Automotive optical fiber connector

Abstract

The invention mainly relates to the field of optical fiber connectors, in particular to a vehicle optical fiber connector which is provided with a main shell part and a locking piece part. The locking piece part is configured to comprise a guide rail frame, an elastic sheet and a sliding block; the two guide rail frames are located outside the main shell part, the elastic piece is arranged on the main shell part or the guide rail frames, the elastic piece is provided with a pressing part and a clamping block part, and the clamping block part is used for being matched with an external adapter bayonet. The pressing part is used for enabling the clamping block part to be separated from an external adapter bayonet when being pressed; at least one part of the pressing part is arranged between the two guide rail frames; the sliding block is used for being matched with the guide rail frame, is movably arranged at the bottom of the pressing part, can slide to the bottom of the pressing part to enable the pressing part to be locked, and can move to be separated from the pressing part.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates primarily to the field of fiber optic connectors, and more particularly to a fiber optic connector for automotive applications. Background Technology

[0002] As electric vehicles become increasingly intelligent, they require more and more information to be collected. Using traditional wire transmission methods would make wiring difficult and would be detrimental to vehicle assembly. Summary of the Invention

[0003] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this invention provides an automotive fiber optic connector, which is achieved through the following technical solution:

[0004] A vehicle-mounted fiber optic connector includes a housing comprising a main housing portion and a locking portion; the main housing portion is configured to be generally rectangular and extend through the front and rear, and the locking portion is disposed within the main housing portion; the main housing portion is used to accommodate a fiber optic communication component, the front end of which is located at the front end of the main housing portion; The locking component is configured to include a guide rail, an elastic plate, and a slider; two guide rails are provided and located outside the main housing; the elastic plate is provided on the main housing or the guide rail, and the elastic plate has a pressing part and a locking part; the locking part is used to cooperate with an external adapter slot, and the pressing part is used to disengage the locking part from the external adapter slot when pressed; at least a portion of the pressing part is disposed between the two guide rails; the slider is used to cooperate with the guide rail, is movably disposed at the bottom of the pressing part, and can slide to the bottom of the pressing part to lock the pressing part, and can also move to disengage from the pressing part.

[0005] Preferably, the optical fiber communication component includes an optical fiber array, a spring, and a base.

[0006] Preferably, conductive pins or conductive pin sockets are also provided on both sides of the optical fiber communication component.

[0007] Preferably, the outer surface of the main housing portion further includes a waterproof collar groove; A waterproof collar is provided within the waterproof collar groove.

[0008] Preferably, the guide rail frame is configured to have a sliding groove arranged in the front-to-back direction; The slider has sliding protrusions on both sides that cooperate with the slide groove.

[0009] Preferably, the guide rail frame is provided with a guide rail frame bayonet; The slider is provided with a position fixing block that cooperates with the guide rail frame bayonet; The position fixing block and the guide rail bracket are configured such that when the slider slides to the bottom of the pressing part and the pressing part is locked, the position fixing block is embedded in the guide rail bracket, thereby maintaining the position of the slider.

[0010] Preferably, the fulcrum of the elastic sheet is disposed on the guide rail frame, the locking block is located at the front of the fulcrum, and the pressing part is located at the rear of the fulcrum.

[0011] Preferably, the fulcrum of the elastic sheet is located near the front end of the main housing, and the locking block and the pressing part are both located behind the fulcrum.

[0012] Preferably, the main housing, guide rail frame, and elastic sheet are integrally formed.

[0013] Preferably, when the slider slides to the bottom of the pressing part to lock the pressing part, the pressing part does not protrude from the outline of the automotive fiber optic connector.

[0014] Preferably, the conductive PIN pin or conductive PIN socket and the guide pin of the fiber array are located on the same straight line.

[0015] Preferably, the conductive PIN pin or conductive PIN socket and the guide pin of the fiber array are configured such that when inserted into the adapter, the conductive PIN pin or conductive PIN socket first contacts the conductive PIN socket or conductive PIN pin of the adapter.

