Ferrule and fiber optic connector

Abstract

A ferrule for use in a non-contact fiber optic connector, the ferrule comprising: a ferrule body having a ferrule end face formed at one end of the ferrule body along a length direction; and a shoulder portion disposed at the ferrule end face of the ferrule body, the shoulder portion configured to extend along a portion of the ferrule end face of the ferrule body to form a recess on the ferrule end face surrounded by the shoulder portion; wherein a fiber extends in the ferrule body along the length direction and protrudes from the recess of the ferrule end face such that a fiber end face of the fiber is located along the length direction between an outer surface of the shoulder portion along the length direction and the recess; and wherein the shoulder portion is integrally formed with the ferrule body. The present application also relates to a fiber optic connector comprising the ferrule as described above.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application generally relates to the field of communications, and more specifically, to ferrules and fiber optic connectors. Background Technology

[0002] As a key passive component in optical fiber communication systems, fiber optic connectors bear the crucial responsibility of achieving precise, non-permanent end-face connections between devices, between devices and instruments, between devices and optical fibers, and between optical fibers. Their mission is to ensure that the optical energy output from the transmitting fiber is coupled to the receiving fiber to the maximum extent possible, thereby forming a stable optical path. Throughout the entire optical communication link, the performance of fiber optic connectors directly affects the system's reliability and transmission efficiency.

[0003] In the construction of fiber optic connectors, the ferrule is a crucial component. Its main function is to precisely secure the optical fiber and ensure accurate physical mating of the two fiber ends. To meet these stringent requirements, the ferrule adheres to extremely high standards in material selection and manufacturing processes. Commonly used ceramic ferrules are often made of zirconium dioxide (ZrO2) due to its excellent properties, including good thermal stability, high hardness, high melting point, wear resistance, and high processing precision. In the manufacturing process, a blank is first created using ceramic powder injection molding, followed by a series of precision grinding processes to achieve sub-micron level processing accuracy, resulting in a ferrule product with excellent rigidity and ultra-high precision.

[0004] Currently, the mainstream technology in the field of fiber optic connectors is the contact-type fiber optic connector. These connectors require the end faces of the mating fibers to be in tight contact during operation to achieve efficient optical signal transmission. However, with the rapid development of fiber optic communication technology and the continuous expansion of application scenarios, contact-type fiber optic connectors have gradually revealed many drawbacks. In high-density fiber optic connection scenarios, such as connectors with 48 or more fibers, ensuring perfect contact at the end faces of every pair of fibers simultaneously is practically impossible. Furthermore, during frequent mating and unmating, the tightly contacting fiber end faces are easily damaged by friction, significantly shortening the connector's lifespan. Utility Model Content

[0005] One object of this application is to provide a ferrule and fiber optic connector having a non-contact construction.

[0006] According to a first aspect of this application, a ferrule is provided for use in a non-contact fiber optic connector, the ferrule comprising:

[0007] A ferrule body, wherein a ferrule end face is formed at one end along its length; and

[0008] A shoulder portion is provided at the end face of the ferrule body, and the shoulder portion is configured to extend along a portion of the end face of the ferrule body to form a recess portion surrounded by the shoulder portion on the end face of the ferrule body.

[0009] The optical fiber extends along its length within the ferrule body and protrudes from a recess on the ferrule end face, such that the optical fiber end face is located along its length between the outer surface of the shoulder portion and the recess; and

[0010] The shoulder portion is integrally formed with the ferrule body.

[0011] Non-contact construction avoids many of the drawbacks of contact construction, ensuring precise alignment of the end faces of each fiber pair simultaneously. Furthermore, during frequent insertions and removals, the fiber end faces do not come into contact with each other, preventing damage from friction and significantly extending the connector's lifespan. The integrated construction eliminates the need for assembly of two separate components, improving ferrule stability and reducing the failure rate.

[0012] In some embodiments of the insert, the distance along the length direction between the outer surface of the shoulder and the recess is less than 20 micrometers.

[0013] In some embodiments of the ferrule, the optical fiber extends less than 5 micrometers along its length from the recess on the end face of the ferrule.

[0014] In some embodiments of the ferrule, the outer surface of the shoulder is flat, and / or the recess on the end face of the ferrule is flat.

[0015] In some embodiments of the ferrule, the outer surface of the shoulder is parallel to the recess on the end face of the ferrule.

[0016] In some embodiments of the ferrule, the outer surface of the shoulder and / or the recess of the ferrule end face form an angle relative to the length direction.

[0017] In some embodiments of the ferrule, the tilt angle is in the range of 78 to 90 degrees.

