Optical fiber fixer, tail fiber, optical communication assembly and optical equipment

Abstract

The embodiment of the utility model provides an optical fiber fixer, a tail fiber, an optical communication assembly and optical equipment, which are used for improving the fiber insertion success rate and the product yield of the optical fiber fixer. The optical fiber fixer provided by the embodiment of the utility model is used for fixing the optical fiber. The optical fiber fixer comprises a main body structure, and the main body structure is made of a single target material. The center of the main body structure is provided with an optical fiber hole, a guide hole and a bare fiber hole which are sequentially communicated. The first aperture of the optical fiber hole is larger than the diameter of the optical fiber. The bare fiber hole is a cylindrical hole, and the second aperture of the bare fiber hole is larger than the diameter of the bare fiber in the optical fiber. The inner wall of the first end of the guide hole is communicated with the inner wall of the optical fiber hole, the inner wall of the second end of the guide hole is communicated with the inner wall of the bare fiber hole, and the aperture of the guide hole is gradually reduced from the first end to the second end.

Description

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the China Patent Office on May 28, 2024, with application number 202421199250.8 and invention name “A fiber optic holder and related equipment”, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0002] The embodiments of the present application relate to the field of optical communications, and in particular to an optical fiber holder, a pigtail, an optical communication component, and an optical device. Background Art

[0003] In the field of optical communications, fiber pigtails are used to connect optical devices to transmission fibers. These typically include a standard end, a non-standard end, and an optical fiber connecting the two ends. The standard end is used to connect to the transmission fiber, while the non-standard end is used to connect to the optical device.

[0004] A non-standard end typically consists of a metal shank, a ceramic ferrule, and a rubber boot. Both the ceramic ferrule and the metal shank contain micropores to accommodate the optical fiber in the pigtail. The ceramic ferrule is press-fitted into the metal shank, and the optical fiber is inserted into the micropores in the ferrule and metal shank (a process known as fiber insertion), thus establishing a connection between the non-standard end of the pigtail and the optical fiber.

[0005] During the press-fitting process, the micro-hole positions of the ceramic ferrule and the metal tail handle may shift, resulting in misalignment of the micro-holes. This affects the success rate of fiber insertion and leads to low yield of products with non-standard ends. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The embodiments of the present application provide an optical fiber holder, a pigtail, an optical communication component, and an optical device for improving the fiber insertion success rate and product yield of the optical fiber holder.

[0007] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides an optical fiber holder. The optical fiber holder is used to secure an optical fiber and includes a main structure. The main structure is composed of a single target material, and a fiber hole, a guide hole, and a bare fiber hole are provided in the center of the main structure, which are connected in sequence. The fiber hole is a cylindrical hole, and the first aperture of the fiber hole is larger than the diameter of the optical fiber. The bare fiber hole is a cylindrical hole, and the second aperture of the bare fiber hole is larger than the diameter of the bare fiber in the optical fiber. The inner wall of the first end of the guide hole is connected to the inner wall of the optical fiber hole, and the inner wall of the second end of the guide hole is connected to the inner wall of the bare fiber hole. The aperture of the guide hole gradually decreases from the first end to the second end.

[0008] In the embodiment of the present application, since the material of the main structure is single, the main structure can be processed by one-piece molding methods such as injection molding and die casting. The quality stability of the one-piece molding is high, so that the positional relationship between the holes in the optical fiber holder (optical fiber hole, guide hole and bare fiber hole) is relatively fixed. The probability of misalignment (low coaxiality) between the holes is extremely low, so that the connection between the holes is relatively smooth. Compared with the non-standard end structure formed by press-fit molding, in the optical fiber holder provided by the embodiment of the present application, the connection between the optical fiber hole and the guide hole (near the first end) is smoothly connected, and there will be no cross-section (for example Figure 2 The 323 surface in the fiber optic cable blocks the bare fiber from entering the guide hole. This ensures that the guide hole plays a guiding role during the fiber insertion process, improving the success rate of fiber insertion and product yield.

[0009] In an optional implementation, an axial cross-section of the guide hole from the first end to the second end is a straight line.

[0010] In the embodiment of the present application, if the axial cross-section of the guide hole is a straight line, the guide hole is a tapered hole, and the rate of change of the internal aperture of the guide hole is consistent. During the process of the bare fiber passing through the guide hole and entering the bare fiber hole, the bare fiber may press against the inner wall of the guide hole and advance in the fiber insertion direction (the direction of fiber insertion, from the fiber hole to the bare fiber hole). Because the rate of change of the internal aperture of the guide hole is consistent, the pressure exerted on the bare fiber at various locations on the inner wall of the guide hole is relatively stable, preventing the bare fiber from breaking within the guide hole and improving the fiber insertion guidance efficiency within the guide hole.

[0011] Furthermore, the processing technology for tapered holes is relatively simple and mature, which can reduce the difficulty of manufacturing the optical fiber holder. For example, injection molding can simplify the modeling of the tapered hole, increase the success rate of demolding, and reduce the difficulty of manufacturing.

[0012] In an optional implementation, the axial cross-section of the guide hole from the first end to the second end is a smooth curve.

