Polarization independent fiber optic adapters and multi-channel fiber optic adapter arrays

Abstract

A kind of polarization-independent optical fiber adapter and multi-channel optical fiber adapter array, it is related to optical fiber adapter technical field, the technical scheme used includes shell, the tubular inner cavity of shell is sequentially provided with input light path, optical isolator, output light path;Input light path includes glass tube and the input optical fiber and collimating lens arranged in glass tube, collimating lens is provided with positioning member towards input optical fiber one end;Optical isolator includes Faraday rotator, first light splitter and second light splitter;Output light path includes glass tube, collimating lens and ferrule are arranged in glass tube, collimating lens is provided with positioning member towards ferrule one end, and ferrule is provided with fiber core;Collimating lens is 3D printing lens, and is integrally formed with positioning member.The utility model does not need to use mould to make collimating lens, realizes efficient coupling, and can be quickly prototyped and verified;At the same time, the volume of collimating structure and optical isolator is reduced, assembly process is simplified, and miniaturization design is realized.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of fiber optic adapter technology, and in particular to a polarization-independent fiber optic adapter and a multi-channel fiber optic adapter array. Background Technology

[0002] The laser in the optical emission module is extremely sensitive to back-reflected light. Active connectors, fusion splices, or optical components in the fiber optic link can generate back-reflected light signals such as Rayleigh scattering and Fresnel reflection. If this reflected light returns to the laser, it may cause problems such as laser frequency instability, increased noise, and risk of device damage.

[0003] To protect the optical module from interference from reflected light, isolators must be used in the fiber optic adapter to isolate reflected light. However, isolators lack collimation and focusing capabilities. During optical path coupling, a collimator must be used before the isolator to collimate the light. After passing through the isolator, another collimator focuses the collimated light into the optical fiber before sending it to the optical receiver module. Traditional collimators consist of an optical fiber connector and a collimating lens mounted on the connector. The collimating lens requires molds during production, and coupling the lens into the collimator also requires manufacturing processes, resulting in long production cycles and high costs. Thus, using isolators requires multiple optical path coupling operations, resulting in numerous components and complex processes. In applications requiring multi-channel cabling, the optical components for each channel must be debugged and verified separately. The resulting module size after fiber coiling is large, preventing the overall layout from being miniaturized. Utility Model Content

[0004] To address the problem that existing technologies require multiple optical path coupling operations when using isolators, resulting in numerous components and a large overall size for fiber optic adapters and multi-channel fiber optic adapters, this invention provides a polarization-independent fiber optic adapter and a multi-channel fiber optic adapter array.

[0005] This utility model provides the following technical solution: a polarization-independent fiber optic adapter, comprising:

[0006] The outer shell has an input optical path, an optical isolator, and an output optical path arranged sequentially along its length in a tubular inner cavity.

[0007] The input optical path includes a glass tube disposed at one end of the tubular inner cavity, and an input optical fiber and a collimating lens disposed inside the glass tube. A positioning element is disposed at the end of the collimating lens facing the input optical fiber.

[0008] The optical isolator includes a Faraday rotator, a first beam splitter, and a second beam splitter. The first beam splitter is disposed at the end of the Faraday rotator facing the input optical path, and the second beam splitter is disposed at the end of the Faraday rotator facing the output optical path.

[0009] The output optical path includes a glass tube disposed at the other end of the tubular inner cavity, a collimating lens disposed inside the glass tube, and a ferrule. A positioning element is disposed at the end of the collimating lens facing the ferrule, and a fiber core is disposed inside the ferrule.

[0010] The collimating lens is a 3D printed lens and is integrally formed with the positioning component.

[0011] Preferably, the input optical fiber includes a cladding and a core, and the cladding is inserted into a glass tube.

[0012] Preferably, the Faraday rotator includes a magnetic ring and a magneto-optical crystal disposed within the magnetic ring, wherein the first beam splitter and the second beam splitter are both disposed within the magnetic ring and are located on opposite sides of the magneto-optical crystal, respectively.

