.

[0034] Figure 7 This is a disassembled diagram of the inner core fixing component.

[0035] Figure 8 It is a structural schematic diagram of a fixed body and multiple optical fiber transfer contacts.

[0036] Figure 9 It is the front view of the fixing plate.

[0037] Figure 10 This is an axonometric view of the fixed plate.

[0038] Figure 11 It is a complete transmission link diagram of two fiber optic connector assemblies.

[0039] Markings in the figure: 1‵, optical contact part, 2‵, fixing sleeve, 3‵, positioning spring; 1. Shell, 101. Step, 2. Front fixing frame, 3. Fixing plate, 3-1. First fixing plate, 3-2. Second fixing plate, 3-3. Third fixing plate, 301. Center hole, 302. Mounting groove, 303. Positioning hole, 304. Edge hole, 4. Fiber optic transfer contact, 4-1. Beam expansion type fiber optic contact part, 4-11. Sleeve, 4-12. Lens, 4-13. First pin, 4-14. First flange, 4-2. Optical fiber, 4-3. Physical contact type fiber optic contact part, 4-31. Second flange, 4-32. Second pin, 5. Ceramic tube, 6. Rear fixing frame, 7. External optical cable contact, 8. Fastener, 9. Support column, 10. Fixing block, 11. First optical cable, 12. First optical fiber connector, 13. Second optical fiber connector, 14. Second optical cable. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] The technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to specific embodiments. Obviously, the embodiments described are only some embodiments of the present invention, not all embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field based on the embodiments of the present invention without making any creative efforts shall fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0041] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the terms "upper" and "lower" and the like indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be understood as limiting the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0042] It should be noted that relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another entity or operation, and do not necessarily require or imply any actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Moreover, the terms "comprises," "comprising," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus comprising a series of elements includes not only those elements, but also other elements not explicitly listed, or elements inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. In the absence of further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising a ..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus comprising the element.

[0043] This invention provides a fiber optic transfer contact, a fixing plate, a fiber optic connector, and a fiber optic connector assembly, aiming to create an optical signal transmission solution with high adaptability, high reliability, and efficient assembly and maintenance. The core of this solution lies in the coordinated design of the following key components: Independent fiber optic transfer contact module: This module flexibly connects the expanded beam optical signal transmission end (including lens, first pin, etc.) and the physical contact optical signal transmission end (including second pin, etc.) through an intermediate optical fiber to form a functional unit that can be independently prefabricated and replaced.

[0044] Fixed plate structure adapted for multi-channel synchronous fixation: In order to efficiently manage multiple fiber optic adapter contact modules, a fixed plate 3 with a specific aperture matching relationship (the aperture of the positioning hole is larger than the optical fiber diameter but smaller than the outer diameter of the pin) and a wiring path (installation groove) is designed to achieve synchronous constraint on the axial displacement of multi-channel contacts.

[0045] Integrated fixing body and shell structure: The optical fiber adapter contact module 4 is integrated into an integral fixing body through the fixing plate 3, support column 9 and other components, and cooperates with the front fixing frame 2 and the rear fixing frame 6 to form the inner core fixing component of the connector; the component is finally accommodated in the shell 1 with a limiting structure to form a complete optical fiber connector.

[0046] Standardized external docking interface: The optical fiber connector docks with the standard external optical cable contact 7 through the physical contact interface (including the ceramic tube 5, etc.) at its rear end to complete the establishment of the optical signal link.

[0047] The specific structural designs and interoperability of these key components achieve the technical goals of modular prefabrication, flexible anti-deflection, efficient multi-channel fixation, and convenient maintenance. The following details the specific structures of each component and their connection and assembly relationships.

[0048] 1. Flexible modular fiber optic transfer contact 4 Please refer to Figure 2 The contact piece includes three core parts: an expanded beam optical fiber contact part 4-1, a physical contact optical fiber contact part 4-3, and an optical fiber 4-2.