[0013] In an embodiment of the present application, if the axial cross-section of the guide hole is a smooth curve, the curvature of the junction between the guide hole and the bare fiber hole can be reduced. In the process of the bare fiber entering the bare fiber hole through the second end of the guide hole, the bare fiber may press against the inner wall of the junction (second end) between the guide hole and the bare fiber hole and advance along the fiber insertion direction. If the curvature of the junction (second end) is too large, it may cause the stress of the bare fiber to change too much, thereby causing the bare fiber to break. Therefore, by reducing the curvature change of the junction (second end) through a smooth curve, the probability of bare fiber breakage can be reduced, ensuring the fiber insertion guiding efficiency of the junction (second end).

[0014] In an optional implementation, the axial cross-sectional curve of the guide hole includes any one of the following: a parabola, a cubic function curve without extrema, a cycloid, a second-order Bezier curve, a third-order Bezier curve, and a Bertrand curve.

[0015] In an optional implementation, the outer surface of the main structure adjacent to the bare fiber hole is a bare fiber end face, and the angle between the first symmetry axis of the bare fiber hole and the bare fiber end face is β, 78°≤β<90°.

[0016] In this embodiment of the present application, because the angle β between the first axis of symmetry of the bare fiber hole and the bare fiber end face is less than 90°, the normal line on the bare fiber end face does not coincide with the incident direction of the optical signal. After the optical signal strikes the bare fiber end face, it is reflected to the other side of the normal line and does not return to the internal optical path of the optical device. This prevents the optical signal from returning to the internal optical path of the optical device and becoming noise, thereby improving the performance of the chip within the optical device.

[0017] In an optional implementation, the outer surface of the main structure further includes a connection end face and a side end face. The connection end face is used to connect to the optical device, and the side end face is adjacent to both the connection end face and the bare fiber end face.

[0018] The current non-standard end (fiber holder) structure all follows the standard end structure of the pigtail, including a ceramic ferrule and a metal tail handle. Due to the press-fit process of the ceramic ferrule and the metal tail handle, the outer surface of the non-standard end (fiber holder) includes a stepped surface composed of the outer wall of the ceramic ferrule, the end face of the metal tail handle, and the connecting end face of the metal tail handle (such as Figure 2 The optical fiber holder structure provided in the embodiment of the present application can be manufactured through an integrated molding process, without requiring press-fitting of the ceramic ferrule and the metal tail handle. Therefore, the stepped surface can be omitted from the outer surface, thereby simplifying the structure of the optical fiber holder.

[0019] In an optional implementation, the connecting end face on the outer surface of the main structure is used to connect to the optical device, and the connecting end face is perpendicular to the optical path direction of the optical device. The angle between the first symmetry axis of the bare fiber hole and the connecting end face is α, 84°≤α<90°.

[0020] In the embodiment of the present application, the optical signal from the optical device is incident on the bare fiber at an angle of (90°-β). The optical signal from the optical device propagates through the atmosphere before entering the bare fiber, so the transmission medium of the optical signal before and after entering the bare fiber is different. In addition, the optical signal is not incident vertically (the incident angle is 90°-β), so the refraction angle of the optical signal after passing through the atmosphere-bare fiber interface is smaller than the incident angle (90°-β), and the transmission direction of the optical signal in the bare fiber is more biased towards the normal line than the light output direction.

[0021] In the embodiment of the present application, the first symmetry axis of the bare fiber hole is set between the light output direction and the normal line (α'<90°-β), so that the orientation of the bare fiber is fixed through the bare fiber hole, so that the core direction of the bare fiber matches the transmission direction of the optical signal in the bare fiber, thereby ensuring the total reflection of the optical signal on the inner wall of the bare fiber and improving the coupling efficiency of the optical signal in the bare fiber.

[0022] In an optional implementation, the bare fiber hole, the guide hole, and the optical fiber hole are coaxial.

[0023] In the embodiments of the present application, the fiber hole, guide hole, and bare fiber hole are coaxial. This ensures that the core direction of the fiber segment secured by the guide hole and fiber hole matches the transmission direction of the optical signal within that segment, thereby ensuring total reflection of the optical signal within the fiber and improving the coupling efficiency of the optical signal within the fiber.

[0024] In one optional implementation, the guide holes include a first guide hole, a glue injection hole, and a second guide hole arranged sequentially along a target direction. The target direction is the direction from the optical fiber hole to the bare fiber hole. The diameter of the first guide hole decreases along the target direction. The glue injection hole is a cylindrical hole for receiving glue. The diameter of the second guide hole decreases along the target direction.

[0025] In the embodiments of the present application, after glue is injected into the injection hole, adhesion between the bare fiber and the inner wall of the injection hole is achieved. Because the injection hole is cylindrical, the hole diameter is the same at different axial locations, and the thickness of the glue is also the same at different axial locations along the injection hole. Therefore, within the injection hole, the stress between the glue and the bare fiber is evenly distributed along the axial direction, providing relatively stable radial support for the bare fiber, making it less likely to break.

[0026] In an optional implementation, the depth-to-diameter ratio x of the guide hole is ≤1.

[0027] In the embodiment of the present application, the aspect ratio x of the guide hole is set to ≤ 1, so that the axial length of the optical fiber holder can be controlled, thereby reducing the volume of the optical fiber holder and achieving miniaturization of the device.