[0013] A multi-channel fiber optic adapter array includes multiple fiber optic adapters arranged in parallel. The fiber optic adapters are polarization-independent fiber optic adapters, and the input optical paths of the fiber optic adapters are all connected to an MT connector.

[0014] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: Using 3D printing technology to fabricate a collimating lens, placing the collimating lens and input fiber or ferrule inside a glass tube, and setting a positioning element to leave a gap, nanometer-level alignment can be achieved, replacing the traditional manual calibration process, reducing packaging costs, and eliminating the need for molds, achieving efficient coupling, significantly shortening the development cycle, and enabling rapid prototyping and verification; simultaneously, it reduces the volume of the collimating structure and optical isolator, simplifies the assembly process, and achieves miniaturized design; using a ferrule enables rapid connection to the optical receiving module, and the ferrule can be a ceramic ferrule of the same size as the LC / PC connector, compatible with existing optical receiving module LC / PC flange connections, offering strong compatibility and low upgrade costs; the multi-channel fiber optic adapter array enables high-density connection of the transmitting module to a single interface, achieving parallel coupling of multi-wavelength optical signals and simplifying optical path complexity. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a fiber optic adapter.

[0016] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a multi-channel fiber optic adapter array.

[0017] Reference numerals: 10, outer casing; 20, input optical path; 21, glass tube; 22, collimating lens; 23, cladding; 24, fiber core; 25, positioning element; 30, output optical path; 31, glass tube; 32, collimating lens; 33, ferrule; 34, positioning element; 40, optical isolator; 41, first beam splitter; 42, magneto-optical crystal; 43, second beam splitter; 44, magnetic ring; 50, MT connector. Detailed Implementation

[0018] The embodiments of this utility model will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and reference numerals, so that those skilled in the art can implement them after reading this specification. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only for explaining this utility model and are not intended to limit this utility model. Example

[0019] This embodiment provides a polarization-independent fiber optic adapter.

[0020] Please refer to Figure 1 The fiber optic adapter includes a housing 10, which has a tubular inner cavity extending in a straight line. An input optical path 20, an optical isolator, and an output optical path 30 are sequentially arranged along the length of the tubular inner cavity. The housing 10 serves as the external structure of the fiber optic adapter, providing a sealing function to isolate the internal components from the external environment and resist mechanical stresses such as impacts and vibrations.

[0021] The input optical path 20 is used to connect the light source and includes a glass tube 21 disposed at the first end of the tubular inner cavity, and an input optical fiber and a collimating lens 22 disposed inside the glass tube 21. The glass tube 21 is inserted into one end of the outer shell 10 and sealed. The end of the input optical fiber connected to the glass tube 21 has its coating removed, leaving only the cladding 23 and the fiber core 24, and is inserted into the glass tube 21. A collimating lens 22 and a positioning element 25 are disposed on the end face facing the optical isolator. The positioning element 25 can be multiple short pillars disposed on the edge of the collimating lens 22, leaving a gap between the collimating lens 22 and the end face of the input optical fiber, providing space for the diverging light emitted from the fiber core 24, so that the collimating lens 22 can adjust it into collimated light.

[0022] The collimating lens 22 is a 3D-printed lens manufactured using 3D printing technology and is integrally formed with the positioning component 25. Traditional lenses rely on high-cost molds, while 3D-printed lenses do not require molds. By precisely designing the lens's curvature, numerical aperture (NA), and focal length, the output light spot is ensured to match the fiber mode field, achieving efficient coupling, significantly shortening the development cycle, and enabling rapid prototyping and verification. At the same time, it reduces the volume of the collimating structure and simplifies the assembly process.

[0023] The output optical path 30 includes a glass tube 31 inserted into and sealed at the second end of the tubular inner cavity, a collimating lens 32 disposed within the glass tube 31, and a ferrule 33. The collimating lens 32 is connected to the end face of the ferrule 33 via a positioning member 34. The ferrule 33 may be a ceramic ferrule, containing a fiber core. A 3D-printed collimating lens 32 and positioning member 34 are disposed on the end face of the ferrule 33 facing the optical isolator, converging the collimated light onto the fiber core. The positioning member 34 may consist of multiple short pillars 3D-printed on the edge of the collimating lens 32, leaving a gap between the collimating lens 32 and the end face of the input fiber, providing sufficient space for light convergence.