[0018] This tilted structure ensures that when an optical signal is emitted from or into the ferrule, the light energy reflected back to the signal source from the fiber end face is reduced, thereby improving the stability of the entire system.

[0019] In some embodiments of the ferrule, a pin hole is formed in the ferrule body, the pin hole extending along the length direction through the shoulder portion, such that the pin hole does not contact the recessed portion of the ferrule end face.

[0020] In some embodiments of the ferrule, the outer surface of the shoulder is formed by grinding, and the recess on the end face of the ferrule is formed by laser ablation and grinding.

[0021] According to another aspect of this application, an optical fiber connector is provided, which includes a ferrule as described above, such that the optical fiber connector is configured as a non-contact optical fiber connector.

[0022] By positioning the fiber end face along its length between the outer surface of the shoulder and the recess of the ferrule end face, the fiber end faces do not contact each other during splicing. This improves splicing accuracy, eliminates damage caused by friction, and extends the lifespan of the equipment. Furthermore, the integrated structure of the shoulder and ferrule body eliminates the need for assembly of the two components, improving ferrule stability and reducing the failure rate. Attached Figure Description

[0023] A better understanding of various aspects of this application will be achieved by reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0024] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of a ferrule according to some embodiments of this application.

[0025] Figure 2 This is a front view schematic diagram of a ferrule according to some embodiments of this application.

[0026] Figure 3 This is a partial enlarged view of the ferrule according to some embodiments of this application.

[0027] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the process of forming a ferrule according to some embodiments of this application, showing a ferrule blank.

[0028] Figure 5a and Figure 5b This is a schematic diagram of the process of forming a ferrule according to some embodiments of this application, showing the ferrule blank after grinding.

[0029] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the process of forming a ferrule according to some embodiments of this application, showing the ferrule blank being irradiated and ablated by a laser.

[0030] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the process of forming a ferrule according to some embodiments of this application, showing the ferrule formed after ablation.

[0031] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the process of forming a ferrule according to some embodiments of the present application, showing a ferrule formed after ablation according to one embodiment.

[0032] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the process of forming a ferrule according to some embodiments of the present application, showing a ferrule formed after ablation according to another embodiment.

[0033] Figure 10 This is a flowchart of a method for forming a ferrule according to some embodiments of this application.

[0034] List of reference numerals

[0035] ferrule 1;

[0036] 10 ferrule body; 12 pin holes;

[0037] Shoulder 20; Outer surface 22;

[0038] Plug end face 30; Recessed portion 32;

[0039] Fiber optic cable 40; fiber optic end face 42; fixing component 44;

[0040] Laser 50;

[0041] Insert blank 100; blank end face 300;

[0042] Inclination angle α; distance D1; distance D2; distance D11; distance D21; distance D22. Detailed Implementation

[0043] The present application will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate several embodiments of the present application. However, it should be understood that the present application can be presented in many different ways and is not limited to the embodiments described below; in fact, the embodiments described below are intended to make the disclosure of the present application more complete and to fully illustrate the scope of protection of the present application to those skilled in the art. It should also be understood that the embodiments disclosed herein can be combined in various ways to provide more additional embodiments.

[0044] It should be understood that the same reference numerals denote the same elements in all the accompanying drawings. For clarity, the dimensions of certain features may be modified in the drawings.

[0045] It should be understood that the terminology used in this specification is for describing specific embodiments only and is not intended to limit this application. All terms used in this specification (including technical and scientific terms) have the meanings commonly understood by those skilled in the art, unless otherwise defined. For the sake of brevity and / or clarity, well-known functions or structures may not be described in detail.

[0046] Unless otherwise specified, the singular forms “a,” “the,” and “the” used in this specification include the plural forms. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “containing” used in this specification indicate the presence of the claimed feature but do not exclude the presence of one or more other features. The term “and / or” used in this specification includes any and all combinations of one or more of the related listed items. The terms “between X and Y” and “between approximately X and Y” used in this specification should be interpreted as including both X and Y. The term “between approximately X and Y” used in this specification means “between approximately X and approximately Y,” and the term “from approximately X to Y” used in this specification means “from approximately X to approximately Y.”

[0047] In the specification, when an element is described as being "on," "attached," "connected," "coupled," or "in contact" with another element, the element can be directly located on, attached to, connected to, coupled to, or in contact with the other element, or there may be intermediate elements present. Conversely, when an element is described as being "directly" located on, directly attached to, directly connected to, directly coupled to, or directly in contact with another element, no intermediate elements are present. In the specification, the description of a feature being arranged "adjacent" to another feature can mean that a feature has a portion overlapping with the adjacent feature or a portion located above or below the adjacent feature.

