Modular vehicle-mounted optical fiber connector based on standard Fakra shell and design method thereof

Abstract

The invention discloses a modularized vehicle-mounted optical fiber connector based on a standard Fakra shell and a design method of the modularized vehicle-mounted optical fiber connector, and belongs to the technical field of vehicle-mounted connectors, the modularized vehicle-mounted optical fiber connector comprises a first optical terminal and a second optical terminal which can be matched with the standard Fakra shell, and the optical fiber connector based on the standard Fakra shell is obtained through the design of the two optical terminals. According to the modularized vehicle-mounted optical fiber connector, the design of the optical fiber connector is completed based on the standard-size shell of the Fakra connector, the optical fiber connector with the outline dimension of the Fakra connector can be obtained, the optical fiber connector can have the structural performance advantages of the Fakra connector, the signal transmission capacity of the connector can be fully improved, and the application range of the optical fiber connector is widened. And the rapid manufacturing of the optical fiber connector can be realized by relying on a related production line of the existing Fakra connector, the application cost of the optical fiber connector is reduced, the transfer process of the optical fiber connector in the application field of the Fakra connector is simplified, the use requirement of the optical fiber connector in the vehicle-mounted field is fully met, and the vehicle-mounted optical fiber connector has an excellent application prospect.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of automotive connector technology, specifically relating to a modular automotive fiber optic connector based on a standard Fakra shell and its design method. Background Technology

[0002] In the automotive industry, wiring harnesses are the main network of automotive circuits and play a very important role in the operation of automotive systems. Connectors are often required to enable conduction between different wiring harnesses and devices.

[0003] Fakra connectors are RF (radio frequency) connectors that typically use coaxial cables for signal transmission. They are widely used in the automotive industry, primarily in in-vehicle audio, navigation, and video systems. Extensive application has demonstrated that Fakra connectors are waterproof, shockproof, and interference-resistant, making them well-suited for the working environment of automotive applications.

[0004] However, with the development of automotive electronics technology, the number of electronic devices in cars is increasing, and the performance requirements for wiring harnesses are also becoming more demanding. For example, a single 4K camera can achieve a data transmission rate exceeding 10Gbps at 60FPS, while LiDAR can reach 1Gbps. The total bandwidth requirement for the vehicle's backbone network is expected to reach 25-50Gbps. Faced with such a massive data transmission demand, traditional cable communication methods are proving unsustainable, suffering from bandwidth bottlenecks, complex wiring, excessive weight, and insufficient anti-interference capabilities, making it difficult to meet the data transmission needs of intelligent connected vehicles.

[0005] In contrast, fiber optic communication technology possesses inherent advantages such as high bandwidth, low loss, resistance to electromagnetic interference, light weight, and small size, making it the preferred solution for large data transmissions and an ideal choice for upgrading intelligent connected vehicle communication systems. However, while fiber optic communication technology has mature applications in other communication fields, in the field of intelligent vehicles, due to differences in application scenarios and data transmission characteristics, mature technologies from other fields often cannot be directly transferred to automobiles. Targeted design and improvements are required, leading to redesigns of connector structures, manufacturing processes, and production equipment, thus increasing connector application costs. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In response to one or more of the above-mentioned defects or improvement needs of the prior art, the present invention provides a modular automotive fiber optic connector based on a standard Fakra housing and its design method. It can complete the fiber optic connector setup based on the existing standard Fakra housing, meet the optical transmission requirements of automotive connectors, and make full use of the existing mature production line of Fakra connectors, making it suitable for large-scale automated production.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, one aspect of the present invention provides a modular automotive fiber optic connector based on a standard Fakra housing, comprising a male connector and a female connector; the male connector includes a first housing and a first optical terminal; the female connector includes a second housing and a second optical terminal; The first housing and the second housing are respectively the male and female housings of a standard Fakra connector; both housings have an equal number of terminal cavities, and both housings are provided with terminal locking components; The first optical terminal corresponds one-to-one with the terminal cavity in the first housing, and the second optical terminal corresponds one-to-one with the terminal cavity in the second housing; the two types of optical terminals each have a ferrule that can be connected to an optical fiber, and can be locked by the terminal locking member of a standard Fakra connector after being embedded in the terminal cavity of the corresponding housing, and the first optical terminal can be connected to the second optical terminal after being inserted into the first housing.

[0008] As a further improvement of the present invention, both types of optical terminals include an end cap, a ferrule, a spring, and a terminal housing; The terminal housing has an assembly hole at one end and is used to connect an optical cable and insert an optical fiber at the other end. The ferrule is used to connect to the optical fiber, and its tail end is assembled with a spring and then inserted into the assembly hole. The end cap is detachably connected to the end of the terminal housing with the assembly hole and can axially limit the ferrule after the terminal housing is connected. The first optical terminal also includes a ferrule sleeve; the ferrule sleeve is fitted onto the front end of the ferrule in the first optical terminal and can be axially limited by the end cap; the end face of the ferrule in the first optical terminal is located in the ferrule sleeve, and the ferrule in the second optical terminal can extend into the ferrule sleeve and connect with the ferrule in the first optical terminal after the male and female connectors are inserted.

