CN102346276A - Optical fiber coupling connector and manufacture method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for manufacturing an optical fiber coupling connector, comprising the following steps: providing a first mold core; injecting a first molding material into the first mold core, and removing the first mold core after the first molding material is shaped to obtain An optical fiber part, the optical fiber part has a through hole; a second mold core and a second molding material are provided, an optical element part is manufactured by using the second mold core and the second molding material, and the optical element part includes an optical element, Wherein, the melting point of the second molding material is higher than the melting point of the first molding material, and the fluidity of the second molding material is lower than that of the first molding material at the same temperature; the optical element part and the optical fiber Assemble the part and align the through hole with the optical element. The invention also provides an optical fiber coupling connector obtained by the manufacturing method.

Description

Optical fiber coupling connector and method of manufacturing the same

technical field

The present invention relates to devices including optical fibers and other optical components, and more particularly to a fiber-coupled connector and a method for manufacturing the fiber-coupled connector.

Background technique

USB (Universal Serial Bus) is a serial bus standard for connecting external devices. It is widely used on computers, but it can also be used on set-top boxes and game consoles. A supplementary standard (On-The-Go) makes it possible to exchange data directly between portable devices. USB was originally initiated by Intel and Microsoft, and its biggest feature is that it supports hot plug (Hot plug) and plug and play (Plug & Play). When the device is inserted, the host enumerates (enumerate) the device and loads the required driver, so it is far more convenient to use than PCI and ISA buses. In the original standard, the maximum transmission bandwidth of USB 1.1 is 12Mbps, and the maximum transmission bandwidth of USB 2.0 is 480Mbps.

However, this transmission bandwidth can no longer meet the current requirements for massive data transmission. Therefore, fiber-coupled connectors have emerged as the times require. Optical fiber coupling connectors are generally divided into an optical fiber part and a lens part. The optical fiber part is provided with a blind hole for placing the optical fiber, and the optical fiber part and the lens part are integrally formed. However, due to the very high requirements on the surface precision of the lens, if it is molded at the same time as the optical fiber part, it will be difficult to ensure the molding yield of the lens, especially at the part where the lens is broken, the material of the lens is difficult to fill, and the lens position is easy to form a hole. Lead to performance degradation of fiber-coupled connectors.

In addition, traditional optical fiber coupling connectors take into account both the optical fiber part and the lens part. Usually, the same low-fluidity high-strength plastic is injected into the mold for integral molding. The quality of the lens and the coupling efficiency of the optical fiber part and the lens part are affected, and the production yield of the optical fiber coupling connector is reduced.

Contents of the invention

In view of this, it is necessary to provide a high-quality optical fiber coupling connector and a method for manufacturing the optical fiber coupling connector.

A method for manufacturing an optical fiber coupling connector, comprising the following steps: providing a first mold core; injecting a first molding material into the first mold core, and removing the first mold after the first molding material is shaped Obtain an optical fiber part, the optical fiber part has a through hole; provide a second mold core and a second molding material, use the second mold core and the second molding material to manufacture an optical element part, the optical element part includes An optical element, wherein the melting point of the second molding material is higher than the melting point of the first molding material, and the fluidity of the second molding material is lower than that of the first molding material at the same temperature; the optical element The part is assembled with the fiber part, and the through hole is aligned with the optical element.

An optical fiber coupling connector, comprising: an optical fiber portion, the optical fiber portion includes a first mating surface and a through hole for accommodating a bundle of optical fibers, the through hole has an entrance and a an outlet, the outlet is located on the first mating surface, the optical fiber part is formed by the first molding material; and an optical element part, the optical element part includes a second mating surface and a position opposite to the second mating surface An optical element, the optical element is used to introduce external light into the optical fiber or export the light in the optical fiber, the second mating surface is attached to the first mating surface and the outlet is aligned with the optical element, the optical element part It is formed by a second molding material, the melting point of the second molding material is higher than that of the first molding material, and the fluidity of the second molding material is lower than that of the first molding material at the same temperature.