[0016] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: The automotive fiber optic connector provided by this invention uses a slider to hold the elastic sheet in place, ensuring that the elastic sheet will not move even under bumps or pressure, thereby ensuring the stability of the fixed connection. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the exploded state structure of the automotive fiber optic connector of Example 1; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the main housing and locking parts of Embodiment 1; Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional structural diagram of the slider in Example 1 when it is located outside the pressing part; Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional structural diagram of the slider in Example 1 when it is located at the bottom of the pressing part; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of Embodiment 2 when the slider is located outside the pressing part; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure when the slider of Embodiment 2 is located at the bottom of the pressing part; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the exploded structure of the first type of adapter; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly structure of the first type of adapter; Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the exploded structure of the second type of adapter. Detailed Implementation The preferred mechanism and method of motion implementation of the present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0018] A type of automotive fiber optic connector, such as Figures 1 to 6 As shown, the device includes a housing 1, which can be functionally divided into a main housing section 2 and a locking section 3. The main housing section 2 is rectangular in shape and extends through the front and back. The locking section 3 is located on the main housing section 2. The main housing section 2 houses an optical fiber communication component, the front end of which is located at the front end of the main housing section 1. The optical fiber communication component can be single-core, dual-core, or an optical fiber array, etc. In this patent, an MPO-style optical fiber array optical fiber communication component is used as an example. The optical fiber communication component can include an optical fiber array 4, a spring 5, and a base 6. The spring 5 abuts between the optical fiber array 4 and the base 6 to provide elasticity to the optical fiber array 4. The optical fiber array 4, the spring 5, and the base 6 are disposed in the main housing section 2 via a tailstock 7. The tailstock 7 and the main housing section 2 are fixed by a bayonet and a locking block, and a waterproof ring 8 can be provided between them for sealing. As an automotive optical fiber connector, the main housing section 2 is also provided with conductive PIN pins or conductive PIN females 9 for transmitting electrical energy. The conductive PIN pins or conductive PIN females 9 protrude from the front end of the main housing section 2. The conductive PIN pin or conductive PIN socket 9 and the guide pin of the fiber optic array are located on the same straight line. The conductive PIN pin or conductive PIN socket 9 and the guide pin of the fiber optic array are configured such that when inserted into the adapter, the conductive PIN pin or conductive PIN socket 9 first contacts the conductive PIN socket or conductive PIN pin of the adapter. In this way, the resistance formed by the conductive PIN pin and conductive PIN socket when they are inserted into each other slows down the insertion speed, so that the guide pin of the fiber optic array is aligned with the guide pin seat of the adapter.

[0019] The locking part 3 is configured to include a guide rail frame 10, an elastic piece 11, and a slider 12. Two guide rail frames 10 are provided and located outside the main housing part. The guide rail frame 10 is generally elongated and is arranged axially on both sides of one surface of the main housing part 2. The guide rail frame 10 is configured to have a sliding groove 13 arranged in the front-back direction.

[0020] Example 1, as Figures 1 to 4As shown, the elastic piece 11 is disposed on the guide rail 10 and located above the slide groove 13. The elastic piece 11 has a pressing part 17 and a locking part 18. The fulcrum 19 of the elastic piece 11 is disposed on the guide rail 10, the locking part 18 is located in front of the fulcrum 19, and the pressing part 17 is located in rear of the fulcrum 18. By pressing the pressing part 17, the locking part 18 can be tilted upward, thereby detaching the connector from the adapter.

[0021] At least a portion of the pressing part 17 is disposed between the two guide rails 10. The slider 12 is used to cooperate with the guide rails 10, is movably disposed at the bottom of the pressing part 17, and can slide to the bottom of the pressing part 17 to lock the pressing part 17, i.e., it cannot be pressed down, and can move to disengage from the pressing part 17, thereby unlocking it.

[0022] The slider 12 has sliding protrusions 14 on both sides that mate with the slide grooves 13. To facilitate assembly and reduce the overall length, the slider 12 has forward-extending extension arms on both sides, with the sliding protrusions 14 positioned outwards from the extension arms, thus reducing the length of the slider 12. The guide rail frame 10 has guide rail frame slots 15, and the slider 12 has position fixing blocks 16 on both sides that mate with the guide rail frame slots 15. The position fixing blocks 16 and guide rail frame slots 15 are configured such that when the slider 12 slides to the bottom of the pressing part 17 and locks the pressing part 17, the position fixing blocks 16 engage with the guide rail frame slots 16, thereby maintaining the slider 12 in the locked position and preventing instability of the slider 12's position due to vibration. The main housing 2, the guide rail 10 and the elastic sheet 11 are integrally formed. When the slider 12 slides to the bottom of the pressing part 17 and the pressing part 17 is locked, the pressing part 17 does not protrude from the outline of the automotive fiber optic connector. This can avoid the pressing part 17 being squeezed due to collision and avoid accidental contact.

[0023] Example 2, as Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the fulcrum of the elastic sheet 20 is located near the front end of the main housing 2, and the locking block 22 and the pressing part 23 are both located behind the fulcrum 21. This arrangement also allows the pressing part 23 to be positioned between the guide rails without protruding from them. The slider 24 also has a sliding protrusion and a position fixing block that engage with the corresponding groove 25 and the guide rail locking slot 26. In this design, the main housing 2, the guide rails, and the elastic sheet 20 are all integrally formed.