[0009] As a further improvement of the present invention, at least one optical terminal further includes a lead tube; one end of the lead tube is connected to the tail end of the insert, the other end extends into the terminal housing, and the spring is sleeved on the outer periphery of the lead tube; and / or At least one optical terminal includes a crimping ring; one end of the crimping ring can be connected to one end of the terminal housing away from the end cap, and the other end of the crimping ring is used to crimp and fix the end of the optical cable.

[0010] As a further improvement of the present invention, a first stepped hole is provided in the end cap of the first optical terminal; the first stepped hole includes a first hole segment and a second hole segment with an inner diameter smaller than that of the first hole segment; the inner diameter of the first hole segment is not less than the outer diameter of the ferrule sleeve, and the inner diameter of the second hole segment is smaller than the outer diameter of the ferrule sleeve and larger than the outer diameter of the ferrule in the second optical terminal. The end cap of the second optical terminal has a second stepped hole in the middle, the second stepped hole includes a third hole segment and a fourth hole segment with an inner diameter larger than the third hole segment; the insert of the second optical terminal passes through the third hole segment and extends into the fourth hole segment with its conductive end having an insert end face, and the outer diameter of the conductive end is smaller than the inner diameter of the second hole segment; and the inner diameter of the fourth hole segment is larger than the outer diameter of the end cap of the first optical terminal; then the end cap of the first optical terminal can be inserted into the end cap of the second optical terminal after the two housings are plugged in, and the insert of the second optical terminal extends into the insert sleeve and abuts against the insert of the first optical terminal to conduct.

[0011] As a further improvement of the present invention, the terminal locking member is a limiting lock, and an embedding groove is provided on each of the two housings; Correspondingly, an annular limiting groove is formed on the outer periphery of the middle part of the two types of optical terminals. The annular limiting groove is aligned with the embedding groove when the optical terminal is embedded in the terminal cavity. Then, the limiting latch can pass through the embedding groove and be engaged in the annular limiting groove.

[0012] As a further improvement of the present invention, at least one optical terminal further includes a tail sleeve; the tail sleeve can be sleeved on the outer periphery of the end of the optical cable and connected to the tail end of the corresponding optical terminal.

[0013] As a further improvement of the present invention, at least one optical terminal is provided with a sealing ring at its tail end; the sealing ring can be sealed and assembled with the tail end of the terminal cavity after the optical terminal is embedded in the terminal cavity.

[0014] As a further improvement of the present invention, both the first housing and the second housing have one, two or four terminal cavities.

[0015] As a further improvement of the present invention, the end of the first housing used to insert into the second housing is provided with a first locking member, and a second locking member is provided on the second housing. The first locking member can lock itself to the second locking member after the male and female heads are inserted and connected.

[0016] Another aspect of the present invention provides a design method for a modular automotive fiber optic connector based on a standard Fakra housing, for designing the aforementioned modular automotive fiber optic connector based on a standard Fakra housing. Includes the following steps: (1) Determine the specifications of the standard Fakra housing used for the fiber optic connector; (2) Determine the structural composition of the two optical terminals in the fiber optic connector; wherein, both optical terminals include a ferrule, a spring, a terminal housing and an end cap, and the first optical terminal corresponding to the male connector additionally includes a ferrule sleeve that can be fitted onto the outer periphery of the ferrule; (3) Obtain basic design parameters based on the standard Fakra housing; the basic design parameters include at least the size parameters of each terminal cavity, the length parameters of the male connector, and the depth parameters of the female connector cavity; (4) Obtain the assembly parameters of the two optical terminals based on the two electrical terminals of the Fakra connector; the assembly parameters include the outer diameter of the annular limiting groove on the two electrical terminals, the axial distance between the annular limiting groove and the terminal insertion end, and the axial distance between the two annular limiting grooves after the two electrical terminals are inserted and matched. (5) Determine the basic dimensions of the two optical terminals according to the basic design parameters, and determine the locking dimensions of the two optical terminals according to the assembly parameters; the basic dimensions include the maximum outer diameter of the embedded part of the two optical terminals and the inner and outer diameter of the two end caps; the locking dimensions include the outer diameter of the two annular limiting grooves, the distance between the two annular limiting grooves and the end caps, and the distance between the two annular limiting grooves after the two optical terminals are inserted. (6) Select the ferrule and ferrule sleeve in the two optical terminals according to the basic dimensions; and determine the size parameters of the two sub-shells according to the locking dimensions, and determine the selection of the two springs and the two end caps; (7) Select and design other parts of the two optical terminals to obtain the first optical terminal and the second optical terminal that conform to the standard Fakra shell, thereby completing the design of the modular vehicle-mounted fiber optic connector based on the standard Fakra shell.

[0017] The aforementioned improved technical features can be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other.