Compared with the prior art, the present invention manufactures the fiber part and the optical element part of the fiber coupling connector separately, and uses a second mating surface of the optical element part to stick to the first mating surface of the fiber part, thereby forming a blind hole To place the optical fiber to avoid the problem of low blind hole yield when directly manufacturing blind holes; the optical fiber part and the optical component part select appropriate materials according to their product characteristic requirements, which can improve the molding yield and product quality of fiber-optic coupling connectors , to meet the needs of mass production.

Description of drawings

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an optical fiber coupling connector provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the fiber coupling connector shown in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 is a perspective cross-sectional view of the fiber coupling connector shown in FIG. 1 .

Fig. 4 is a flow chart of a method for manufacturing an optical fiber coupling connector provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

Description of main component symbols

Fiber Coupler 10

Fiber Department 20

External surface 21

First mating surface 22

Groove 23

Through hole 24

Entrance 241

Export 242

Guide post 25

Optical Components Department 30

Second mating surface 32

Optical Components 34

Detailed ways

Referring to FIG. 1 , FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 , the fiber coupling connector 10 provided by the embodiment of the present invention is made of light-transmitting material, and includes an optical fiber part 20 and an optical element part 30 .

The optical fiber part 20 includes a first mating surface 22 and at least one through hole 24 . In this embodiment, the optical fiber part 20 has an outer surface 21, the middle part of the outer surface 21 is recessed to the inside of the optical fiber part 20 to form a groove 23, and the first mating surface 22 is the bottom surface of the groove 23, which is in contact with the outer surface 20. Surfaces 21 are parallel. The fiber part 20 includes four through holes. Each through hole 24 is used to accommodate a bundle of optical fibers (not shown). The through hole 24 has an inlet 241 and an outlet 242 opposite to the inlet 241 , and the outlet 242 is located on the first mating surface 22 .

The optical element portion 30 includes a second mating surface 32 and an outer surface opposite to the second mating surface 32 , the outer surface is provided with a plurality of optical elements 34 .

The optical element part 30 is integrally formed and located in the groove 23 . The depth of the groove 23 is substantially equal to the thickness of the optical component part 30 , so that the outer surface of the optical component part 30 is substantially flush with the outer surface 21 of the optical fiber part 20 , so that the structure of the optical fiber coupling connector 10 is relatively regular. In this embodiment, the number of optical elements 34 is the same as the number of through holes 24 . The optical element 34 is used for leading external light into the optical fiber or leading out light in the optical fiber. The second mating surface 32 is in contact with the first mating surface 22 and the outlet 242 is aligned with the optical element 34 . Both the first mating surface 22 and the second mating surface 32 are plane.

The optical element 34 is a convex lens in this embodiment. When the light in the optical fiber emerges from the outlet 242, it passes through the optical element 34 and becomes a parallel light. After entering another optical element, the parallel light converges into another optical fiber to continue transmission.

The optical fiber coupling connector 10 can be a plug or a socket structurally, and cooperates with the socket or the plug to complete signal transmission. The outer surface 21 has two guide posts 25 for guiding the fiber coupling connector 10 to be mated with another part (receptacle or plug).

Both the second matching surface 32 of the optical element part 30 and the first matching surface 22 of the optical fiber part 20 are rectangular planes, which are convenient for manufacture and assembly. However, other shapes are also possible, and a protrusion structure and a groove structure may be respectively provided on the first and second mating surfaces, so that the optical element part 30 and the optical fiber part 20 are engaged and fixed.

The alignment of the through hole 24 with the optical element 34 means that the central axis of the through hole 24 and the optical axis of the optical element 34 basically coincide or do not deviate far, so that light can be transmitted between the optical fiber and the optical element with low loss.

Referring to FIG. 4, the manufacturing method of the optical fiber coupling connector 10 at least includes the following steps:

A first mold core is provided; a first molding material is injected into the first mold core, and the first mold core is removed after the first molding material is shaped to obtain an optical fiber part, and the optical fiber part has a through hole; providing A second mold core and a second molding material, using the second mold core and the second molding material to manufacture an optical element part, the optical element part includes an optical element, wherein the melting point of the second molding material is higher than The melting point of the first molding material, and the fluidity of the second molding material at the same temperature is lower than the fluidity of the first molding material; the optical element part and the optical fiber part are assembled into one, and the through hole is aligned Align the optics.