[0049] The beam-expanding fiber contact 4-1 consists of a first pin 4-13, a sleeve 4-11, a lens 4-12, and a first flange 4-14. The front end of the first pin 4-13 is used to mount the lens 4-12. Its inner bore accommodates the optical fiber 4-2, and its rear end is secured to the first flange 4-14 via an interference fit. This constitutes the main structure of the beam-expanding contact, ensuring the positional accuracy of the optical fiber output end. The sleeve 4-11 fits over the front end of the first pin 4-13, securing the lens 4-12 within it. Connected to the first pin 4-13 through mechanical or adhesive bonding, it provides support for the lens 4-12 and ensures its relative position to the front end of the first pin 4-13, forming a stable beam-expanding optical path. The lens 4-12 is mounted within the sleeve 4-11 and positioned on the front end of the first pin 4-13, with its optical surface facing the light output direction. It serves to expand the diameter of the light beam output from the optical fiber 4-2, enabling contactless optical signal transmission and reducing the effects of contaminants such as dust. The first flange 4-14 accommodates the rear end of the first ferrule 4-13 and is secured to the sheath of the optical fiber 4-2. A fixing structure (such as an interference fit or adhesive bonding) integrates the first ferrule 4-13 with the optical fiber 4-2, forming a mechanical support unit for the expanded beam contact. The modular design allows for standardized production of the lens 4-12 and ferrule 4-13, allowing for pre-production in the workshop. This shortens the production cycle for individual contacts and eliminates the need for specialized mounting bodies for different connectors, improving component versatility and reducing development costs.

[0050] The physical contact fiber optic contact portion 4-3 includes a second pin 4-32 and a second flange 4-31. The inner bore of the second pin 4-32 accommodates the optical fiber 4-2. The front end is used for physical docking with the external optical cable contact 7, and the rear end is fixed to the second flange 4-31. Its structural design meets the precision requirements of traditional physical contact fiber optic connections, ensuring efficient transmission of optical signals. The second flange 4-31 secures the second pin 4-32 and connects to the sheath of the optical fiber 4-2. The pin 4-32 and the optical fiber 4-2 are integrated through mechanical fit (such as an interference fit) or adhesive bonding to form the main body of the physical contact portion, enabling docking with the external optical cable. The design of the physical contact fiber optic contact portion 4-3 makes the optical fiber adapter contact 4 compatible with traditional physical contact connections, eliminating the need to change the processing of the external optical cable and reducing system modification costs.

[0051] The two ends of the optical fiber 4-2 are respectively fixed to the inner holes of the first pin 4-13 and the second pin 4-32, and the outer sheath is fixed to the first flange 4-14 and the second flange 4-31. The beam expansion type contact part 4-1 and the physical contact type contact part 4-3 are connected through the flexible characteristics to absorb the deflection caused by the force or hole position deviation of the tail optical cable, thereby avoiding the influence of the angle deviation of the axis of the beam expansion end on the light transmission quality.

[0052] The fiber optic transfer contact 4 can be mass-produced in advance in a standardized workshop and assembled into a connector in the form of modular fiber optic transfer contacts 4. This not only shortens the production cycle, but also ensures quality consistency, improves production efficiency, and reduces costs.

[0053] 2. Fixed plate 3 Please refer to Figures 3 to 10 The fixing plate 3 includes a plate body, and a positioning hole 303, a mounting groove 302 and a fixing structure are set on the surface of the plate body for axial limitation of the multi-channel optical fiber contact.

[0054] Multiple positioning holes 303, with an aperture larger than the fiber diameter and smaller than the maximum outer diameter of the corresponding pin, are distributed on the board. The aperture difference blocks the pin from passing through, thus achieving axial positioning of the contact and ensuring the position accuracy of the contact in the connector. Figures 9 and 10 The positioning holes 303 are arranged in an array. The arrayed positioning holes 303 can simultaneously limit the multi-channel contact parts. Compared with the traditional single-channel independent fixation, the assembly efficiency is significantly improved, avoiding the tedious process of adjusting each core in the multi-channel scenario.

