Optical fiber butt-coupling device comprising optical fiber adapter and optical fiber connector

Abstract

An optical fiber butt-coupling device comprising an optical fiber adapter and an optical fiber connector. The optical fiber adapter is butt-coupled to the optical fiber connector. The optical fiber adapter comprises an adapter main body (1), a spring assembly (4), a sliding block assembly (5), steel balls (6), a connecting member (7), and a stop member (2). The spring assembly (4) comprises a first spring (41) and a second spring (42). The first spring (41) is arranged on the outer side of the adapter body (1). The second spring (42) is arranged in a sliding recess of the adapter body (1). The sliding block assembly (5) comprises a first sliding block (51) and a second sliding block (52). The first sliding block (51) is provided at the end of the first spring (41) away from the top end of the adapter main body (1), and the second sliding block (52) is provided below the second spring (42) in the sliding recess, thus the locking force when the optical fiber adapter and the optical fiber connector are in a locked state is enhanced.

Description

Optical fiber docking device including optical fiber adapter and optical fiber connector Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to an optical fiber docking device comprising an optical fiber adapter and an optical fiber connector. Background Art

[0002] In the prior art, most fiber optic adapters and connectors use a screw-type locking method. This locking method requires reserved operating space around the fiber optic adapter and connector. However, in some installation scenarios, the space is limited, making operation difficult. To address the operational difficulties caused by this screw-type locking method, Chinese patent application publication number CN114518623A discloses a fiber optic adapter and fiber optic connector assembly. This does not require twisting the fiber optic adapter or connector, and can be locked by directly inserting the fiber optic connector along the insertion direction. However, it relies solely on a single elastic member to achieve locking, resulting in a relatively weak locking force, which can easily lead to accidental removal.

[0003] Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present invention aims to provide an optical fiber docking device comprising an optical fiber adapter and an optical fiber connector, so as to improve the locking force of the optical fiber adapter and the optical fiber connector when they are in a locked state and reduce the occurrence of accidental removal.

[0005] According to the present invention, a fiber optic docking device is provided, comprising a fiber optic adapter and a fiber optic connector. The fiber optic adapter is used for docking with the fiber optic connector. The fiber optic adapter comprises an adapter body (1), a spring assembly (4), a slider assembly (5), a steel ball (6), a connector (7), and a stopper (2).

[0006] The spring assembly (4) comprises a first spring (41) and a second spring (42), wherein the first spring (41) is arranged on the outside of the adapter body (1), and the second spring (42) is arranged in a sliding groove of the adapter body (1).

[0007] The slider assembly (5) comprises a first slider (51) and a second slider (52), wherein the first slider (51) is arranged at an end of the first spring (41) away from the top end of the adapter body (1), and the second slider (52) is arranged below the second spring (42) in the sliding groove.

[0008] The connecting piece (7) is arranged on the adapter body (1).

[0009] The stop member (2) is arranged on a thread at an end of the adapter body (1) away from the top end of the adapter body (1).

[0010] The optical fiber connector includes an unlocking member (3) and a dustproof assembly (8), wherein the dustproof assembly (8) includes a dustproof cap (81) and a dustproof cap sealing ring (82), wherein the dustproof cap sealing ring (82) is arranged in a sealing groove of the dustproof cap (81), and the unlocking member (3) is sleeved on the outer side of the dustproof cap (81) and can slide relative to the dustproof cap (81), and an end of the unlocking member (3) away from the adapter body (1) is a curved surface.

[0011] The adapter body (1) has a cavity for accommodating the optical fiber connector. When the optical fiber connector is inserted into the optical fiber adapter, the plug of the dust cap (81) pushes the second slider (52) to move along the insertion direction, and the second spring (42) is compressed. At the same time, the first spring (41) pushes the first slider (51), and the first slider (51) pushes the steel ball (6) inward until the steel ball (6) is stuck in the annular groove provided on the dust cap (81), and the optical fiber adapter and the optical fiber connector are in a locked state.

[0012] The present invention has at least the following beneficial effects:

[0013] The optical fiber adapter of the present invention includes a spring assembly, which includes a first spring and a second spring. When the optical fiber connector is inserted into the optical fiber adapter, the plug of the dust cap pushes the second slider to move in the insertion direction, and the second spring is compressed. At the same time, the first spring pushes the first slider, and the first slider pushes the steel ball inward until the steel ball is stuck in the annular groove provided on the dust cap, and the optical fiber adapter and the optical fiber connector are in a locked state. In the present invention, when the optical fiber adapter and the optical fiber connector are in the locked state, the first spring and the second spring both apply a clamping force to the steel ball, making it difficult for the optical fiber connector to be directly pulled out by external force, thereby reducing the occurrence of accidental pulling out. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the description of the embodiments. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative work.