The first molding material can be PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate), PC (polycarbonate), etc., and the second molding material is preferably high-strength, high transmittance to specific wavelength light or high transmission efficiency Materials, such as Ultem resin, can achieve a transmittance of more than 90% for specific wavelengths.

Using the high-fluidity first molding material to make the optical fiber part is not easy to produce short shots or holes. Since it is not necessary to use high-strength plastics to make the optical fiber part 20, there will be no problem of foreign matter being precipitated from the end face of the blind hole at high temperature. . On the other hand, using a relatively high-strength material with a high transmittance to light of a specific wavelength can meet the requirements of the optical element part 30 on precision and surface roughness.

Since the optical fiber part 20 and the optical element part 30 are manufactured separately, it is easy to find the respective optimal molding conditions, and compared with making blind holes, it is easier to measure the alignment of the through holes, so the manufacturing method provided by the present invention is obtained. The fiber hole yield is higher.

Both the first molding material and the second molding material are light-transmitting materials. The optical fiber portion 20 and the optical element portion 30 can be manufactured by injection molding, and the optical element portion 30 can also be manufactured by embossing.

The optical fiber coupling connector provided by the present invention includes two independent parts of an optical fiber part and an optical element part, and uses a second mating surface of the optical element part to stick to the first mating surface of the optical fiber part, thereby forming a blind hole to place the optical fiber, Avoid the problem of low blind hole yield when directly manufacturing blind holes. Since the optical fiber part and the optical element part are manufactured separately, different materials can be used for manufacturing, which improves the molding yield and greatly improves the quality and mass production of the optical fiber coupling connector.

It can be understood that those skilled in the art can also make other changes within the spirit of the present invention, which should be included within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (8)

1. A method for manufacturing an optical fiber coupling connector, comprising the following steps: Provide a first mold kernel; Injecting a first molding material into the first mold core, removing the first mold core after the first molding material is shaped to obtain an optical fiber part, the optical fiber part has a through hole; Provide a second mold core and a second molding material, use the second mold core and the second molding material to manufacture an optical element part, the optical element part includes an optical element, wherein the melting point of the second molding material is high At the melting point of the first molding material, and at the same temperature, the fluidity of the second molding material is lower than that of the first molding material; The optical element part is assembled with the optical fiber part, and the through hole is aligned with the optical element. 2. The manufacturing method of optical fiber coupling connector as claimed in claim 1, is characterized in that: Make the central axis of the through hole coincide with the optical axis of the optical element. 3. A fiber optic coupling connector, comprising: An optical fiber portion, the optical fiber portion includes a first mating surface and a through hole for accommodating a bundle of optical fibers, the through hole has an entrance and an exit opposite to the entrance, the exit is located at the first a mating surface, the optical fiber portion is formed from a first molding material; and An optical element part, the optical element part includes a second mating surface and an optical element opposite to the second mating surface, the optical element is used to guide external light into the optical fiber or lead out light in the optical fiber , the second mating surface is attached to the first mating surface and the outlet is aligned with the optical element, the optical element part is formed of a second molding material, and the melting point of the second molding material is higher than the melting point of the first molding material , and the fluidity of the second molding material is lower than that of the first molding material at the same temperature. 4. The optical fiber coupling connector as claimed in claim 3, wherein the optical element is a convex lens. 5 . The optical fiber coupling connector as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the optical fiber portion has a groove, the first mating surface is a bottom surface of the groove, and the optical component portion is accommodated in the groove. 6. The optical fiber coupling connector as claimed in claim 5, wherein the depth of the groove is substantially equal to the thickness of the optical component part. 7. The optical fiber coupling connector as claimed in claim 3, wherein the optical axis of the optical element coincides with the central axis of the through hole. 8. The optical fiber coupling connector as claimed in claim 3, wherein both the first mating surface and the second mating surface are planes.

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