[0018] In summary, the beneficial effects of the above-described technical solutions conceived by this invention compared with the prior art include: The modular automotive fiber optic connector based on the standard Fakra housing in this invention includes a first optical terminal and a second optical terminal that are compatible with the standard Fakra housing. By utilizing the design of the two optical terminals, a fiber optic connector based on the standard Fakra housing is obtained. This allows the manufacturing of the fiber optic connector to rely on existing Fakra connector production lines. By adapting the shape of the fiber optic connector to the existing Fakra connector, the electro-optical conversion of conventional Fakra connectors can be achieved, thereby simplifying the conversion process of fiber optic connectors in conventional Fakra connector application fields (such as the automotive field) and reducing the application cost of fiber optic connectors.

[0019] The modular automotive fiber optic connector based on the standard Fakra housing in this invention is designed based on the standard size housing of the Fakra connector. By utilizing the compatibility design between the modular optical terminals and the standard Fakra housing, a fiber optic connector with the external dimensions of a Fakra connector can be obtained. This allows the fiber optic connector to possess the waterproof, shockproof, and anti-interference characteristics of the Fakra connector, while also significantly improving the connector's signal transmission capability. This fully meets the usage requirements in automotive application scenarios and has excellent application prospects. Attached Figure Description

[0020] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the accompanying drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the modular vehicle-mounted fiber optic connector based on a standard Fakra housing according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the male connector structure of the modular vehicle-mounted fiber optic connector in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the disassembly structure of the male connector of the modular vehicle-mounted fiber optic connector in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the female connector structure of the modular vehicle-mounted fiber optic connector in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the disassembly structure of the female connector of the modular vehicle-mounted fiber optic connector in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 This is a structural disassembly diagram of the first optical terminal of the modular vehicle-mounted fiber optic connector in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 This is a structural disassembly diagram of the second optical terminal of the modular vehicle-mounted fiber optic connector in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 8 This is a cross-sectional view of the overall structure of the modular vehicle-mounted fiber optic connector in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 9 , Figure 10 These are schematic diagrams of the standard Fakra shell in two other optional embodiments of the present invention; In all the accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals denote the same technical features, specifically: 100, male connector; 200, female connector; 300, optical fiber cable; 1. First housing; 2. First optical terminal; 3. Second housing; 4. Second optical terminal; 5. First terminal locking element; 6. Second terminal locking element; 101. First embedding groove; 102. First locking element; 103. First terminal cavity; 201. First end cap; 202. First insert; 203. First spring; 204. First terminal housing; 2041. First annular limiting groove; 2042. First sealing ring; 205. First adhesive tube; 206. First crimping ring; 207. Insert sleeve; 208. First tail sleeve; 301. Second embedding groove; 302. Second locking element; 303. Second terminal cavity; 401. Second end cap; 402. Second insert; 403. Second spring; 404. Second terminal housing; 4041. Second annular limiting groove; 4042. Second sealing ring; 405. Second adhesive tube; 406. Second crimping ring; 407. Second tail sleeve. Detailed Implementation

[0022] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the 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 merely illustrative and not intended to limit the invention. Furthermore, the technical features involved in the various embodiments of this invention described below can be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other.

[0023] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," "counterclockwise," "axial," "radial," "circumferential," etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this invention.

[0024] Furthermore, unless otherwise expressly defined, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this invention, "a plurality of" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise expressly and specifically defined.

[0025] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise explicitly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0026] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can mean that the first feature is in direct contact with the second feature, or that the first feature is in indirect contact with the second feature through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0027] Below, for reference Figures 1-10 This invention describes a modular automotive fiber optic connector based on a standard Fakra housing, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] like Figure 1 As shown, in a preferred embodiment, the modular automotive fiber optic connector based on a standard Fakra housing includes a male connector 100 and a female connector 200. The male connector 100 includes a first housing 1 and a first optical terminal 2; the female connector 200 includes a second housing 3 and a second optical terminal 4. As the core of the design of this invention, the aforementioned first housing 1 and second housing 3 are respectively the male head housing and female head housing of a standard Fakra connector.

[0029] It should be noted that the "standard Fakra connector" involved in this invention refers to the radio frequency connector widely used in the automotive field in the prior art, which uses electrical transmission to achieve data transmission. In the preferred embodiment, a fiber optic connector based on "optical transmission" is manufactured based on the male / female shell of the "electrical transmission connector". This utilizes the relatively mature Fakra connector production line, reducing the adaptation and improvement process required for the production and application of automotive fiber optic connectors, and improving the production efficiency and renewal process of automotive fiber optic connectors.

[0030] Specifically, in the preferred embodiment, the first housing 1 and the second housing 3 have an equal number of terminal cavities, and both housings are provided with terminal locking elements.

[0031] The first optical terminal 2 corresponds one-to-one with the terminal cavity in the first housing 1, and the second optical terminal 4 corresponds one-to-one with the terminal cavity in the second housing 3. The two types of optical terminals each have a ferrule that can be connected to an optical fiber, and can be locked by a terminal locking member after being embedded in the terminal cavity of the corresponding housing. The first optical terminal 2 can achieve optical conduction with the second optical terminal 4 after being inserted into the first housing 1 into the second housing 3.