[0048] In the specification, spatial relation terms such as "up," "down," "left," "right," "front," "back," "high," and "low" describe the relationship between one feature and another in the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that spatial relation terms include not only the orientation shown in the drawings but also the different orientations of the device during use or operation. For example, when the device in the drawings is inverted, a feature previously described as "below" other features can now be described as "above" other features. The device can also be oriented in other ways (rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations), in which case the relative spatial relationships will be explained accordingly.

[0049] As a key passive component in optical fiber communication systems, fiber optic connectors bear the crucial responsibility of achieving precise, non-permanent end-face connections between devices, between devices and instruments, between devices and optical fibers, and between optical fibers. Their mission is to ensure that the optical energy output from the transmitting fiber is coupled to the receiving fiber to the maximum extent possible, thereby forming a stable optical path. Throughout the entire optical communication link, the performance of fiber optic connectors directly affects the system's reliability and transmission efficiency.

[0050] In the construction of fiber optic connectors, the ferrule is a crucial component. Its main function is to precisely secure the optical fiber and ensure accurate physical mating of the two fiber end faces. Currently, the mainstream technology in the fiber optic connector field is the contact-type fiber optic connector. This type of connector requires the mating fiber end faces to be in tight contact during operation to achieve efficient optical signal transmission. However, with the rapid development of fiber optic communication technology and the continuous expansion of application scenarios, contact-type fiber optic connectors have gradually revealed many drawbacks.

[0051] According to some embodiments of this application, a ferrule for implementing a contactless construction and an optical fiber connector including the ferrule are provided. The optical fiber connector and its ferrule according to this application will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0052] like Figures 1 to 3 The figures show a partial perspective view, a partial front view, and an enlarged view of the ferrule 1 according to this application. For clarity and convenience, the length, width, and height directions of the ferrule 1 are defined in the figures. The length direction, also represented by the X-direction, is the extension direction of the ferrule, and the optical fiber inserted inside the ferrule extends along the length direction. The width direction, also represented by the Y-direction, is perpendicular to the length direction, and multiple optical fibers can be arranged side by side along the width direction. The height direction, also represented by the Z-direction, is perpendicular to both the length and width directions. The figures show partial views of the ferrule 1, showing the parts relevant to the scheme of this application; the remaining parts are omitted to make the figures concise and clear. The structure of other parts of the ferrule 1 can adopt conventional constructions in the prior art, and will not be described in detail here.

[0053] According to some embodiments of this application, the ferrule 1 is suitable for a non-contact fiber optic connector (not shown). The ferrule 1 is configured to allow non-contact mating of optical fibers when the fiber optic connector is connected. The ferrule 1 may include a ferrule body 10, which generally extends along its length and is used to hold one or more optical fibers 40, which extend generally along their length within the ferrule body 10. Optical fiber end faces 42 are formed at the ends of the optical fibers 40, and when the fiber optic connector is connected, the optical fiber end face 42 of one optical fiber 40 will face and mate with the optical fiber end face 42 of another optical fiber 40. To achieve mating of the optical fibers 40, the optical fibers 40 typically need to extend from the ferrule body 10 such that the optical fiber end faces 42 are exposed outside the ferrule 1. For a non-contact fiber optic connector, the optical fiber end face 42 of one optical fiber 40 faces and aligns with the optical fiber end face 42 of the mating optical fiber 40, but the two optical fiber end faces 42 do not contact each other, forming a gap between them. Non-contact construction avoids many of the defects of contact construction, ensuring that the end faces of each pair of optical fibers can be accurately mated simultaneously. During frequent insertion and removal, since the end faces of the optical fibers do not come into contact with each other, they will not be damaged by friction, which significantly improves the service life of the connector.

[0054] The ferrule body 10 has a ferrule end face 30 at one end along its length. When the fiber optic connector is connected, the ferrule end face 30 of one ferrule 1 can be opposite to the ferrule end face 30 of the mating ferrule 1 so that the optical fiber 40 in the ferrule 1 can be mated accordingly. Alternatively, in other connection methods, the ferrule end face 30 of the ferrule 1 can be opposite to the optical fiber end face of the optical fiber to be mated so that the optical fiber 40 in the ferrule 1 can be aligned with the optical fiber to be mated for mating.

[0055] According to some embodiments of this application, the ferrule 1 may further include a shoulder 20, which may be disposed at one end of the ferrule body 10 along the length direction, i.e., at the ferrule end face 30 of the ferrule body 10. When viewed along the length direction, the shoulder 20 extends outward from the ferrule end face 30 of the ferrule body 10 to form a protruding structure protruding from the ferrule end face 30.