[0055] The mounting groove 302 connects the edge of the board and the positioning hole 303. Its width is greater than the diameter of the optical fiber and smaller than the maximum outer diameter of the pin, providing a routing path for the optical fiber to enter the positioning hole 303 from the edge of the board, avoiding hard bending of the optical fiber.

[0056] The fixing structure includes a central hole 301 and edge holes 304. Central hole 301 is located at the center of the plate, while edge holes 304 are distributed along the edges, some located at the ends of mounting slots 302. Removably connected structures / components (such as screws, fixing blocks 10, and support columns 9) connect to associated structures such as the front and rear fixing frames 2 and 6 to secure the fixing plate 3 and thereby simultaneously position the multi-channel contacts. The specific structure and layout of the fixing structure are designed to meet the functional requirements of the fixing plate 3 for axially limiting and securing the multi-channel fiber contacts in the fiber optic connector assembly. Specifically, the center hole 301 is located at the center of the plate body. This design helps to align the center of the fixing plate 3 with the center of the associated structure during installation, ensuring the accuracy and stability of the installation; the edge holes 304 are distributed at the edge of the plate body, and some are located at the end of the installation groove 302. This distribution method can fix the fixing plate 3 from multiple positions, enhance the stability of the connection between the fixing plate 3 and the associated structure, and prevent the fixing plate 3 from being displaced or shaken during use, thereby ensuring the positioning and fixing effect of the multi-channel optical fiber contact and ensuring the normal operation of the optical fiber connector assembly.

[0057] When the beam-expanding optical fiber contact portion 4-1 and the physical contact optical fiber contact portion 4-3 of the optical fiber adapter contact 4 are installed on the corresponding fixing plate 3, the optical fiber 4-2 is introduced into the positioning hole 303 from the mounting groove 302, and the pins 4-13 and 4-32 are blocked by the positioning hole 303, thereby achieving the limiting effect of "the optical fiber can be passed through, but the pins are restricted"; the fixing structure is synchronously fixed with the fixing frame 2 and 6 through a detachable connecting structure / component (such as fasteners 8 and fixing blocks 10) to ensure the position accuracy of the multi-channel contact.

[0058] 3. Fiber Optic Connectors Please refer to Figures 3 to 10 The optical fiber connector includes a shell 1 and an inner core fixing component.

[0059] The inner cavity of the shell 1 is provided with a stepped hole for accommodating the inner core fixing component. The stepped surface 101 of the stepped hole axially limits the inner core fixing component to ensure that the component is accurately installed in the shell 1, providing mechanical protection and installation basis for the internal structure of the connector.

[0060] The inner core fixing assembly includes a front fixing frame 2, a rear fixing frame 6, a plurality of the above-mentioned optical fiber transfer contacts 4 and a fixing body.

[0061] The front fixing frame 2 is provided with a plurality of first channels, the channel shape matches the beam-expanding optical fiber contact portion 4-1, and is used to accommodate the beam-expanding optical fiber contact portion 4-1. The first channels have two key limiting functions: Front end limit: The front end of the channel (towards the connector mating surface) forms a barrier to the expanded beam optical fiber contact portion 4-1, preventing it from moving forward excessively and ensuring the initial docking position accuracy of the expanded beam end at the front end of the connector; The rear end cooperates with the first fixing plate 3-1 to limit the rearward movement of the expanded beam optical fiber contact portion 4-1 (away from the mating surface).

[0062] The rear fixing frame 6 is provided with a plurality of second channels, each of which contains a ceramic tube 5 for accommodating the physical contact type optical fiber contact portion 4-3 and the external optical cable contact 7 to achieve physical contact and docking between the two. The second channel also has two key limiting functions: Rear end limit: A step groove or similar structure is provided at the rear end of the channel (towards the tail of the connector, the side where the external optical cable is inserted) to form a barrier to the physical contact type optical fiber contact part 4-3 to prevent it from moving backward (toward the tail).