[0028] In an optional implementation, the aspect ratio of the guide hole is x, 1<x<4.

[0029] In the embodiment of the present application, the depth-to-diameter ratio x of the guide hole satisfies 1<x<4, which can reduce the slope inside the guide hole, thereby reducing the stress of the bare fiber against the guide hole and improving the fiber insertion efficiency.

[0030] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a pigtail. The pigtail includes a standard end, an optical fiber, and a non-standard end. The non-standard end is the optical fiber holder described in the first aspect, and the optical fiber holder is used to secure the optical fiber.

[0031] In an optional implementation, the standard end is the optical fiber holder described in the first aspect.

[0032] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides an optical communication assembly. The optical communication assembly includes a pigtail and an optical device. The pigtail is the pigtail described in the second aspect, and the pigtail is connected to the optical device via a non-standard end.

[0033] In an optional implementation, the optical device is an active optical device, and an optical signal emitted by the active optical device enters the pigtail through the non-standard end of the pigtail.

[0034] In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides an optical device. The optical device includes a pigtail and an optical device. The pigtail is the pigtail described in the second aspect, and the pigtail is connected to the optical device via a non-standard end.

[0035] In an optional implementation, the optical device is a laser, and the optical component is a light-emitting module of the laser. The light-emitting module is used to generate laser light. The pigtail is connected to the light-emitting module to realize the output of the laser light.

[0036] In an optional implementation, the optical device is a monitoring device, the optical component is a lens in the monitoring device, and the pigtail is connected to the lens to output the analog signal collected by the lens in the form of an optical signal.

[0037] Alternatively, the optical device is a module consisting of a lens + detector + electro-optical converter. The detector converts the signal collected by the lens into a digital signal, which is then converted into an optical signal through the electro-optical converter. The pigtail is connected to the electro-optical converter to derive the optical signal.

[0038] In one optional implementation, the optical device is a light detection device, and the optical component connected to the pigtail is a spatial optical path module. The pigtail transmits the optical signal to the spatial optical path, which then performs specific operations on the optical signal to generate a sensing signal. For example, if the optical device is a spectrometer, the pigtail is used to direct light reflected from the surface of the substance being measured into the spatial optical path, which then performs operations such as color separation and diffraction on the light to generate a spectrum.

[0039] The beneficial effects of the second to fourth aspects refer to the first aspect and will not be repeated here. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] Figure 1a A schematic diagram of the structure of the pigtail provided in this application;

[0041] Figure 1b Another schematic diagram of the structure of the pigtail provided in this application;

[0042] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the structure of the non-standard end of the pigtail provided in this application;

[0043] Figure 3 A schematic structural diagram of an optical fiber holder provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0044] Figure 4a A schematic diagram of a cross-sectional structure of a guide hole of an optical fiber holder provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0045] Figure 4b A schematic diagram of another cross-sectional structure of a guide hole of an optical fiber holder provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0046] Figure 4c A schematic diagram of another cross-sectional structure of a guide hole of an optical fiber holder provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0047] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the connection between the optical fiber holder and the optical device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0048] Figure 6 Another structural schematic diagram of the optical fiber holder provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0049] Figure 7 Another structural schematic diagram of the optical fiber holder provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0050] Figure 8a A schematic structural diagram of an optical fiber holder including a glue injection hole provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0051] Figure 8b A schematic structural diagram of an optical fiber holder including five-level guide grooves provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0052] Figure 9 A schematic diagram of the structure of the pigtail provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0053] Figure 10 A schematic diagram of the structure of the optical communication component provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0054] The embodiments of the present application are described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that, with the development of technology and the emergence of new scenarios, the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application are also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0055] The terms "first", "second", etc. in the specification and claims of this application and the above-mentioned drawings are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequential order. It should be understood that the terms used in this way are interchangeable when appropriate, and this is merely a way of distinguishing objects of the same attributes when describing the embodiments of the present application. In addition, the terms "including" and "having" and any of their variations are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions, so that the process, method, system, product or device comprising a series of units need not be limited to those units, but may include other units that are not clearly listed or inherent to these processes, methods, products or devices. In addition, "at least one" refers to one or more, and "a plurality" refers to two or more. "and / or" describes the association relationship of associated objects and indicates that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: the situation where A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the associated objects before and after are in an "or" relationship. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refers to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c can mean: a, b, c, ab, ac, bc, or abc, where a, b, and c can be single or plural.

[0056] Pigtails are one of the most commonly used passive components in the field of optical communications. They are used to connect optical components to transmission fibers / optical components. Figure 1a As shown, the pigtail includes an optical fiber and a connector. One end of the optical fiber is connected to the connector, and the other end is a fiber break.

[0057] The connector is a standard connector that mates with the standard interface on the transmission fiber / optical device B. The fiber end of the pigtail is used for fusion splicing with the internal fiber of optical device A. This allows the connection between optical device A and the transmission fiber / optical device B to be established through the pigtail.

[0058] Since the operation of optical fiber fusion splicing is relatively complicated, a connector is also set at the original optical fiber break to achieve the connection between the pigtail and the optical device A, resulting in Figure 1b Pigtail configuration shown includes non-standard ends.