[0056] The shoulder 20 can be configured to extend along a portion of the ferrule end face 30 to form a recess 32 surrounded by the shoulder 20 on the ferrule end face 30. In some embodiments, the shoulder 20 can extend along the periphery of the ferrule end face 30 to form a recess 32 in the central region of the ferrule end face 30. In the illustrated embodiment, the outer periphery of the shoulder 20 is flush with the outer periphery of the ferrule body 10 in the longitudinal direction. However, the above embodiments are merely exemplary, and those skilled in the art will understand that the shoulder 20 can be disposed on the ferrule end face 30 in any other suitable manner. For example, the shoulder 20 can be located away from the edge of the ferrule end face 30, or the recess 32 can be located at an off-center position on the ferrule end face 30.

[0057] According to some embodiments of this application, the shoulder portion 20 can be integrally formed with the ferrule body 10, that is, the shoulder portion 20 and the ferrule body 10 are not two separate or independent components, nor are they formed by connecting or joining two components together. In some embodiments, the shoulder portion 20 and the ferrule body 10 can be formed on the same material blank through processing techniques such as ablation and grinding. The integral structure can eliminate the assembly process of the two components, which is beneficial to improving the stability of the ferrule and reducing the failure rate.

[0058] The shoulder portion 20 may have an outer surface 22, which is the outermost surface of the shoulder portion 20 in the longitudinal direction. During fiber optic connector connection, the outer surface 22 of the shoulder portion 20 contacts the ferrule or other component to be mated. In some embodiments, the outer surface 22 of the shoulder portion 20 may be a flat surface or any other shape suitable for contact mating. When viewed along the longitudinal direction, the outer surface 22 of the shoulder portion 20 extends further outward relative to the ferrule body 10 than the recess 32, such that the end face of the ferrule 1 forms a recessed structure to accommodate the portion of the optical fiber 40 extending from the ferrule body 10. The recess 32 may also have a flat surface to facilitate the extension of the optical fiber 40 from the recess 32. In some embodiments, the outer surface 22 of the shoulder portion 20 and the recess 32 may be parallel to each other.

[0059] In some embodiments, the outer surface 22 of the shoulder 20 may be a surface perpendicular to the length direction, and correspondingly, the recess 32 on the ferrule end face 30 may also have a surface perpendicular to the length direction. However, in other embodiments, the outer surface 22 of the shoulder 20 may not be perpendicular to the length direction; for example, the outer surface 22 of the shoulder 20 may be at an angle relative to the length direction, such as a non-right angle (possibly close to a right angle). Figure 1As shown, the angle α between the outer surface 22 and one edge of the ferrule body 10, which extends along the length direction, is the tilt angle between the outer surface 22 of the shoulder 20 and the length direction. This tilt angle α can be in the range of 60 to 90 degrees, for example, in the range of 78 to 90 degrees, such as approximately 82 degrees. Similarly, the recess 32 of the ferrule end face 30 can also be tilted relative to the length direction, for example, a non-right angle. This tilt angle α can be in the range of 60 to 90 degrees, for example, in the range of 78 to 90 degrees, such as approximately 82 degrees. This tilted configuration ensures that when an optical signal is emitted from or enters the ferrule, the light energy reflected back to the signal source from the fiber end face is reduced, thereby improving the stability of the entire system.

[0060] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the optical fiber 40 extends generally along its length within the ferrule body 10 and protrudes from the recess 32 of the ferrule end face 30. In the illustrated embodiment, multiple optical fibers 40 are shown arranged side-by-side along the width direction. Those skilled in the art will understand that the number and arrangement of the optical fibers 40 within the ferrule body 10 can be selected according to the needs of the actual application and are not limited to the embodiments described and shown herein. In some embodiments, the optical fibers 40 may be arranged to extend only within the recess 32 in both the width and height directions; that is, the optical fibers 40 protrude only from the recess 32 of the ferrule end face 30 and not from, for example, the shoulder 20. When the optical fiber 40 protrudes from the recess 32 of the ferrule end face 30, the end of the optical fiber 40 is exposed from the recess 32, for example, the fiber end face 42 of the optical fiber 40 is exposed from the recess 32, to facilitate the splicing of the optical fibers 40.

[0061] In some embodiments, the ferrule 1 may be formed with a structure for mating or engaging with another ferrule or other components. For example, a pin hole 12 may be formed in the ferrule body 10. Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the pin hole 12 typically extends along the length of the ferrule body 10 to facilitate mating of the ferrule 1 with, for example, a locating pin. According to some embodiments of this application, the pin hole 12 may extend along the length through the shoulder 20, so that the pin hole 12 does not contact the recess 32 of the ferrule end face 30, such as... Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the pin hole 12 is located at the shoulder portion 20 and does not contact the recessed portion 32. This avoids interference between the pin hole 12 and the optical fiber 40 inserted into the ferrule body 10, and prevents undesirable damage to the optical fiber 40. In the illustrated embodiment, two pin holes 12 are formed on the left and right sides of the ferrule body 10 along the width direction. However, those skilled in the art will understand that the number and position of the pin holes 12 can be selected according to the needs of actual applications and are not limited to the illustrated embodiment.