[0032] It's easy to understand that the fiber optic connector, based on the standard Fakra housing and two different optical terminal designs, undergoes the same insertion process as the Fakra connector with the same housing specifications. Furthermore, since the connector's housing dimensions remain unchanged, the connector converted from electrical to optical can be quickly replaced in its original location. This makes it suitable not only for the production of new equipment (such as newly manufactured vehicles) but also for the upgrading of communication systems in older equipment (such as existing vehicles using Fakra connectors), greatly expanding the application scope of automotive fiber optic connectors.

[0033] Furthermore, for the first optical terminal 2 and the second optical terminal 4 in the preferred embodiment, both optical terminals include an end cap, a ferrule, a spring, and a terminal housing, namely, the first end cap 201, the first ferrule 202, the first spring 203, and the first terminal housing 204 of the first optical terminal 2; and the second end cap 401, the second ferrule 402, the second spring 403, and the second terminal housing 404 of the second optical terminal 4.

[0034] For both types of optical terminals, one end of the terminal housing has an assembly hole for assembling the ferrule, and the other end is used to connect the optical cable and access the optical fiber. Meanwhile, the ferrule is used to connect to the optical fiber, and its tail end is assembled with a spring and then inserted into the assembly hole; the end cap is detachably connected to the end of the terminal housing with the assembly hole, and can axially limit the ferrule after connecting the terminal housing.

[0035] Furthermore, the first optical terminal 2 also includes a ferrule sleeve 207, which is sleeved on the front end of the ferrule (i.e., the first ferrule 202) in the first optical terminal 2 and can be axially limited by the end cap (i.e., the first end cap 201).

[0036] Furthermore, the ferrule end face in the first optical terminal 2 is located in the ferrule sleeve 207 (that is, after the first end cap 201 is connected to the first terminal housing 204, the ferrule end face of the first ferrule 202 does not extend out of the ferrule sleeve 207), and the ferrule in the second optical terminal 4 (that is, the second ferrule 402) can extend into the ferrule sleeve 207 and connect with the ferrule in the first optical terminal 2 (that is, the first ferrule 202) after the male head 100 and the female head 200 are plugged in.

[0037] It is understandable that the axial limiting between the first end cap 201 and the ferrule sleeve 207 can be achieved by providing a stepped through hole in the ferrule sleeve 207. In this case, the inner diameter of the larger diameter end of the stepped through hole is larger than the outer diameter of the ferrule sleeve 207, and the inner diameter of the smaller diameter end of the stepped through hole is between the outer diameter of the ferrule sleeve 207 and the outer diameter of the first ferrule 202. In this way, the axial limiting of the ferrule sleeve 207 in the first end cap 201 can be guaranteed, and the insertion and docking of the second ferrule 402 in the ferrule sleeve 207 can also be achieved.

[0038] More specifically, in actual setup, the outer diameter of the second insert 402 is not greater than the outer diameter of the first insert 202, and preferably the outer diameters of the two are the same.

[0039] More specifically, at least one optical terminal also includes a lead tube, for example in Figure 6 , Figure 7 In the preferred embodiment shown, both the first optical terminal 2 and the second optical terminal 4 are provided with adhesive inlet tubes, namely the first adhesive inlet tube 205 and the second adhesive inlet tube 405. In actual installation, one end of the adhesive inlet tube is connected to the tail end of the insert, and the other end extends into the terminal housing, with a spring sleeved on the outer periphery of the adhesive inlet tube.

[0040] As another example, in actual setups, at least one optical terminal includes a crimp ring, for example in Figure 6 , Figure 7 In the preferred embodiment shown, both the first optical terminal 2 and the second optical terminal 4 are provided with crimping rings, namely the first crimping ring 206 and the second crimping ring 406. In actual installation, one end of the crimping ring can be connected to the end of the terminal housing away from the end cap, and the other end is used to crimp and fix the end of the optical cable 300, thereby realizing the connection and fixation between the optical cable 300 and the corresponding optical terminal.

[0041] Preferably, for the aforementioned crimping ring, the connection between it and the tail end of the terminal housing is a threaded connection.

[0042] Furthermore, a first stepped hole is provided in the end cap (i.e., the first end cap 201) of the first optical terminal 2; the first stepped hole includes a first hole segment and a second hole segment with an inner diameter smaller than the first hole segment; the inner diameter of the first hole segment is not less than the outer diameter of the ferrule sleeve 207, and the inner diameter of the second hole segment is smaller than the outer diameter of the ferrule sleeve 207.

[0043] Meanwhile, a second stepped hole is provided in the end cap (i.e., the second end cap 401) of the second optical terminal 4. The second stepped hole includes a third hole segment and a fourth hole segment with an inner diameter larger than that of the third hole segment. The second ferrule 402 of the second optical terminal 4 passes through the third hole segment and extends into the fourth hole segment with its conductive end having a ferrule end face. The outer diameter of the conductive end is smaller than the inner diameter of the second hole segment. The inner diameter of the fourth hole segment is larger than the outer diameter of the first end cap 201. Then, the first end cap 201 can be inserted into the second end cap 401 after the male head 100 and the female head 200 are plugged in, so that the second ferrule 402 extends into the ferrule sleeve 207 and abuts against the first ferrule 202 to conduct.