[0015] FIG1 is an exploded schematic diagram of an optical fiber adapter and an optical fiber connector provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0016] FIG2 is a cross-sectional view of a fiber optic adapter and a fiber optic connector in a locked state according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0017] FIG3 is a cross-sectional view of a fiber optic adapter in a locked state according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] FIG4 is a flow chart of a method for obtaining θ provided by an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] The following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without making any creative efforts shall fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0020] According to the present invention, a fiber optic docking device including a fiber optic adapter and a fiber optic connector is provided. The fiber optic adapter is used to dock with the fiber optic connector. As shown in FIG1 , the fiber optic adapter includes an adapter body 1, a spring assembly 4, a slider assembly 5, a steel ball 6, a connector 7, and a stopper 2.

[0021] Optionally, there are four steel balls 6 , which are located at four positions of the circle where the steel balls 6 are located.

[0022] The spring assembly 4 includes a first spring 41 and a second spring 42 , wherein the first spring 41 is disposed on the outside of the adapter body 1 , and the second spring 42 is disposed in a sliding groove of the adapter body 1 .

[0023] The slider assembly 5 includes a first slider 51 and a second slider 52 , wherein the first slider 51 is arranged at an end of the first spring 41 away from the top of the adapter body 1 , and the second slider 52 is arranged below the second spring 42 in the sliding groove.

[0024] The connecting member 7 is provided on the adapter body 1 .

[0025] The stopper 2 is provided at a thread of the adapter body 1 at one end away from the top end of the adapter body 1 .

[0026] According to the present invention, the optical fiber connector is used to dock with an optical fiber adapter, and the optical fiber connector includes an unlocking member 3 and a dustproof assembly 81. The dustproof assembly 8 includes a dustproof cap 81 and a dustproof cap sealing ring 82. The dustproof cap sealing ring 82 is arranged in the sealing groove of the dustproof cap 81. The unlocking member 3 is sleeved on the outside of the dustproof cap 81 and can slide relative to the dustproof cap 81. The end of the unlocking member 3 away from the adapter body 1 is a curved surface.

[0027] As shown in Figure 2, the adapter body 1 has a cavity for accommodating the optical fiber connector. When the optical fiber connector is inserted into the optical fiber adapter, the plug of the dust cap 81 pushes the second slider 52 to move along the insertion direction, and the second spring 42 is compressed. At the same time, the first spring 41 pushes the first slider 51, and the first slider 51 pushes the steel ball 6 inward until the steel ball 6 is stuck in the annular groove provided on the dust cap 81. The optical fiber adapter and the optical fiber connector are in a locked state.

[0028] According to the present invention, one optical fiber head is set in the optical fiber adapter body 1, and the other is set in the dust cap 81. When the optical fiber connector is inserted into the optical fiber adapter, the two optical fiber heads are in contact, and communication can be achieved.

[0029] As shown in FIG3 , when the optical fiber connector leaves the optical fiber adapter, the unlocking member 3 is pushed along the insertion direction, the first spring 41 is compressed, the steel ball 6 moves outward, the second spring 42 is released, and the second spring 42 pushes the second slider 52 to make the plug of the dust cap 81 pop out, and the optical fiber adapter and the optical fiber connector are in an unlocked state.

[0030] The optical fiber adapter of the present invention includes a spring assembly, which includes a first spring 41 and a second spring 42. When the optical fiber connector is inserted into the optical fiber adapter, the plug of the dust cap 81 pushes the second slider 52 to move along the insertion direction, and the second spring 42 is compressed. At the same time, the first spring 41 pushes the first slider 51, and the first slider 51 pushes the steel ball 6 inward until the steel ball 6 is stuck in the annular groove provided on the dust cap 81, and the optical fiber adapter and the optical fiber connector are in a locked state; in the present invention, when the optical fiber adapter and the optical fiber connector are in a locked state, the first spring 41 and the second spring 42 both apply a clamping force to the steel ball, making it difficult for the optical fiber connector to be directly pulled out by external force, thereby reducing the occurrence of accidental pulling out.

[0031] The angle between the curved surface of the unlocking member 3 and the central axis of the unlocking member 3 is θ. As shown in FIG2 , the central axis is in the vertical direction. Optionally, θ is set based on an empirical value. Preferably, considering the size of the optical fiber adapter panel to which the optical fiber is to be adapted and the number of optical fiber adapters required to be provided on the optical fiber adapter panel, to avoid the problem of not being able to provide a specific number of optical fiber adapters on the optical fiber adapter panel due to the inappropriate size of the unlocking member 3 in the optical fiber connector, θ is determined by simulation before producing the optical fiber adapter and the optical fiber connector. As shown in FIG4 , the method for obtaining θ includes:

[0032] S100: Obtain the length H and width L of the optical fiber adapter panel.