[0062] According to some embodiments of this application, the optical fiber 40 can extend from the recess 32 of the ferrule end face 30, such that the optical fiber end face 42 of the optical fiber 40 is located between the outer surface 22 of the shoulder portion 20 and the recess 32 along the length direction, that is, the optical fiber end face 42 does not extend beyond the outer surface of the shoulder portion 20 along the length direction. In this case, the optical fiber end face 42 of the optical fiber 40 extends beyond the recess 32 of the ferrule end face 30 but does not extend beyond the outer surface of the shoulder portion 20, which facilitates the splicing of the optical fibers 40 on the one hand, and forms a gap between the optical fiber end faces 42 of the optical fibers 40 during splicing to form a non-contact structure.

[0063] like Figure 1 and Figure 3 As shown, it illustrates the relationship between the shoulder portion 20, the optical fiber 40, and the recess 32 of the ferrule end face 30, wherein... Figure 3 yes Figure 2 The enlarged view shown here exaggerates the dimensions along the length direction to more clearly show the relative positional relationship between the shoulder 20, the recess 32, and the fiber end face 42.

[0064] As described above, when viewed along the length direction, the outer surface 22 of the shoulder portion 20 extends further outward relative to the ferrule body 10 than the recess 32. Therefore, there is a certain distance D1 along the length direction between the outer surface 22 of the shoulder portion 20 and the recess 32 of the ferrule end face 30. This distance D1 can be, for example, less than 50 micrometers, less than 40 micrometers, less than 30 micrometers, less than 20 micrometers, or less than 10 micrometers. For example, in one embodiment, this distance D1 can be, for example, 20 micrometers.

[0065] As described above, when viewed along the length direction, the fiber end face 42 of the optical fiber 40 extends from the recess 32 of the ferrule end face 30. This extension distance D2 can be, for example, less than 20 micrometers, less than 15 micrometers, less than 10 micrometers, less than 5 micrometers, or less than 3 micrometers. For example, in one embodiment, this distance D2 can be, for example, 5 micrometers. In other embodiments, the fiber end face 42 of the optical fiber 40 can be approximately flush with or nearly flush with the recess 32 of the ferrule end face 30. The distance D2 is less than the distance D1, such that the fiber end face 42 of the optical fiber 40 is located along the length direction between the outer surface 22 of the shoulder portion 20 and the recess 32 of the ferrule end face 30, thereby forming a non-contact structure.

[0066] The following will be based on references Figures 4 to 10 The process of forming the ferrule 1 according to this application is described, wherein Figure 10 A flowchart of a method for forming a ferrule 1 according to this application is shown.

[0067] According to some embodiments of this application, a method for forming the ferrule 1 may include step S1: providing a ferrule blank 100. For example... Figure 4 The diagram shows a schematic of a ferrule blank 100. The ferrule blank 100 is configured to form the ferrule 1 using suitable processing methods, such as laser ablation and grinding. The ferrule blank 100 has been formed with fiber optic holes (not shown) for insertion of the fiber 40 and pin holes 12 for mounting mating. Figure 4 (Not shown in the image), this can be achieved using any suitable method known in the art, and will not be described further here. The ferrule blank 100 has a blank end face 300 at one end along its length (X direction), and the optical fiber 40 is inserted into the optical fiber hole and extends from the blank end face 300. The blank end face 300 may be substantially perpendicular to the length direction; that is, in some embodiments, the optical fiber 40 may be secured by a fixing member 44, which may be, for example, an epoxy resin bead or any other suitable fixing member.