[0059] like Figure 1b As shown, the pigtail includes a standard end, an optical fiber, and a non-standard end. The standard end has a standard connector for docking with a corresponding standard interface. The non-standard end has a non-standard interface, which is aligned with the internal optical path of optical device A and then soldered to optical device A, thereby achieving a connection with optical device A.

[0060] Fiber pigtails are widely used in optical transport networks and optical access networks. For example, in optical transport networks, fiber pigtails can be used to connect optical cables to optical communication devices (such as optical line terminals (OLTs)). In fiber optic communication rooms, fiber pigtails are used to connect a specific optical fiber port to the corresponding communication equipment.

[0061] In the fiber to the room (FTTR) architecture, pigtails can be used to connect the main FTTR unit (MFU) and the sub FTTR unit (SFU) of the FTTR, for example, to achieve connections between optical communication devices such as optical modems, switches, and routers.

[0062] Optionally, fiber pigtails in the FTTR architecture can also be used to connect the MFU / SFU with user terminals. For example, in homes and businesses, fiber pigtails can connect optical communication devices such as optical network terminals (ONTs), MFUs, and SFUs to user terminals such as televisions and computers, establishing communication between the user terminals and the network. In the medical field, fiber pigtails can connect optical communication equipment with medical devices such as endoscopes and laser knives, enabling precise control of medical equipment. In factories, mines, and other scenarios, fiber pigtails can connect optical communication equipment with sensor / control devices, ensuring reliable transmission of sensor / control signals.

[0063] It is worth noting that the above-mentioned optical communication equipment may also be an access controller (AC), an access point (AP), etc., which is not limited in this application.

[0064] In addition to communications, fiber pigtails can also be used in fields such as optical sensing and detection to achieve connections between corresponding devices and devices / optical fibers.

[0065] Figure 2 for Figure 1b The cross-sectional structure diagram of the non-standard end of the pigtail shown in FIG. Figure 2 As shown, the non-standard end includes a metal tail handle 31 and a ceramic ferrule 32 , as well as a rubber tail sleeve outside the metal tail handle 31 and the ceramic ferrule 32 .

[0066] The ceramic ferrule 32 is press-fitted into the metal handle 31. Hole 311 of the handle 31 is used to secure the optical fiber, while hole 313 is used to secure the ceramic ferrule 32. Hole 312 serves as a retaining ring and a key welding point for soldering the pigtail to the optical component. Hole 320 of the ceramic ferrule 32 is a guide groove for facilitating optical fiber insertion and glue injection. The bare fiber securing hole 321 is a high-precision circular hole approximately the diameter of the bare fiber. Hole 322 is the end face of the ceramic ferrule closest to the optical component.

[0067] After the ceramic ferrule 32 and metal handle 31 are press-fitted, the optical fiber with the standard end connected is cleaved, leaving a bare fiber segment at the edge. This fiber is inserted into hole 311 and pushed inward along the hole. A guide groove 320 coaxial with hole 311 guides the bare fiber at the edge to the bare fiber fixing block 321. This operation is called fiber insertion.

[0068] During the process of press-fitting the ceramic ferrule onto the metal tail handle, due to the assembly tolerance of the ceramic ferrule and the metal tail handle, the relative positions of the guide groove 320 of the ceramic ferrule 32 and the hole 311 of the metal tail handle 31 are offset. This results in the uncontrollable coaxiality of the guide groove 320 and the hole 311. If the coaxiality is low, the bare fiber may hit the surface outside the guide groove 320 (for example, Figure 2 The guide groove 320 cannot play the role of guiding the fiber insertion, thereby affecting the success rate of fiber insertion and resulting in low yield of non-standard end products.

[0069] The embodiments of the present application consider structurally modifying the non-standard end to improve product yield. Figure 2 The non-standard connector structure shown is derived from the press-fit structure of the standard connector. Because standard connectors are frequently plugged in and out, they feature a cored-out ceramic ferrule, which is both rigid and durable. However, non-standard connectors are soldered to optical components and require less frequent plugging and unplugging, eliminating the need for a ceramic ferrule.

[0070] Therefore, the present invention proposes that the non-standard end can be replaced with an integrated structure instead of the press-fit structure of metal tail handle and ceramic ferrule. The integrated structure ensures that the positional relationship between the holes in the non-standard end is fixed, and the relative position between the guide groove and the hole for fixing the optical fiber will not shift, thus avoiding the problems of difficult fiber insertion and low yield caused by the press-fit structure.

[0071] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the optical fiber holder provided in the embodiment of the present application. The optical fiber holder is used to fix the optical fiber. Figure 3 As shown, the optical fiber holder 3000 includes a main structure 3100, which is made of a single material.

[0072] In the embodiment of the present application, the main structure 3100 is made of a single material, which means that the main structure 3100 is composed of a single substance or a mixture of the same substance. The material composition is the same at different parts of the main structure 3100.

[0073] Optionally, the exterior of the main structure 3100 may be wrapped with a shell made of other materials (such as a rubber tail sleeve), or the main structure 3100 may be connected to other structures made of other materials, which is not limited in this application.