[0063] The front end cooperates with the fixing plate to limit the position: the front end of the channel (toward the inside of the connector, the side of the beam expansion end) cooperates with the second fixing plate 3-2 to limit the forward movement of the physical contact type optical fiber contact part 4-3 (toward the beam expansion end).

[0064] Multiple fiber optic transfer contacts 4 are built into the fiber optic connector. The beam-expanding fiber optic contact 4-1 is located at the front, mounted in the first channel of the front mounting frame 2. The physical contact fiber optic contact 4-3 is located at the rear, mounted in the second channel of the rear mounting frame 6. Optical fiber 4-2 flexibly connects the two ends.

[0065] The fixing body is composed of a first fixing plate 3 - 1 , a second fixing plate 3 - 2 and a support column 9 .

[0066] The first fixing plate 3-1 is positioned on the side of the beam-expanding fiber contact portion 4-1 (i.e., near the rear end of the front fixing frame 2). Its core relationship with the front fixing frame 2 lies in the precise one-to-one correspondence between the multiple positioning holes 303 on the first fixing plate 3-1 and the multiple first channels on the front fixing frame 2. During installation, the optical fiber 4-2 of the fiber optic adapter contact 4 passes through the positioning holes 303. However, the first ferrule 4-13 of the beam-expanding fiber contact portion 4-1, due to its larger outer diameter than the positioning holes 303, is blocked by the rear end of the positioning holes 303. The first fixing plate 3-1 is fixedly mounted to the rear end of the front fixing frame 2. The specific installation method can be achieved using a removable structure / component such as a fixing block 10 (for example, the fixing block 10 is inserted into the center hole 301 of the first fixing plate 3-1 and fixed to the front fixing frame 2). Once the first fixing plate 3-1 is securely installed, it forms a rigid barrier to the rearward movement (away from the mating surface) of the beam-expanding fiber contact portion 4-1. The rear end of the first flange 4-14 of the beam-expanding fiber contact portion 4-1 is blocked by the first fixing plate 3-1, preventing further rearward movement. At this point, the first fixing plate 3-1 and the rear end surface of the first channel of the front fixing frame 2 cooperate to limit the rearward movement of the beam-expanding fiber contact portion 4-1. Combined with the forward limit provided by the front end of the first channel of the front fixing frame 2, the first fixing plate 3-1 and the front fixing frame 2 jointly fully constrain the beam-expanding fiber contact portion 4-1 in both the forward and backward directions (i.e., the axial direction), precisely positioning it in the predetermined operating position and effectively controlling axial deviation.

[0067] The second fixing plate 3-2 is positioned on the side of the physical contact fiber contact portion 4-3 (i.e., near the front end of the rear fixing frame 6). Its core relationship with the rear fixing frame 6 lies in the precise one-to-one correspondence between the multiple positioning holes 303 on the second fixing plate 3-2 and the multiple second channels on the rear fixing frame 6. During installation, the optical fiber 4-2 of the fiber optic adapter contact 4 passes through the positioning holes 303. However, the second pin 4-32 of the physical contact fiber contact portion 4-3, due to its larger outer diameter than the positioning hole 303, is blocked by the front end of the positioning hole 303. The second fixing plate 3-2 is fixedly mounted on the front end of the rear fixing frame 6. Installation can also be accomplished using a fixing block 10 or the like (for example, the fixing block 10 is inserted into the center hole 301 of the second fixing plate 3-2 and fixed to the rear fixing frame 6). Once the second fixing plate 3-2 is securely installed, it forms a rigid barrier to the forward movement (toward the beam expansion end) of the physical contact fiber contact portion 4-3. The front end of the second flange 4-31 of the physical contact fiber optic contact portion 4-3 is blocked by the body of the second fixing plate 3-2, preventing further forward movement. At this point, the second fixing plate 3-2 and the front end surface of the second channel of the rear fixing frame 6 cooperate to limit the forward movement of the physical contact fiber optic contact portion 4-3. Combined with the rearward limit provided by the rear end of the second channel of the rear fixing frame 6 (which cooperates with the limiting end of the second fixing plate 3-2), the second fixing plate 3-2 and the rear fixing frame 6 jointly fully constrain the physical contact fiber optic contact portion 4-3 in both the front and rear directions (i.e., the axial direction), precisely positioning it in the predetermined working position and ensuring the accuracy of its docking with the ceramic tube 5 and the subsequently inserted external optical cable contact 7.