[0044] Obviously, by utilizing the aforementioned design of the two optical terminal structures, a reliable connection can be achieved between the first optical terminal 2 and the second optical terminal 4, and based on the guiding setting of the ferrule sleeve 207, the reliability of the connection between the first ferrule 202 and the second ferrule 402 is ensured.

[0045] Furthermore, in order to reliably fix the first optical terminal 2 and the second optical terminal 4 in the corresponding housings, the terminal locking member in the preferred embodiment is a limiting lock, and the first housing 1 and the second housing 3 are respectively provided with embedding grooves, namely the first embedding groove 101 and the second embedding groove 301, so that the first terminal locking member 5 and the second terminal locking member 6 can pass through the corresponding embedding grooves and match with the corresponding optical terminals embedded in the housings, so as to realize the axial locking of the two optical terminals.

[0046] Specifically, annular limiting grooves are formed on the outer periphery of the middle portion of both optical terminals, namely, a first annular limiting groove 2041 and a second annular limiting groove 4041. The two annular limiting grooves align with the insertion grooves when the optical terminals are inserted into the terminal cavities. That is, the first annular limiting groove 2041 aligns with the first insertion groove 101 after the first optical terminal 2 is inserted into the first terminal cavity 103, and the second annular limiting groove 4041 aligns with the second insertion groove 301 after the second optical terminal 4 is inserted into the second terminal cavity 303. Subsequently, each limiting latch can pass through the corresponding insertion groove and engage in the annular limiting groove, thereby achieving axial locking of the two optical terminals within the two Fakra housings.

[0047] More preferably, at least one optical terminal further includes a tail sleeve, for example... Figure 6 , Figure 7 Both types of optical terminals shown include a tail sleeve, namely the first tail sleeve 208 in the first optical terminal 2 and the second tail sleeve 407 in the second optical terminal 4. In actual installation, the tail sleeve can be fitted around the outer periphery of the end of the optical cable 300 and connected to the tail end of the optical terminal.

[0048] by Figure 8Taking the illustrated scheme as an example, the front end of the tail sleeve can be correspondingly embedded in the inner cavity of the male and female housings, and further connected to the outer periphery of the first crimping ring 206 and the second crimping ring 406. More specifically, the connection between the tail sleeve and the tail end of the optical terminal can be an interference fit or a snap-fit ​​(equivalent to the connection of the two crimping rings at the tail end of the terminal housing forming an annular snap-fit ​​surface, which is the front end face of the crimping ring; in this case, an annular protrusion is provided in the inner cavity of the end of the tail sleeve, and can pass over the annular snap-fit ​​surface through the annular protrusion and be written on the outer periphery of the optical terminal).

[0049] More preferably, in order to achieve a sealing effect between the tail ends (the ends opposite to the interlocking ends) of the male connector 100 and the female connector 200, a sealing ring is preferably provided at the tail end of at least one optical terminal, for example... Figure 6 The first sealing ring 2042 shown is disposed on the outer periphery of the tail end of the first terminal housing 204 and Figure 7 The arrangement shown is a second sealing ring 4042 on the outer periphery of the tail end of the second terminal housing 404. In actual assembly, the aforementioned sealing ring can be installed and sealed to the tail end of the terminal cavity after the optical terminal is inserted into the terminal cavity. This achieves end sealing between each optical terminal and its corresponding housing, improving the end sealing effect after the male connector 100 and female connector 200 are assembled.

[0050] It is understandable that the specifications of the standard Fakra housing can be changed depending on the application location and application requirements of the connector. In this case, the first optical terminal 2 and the second optical terminal 4 that conform to the aforementioned structural design can be designed and selected by combining the size specifications of different standard Fakra housings.

[0051] As an example, both the first housing 1 and the second housing 3 have a terminal cavity (e.g. Figure 9 As shown), two terminal cavities (e.g.) Figure 2 , Figure 4 (as shown) or four terminal cavities (e.g.) Figure 10 (as shown in the image).

[0052] More preferably, the end of the first housing 1 used for inserting into the second housing 3 is provided with a first locking member 102, and a second locking member 302 is provided on the second housing 3. The first locking member 102 can lock itself to the second locking member 302 after the male head 100 and the female head 200 are inserted and connected.

[0053] In a preferred embodiment, the first locking member 102 is an elastic buckle, and the second locking member 302 is a slot. The elastic buckle can be compressed and deformed during the insertion of the male head 100 and the female head 200, and fits perfectly into the slot after being inserted into place.