[0024] In both embodiments 1 and 2 described above, a waterproof collar groove 27 can be provided on the main housing part 2, and a waterproof collar 28 can be disposed within the waterproof collar groove. When the front part of the main housing part 2 is inserted into the adapter, the waterproof collar 28 fills the gap between the front part of the main housing part 2 and the inner wall of the adapter, thereby achieving a waterproof effect.

[0025] The adapters suitable for the above-mentioned automotive fiber optic connectors can be, for example, Figure 7 and Figure 8 As shown, the adapter includes an adapter housing 29 with two ends. One end corresponds to and cooperates with the aforementioned automotive fiber optic connector for fixation. The other end of the adapter is used for communication between the signal receiving end, MT ferrule, and other fiber optic communication components of the automotive fiber optic connector. The bottom of the housing has an insertion slot to allow the insertion and fixation of conductive PIN females or conductive PIN pins used for electrical connection. A cover 30 can be provided at the other end of the adapter. The tail end of the MT ferrule 31 has a protruding edge 32, and the other end of the adapter has a receiving portion 33. The receiving portion 33 cooperates with the protruding edge 32 to fix the inserted front and rear MT ferrules 31. After the cover 30 is closed, the entire MT ferrule 31 is completely fixed to the other end. Or as... Figure 9 As shown, a bayonet 34 can also be provided at the other end of the adapter, and an elastic bracket 36 can be provided at the rear of the MT core 35. The MT core 35 can be fixed to the other end by the cooperation of the locking block on the elastic bracket 36 with the bayonet.

Claims

1. A fiber optic connector for automotive applications, characterized in that: The housing has a main housing portion and a locking portion; the main housing portion is configured to be rectangular in shape and open from front to back, and the locking portion is disposed in the main housing portion; the main housing portion is used to accommodate an optical fiber communication component, and the front end of the optical fiber communication component is located at the front end of the main housing portion; The locking component is configured to include a guide rail, an elastic plate, and a slider; two guide rails are provided and located outside the main housing; the elastic plate is provided on the main housing or the guide rail, and the elastic plate has a pressing part and a locking part; the locking part is used to cooperate with an external adapter slot, and the pressing part is used to disengage the locking part from the external adapter slot when pressed; at least a portion of the pressing part is disposed between the two guide rails; the slider is used to cooperate with the guide rail, is movably disposed at the bottom of the pressing part, and can slide to the bottom of the pressing part to lock the pressing part, and can also move to disengage from the pressing part.

2. The automotive fiber optic connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The optical fiber communication component includes an optical fiber array, a spring, and a base.

3. The automotive fiber optic connector according to claim 2, characterized in that: The optical fiber communication component is also provided with conductive PIN pins or conductive PIN sockets on both sides.

4. The automotive fiber optic connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outer surface of the main housing also includes a waterproof collar groove; A waterproof collar is provided within the waterproof collar groove.

5. The automotive fiber optic connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The guide rail frame is configured to have a sliding groove arranged in the front-to-back direction; The slider has sliding protrusions on both sides that cooperate with the slide groove.

6. The automotive fiber optic connector according to claim 5, characterized in that: The guide rail frame is equipped with a guide rail frame bayonet; The slider is provided with a position fixing block that cooperates with the guide rail frame bayonet; The position fixing block and the guide rail bracket are configured such that when the slider slides to the bottom of the pressing part and the pressing part is locked, the position fixing block is embedded in the guide rail bracket, thereby maintaining the position of the slider.

7. The automotive fiber optic connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The fulcrum of the elastic sheet is located on the guide rail frame, the locking block is located at the front of the fulcrum, and the pressing part is located at the rear of the fulcrum.

8. The automotive fiber optic connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The fulcrum of the elastic sheet is located near the front end of the main housing, and the locking block and the pressing part are both located behind the fulcrum.

9. The automotive fiber optic connector according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: The main housing, guide rail frame, and elastic sheet are integrally formed.

10. The automotive fiber optic connector according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: When the slider slides to the bottom of the pressing part and locks the pressing part, the pressing part does not protrude from the outline of the automotive fiber optic connector.

11. The automotive fiber optic connector according to claim 3, characterized in that: The conductive PIN pin or conductive PIN socket and the guide pin of the fiber array are located on the same straight line.

12. The automotive fiber optic connector according to claim 3, characterized in that: The conductive PIN pin or conductive PIN socket and the guide pin of the fiber array are configured such that when inserted into the adapter, the conductive PIN pin or conductive PIN socket first contacts the conductive PIN socket or conductive PIN pin of the adapter.

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