[0068] Support column 9 is connected between first fixing plate 3-1 and second fixing plate 3-2 (typically inserted into edge hole 304 of fixing plate 3 via threads or an interference fit at both ends). The primary function of support column 9 is to maintain the relative distance between first fixing plate 3-1 and second fixing plate 3-2, provide the necessary and protected bending space for the flexible optical fiber 4-2 connected at both ends, prevent damage to the optical fiber 4-2 due to excessive bending or squeezing, and enhance the rigidity and stability of the overall structure of the fixing body.

[0069] The fixing body, consisting of a first fixing plate 3-1, a second fixing plate 3-2, and support columns 9, integrates multiple fiber optic adapter contacts 4 into a rigid modular unit. This unit is secured to the front fixing frame 2 via the first fixing plate 3-1 and to the rear fixing frame 6 via the second fixing plate 3-2, thus integrating the entire inner core fixing assembly. This not only simplifies the assembly process (multi-channel contacts can be pre-assembled into a complete module before being installed in the housing 1), but also, through the precise coordination of the fixing plate 3 with the front and rear fixing frames 2 and 6, ensures the precise and consistent axial positioning of all channel contacts, significantly reducing the risk of cumulative assembly errors in multi-channel scenarios.

[0070] The assembly process of the optical fiber connector mainly includes the following steps: (1) Pre-fixation of the fixed body: pre-assemble multiple transfer contacts 4 through the first fixing plate 3-1 / the second fixing plate 3-2 and the support column 9 to form a modular unit; (2) Install as a whole: Assemble the fixed body and the front fixing frame 2 / rear fixing frame 6 into an inner core assembly, and install it into the stepped hole of the housing 1; in this step, first align and fix the first fixing plate 3-1 to the rear end face of the front fixing frame 2. At this time, the first fixing plate 3-1 cooperates with the rear end face of the front fixing frame 2 to limit the backward movement of the expanded optical fiber contact part 4-1; align and fix the second fixing plate 3-2 to the front end face of the rear fixing frame 6. At this time, the second fixing plate 3-2 cooperates with the front end face of the rear fixing frame 6 to limit the forward movement of the physical contact optical fiber contact part 4-3. Then install the assembled front fixing frame 2-fixed body-rear fixing frame 6 as a whole (i.e., the inner core fixing assembly) into the housing 1; (3) Assembly of ceramic tube 5: Press the ceramic tube 5 into the second channel of the rear fixing frame 6.

[0071] 4. Fiber Optic Connector Components Please refer to Figure 3 and Figure 4 The optical fiber connector assembly consists of the above-mentioned optical fiber connector, the external optical cable contact 7 and the third fixing plate 3-3.

[0072] The optical fiber connector includes a housing 1 and inner core fixing components (such as a front fixing frame 2, a rear fixing frame 6, a fixing body, etc.). The front end is equipped with an expanded optical fiber contact portion 4-1 for contactless optical signal transmission, and the rear end is equipped with a physical contact optical fiber contact portion 4-3 for physical contact signal docking.

[0073] The external optical cable contact 7 utilizes a traditional physical contact fiber ferrule structure, consisting of a ferrule, optical fiber, and flange, consistent with the contact structure of conventional optical fiber connectors. The ferrule's front end is polished to a PC or APC finish, which mates with the physical contact portion 4-3 of the fiber optic adapter contact 4 within the ceramic tube 5, achieving physical contact transmission of the optical signal.