[0054] Furthermore, to better realize the design and fabrication of automotive fiber optic connectors, enabling accurate alignment and assembly of the two types of optical terminals with the two standard Fakra housings, another aspect of the invention proposes a design method for a modular automotive fiber optic connector based on a standard Fakra housing, which preferably includes the following steps: (1) Determine the specifications of the standard Fakra housing used for the fiber optic connector; Specifically, when determining the specifications of the standard Fakra housing, the selection can be made based on the usage requirements and setup specifications of the fiber optic connector, for example... Figure 1 , Figure 9 , Figure 10 The number and size design basis for the subsequent first optical terminal 2 and second optical terminal 4 are determined according to the different standard Fakra housing specifications, whether it is a double-hole housing, a single-hole housing, or a four-hole housing.

[0055] (2) Determine the structural composition of the two optical terminals in the fiber optic connector; wherein, both optical terminals include a ferrule, a spring, a terminal housing and an end cap, and the first optical terminal corresponding to the male connector additionally includes a ferrule sleeve 207 that can be fitted onto the outer periphery of the ferrule; The structural composition of optical terminals can be designed and determined by referring to the structural composition of conventional fiber optic connectors, and will not be elaborated here.

[0056] (3) Obtain basic design parameters based on the standard Fakra housing; the basic design parameters include at least the size parameters of each terminal cavity, the length parameters of the male connector, and the depth parameters of the female connector cavity; In actual design, the dimensional parameters of the terminal cavity include the inner diameter of the terminal cavity and the axial length of the inner cavity under different inner diameters. Meanwhile, in the preferred embodiment, the male connector refers to the part of the male connector that can be embedded in the female connector cavity; similarly, the female connector cavity refers to the chamber in which the female connector can accommodate the male connector.

[0057] It is understandable that when actually obtaining the size parameters of the terminal cavity, it is preferable to obtain them by measuring the original electrical terminal size of the Fakra connector, that is, measuring the length of the electrical terminal embedded in the terminal cavity and the outer diameter of each part of the electrical terminal, so as to obtain the cross-sectional area of ​​each part of the electrical terminal embedded in the housing.

[0058] Based on the cross-sectional area of ​​the electrical terminal embedded in the housing, determine the maximum cross-sectional area of ​​the portion of the optical terminal that can be embedded in the housing, and use this as the basis for the size design of the portion of the optical terminal embedded in the terminal cavity.

[0059] (4) Obtain the assembly parameters of the two optical terminals based on the two electrical terminals of the Fakra connector; the assembly parameters include the outer diameter of the annular limiting groove on the two electrical terminals, the axial distance between the annular limiting groove and the terminal insertion end, and the axial distance between the two annular limiting grooves after the two electrical terminals are inserted and matched. It is easy to understand that, to ensure that the designed optical terminal can be directly locked with the existing terminal locking mechanism, the outer diameter of the annular limiting groove on the optical terminal's outer shell is no greater than the outer diameter of the annular limiting groove on the electrical terminal, and preferably the two are the same. At the same time, for the two optical terminals after docking, the distance between the two annular limiting grooves on the outer shells of the two terminals is equal to the distance between the two annular limiting grooves on the outer periphery of the two electrical terminals after docking.

[0060] Furthermore, the dimensions of the terminal locking element of the standard Fakra housing are known, which can be used to determine the setting dimensions of the two annular limiting slots. The setting position of the annular limiting slots in the two optical terminals (i.e., the distance of the annular limiting slots from the mating ends of the corresponding optical terminals) can be determined based on the electrical terminal specifications of the Fakra connector (including the dimensions of the two annular limiting slots from the ends of the two electrical terminals).

[0061] (5) Determine the basic dimensions of the two optical terminals according to the basic design parameters, and determine the locking dimensions of the two optical terminals according to the assembly parameters; the basic dimensions include the maximum outer diameter of the embedded part of the two optical terminals and the inner and outer diameter of the two end caps; the locking dimensions include the outer diameter of the two annular limiting grooves, the distance between the two annular limiting grooves and the end caps, and the distance between the two annular limiting grooves after the two optical terminals are inserted. Specifically, since the terminal cavity dimensions in the Fakra housing (male / female housing) are already determined, the maximum outer diameter of the two optical terminal embedding portions can be determined. Simultaneously, because there is a nesting relationship between the first end cap 201 and the second end cap 401 (i.e., the first end cap 201 can be embedded in the second end cap 401 when the male connector 100 and the female connector 200 are inserted), and the two end caps have a minimum wall thickness for design and manufacturing, the maximum inner diameter of the second end cap 401 and the maximum outer diameter of the first end cap 201 that satisfies the mating requirement can be obtained. Subsequently, the maximum outer diameter of the first end cap 201 that satisfies the mating requirement is compared with the maximum allowable embedding outer diameter of the first terminal cavity 103, and the minimum value is selected as the maximum designed outer diameter of the first end cap 201.

[0062] At the same time, based on the maximum outer diameter allowed to be embedded in the terminal cavities of the two housings, the maximum outer diameter of the two terminal housings of the two optical terminals (i.e. the maximum outer diameter of the embedded portion of the two optical terminals) is determined.