[0068] After providing the insert blank 100, step S2 can be performed: grinding the blank end face 300 of the insert blank 100. For example... Figure 5a and Figure 5b As shown, a side view and a perspective view of the ground ferrule blank 100 are respectively displayed. In some embodiments, a grinding disc can be used to grind the blank end face 300 of the ferrule blank 100. During the grinding process, the end of the optical fiber 40 extending along the length direction from the blank end face 300 is ground off, so that the optical fiber end face 42 of the optical fiber 40 is approximately flush with the blank end face 300. At the same time, the fixing component 44 used to fix the optical fiber 40 can also be ground off. Thus, the blank end face 300 of the ground ferrule blank 100 can be approximately flat, such as... Figure 5a As shown. In some embodiments, the grinding disc can grind the blank end face 300 of the insert blank 100 in an orientation perpendicular to the length direction, such that the ground blank end face 300 is perpendicular to the length direction. In other embodiments, the grinding disc can grind the blank end face 300 of the insert blank 100 in an orientation at an angle α to the length direction, such that the ground blank end face 300 is at an angle α relative to the length direction, as shown. Figure 5a and Figure 5b As shown. The tilt angle α can be in the range of 60 degrees to 90 degrees, for example, in the range of 78 degrees to 90 degrees, such as approximately 82 degrees, so that the outer surface 22 of the shoulder portion 20 of the final formed ferrule 1 can be tilted at an angle α relative to the length direction. In the illustrated embodiment, the pin holes 12 and the optical fiber 40 are arranged side by side along the width direction, and the optical fiber 40 is located between the two pin holes 12.

[0069] After grinding the blank end face 300 of the core blank 100, step S3 can be performed: laser ablation is performed on the ground blank end face 300 to form the shoulder 20 and the recess 32. Figure 6 The diagram illustrates a laser ablation process on the end face 300 of a blank. A laser 50 for laser ablation is positioned directly above the blank 100 along its length, such that the laser emitted by the laser 50 irradiates the end face 300 of the blank 100, thereby ablating the end face 300. The area on the end face 300 exposed to the laser is ablated to remove material, thus forming a recessed structure along its length, namely a recess 32. The portion extending along its length around the recess 32 is formed as a shoulder 20, i.e., forming a... Figure 7 The structure shown is such that the area for laser ablation is located between the two pin holes 12 along the width direction. Thus, after laser ablation, the pin holes 12 extend along the length direction through the shoulder portion 20 without contacting the recess portion 32 and the optical fiber 40, which is located within the recess portion 32.

[0070] like Figure 8 The diagram shows a magnified front view of the ferrule 1 after laser ablation. In some embodiments, when laser ablation is performed on the end face 300 of the blank, the ablation area is selected to be located between the two pin holes 12, but does not include the optical fiber 40. That is, when ablation is performed in this ablation area, the laser 50 can be controlled not to irradiate the optical fiber 40, but only to irradiate the other parts of the ablation area excluding the optical fiber 40 for ablation. In this way, the recess 32 formed after ablation has a distance D11 along the length direction between it and the shoulder 20. This distance D11 can be, for example, less than 200 micrometers, less than 150 micrometers, less than 100 micrometers, or less than 50 micrometers. For example, in one embodiment, this distance D11 can be, for example, 100 micrometers. At this time, since the optical fiber 40 has not been irradiated by the laser and has not been ablated, the fiber end face 42 of the optical fiber 40 is approximately flush with the outer surface 22 of the shoulder portion 20, so that the distance D21 from the recess 32 along the length direction of the optical fiber 40 is approximately equal to the distance D11 between the recess 32 and the shoulder portion 20 along the length direction. That is, the distance D21 can be, for example, less than 200 micrometers, less than 150 micrometers, less than 100 micrometers or less than 50 micrometers. For example, in one embodiment, the distance D11 can be, for example, 100 micrometers.

[0071] like Figure 9As shown, another enlarged front view of the ferrule 1 after laser ablation is presented. In some embodiments, when laser ablation is performed on the end face 300 of the blank, the ablation area is selected to be located between the two pin holes 12, and also includes the optical fiber 40. That is, when ablation is performed in this ablation area, the laser 50 can be controlled to also irradiate the optical fiber 40, i.e., irradiate the entire ablation area for ablation. In this way, the recess 32 formed after ablation has a distance D11 along the length direction between it and the shoulder 20. This distance D11 can be, for example, less than 200 micrometers, less than 150 micrometers, less than 100 micrometers, or less than 50 micrometers. For example, in one embodiment, this distance D11 can be, for example, 100 micrometers. At this time, since the optical fiber 40 is also subjected to laser irradiation and will be ablated, the optical fiber end face 42 of the optical fiber 40 is recessed along the length direction relative to the outer surface 22 of the shoulder portion 20, so that the distance D22 of the optical fiber 40 extending from the recess 32 along the length direction is less than the distance D11 between the recess 32 and the shoulder portion 20 along the length direction. This distance D22 can be, for example, less than 100 micrometers, less than 50 micrometers, less than 20 micrometers or less than 10 micrometers. For example, in one embodiment, this distance D11 can be, for example, 20 micrometers.