[0033] According to the present invention, in actual application scenarios, multiple fiber optic adapters need to be arranged on a fiber optic adapter panel, and the size of the fiber optic connector needs to match the size of the fiber optic adapter panel to avoid the situation where some fiber optic adapters on the fiber optic adapter panel cannot be connected to the fiber optic connector due to the excessive size of the fiber optic connector.

[0034] S200, obtaining the row number A of the optical fiber adapters set on the optical fiber adapter panel, where A=floor(L / W0), floor() is rounded down, and W0 is the initial size of the optical fiber connector.

[0035] Optional, W0 is the experience value.

[0036] S300, obtaining the number B of columns of optical fiber adapters set on the optical fiber adapter panel, where B=floor(H / W0).

[0037] S400: If A×Bn<0, proceed to S500; n is the number of fiber optic adapters to be arranged on the fiber optic adapter panel.

[0038] According to the present invention, if A×Bn≥0, it means that using W0 as the size of the optical fiber connector can meet the requirement that all optical fiber adapters can be inserted into the optical fiber connector when n optical fiber adapters are arranged on the optical fiber adapter panel. In this case, W0 can be used as the size of the optical fiber connector (i.e., the maximum width of the optical fiber connector) for production.

[0039] S500, obtaining the number of optical fiber adapters to be added in each row n0 = ceil((nA×B) / A)); ceil() is rounded up.

[0040] S600: Obtain a target size W1 of the optical fiber connector, where W1 = H / (n0+B).

[0041] S700, obtain θ = arctan ((W1-X1-2×X2) / X0), X1 is the maximum radius of the dust cap, X2 is the material thickness of the unlocking member, and X0 is the length of the line between the two end points on the inner side of the curved surface of the unlocking member projected onto the central axis of the unlocking member 3.

[0042] As shown in FIG2 , the two end points on the inner side of the curved surface of the unlocking member are P1 and P2 respectively.

[0043] By producing optical fiber connectors based on θ obtained from S100-S700, it is possible to avoid the situation where some optical fiber connectors cannot be inserted due to space limitations when n optical fiber adapters are arranged on an optical fiber adapter panel.

[0044] Preferably, between S600 and S700, the following is also included:

[0045] S610, determine whether W1 satisfies W2 ≤ W1 ≤ W3, where W2 < W3; W2 is the first preset size of the fiber optic connector, and W3 is the second preset size of the fiber optic connector; W2 = X1 + 2×X2 + X0×tanθ1, W3 = X1 + 2×X2 + X0×tanθ2; θ1 is the minimum value of the angle between the curved surface of the unlocking member and the central axis of the unlocking member 3, and θ2 is the maximum value of the angle between the curved surface of the unlocking member and the central axis of the unlocking member 3.

[0046] Optionally, θ1 and θ2 are empirical values.

[0047] S620, if so, execute S700.

[0048] S610 and S620 of the present invention also consider whether the fiber optic adapter panel matches n. Only when the fiber optic adapter panel matches n can θ be obtained through S700 to meet the requirement of setting n fiber optic adapters on the fiber optic adapter panel.

[0049] Preferably, S620 further includes: if not, output a preset message indicating that the fiber optic adapter panel does not match n and output information including the recommended fiber optic adapter panel size and / or the recommended number of fiber optic adapters.

[0050] Optionally, the recommended fiber optic adapter panel size includes a length of W0×(n0 + B) and a width of L, and the recommended number of fiber optic adapters is A×B.

[0051] S620 of the present invention also considers the situation where the fiber optic adapter panel does not match n, that is, no matter how θ is optimized, it is impossible to avoid the situation where some fiber optic connectors cannot be inserted when setting n fiber optic adapters on the fiber optic adapter panel; in the case where the fiber optic adapter panel does not match n, the present invention outputs a preset message indicating that the fiber optic adapter panel does not match n, enabling the user to know the information that the fiber optic adapter panel does not match n. Moreover, the present invention also outputs the recommended adapter panel size and / or the recommended number of fiber optic adapters information, enabling the user to quickly obtain how to adjust the adapter panel size without changing the number of fiber optic adapters and / or how to adjust the number of fiber optic adapters without changing the fiber optic adapter panel size, improving user satisfaction.