[0063] (6) Based on the end cap size of the first optical terminal 2, design the selection of the insert (i.e., the first insert 202) and insert sleeve 207 of the first optical terminal 2, and determine the selection of the insert (i.e., the second insert 402) in the second optical terminal 4 accordingly; thereafter, determine the size of the mounting holes in the two terminal housings, and select the springs in the two terminal housings and the two end caps. Specifically, when selecting a ferrule, it is preferable to select from existing ferrule sizes, such as ferrules with an outer diameter of 1.25mm and 2.5mm.

[0064] In actual design, the minimum wall thickness of the two end caps must be considered to avoid the end caps being difficult to process or having insufficient strength due to insufficient wall thickness; specifically, the minimum wall thickness of the two end caps is preferably not less than 0.1mm. Based on this, the dimensions of the ferrule sleeve 207 and the inner diameter of the end cap are determined in combination with the dimensions of the ferrule (including the length and outer diameter of the ferrule tail).

[0065] It should be noted that the dimensions of the mounting holes in the two terminal housings can be determined based on the finalized ferrule dimensions (mainly the length of the ferrule tail), and then the dimensions of the springs (including the spring's length, outer diameter, and inner diameter / thickness) can be determined. This completes the dimensional design of the core components in the two optical terminals.

[0066] Furthermore, since the spring is compressed to a certain length to ensure reliable conduction when the two optical terminals are plugged in, in actual design, for the two optical terminals, the sum of the distances from the end faces of the ferrules, which are limited by the two end caps mounted on the terminal housing, to their respective annular limiting grooves should be greater than the distance between the two annular limiting grooves after the two electrical terminals are plugged in. This provides space for spring compression, which can be achieved by adjusting the depth of the mounting holes in the terminal housing, and will not be elaborated here.

[0067] Preferably, as a specific design preference, in the unconnected state, the sum of the distances between the two end faces of the ferrules and their respective annular limiting grooves is 0.5mm to 3mm larger than the distance between the two annular limiting grooves after the two electrical terminals are connected.

[0068] (7) Design other parts of the two optical terminals until the design of the first optical terminal 2 and the second optical terminal 4 is completed, and then the design of the modular vehicle-mounted fiber optic connector based on the standard Fakra shell is completed.

[0069] Specifically, the design of the other parts mentioned above preferably includes the design of corresponding components located outside the male and female connector housings, such as the tail sleeve size design and the tail end component (such as the optical cable end connection component) of the terminal housing, etc., which will not be elaborated here.

[0070] Based on the above design steps, fiber optic connectors can be adapted for different specifications of standard Fakra shells, and optical terminals of different sizes can be designed and manufactured. This ensures that standard Fakra shells of different specifications can be used in fiber optic connectors. This not only facilitates the rapid adaptation of fiber optic connectors to existing equipment using Fakra connectors, enabling the upgrade and iteration of conventional RF connectors to fiber optic connectors, but also simplifies the manufacturing process of fiber optic connectors in fields such as automotive, improves the conversion efficiency of existing Fakra connector production lines, and reduces the manufacturing cost of automotive fiber optic connectors.

[0071] The modular automotive fiber optic connector based on the standard Fakra housing in this invention is designed based on the standard size housing of the Fakra connector. By utilizing the compatibility design between the modular optical terminals and the standard Fakra housing, a fiber optic connector with the external dimensions of a Fakra connector can be obtained. This allows the fiber optic connector to possess the waterproof, shockproof, and anti-interference characteristics of the Fakra connector, while also significantly improving the connector's signal transmission capability. This fully meets the usage requirements in automotive application scenarios and has excellent application prospects.

[0072] Those skilled in the art will readily understand that the above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A modular optical fiber connector based on standard Fakra housing, comprising a male head and a female head; the male head comprises a first housing and a first optical terminal; the female head comprises a second housing and a second optical terminal; characterized in that, the first housing and the second housing are respectively a male head housing and a female head housing of a standard Fakra connector; both housings have an equal number of terminal cavities, and both housings are provided with terminal locking members; the first optical terminal corresponds to the terminal cavities in the first housing one by one, and the second optical terminal corresponds to the terminal cavities in the second housing one by one; both kinds of optical terminals have a ferrule capable of connecting an optical fiber, and can be locked by the terminal locking members of the standard Fakra connector after being embedded in the terminal cavities of the corresponding housing; and the first optical terminal can be connected to the second optical terminal after the first housing is inserted into the second housing.

2. Modular fiber optic connector based on standard Fakra housing according to claim 1, characterized in that, Both kinds of optical terminals comprise a terminal cap, a ferrule, a spring, and a terminal shell; wherein one end of the terminal shell is provided with an assembly hole, and the other end is used for connecting an optical cable and accessing an optical fiber; the ferrule is used for connecting the optical fiber, and the tail end of the ferrule is assembled with the spring and embedded in the assembly hole; the terminal cap is detachably connected to one end of the terminal shell provided with the assembly hole, and can axially position the ferrule after being connected to the terminal shell; and the first optical terminal further comprises a ferrule sleeve; the ferrule sleeve is sleeved on the front end of the ferrule in the first optical terminal, and can be axially positioned by the terminal cap; the end face of the ferrule in the first optical terminal is located in the ferrule sleeve, and the ferrule in the second optical terminal can extend into the ferrule sleeve and be connected to the ferrule in the first optical terminal after the male head is inserted into the female head.