[0074] Optionally, the material of the main structure may be glass, high molecular polymer, metal, ceramic, etc., or a mixture of the above materials, which is not limited in this application.

[0075] like Figure 3 As shown, the center of the main structure 3100 is provided with an optical fiber hole 3110, a guide hole 3120 and a bare fiber hole 3130 that are sequentially connected along the target direction. In the embodiment of the present application, the target direction is the direction of optical fiber insertion, also known as the fiber insertion direction.

[0076] The optical fiber hole 3110 is used to fix the optical fiber. The optical fiber hole 3110 is a cylindrical hole, and the first aperture D1 of the optical fiber hole 3110 is larger than the diameter of the optical fiber.

[0077] The bare fiber hole 3130 is used to fix the bare fiber of the optical fiber. The bare fiber hole 3130 is also a cylindrical hole, and the second aperture D2 of the bare fiber hole 3130 is larger than the diameter of the bare fiber.

[0078] The guide hole 3120 is located between the optical fiber hole 3110 and the bare fiber hole 3130 , and serves to smoothly connect the optical fiber hole 3110 and the bare fiber hole 3130 , thereby guiding the fiber insertion.

[0079] like Figure 3 As shown, the inner wall of the first end of the guide hole 3120 communicates with the inner wall of the fiber hole 3110, and the inner wall of the second end of the guide hole 3120 communicates with the inner wall of the bare fiber hole 3130. The diameter of the guide hole 3120 gradually decreases from the first end to the second end, thereby achieving a smooth transition in diameter from the fiber hole 3110 to the bare fiber hole 3130. This allows the bare fiber to smoothly insert into the bare fiber hole 3130 after entering the fiber hole 3110, along the guide hole 3120.

[0080] In the embodiment of the present application, since the material of the main structure 3100 is single, the main structure 3100 can be processed by one-piece molding such as injection molding and die casting. The quality stability of the one-piece molding is high, so that the positional relationship between the holes in the optical fiber holder 3000 is relatively fixed. The probability of misalignment (low coaxiality) between the holes is extremely low, so that the connection between the holes is relatively smooth. Compared with the non-standard end structure formed by press-fit molding, in the optical fiber holder 3000 provided in the embodiment of the present application, the connection between the optical fiber hole 3110 and the guide hole 3120 (near the first end) is smoothly connected, and there will be no cross-section (for example Figure 2 323 in the middle) blocks the bare fiber from entering the guide hole 3120 from the optical fiber hole 3110. This ensures the guiding effect of the guide hole 3120 during the fiber insertion process, thereby improving the success rate of fiber insertion and the product yield.

[0081] The fiber optic holder 3000 provided in this embodiment of the present application can be used as a non-standard end in a pigtail. This embodiment of the present application does not limit the strength or pluggability of the main structure 3100, thus relaxing the material selection requirements for the non-standard end, thereby enriching the use scenarios of the pigtail. For example, the fiber optic holder 3000 can be made of high-temperature resistant materials to accommodate high-temperature scenarios; the fiber optic holder 3000 can be made of materials with relatively stable mechanical properties at different temperatures to accommodate scenarios with large temperature differences, preventing cracking caused by large temperature differences; or the fiber optic holder 3000 can be made of low-cost materials to accommodate low-budget scenarios.

[0082] like Figure 3 As shown, the aperture of the optical fiber hole 3110 is a first aperture D1, and the aperture of the bare fiber hole 3130 is a second aperture D2. In a preferred implementation, the third aperture D3 at the first end of the guide hole 3120 is equal to the first aperture D1, and the fourth aperture D4 at the second end of the guide hole 3120 is equal to the second aperture D2.

[0083] In this embodiment of the present application, the aperture changes continuously between the fiber hole 3110 and the guide hole 3120, and also between the guide hole 3120 and the bare fiber hole 3130, without any sudden changes in aperture. The inner wall of the entire through hole (including the fiber hole 3110, the guide hole 3120, and the bare fiber hole 3130) is smooth. During the fiber insertion process, the bare fiber can smoothly enter the bare fiber hole along the smooth inner wall, thereby improving fiber insertion efficiency.

[0084] Optionally, the third aperture D3 of the first end of the guide hole 3120 may also be larger than or smaller than the first aperture D1 of the optical fiber hole 3110; the fourth aperture D4 of the second end of the guide hole 3120 may also be larger than or smaller than the second aperture D2 of the bare fiber hole 3130, which is not limited in this application.

[0085] Optionally, in order to ensure the guiding function of the guide hole 3120, the axial section of the guide hole 3120 from the first end to the second end may be a smooth curve or a straight line.

[0086] In the embodiment of the present application, if the axial cross-section of the guide hole 3120 is Figure 3 If the guide hole 3120 is a tapered hole, the rate of change in the internal diameter of the guide hole 3120 is consistent. As the bare fiber passes through the guide hole 3120 and enters the bare fiber hole 3130, it may press against the inner wall of the guide hole 3120 and advance in the direction of fiber insertion. Because the rate of change in the internal diameter of the guide hole 3120 is consistent, the pressure on the bare fiber against the inner wall of the guide hole 3120 is relatively stable at all locations, preventing the bare fiber from breaking within the guide hole 3120 and improving the fiber insertion guidance efficiency within the guide hole 3120.