[0074] The rear mounting frame 6 is provided with multiple second channels, each pre-pressed with a ceramic tube 5. The ceramic tube 5 is a high-precision component whose core function is to provide precise coaxial guidance and support for the ferrule of the external cable contact 7 and the physical contact fiber contact portion 4-3 (second ferrule 4-32) within the fiber optic connector. This ensures high-precision alignment and close physical contact (PC / APC) between the ferrule end faces within the tube, ensuring reliable transmission of optical signals. Specifically, the external cable contact 7 is inserted from the rear of the fiber optic connector assembly. Its ferrule passes through the positioning hole 303 in the third mounting plate 3-3 (if installed) and precisely enters the ceramic tube 5 within the corresponding second channel of the rear mounting frame 6. Within the ceramic tube 5, the front end face of the ferrule of the external cable contact 7 closely mates with the physical contact fiber contact portion 4-3 (the front end face of the second ferrule 4-32) of the fiber optic adapter contact 4, completing the physical contact and docking of the optical signal.

[0075] The third fixing plate 3-3 is fixedly mounted on the rear end face of the rear fixing frame 6 (facing the direction of external optical cable insertion). This is typically achieved using fasteners 8 (e.g., screws). The screws pass through edge holes 304 on the third fixing plate 3-3 and screw into corresponding threaded holes pre-set on the rear end face of the rear fixing frame 6 for securement. Its structure is the same or similar to that of the aforementioned fixing plates (e.g., the first fixing plate 3-1 and the second fixing plate 3-2), comprising a plate body, positioning holes 303, mounting slots 302, a center hole 301, and edge holes 304. The multiple positioning holes 303 on the third fixing plate 3-3 are precisely aligned with the multiple second channels on the rear fixing frame 6. The diameter of the positioning holes 303 is larger than the diameter of the optical fiber (pigtail) in the external optical cable contact 7, but smaller than the maximum outer diameter of its pin.

[0076] Once the external optical cable contact 7 is fully inserted and mated with the internal contact, its pin (due to its larger outer diameter than the aperture of positioning hole 303) is blocked by the rear end face (the side facing the outside of the tail) of positioning hole 303 in the third fixing plate 3-3. This effectively prevents the external optical cable contact 7 from accidentally exiting the connector assembly backward, a key factor in ensuring mating stability, particularly when subjected to cable tension or vibration. The final forward position (in the insertion direction) of the external optical cable contact 7 is not provided by the third fixing plate 3-3, but rather by the natural contact and abutment between the front end face of its pin and the front end face of the internal physical contact fiber contact portion 4-3 (second pin 4-32) within the ceramic tube 5. Insertion terminates when the two end faces meet.

[0077] During insertion, positioning holes 303 in third fixing plate 3-3 provide initial guidance and precise positioning for the pins of external optical cable contact 7, ensuring smooth and accurate entry of the pins into the channel of rear fixing frame 6 and ceramic tube 5. Before or during insertion, the optical fiber (pigtail) of external optical cable contact 7 can be guided through mounting slots 302 in third fixing plate 3-3 and into corresponding positioning holes 303, providing a smooth routing path and avoiding hard bends at the exit.

[0078] The optical fiber connector assembly has the following advantages: (1) Modular replaceable design: When a connector has multiple channels of expanded beam contacts built in, if a core becomes defective during testing inside the connector and maintenance at the customer's site, the connector can be quickly and easily disassembled and the fiber optic transfer contact 4 of the corresponding channel can be replaced without scrapping the entire optical cable or the entire connector plug, which greatly improves the maintainability of the connector.

[0079] (2) Flexible anti-deviation mechanism: The flexible optical fiber 4-2 of the transfer contact 4 absorbs the deflection stress of the tail optical cable, preventing the traditional ceramic sleeve from breaking due to bending, and significantly reducing the insertion loss fluctuation.