3. Modular fiber optic connector based on standard Fakra housing according to claim 2, characterized in that, At least one optical terminal further comprises a glue tube; one end of the glue tube is connected to the tail end of the ferrule, and the other end of the glue tube extends into the terminal shell, and the spring is sleeved on the outer periphery of the glue tube; and / or At least one optical terminal comprises a crimping ring; one end of the crimping ring can be connected to the end of the terminal shell away from the terminal cap, and the other end of the crimping ring is used for crimping and fixing the end of the optical cable.

4. A modular automotive fiber optic connector based on standard Fakra housing according to claim 2, characterized in that, A first stepped hole is formed in the terminal cap of the first optical terminal; the first stepped hole comprises a first hole section and a second hole section with a smaller inner diameter than the first hole section; the inner diameter of the first hole section is not less than the outer diameter of the ferrule sleeve, and the inner diameter of the second hole section is smaller than the outer diameter of the ferrule sleeve and larger than the outer diameter of the ferrule in the second optical terminal; a second stepped hole is formed in the middle of the terminal cap of the second optical terminal, and the second stepped hole comprises a third hole section and a fourth hole section with a larger inner diameter than the third hole section; the ferrule of the second optical terminal passes through the third hole section with the conductive end having a ferrule end face and extends into the fourth hole section, and the outer diameter of the conductive end is smaller than the inner diameter of the second hole section; and the inner diameter of the fourth hole section is larger than the outer diameter of the terminal cap of the first optical terminal; then the terminal cap of the first optical terminal can be embedded in the terminal cap of the second optical terminal after the two housings are inserted, and the ferrule of the second optical terminal extends into the ferrule sleeve and is in contact with the ferrule of the first optical terminal.

5. Modular fiber optic connector based on standard Fakra housing according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The terminal locking member is a limiting lock, and embedding grooves are respectively formed on the two housings; Correspondingly, the middle outer periphery of the two optical terminals is formed with annular limiting grooves, which are opposite to the embedding grooves when the optical terminals are embedded in place in the terminal cavities, and then the limiting lock can pass through the embedding grooves and be clamped in the annular limiting grooves.

6. A modular automotive fiber optic connector based on standard Fakra housing according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, At least one optical terminal further comprises a tail sleeve; the tail sleeve can be sleeved on the outer periphery of the end of the optical cable and connected with the tail end of the corresponding optical terminal.

7. A modular automotive fiber optic connector based on standard Fakra housing according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The tail end of at least one optical terminal is provided with a sealing ring; the sealing ring can be sealingly fitted with the tail end of the terminal cavity after the optical terminal is embedded in place in the terminal cavity.

8. A modular automotive fiber optic connector based on standard Fakra housing according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, Each of the first housing and the second housing has one, two or four terminal cavities.

9. A modular automotive fiber optic connector based on standard Fakra housing according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The end of the first housing for plugging the second housing is provided with a first locking member, and a second locking member is provided on the second housing, and the first locking member can be locked with the second locking member after the male head and the female head are plugged and conducted.

10. A design method of a modular automotive fiber optic connector based on a standard Fakra housing, for designing the modular automotive fiber optic connector based on a standard Fakra housing according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, The method comprises the following steps: (1) determining the specification of the standard Fakra shell adopted by the optical fiber connector; (2) determining the structural composition of the two optical terminals in the optical fiber connector; wherein the two optical terminals each comprise a ferrule, a spring, a terminal shell and an end cap, and the first optical terminal corresponding to the male head additionally comprises a ferrule sleeve which can be sleeved on the outer periphery of the ferrule; (3) obtaining basic design parameters according to the standard Fakra shell; the basic design parameters at least include size parameters of each terminal cavity, length parameters of the male head plugging part, depth parameters of the female head plugging cavity; (4) obtaining assembly parameters of the two optical terminals according to the two electrical terminals of the Fakra connector; the assembly parameters include the outer diameter size of the annular limiting groove on the two electrical terminals, the axial distance between the annular limiting groove and the terminal plugging end, and the axial distance between the two annular limiting grooves after the two electrical terminals are plugged and matched; (5) determining the basic size of the two optical terminals according to the basic design parameters, and determining the locking size of the two optical terminals according to the assembly parameters; the basic size includes the maximum outer diameter of the embedded part of the two optical terminals, the inner and outer diameter size of the two end caps; the locking size includes the outer diameter size of the two annular limiting grooves, the distance size of the two annular limiting grooves relative to the end cap end, and the distance size between the two annular limiting grooves after the two optical terminals are plugged; (6) selecting the ferrule and the ferrule sleeve of the two optical terminals according to the basic size; and determining the size parameters of the two terminal shells and the selection of the two springs and the two end caps according to the locking size; (7) selecting and designing other parts of the two optical terminals to obtain the first optical terminal and the second optical terminal conforming to the standard Fakra shell, thereby completing the design of the modular vehicle-mounted optical fiber connector based on the standard Fakra shell.

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