[0072] After laser ablation of the end face 300 of the blank to form the shoulder 20 and the recess 32, step S4 can be performed: fine grinding of the optical fiber 40 within the formed shoulder 20 and recess 32. After fine grinding, a shape resembling... Figures 1 to 3 The ferrule 1 is shown. In some embodiments, a polishing disc can be used to polish the ferrule end face 30 of the ferrule 1. Specifically, the shoulder portion 20 and the optical fiber 40 in the recess portion 32 can be polished. During the polishing process, the shoulder portion 20 protruding along the length direction is polished, so that the distance between the recess portion 32 and the shoulder portion 20 along the length direction is shortened from distance D11 to distance D1. This distance D1 can be, for example, less than 50 micrometers, less than 40 micrometers, less than 30 micrometers, less than 20 micrometers, or less than 10 micrometers. For example, in one embodiment, this distance D1 can be, for example, 20 micrometers. At the same time, the fiber end face 42 of the optical fiber 40 extending from the recess 32 along the length direction is also polished, so that the distance of the optical fiber 40 extending from the recess 32 along the length direction is shortened from the distance D21 or the distance D22 to the distance D2. The distance D2 can be, for example, less than 20 micrometers, less than 15 micrometers, less than 10 micrometers, less than 5 micrometers or less than 3 micrometers. For example, in one embodiment, the distance D2 can be, for example, 5 micrometers.

[0073] The above process for forming the insert 1 is merely exemplary. Those skilled in the art can make various modifications to the process without departing from the spirit and scope of this application. For example, in some embodiments, after performing step S3, i.e., after forming the shoulder portion 20 and the recess portion 32, the desired result is obtained as follows: Figure 9 As shown in the diagram, the fiber end face of the optical fiber 40 is positioned along its length between the outer surface 22 of the shoulder portion 20 and the recess 32 of the ferrule end face 30, achieving a non-contact structure. By controlling the grinding in step S2 and the laser ablation in step S3, the desired structure of the ferrule 1 can be achieved. Therefore, step S4 is unnecessary, i.e., there is no need to perform fine grinding on the ablated shoulder portion 20 and the optical fiber 40.

[0074] By positioning the fiber end face along its length between the outer surface of the shoulder and the recess of the ferrule end face, the fiber end faces do not contact each other during splicing. This improves splicing accuracy, eliminates damage caused by friction, and extends the lifespan of the equipment. Furthermore, the integrated structure of the shoulder and ferrule body eliminates the need for assembly of the two components, improving ferrule stability and reducing the failure rate.

[0075] Example 1: A ferrule for a non-contact fiber optic connector, the ferrule comprising:

[0076] A ferrule body, wherein a ferrule end face is formed at one end along its length; and

[0077] A shoulder portion is provided at the end face of the ferrule body, and the shoulder portion is configured to extend along a portion of the end face of the ferrule body to form a recess portion surrounded by the shoulder portion on the end face of the ferrule body.

[0078] The optical fiber extends along its length within the ferrule body and protrudes from a recess on the ferrule end face, such that the optical fiber end face is located along its length between the outer surface of the shoulder portion and the recess; and

[0079] The shoulder portion is integrally formed with the ferrule body.

[0080] Example 2: The insert according to Example 1, wherein the distance along the length direction between the outer surface of the shoulder and the recess is less than 20 micrometers.

[0081] Example 3: The ferrule according to Example 1, wherein the optical fiber extends from the recess on the end face of the ferrule by a distance of less than 5 micrometers along its length.

[0082] Example 4: The ferrule according to Example 1, wherein the outer surface of the shoulder is flat, and / or the recess of the end face of the ferrule is flat.

[0083] Example 5: The insert according to Example 1, wherein the outer surface of the shoulder portion is parallel to the recess of the insert end face.

[0084] Example 6: The ferrule according to Example 1, wherein the outer surface of the shoulder and / or the recess of the ferrule end face form an inclined angle relative to the length direction.

[0085] Example 7: The ferrule according to Example 6, wherein the tilt angle is in the range of 78 degrees to 90 degrees.

[0086] Example 8: According to the insert of Example 1, wherein a pin hole is formed in the insert body, the pin hole extending through the shoulder in the length direction, such that the pin hole does not contact the recess of the insert end face.

[0087] Example 9: The ferrule according to Example 1, wherein the outer surface of the shoulder is formed by grinding, and the recess on the end face of the ferrule is formed by laser ablation and grinding.

[0088] Example 10: An optical fiber connector comprising a ferrule according to any one of Examples 1 to 9, such that the optical fiber connector is configured as a non-contact optical fiber connector.

[0089] Example 11: A method of forming a ferrule for a non-contact fiber optic connector, the method comprising:

[0090] A insert blank is provided, wherein a blank end face is formed at one end along the length direction of the insert blank;

[0091] Grinding the end face of the blank of the core blank; and

[0092] Laser ablation is performed on the end face of the billet to form a shoulder and a recessed area surrounded by the shoulder.