[0080] (3) Multi-channel synchronous fixation: The array channel design of the front fixing frame 2 / rear fixing frame 6 and the fixing plate 3 realizes the one-time assembly and positioning of multi-channel contact parts, which reduces the number of fixing devices compared with traditional solutions and improves high-density transmission compatibility.

[0081] The expanded beam connector with built-in fiber optic transfer contact 4 completes the transmission link. Figure 11 As shown, the optical signal path is: first optical cable 11 → external optical cable contact 7 → (mating with the physical contact optical fiber contact portion 4-3 within the ceramic tube 5 of the mounting bracket 6 behind the first optical fiber connector 12) → optical fiber 4-2 of the optical fiber adapter contact 4 → beam-expanding optical fiber contact portion 4-1 → (non-contact transmission at the end faces of the first optical fiber connector 12 and the second optical fiber connector 13) → beam-expanding optical fiber contact portion of the second optical fiber connector 13 → optical fiber of its optical fiber adapter contact → physical contact optical fiber contact portion → (mating with another external optical cable contact within the ceramic tube of the mounting bracket behind the second optical fiber connector 13) → second optical cable 14. During this process, optical fiber 4-2 absorbs misalignment, mounting plates 3-1, 3-2, and 3-3 precisely position the connection, and ceramic tube 5 ensures connection accuracy, collectively creating a highly reliable integrated optical link featuring "misalignment resistance, positioning, and transmission."

[0082] The above describes in detail the fiber optic transfer contact, fixing plate, fiber optic connector, and fiber optic connector assembly provided by the present invention. Specific examples are used herein to illustrate the principles and specific implementations of the present invention. The above examples are intended only to facilitate understanding of the methods and core concepts of the present invention. It should be noted that, for those skilled in the art, any simple modifications, equivalent variations, and modifications to the above examples based on the technical essence of the present invention fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A fiber optic transfer contact, characterized in that: include: An expanded-beam optical fiber contact portion (4-1) comprises a first pin (4-13), a sleeve (4-11) coaxially sleeved on the first pin (4-13), a lens (4-12) disposed in the sleeve (4-11) and mounted on the front end of the first pin (4-13), and a first flange (4-14) fixedly accommodating the rear portion of the first pin (4-13); A physical contact type optical fiber contact portion (4-3) comprising a second pin (4-32) and a second flange (4-31) for fixing and accommodating the rear portion of the second pin (4-32); An optical fiber (4-2), both ends of which are fixed in the inner holes of the first plug pin (4-13) and the second plug pin (4-32), and an outer sheath of which is fixedly connected to the first flange (4-14) and the second flange (4-31); The optical fiber (4-2) can realize flexible connection and optical signal transmission between the beam expansion type optical fiber contact part (4-1) and the physical contact type optical fiber contact part (4-3).

2. The optical fiber transfer contact according to claim 1, characterized in that: The optical fiber (4-2) is fixedly connected to the first flange (4-14) and the second flange (4-31) by gluing or interference fitting.

3. The optical fiber transfer contact according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first flange (4-14) and the first plug pin (4-13), as well as the second flange (4-31) and the second plug pin (4-32) are all fixed by interference fit.

4. A fixing plate for axially limiting a multi-channel optical fiber switching contact (4), characterized in that: It includes a plate body, on which is provided: A positioning hole (303), the aperture of the positioning hole (303) being configured to be larger than the diameter of the optical fiber (4-2) and smaller than the maximum outer diameter of the corresponding pin, for accommodating the optical fiber (4-2) and blocking the pin from passing through by the aperture difference to achieve axial positioning; A mounting groove (302) is used to connect at least one positioning hole (303) to the edge of the plate body, wherein the width of the mounting groove (302) is configured to be larger than the diameter of the optical fiber (4-2) and smaller than the maximum outer diameter of the corresponding pin, and is used to provide a path for the optical fiber transfer contact (4) to enter the positioning hole (303) from the edge of the plate body; The fixing structure is used to realize the installation of the fixing plate (3) and the associated structure through a detachable connection.