[0087] Furthermore, the processing technology for the tapered hole is relatively simple and mature, which can reduce the difficulty of manufacturing the optical fiber holder 3000. For example, if it is processed by injection molding, the model of the tapered hole is simple to manufacture, the demolding success rate is high, and the manufacturing difficulty is low.

[0088] In the embodiment of the present application, if the axial cross-section of the guide hole 3120 is Figure 4a-4c The various smooth curves shown can reduce the curvature of the junction between the guide hole 3120 and the bare fiber hole 3130. In the process of the bare fiber entering the bare fiber hole 3130 through the second end of the guide hole 3120, the bare fiber may press against the inner wall of the junction (second end) between the guide hole 3120 and the bare fiber hole 3130 and advance along the fiber insertion direction. If the curvature of the junction (second end) is too large, it may cause excessive stress changes in the bare fiber, thereby causing the bare fiber to break. Therefore, by reducing the curvature change at the junction (second end) through a smooth curve, the probability of bare fiber breakage can be reduced, ensuring the fiber insertion guiding efficiency at the junction (second end).

[0089] Optionally, the axial cross-sectional curve of the guide hole 3120 can be Figure 4a The parabola shown can also be Figure 4b The cubic function curve with no extreme values ​​shown, or Figure 4c Optionally, the axial cross-sectional curve of the guide hole 3120 may also be a second-order Bezier curve, a third-order Bezier curve, a Bertrand curve, etc., which is not limited in this application.

[0090] In this embodiment of the present application, the fiber holder 3000 can serve as the non-standard end of a pigtail. During installation, the bare fiber on the non-standard end (i.e., the bare fiber held by the fiber holder 3000) must be aligned with the internal optical path of the optical device. After alignment, the non-standard end is soldered to the optical device.

[0091] like Figure 5 As shown, the optical fiber holder 3000 also includes a bare fiber end face, a connection end face, and a side end face. The bare fiber end face is the outer surface of the main structure 3100 adjacent to the bare fiber hole 3130. The connection end face is the outer surface of the main structure 3100 used for welding to the optical device. The side end face is adjacent to both the connection end face and the bare fiber end face.

[0092] After the fiber holder 3000 is connected to the optical device, the device's internal optical path can transmit optical signals, which are then projected onto the bare fiber end face. If the optical signal's transmission direction is perpendicular to the bare fiber end face, the signal will be reflected back into the device's internal optical path, degrading the performance of the chip within the device.

[0093] In order to solve this problem, the present invention provides Figure 6 The optical fiber holder structure shown in FIG. Figure 6 As shown, the included angle between the first symmetry axis of the bare fiber hole 3130 and the bare fiber end face is β, and 78°≤β<90°.

[0094] In this embodiment of the present application, because the angle β between the first axis of symmetry of the bare fiber hole 3130 and the bare fiber end face is less than 90°, the normal line on the bare fiber end face does not coincide with the incident direction of the optical signal. After the optical signal strikes the bare fiber end face, it is reflected to the other side of the normal line and does not return to the internal optical path of the optical device. This prevents the optical signal from returning to the internal optical path of the optical device and becoming noise, thereby improving the performance of the chip within the optical device.

[0095] based on Figure 6 The present invention also provides an improved structure. Figure 7 As shown. In this structure, the light-emitting direction of the optical signal from the optical device is perpendicular to the connection end face. The angle between the first symmetry axis of the bare fiber hole 3130 and the light-emitting direction is α'. 0°≤α'≤6°. Since the connection end face is perpendicular to the light-emitting direction, and α' is the angle between the first symmetry axis and the light-emitting direction, α = 90° - α'. The angle α between the connection end face and the first symmetry axis is 84°≤α<90°.

[0096] In the embodiment of the present application, the optical signal from the optical device is incident on the bare fiber at an angle of (90°-β). The optical signal from the optical device propagates through the atmosphere before entering the bare fiber, so the transmission medium of the optical signal before and after entering the bare fiber is different. In addition, the optical signal is not incident vertically (the incident angle is 90°-β), so the refraction angle of the optical signal after passing through the atmosphere-bare fiber interface is smaller than the incident angle (90°-β), and the transmission direction of the optical signal in the bare fiber is more biased towards the normal line than the light output direction.

[0097] In the embodiment of the present application, the first symmetry axis of the bare fiber hole 3130 is set between the light output direction and the normal line (α'<90°-β), so that the orientation of the bare fiber is fixed through the bare fiber hole 3130, so that the core direction of the bare fiber matches the transmission direction of the optical signal in the bare fiber, thereby ensuring the total reflection of the optical signal on the inner wall of the bare fiber and improving the coupling efficiency of the optical signal in the bare fiber.

[0098] In the embodiment of the present application, the bare fiber secured by the bare fiber hole 3130 and the optical fiber secured by the optical fiber hole 3110 are different segments of the same optical fiber. To improve the coupling efficiency of the optical signal within the optical fiber hole 3110, the embodiment of the present application arranges the optical fiber hole 3110, the guide hole 3120, and the bare fiber hole 3130 to be coaxial. This ensures that the core direction of the optical fiber segment secured by the guide hole 3120 and the optical fiber hole 3110 matches the transmission direction of the optical signal within that segment of the optical fiber, thereby ensuring total reflection of the optical signal within the optical fiber and improving the coupling efficiency of the optical signal within the optical fiber.