[0093] Example 12: The method of forming a ferrule according to Example 11, wherein the method further comprises: after forming a shoulder and a recess surrounded by the shoulder, fine grinding the shoulder and the optical fiber located in the recess.

[0094] Example 13: The method for forming a core according to Example 11, wherein grinding the blank end face of the core blank includes grinding the blank end face with an inclined orientation such that the ground blank end face is inclined at an angle relative to the length direction.

[0095] Example 14: The method of forming a ferrule according to Example 13, wherein the tilt angle is in the range of 78 degrees to 90 degrees.

[0096] Example 15: The method of forming a ferrule according to Example 11, wherein the ferrule blank has fiber holes for fiber insertion and pin holes for mounting mating, the pin holes and the fiber are arranged side by side along the width direction, and the fiber is located between the two pin holes.

[0097] Example 16: The method for forming a ferrule according to Example 15, wherein the ablation region of laser ablation on the end face of the blank is located between two pin holes along the width direction, and the optical fiber is within the ablation region.

[0098] Example 17: The method of forming a ferrule according to Example 11, wherein an optical fiber is inserted into a ferrule blank and extends from the end face of the blank, and grinding the end face of the ferrule blank includes grinding the optical fiber to be flush with the end face of the blank.

[0099] Example 18: The method for forming a ferrule according to Example 11, wherein the optical fiber is located within the ablation region where laser ablation is performed on the end face of the blank, and when laser ablation is performed in the ablation region, only the portion of the ablation region other than the optical fiber is laser ablated to form a recess in the ablation region, and the optical fiber end face of the optical fiber is flush with the outer surface of the shoulder portion.

[0100] Example 19: The method for forming a ferrule according to Example 11, wherein the optical fiber is located within an ablation region on the end face of the blank, and while laser ablation is performed in the ablation region, the optical fiber is simultaneously laser ablated to form a recess in the ablation region, and the optical fiber end face is recessed along the length direction relative to the outer surface of the shoulder.

[0101] While exemplary embodiments of this application have been described, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes and modifications can be made to the exemplary embodiments of this application without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Therefore, all changes and modifications are included within the scope of protection of this application as defined by the claims. This application is defined by the appended claims, and equivalents of those claims are also included.

Claims

1. A ferrule for use in a non-contact fiber optic connector, characterized by, The ferrule includes: A ferrule body (10), wherein a ferrule end face (30) is formed at one end along the length direction; and A shoulder (20) is provided at the ferrule end face (30) of the ferrule body (10), and the shoulder (20) is configured to extend along a portion of the ferrule end face (30) of the ferrule body (10) to form a recess (32) surrounded by the shoulder (20) on the ferrule end face (30). The optical fiber (40) extends along the length direction in the ferrule body (10) and protrudes from the recess (32) of the ferrule end face (30), such that the optical fiber end face (42) of the optical fiber (40) is located along the length direction between the outer surface (22) of the shoulder portion (20) and the recess (32); and The shoulder portion (20) is integrally formed with the insert body (10).

2. Ferrule according to claim 1, characterized in that The distance along the length direction between the outer surface (22) of the shoulder portion (20) and the recessed portion (32) is less than 20 micrometers.

3. Ferrule according to claim 1, characterized in that The optical fiber (40) extends less than 5 micrometers along its length from the recess (32) of the ferrule end face (30).

4. The ferrule of claim 1, wherein, The outer surface (22) of the shoulder portion (20) is flat, and / or the recess (32) of the insert end face (30) is flat.

5. The ferrule of claim 1, wherein, The outer surface (22) of the shoulder portion (20) is parallel to the recess (32) of the ferrule end face (30).

6. The ferrule of claim 1, wherein, The outer surface (22) of the shoulder portion (20) and / or the recess (32) of the ferrule end face (30) form an inclined angle relative to the length direction.

7. Ferrule according to claim 6, characterized in that The tilt angle is in the range of 78 degrees to 90 degrees.

8. The ferrule of claim 1, wherein, A pin hole (12) is formed in the ferrule body (10). The pin hole (12) extends along the length direction through the shoulder (20) so that the pin hole (12) does not contact the recess (32) of the ferrule end face (30).

9. The ferrule of claim 1, wherein, The outer surface (22) of the shoulder (20) is formed by grinding, and the recess (32) of the insert end face (30) is formed by laser ablation.

10. An optical fiber connector, characterized by, The fiber optic connector includes a ferrule according to any one of claims 1 to 9, such that the fiber optic connector is configured as a non-contact fiber optic connector.

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