5. The fixing plate according to claim 4, characterized in that: The fixing structure comprises a central hole (301) and edge holes (304), wherein the central hole (301) is located at the center of the plate body, and the edge holes (304) are distributed at the edges of the plate body.

6. The fixing plate according to claim 5, characterized in that: The edge hole (304) is provided at the end of the mounting groove (302).

7. An optical fiber connector, characterized in that: It comprises a shell (1) and an inner core fixing assembly, wherein the inner core fixing assembly comprises: A front fixing frame (2) is provided with a first channel; The rear fixing frame (6) is provided with a second passage; At least two optical fiber transfer contacts (4) according to claims 1 to 3, wherein the beam expansion type optical fiber contact portion (4-1) is installed in the first channel, and the physical contact type optical fiber contact portion (4-3) is installed in the second channel; A fixing body is used for integrating and fixing a plurality of the optical fiber switching contact pieces (4).

8. The optical fiber connector according to claim 7, wherein: The fixed body comprises: A first fixing plate (3-1) is provided on the side of the beam-expanding optical fiber contact portion (4-1); A second fixing plate (3-2) is provided on the side of the physical contact type optical fiber contact portion (4-3); A support column (9) connecting the two fixing plates to maintain the bending space of the optical fiber (4-2); The first fixing plate (3-1) is fixedly connected to the front fixing frame (2) and cooperates to block the axial displacement of the first pin (4-13); The second fixing plate (3-2) is fixedly connected to the rear fixing frame (6) and cooperates to block the axial displacement of the second pin (4-32).

9. The optical fiber connector according to claim 8, wherein: The first fixing plate (3-1) or the second fixing plate (3-2) is a fixing plate according to any one of claims 4 to 6, the positioning hole (303) of the first fixing plate (3-1) corresponds one-to-one to the first channel on the front fixing frame (2), and the positioning hole (303) of the second fixing plate (3-2) corresponds one-to-one to the second channel on the rear fixing frame (6).

10. The optical fiber connector according to claim 9, wherein: There are at least two support columns (9), which are symmetrically installed in the edge holes (304) of the first fixing plate (3-1) and the second fixing plate (3-2).

11. The optical fiber connector according to claim 8, wherein: The first fixing plate (3-1) and the front fixing frame (2), and the second fixing plate (3-2) and the rear fixing frame (6) are fixed via fixing blocks (10), and the fixing blocks (10) cooperate with the center holes (301) on the first fixing plate (3-1) or the second fixing plate (3-2).

12. The optical fiber connector according to claim 7, wherein: The housing (1) has a cavity for installing an inner core fixing assembly, and a step (101) for limiting the position of the inner core fixing assembly is provided on the inner wall of the cavity.

13. An optical fiber connector assembly, characterized in that: include: The optical fiber connector according to any one of claims 7 to 12; The external optical cable contact piece (7) is inserted into the second channel of the rear fixing frame (6) and is in contact with the physical contact type optical fiber contact portion (4-3) of the optical fiber switching contact piece (4).

14. The optical fiber connector assembly according to claim 13, wherein: A ceramic tube (5) is provided in the second channel of the rear fixing frame (6), and the physical contact type optical fiber contact portion (4-3) and the external optical cable contact piece (7) are butted together in the ceramic tube (5).

15. The optical fiber connector assembly according to claim 13, wherein: A third fixing plate (3-3) is provided at the tail of the rear fixing frame (6) for limiting the position of the external optical cable contact piece (7); The third fixing plate (3-3) is the fixing plate according to any one of claims 4 to 6.

16. The optical fiber connector assembly according to claim 15, wherein: The edge hole (304) of the third fixing plate (3-3) is fixedly mounted to the rear fixing frame (6) via a fastener (8).

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