[0099] In an optional implementation, the angle α' between the first axis of symmetry and the light-emitting direction is equal to the refraction angle of the light signal after passing through the atmosphere-bare fiber interface. Assuming that the light signal is incident on the bare fiber at an angle of 90°-β, and the refractive index ratio of the bare fiber to the atmosphere is n, then the relationship between α' and β is as shown in the following formula 1:

[0100]

[0101] Optional, in Figures 3 to 7 In the structure shown, a stepped surface may be provided between the connecting end surface and the side end surface to improve stress distribution inside the optical fiber holder 3000 and enhance the structural stability of the optical fiber holder 3000 .

[0102] In the embodiment of the present application, the guide hole 3120 is used to guide the fiber insertion during the fiber insertion process. The embodiment of the present application can also further improve the guide hole 3120 to achieve more functions or achieve better fiber insertion guiding effect.

[0103] In one implementation, the guide hole 3120 can be segmented. Figure 8a As shown, the guide holes 3120 may include a first guide hole, a glue injection hole, and a second guide hole arranged in sequence along the target direction (ie, the fiber insertion direction).

[0104] The first guide hole has a diameter that gradually decreases along the target direction. The glue injection hole is a cylindrical hole. The second guide hole has a diameter that gradually decreases along the target direction. The first guide hole is used to guide the bare fiber from the optical fiber hole 3110 to the glue injection hole. The glue injection hole is used to hold glue. The second guide hole is used to guide the bare fiber from the glue injection hole to the bare fiber hole 3130.

[0105] The axial sections of the first guide hole and the second guide hole can be straight lines or smooth curves. If they are curves, please refer to the specific structure. Figure 4a system Figure 4c The description of the illustrated embodiment will not be repeated here.

[0106] In the embodiments of the present application, after glue is injected into the injection hole, adhesion between the bare fiber and the inner wall of the injection hole is achieved. Because the injection hole is cylindrical, the hole diameter is the same at different axial locations, and the thickness of the glue is also the same at different axial locations along the injection hole. Therefore, within the injection hole, the stress between the glue and the bare fiber is evenly distributed along the axial direction, providing relatively stable radial support for the bare fiber, making it less likely to break.

[0107] Optionally, in any of the above embodiments, a fiber guide hole 3140 may be further provided at the end of the fiber hole 3110 away from the guide hole 3120 . The fiber guide hole 3140 is used to guide the optical fiber (with jacket) to be inserted into the fiber hole 3110 .

[0108] like Figure 8b As shown, based on Figure 8a The structure shown has an optical fiber guide hole 3140 , and the optical fiber guide hole 3140 , the optical fiber hole 3110 , the first guide hole, the glue injection hole and the second guide hole can constitute a five-level guide groove to better guide the bare fiber into the bare fiber hole 3130 .

[0109] In the embodiment of the present application, the aspect ratio of the guide hole 3120 is defined as x. x = axial depth of the guide hole 3120 / maximum diameter of the guide hole 3120. By adjusting the aspect ratio x, an optical fiber holder 3000 suitable for different scenarios can be obtained.

[0110] For example, if there is a requirement for miniaturization of the volume of the optical fiber holder 3000 , the aspect ratio x may be set to ≤1.

[0111] In the embodiment of the present application, the aspect ratio x of the guide hole 3120 is set to ≤ 1, so that the axial length of the optical fiber holder 3000 can be controlled, thereby reducing the volume of the optical fiber holder 3000 and achieving device miniaturization.

[0112] Alternatively, if one wishes to improve the fiber insertion efficiency, the depth-to-diameter ratio x of the guide hole may satisfy 1<x<4.

[0113] In the embodiment of the present application, the depth-to-diameter ratio x of the guide hole 3120 satisfies 1<x<4, which can reduce the slope inside the guide hole 3120, thereby reducing the stress of the bare fiber against the guide hole 3120 and improving the fiber insertion efficiency.

[0114] The optical fiber holder 3000 provided in the embodiment of the present application can be used as an independent optical fiber holder, or as a non-standard end of a pigtail.

[0115] For example, in Figure 1a In the scenario shown, the optical fiber port of the pigtail is not connected to the internal optical fiber of the optical device A by fusion splicing, but the optical fiber holder 3000 provided in the embodiment of the present application serves as the connecting medium between the optical fiber break and the internal optical path of the optical device A.

[0116] Or, in Figure 1b In the illustrated scenario, the optical fiber holder 3000 provided in the embodiment of the present application is used as a non-standard end to achieve connection with the optical device A. In this structure, the optical fiber holder 3000 is used to fix the optical fiber in the pigtail.

[0117] The present application also provides a pigtail. Figure 9 As shown, the pigtail includes a standard end, an optical fiber and a non-standard end. Figures 3 to 8b The optical fiber holder 3000 shown in any embodiment of the present invention is used to fix the optical fiber on the pigtail.

[0118] Optional, standard end can also Figures 3 to 8b The optical fiber holder 3000 shown in any embodiment is not limited in this application.