[0024] The optical isolator includes a Faraday rotator, a first beam splitter 41, and a second beam splitter 43, forming a polarization-independent optical isolator. This isolator isolates reflected light from the transmitting module, ensuring signal quality is not interfered with. Its smaller size allows for miniaturized design of fiber optic adapters. Both the first beam splitter 41 and the second beam splitter 43 are birefringent optical wedges. The Faraday rotator includes a magnetic ring 44 and a magneto-optical crystal 42 disposed within the magnetic ring 44. The first beam splitter 41 and the second beam splitter 43 are also disposed within the magnetic ring 44, with the first beam splitter 41 positioned at the end of the magneto-optical crystal 42 facing the input optical path 20, and the second beam splitter 43 positioned at the end of the magneto-optical crystal 42 facing the output optical path 30.

[0025] The diverging light generated by the fiber core 24 of the input optical path is collimated into collimated light by the collimating lens 22. After passing through the optical isolator, it is converged into the fiber core of the output optical path by the collimating lens 32 and then transmitted to the optical receiving module. When there is reflected light returning, the reflected light is isolated by the optical isolator to protect the optical emitting module from damage. Example

[0026] This embodiment provides, for example Figure 2 The multi-channel fiber optic adapter array shown includes multiple fiber optic adapters arranged in parallel. These fiber optic adapters are polarization-independent fiber optic adapters as described in Embodiment 1. The input optical paths 20 of each of the multiple fiber optic adapters are connected to an MT connector 50, enabling high-density connection of the transmitting module via a single interface, achieving parallel coupling of multi-wavelength optical signals, and simplifying optical path complexity. Due to the miniaturization of the fiber optic adapters, the size of the multi-channel fiber optic adapter array is also reduced.

[0027] The above describes one or more embodiments of this utility model in a relatively specific and detailed manner, but it should not be construed as limiting the scope of this utility model patent. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this utility model, and these all fall within the protection scope of this utility model. Therefore, the protection scope of this utility model patent should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A polarization-independent fiber optic adapter, characterized in that, include: The outer shell has an input optical path, an optical isolator, and an output optical path arranged sequentially along its length in a tubular inner cavity. The input optical path includes a glass tube disposed at one end of the tubular inner cavity, and an input optical fiber and a collimating lens disposed inside the glass tube. A positioning element is disposed at the end of the collimating lens facing the input optical fiber. The optical isolator includes a Faraday rotator, a first beam splitter, and a second beam splitter. The first beam splitter is disposed at the end of the Faraday rotator facing the input optical path, and the second beam splitter is disposed at the end of the Faraday rotator facing the output optical path. The output optical path includes a glass tube disposed at the other end of the tubular inner cavity, a collimating lens disposed inside the glass tube, and a ferrule. A positioning element is disposed at the end of the collimating lens facing the ferrule, and a fiber core is disposed inside the ferrule. The collimating lens is a 3D printed lens and is integrally formed with the positioning component.

2. A polarization-independent fiber optic adapter according to claim 1, characterized in that, The input optical fiber includes a cladding and a core, and the cladding is inserted into a glass tube.

3. A polarization-independent fiber optic adapter according to claim 1, characterized in that, The Faraday rotator includes a magnetic ring and a magneto-optical crystal disposed within the magnetic ring. The first and second beam splitters are both disposed within the magnetic ring and are located on opposite sides of the magneto-optical crystal, respectively.

4. A multi-channel fiber optic adapter array, comprising multiple fiber optic adapters arranged in parallel, characterized in that, The fiber optic adapter is a polarization-independent fiber optic adapter as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, and the input optical paths of the fiber optic adapter are all connected to an MT connector.

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