[0052] Although some specific embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail by way of examples, those skilled in the art should understand that the above examples are for illustrative purposes only and not for limiting the scope of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should also understand that various modifications can be made to the embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An optical fiber docking device comprising an optical fiber adapter and an optical fiber connector, characterized in that: The optical fiber adapter is used for docking with the optical fiber connector, and comprises an adapter body (1), a spring assembly (4), a slider assembly (5), a steel ball (6), a connecting piece (7) and a stopper (2); The spring assembly (4) comprises a first spring (41) and a second spring (42), wherein the first spring (41) is arranged on the outer side of the adapter body (1), and the second spring (42) is arranged in a sliding groove of the adapter body (1); The slider assembly (5) comprises a first slider (51) and a second slider (52), wherein the first slider (51) is arranged at an end of the first spring (41) away from the top end of the adapter body (1), and the second slider (52) is arranged below the second spring (42) in the sliding groove; The connecting member (7) is arranged on the adapter body (1); The stopper (2) is arranged at a thread of an end of the adapter body (1) away from the top end of the adapter body (1); The optical fiber connector comprises an unlocking member (3) and a dustproof assembly (8), the dustproof assembly (8) comprises a dustproof cap (81) and a dustproof cap sealing ring (82), the dustproof cap sealing ring (82) is arranged in a sealing groove of the dustproof cap (81), the unlocking member (3) is sleeved on the outer side of the dustproof cap (81) and can slide relative to the dustproof cap (81), and one end of the unlocking member (3) away from the adapter body (1) is a curved surface; The adapter body (1) has a cavity for accommodating the optical fiber connector. When the optical fiber connector is inserted into the optical fiber adapter, the plug of the dust cap (81) pushes the second slider (52) to move along the insertion direction, and the second spring (42) is compressed. At the same time, the first spring (41) pushes the first slider (51), and the first slider (51) pushes the steel ball (6) inward until the steel ball (6) is stuck in the annular groove provided on the dust cap (81), and the optical fiber adapter and the optical fiber connector are in a locked state.

2. The optical fiber docking device comprising an optical fiber adapter and an optical fiber connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The angle between the curved surface of the unlocking member (3) and the central axis of the unlocking member (3) is θ, and a method for obtaining θ includes: S100, obtaining the length H and width L of the optical fiber adapter panel; S200, obtaining the row number A of the optical fiber adapters set on the optical fiber adapter panel, A=floor(L / W0), floor() is rounded down, and W0 is the initial size of the optical fiber connector; S300, obtaining the number of columns B of the optical fiber adapters set on the optical fiber adapter panel, where B=floor(H / W0); S400, if A×Bn<0, then enter S500; n is the number of optical fiber adapters to be arranged on the optical fiber adapter panel; If A×Bn≥0, then θ=arctan((W0-X1-2×X2) / X0); S500, obtaining the number of optical fiber adapters to be added in each row n0=ceil((nA×B) / A)); ceil() is rounded up; S600. Obtain the target size W1 of the fiber optic connector, where W1 = H / (n0 + B). S700. Obtain θ = arctan((W1 - X1 - 2×X2) / X0), where X1 is the maximum radius of the dust cap (81), X2 is the material thickness of the unlocking member (3), and X0 is the length of the projection of the connection line between the two endpoints on the inner side of the curved surface of the unlocking member (3) on the central axis of the unlocking member (3).

3. The optical fiber docking device comprising an optical fiber adapter and an optical fiber connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the fiber optic connector leaves the fiber optic adapter, push the unlocking member (3) along the insertion direction. The first spring (41) is compressed, the steel ball (6) moves outwards, the second spring (42) is released, and the second spring (42) pushes the second slider (52) to eject the plug of the dust cap (81), and the fiber optic adapter and the fiber optic connector are in an unlocked state.

4. The optical fiber docking device comprising an optical fiber adapter and an optical fiber connector according to claim 2, characterized in that: Between S600 and S700, it further includes: S610. Determine whether W1 satisfies W2 ≤ W1 ≤ W3, where W2 < W3; W2 is the first preset size of the fiber optic connector, and W3 is the second preset size of the fiber optic connector; W2 = X1 + 2×X2 + X0×tanθ1, W3 = X1 + 2×X2 + X0×tanθ2; θ1 is the minimum value of the angle between the curved surface of the preset unlocking member and the central axis of the unlocking member (3), and θ2 is the maximum value of the angle between the curved surface of the preset unlocking member and the central axis of the unlocking member (3). S620. If so, execute S700.

5. The optical fiber docking device comprising an optical fiber adapter and an optical fiber connector according to claim 4, characterized in that: S620 further includes: If not, output a preset message indicating that the fiber optic adapter panel does not match n and output information including the recommended fiber optic adapter panel size and / or the number of recommended fiber optic adapters.

6. The optical fiber docking device comprising an optical fiber adapter and an optical fiber connector according to claim 5, characterized in that: The recommended fiber optic adapter panel size includes a length of W0×(n0 + B) and a width of L, and the number of recommended fiber optic adapters is A×B.

7. The optical fiber docking device comprising an optical fiber adapter and an optical fiber connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The connecting member (7) is a connecting rope.

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