[0119] The present application also provides an optical communication component. Figure 10 As shown, the optical communication component includes a pigtail and an optical device. Figure 9 The pigtail shown is connected to the optical device via a non-standard end (fiber holder 3000).

[0120] In an optional implementation, the optical device is an active optical device, and the optical signal emitted by the active optical device enters the pigtail through the non-standard end of the pigtail.

[0121] Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that, for the convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the systems, devices and units described above can refer to the corresponding processes in the aforementioned method embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0122] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, devices and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are merely schematic. For example, the division of the units is merely a logical function division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods, such as multiple units or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. Another point is that the mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed can be an indirect coupling or communication connection through some interfaces, devices or units, which can be electrical, mechanical or other forms.

[0123] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate, and the components shown as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of these units may be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0124] In addition, the functional units in the various embodiments of the present application may be integrated into a single processing unit, or each unit may exist physically separately, or two or more units may be integrated into a single unit. The aforementioned integrated units may be implemented in the form of hardware or software functional units.

[0125] If the integrated unit is implemented in the form of a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present application is essentially or the part that contributes to the prior art or all or part of the technical solution can be embodied in the form of a software product, and the computer software product is stored in a storage medium, including a number of instructions for enabling a computer device (which can be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the method described in each embodiment of the present application. The aforementioned storage medium includes: various media that can store program codes, such as a USB flash drive, a mobile hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk or an optical disk.

Claims

1. An optical fiber holder, characterized in that: The optical fiber holder is used to fix the optical fiber, and the optical fiber holder includes: The main structure is composed of a single target material, and the center of the main structure is provided with an optical fiber hole, a guide hole and a bare fiber hole connected in sequence: The optical fiber hole is a cylindrical hole, and the first aperture of the optical fiber hole is larger than the diameter of the optical fiber; The bare fiber hole is a cylindrical hole, and the second aperture of the bare fiber hole is larger than the diameter of the bare fiber in the optical fiber; The inner wall of the first end of the guide hole is connected to the inner wall of the optical fiber hole, and the inner wall of the second end of the guide hole is connected to the inner wall of the bare fiber hole. The aperture of the guide hole gradually decreases from the first end to the second end.

2. The optical fiber holder according to claim 1, wherein: From the first end to the second end, an axial section of the guide hole is a smooth curve or a straight line.

3. The optical fiber holder according to claim 2, wherein: The axial cross-sectional curve of the guide hole includes any one of the following: Parabola, cubic function curve without extreme values, cycloid, second-order Bezier curve, third-order Bezier curve, Bertrand curve.

4. The optical fiber holder according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: Among the outer surfaces of the main structure, the outer surface adjacent to the bare fiber hole is a bare fiber end face; The included angle between the first symmetry axis of the bare fiber hole and the bare fiber end face is β, and 78°≤β<90°.

5. The optical fiber holder according to claim 4, wherein: The outer surface of the main structure further includes a connecting end surface and a side end surface; The connecting end face is used for connecting to an optical device; The side end face is adjacent to both the connection end face and the bare fiber end face.

6. The optical fiber holder according to any one of claims 1 to 3 or 5, characterized in that: On the outer surface of the main structure, a connection end surface is used to connect to an optical device, and the connection end surface is perpendicular to the optical path direction of the optical device; The included angle between the first symmetry axis of the bare fiber hole and the connecting end surface is α, and 84°≤α<90°.

7. The optical fiber holder according to any one of claims 1 to 3 or 5, characterized in that: The bare fiber hole, the guide hole and the optical fiber hole are coaxial.

8. The optical fiber holder according to any one of claims 1 to 3 or 5, characterized in that: The guide holes include a first guide hole, a glue injection hole, and a second guide hole arranged in sequence along a target direction, wherein the target direction is the direction from the optical fiber hole to the bare fiber hole; The aperture of the first guide hole decreases along the target direction; The glue injection hole is a cylindrical hole for containing glue; The diameter of the second guide hole decreases along the target direction.

9. The optical fiber holder according to any one of claims 1 to 3 or 5, characterized in that: The guide hole has a depth-to-diameter ratio x≤1.

10. The optical fiber holder according to any one of claims 1 to 3 or 5, characterized in that: The guide hole has a depth-to-diameter ratio x, 1<x<4.

11. A pigtail, characterized in that: It comprises a standard end, an optical fiber and a non-standard end, wherein the non-standard end is the optical fiber holder according to any one of claims 1 to 10, and the optical fiber holder is used to fix the optical fiber.

12. The pigtail according to claim 11, characterized in that The standard end is the optical fiber holder according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

13. An optical communication component, characterized in that: The invention comprises a pigtail and an optical device, wherein the pigtail is the pigtail according to claim 11 or 12, and the pigtail is connected to the optical device through a non-standard end.

14. The optical communication component according to claim 13, wherein: The optical device is an active optical device, and the optical signal emitted by the active optical device enters the pigtail through the non-standard end of the pigtail.

15. An optical device, characterized in that: The invention comprises a pigtail and an optical device, wherein the pigtail is the pigtail according to claim 11 or 12, and the pigtail is connected to the optical device through a non-standard end.

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