Abstract:
An optical fiber coupling device includes a first optical fiber connector having a light source; and a second optical fiber connector matched with the first optical fiber connector by pull and plug. The second optical fiber connector includes a light sensor. The light sensor records a predetermined light level as a reference when the second optical fiber connector is at a aligned position to the first optical fiber connector, and is capable of detecting an incident light level, thereby showing that whether the second optical fiber connector is at the aligned position to the first optical fiber connector by compare of the incident light level and the reference.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to optical fiber coupling devices, and particularly to an optical fiber coupling device including a first optical fiber connector and a second optical fiber connector matched with the first optical fiber connector. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     In order to obtain a higher transmission speed, optical fiber coupling devices are used instead of electrical connectors. Referring to  FIG. 4 , a typical optical fiber coupling device  10  includes a first optical fiber connector  11  and a second optical fiber connector  13 . One of the first optical fiber connector  11  and the second optical fiber connector  13  may be buried in an electronic device, and the other one is used as a plug. Each of the first optical fiber connector  11  and the second optical fiber connector  13  has one or more optical fiber holes  113 ,  133  for receiving the corresponding optical fibers, with each optical fiber hole  113 ,  133  corresponding to a lens  12 ,  14  integrally formed with the first optical fiber connector  11  or the second optical fiber connector  13 . Such lenses  12 ,  14  are used for concentrating light to the corresponding optical fibers. 
     Protrusions  101  and hole portions  131  are usually used in the respective first optical fiber connector  11  and the second optical fiber connector  13  for alignment. However, as the protrusions  101  and the hole portions  131  themselves may be not in alignment in forming the first optical fiber connector  11  and the second optical fiber connector  13 , and as well as the lenses  12 ,  14 . Furthermore, after repeatedly pulling and plugging, the protrusions  101  may become abrasive, then the alignment of the first optical fiber connector  11  and the second optical fiber connector  13  may be not satisfactory. 
     What is needed, therefore, is an optical fiber coupling device, which can overcome the above shortcomings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the present optical fiber coupling device can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present optical fiber coupling device. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of an optical fiber coupling device in accordance with a first embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view of an optical fiber coupling device in accordance with a second embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic view of an optical fiber coupling device in accordance with a third embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic view of a conventional optical fiber coupling device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the present optical fiber coupling device will now be described in detail below and with reference to the drawings. 
       FIG. 1  shows an optical fiber coupling device  20  in accordance with a first embodiment. The optical fiber coupling device  20  includes a first optical fiber connector  21  and a second optical fiber connector  22  matching with the first optical fiber connector  21 . One of the first optical fiber connector  21  and the second optical fiber connector  22  may be buried in an electronic device, and the other one is used as a plug. 
     The first optical fiber connector  21  includes a first matching surface  210 , one or more first lenses  212  formed on the first matching surface  210 , and one or more optical fiber blind holes  213  corresponding to the one or more first lenses  212 . The second optical fiber connector  22  includes a second matching surface  220 , one or more second lenses  222  formed on the second matching surface  220 , and one or more optical fiber blind holes  223  corresponding to the one or more second lenses  222 . In the illustrated embodiment, there are two first lenses  212  and two second lenses  222 , and the first lenses  212  and the second lenses  222  are integrally formed with the first optical fiber connector  21  and the second optical fiber connector  22 . That is, the first optical fiber connector  21  and the second optical fiber connector  22  are made of a transparent material. 
     The first optical fiber connector  21  further includes one or more light sources  30  positioned at the first matching surface  210 . The second optical fiber connector  22  further includes one or more light sensors  32  positioned at the second matching surface  220 . The light sensors  32  detect an incident light level. The light sensors  32  can be measuring sensors directly measuring an incident light level. Alternatively, the light sensors  32  can be image sensors such as CMOS sensors through which the incident light level can be reflected by pixels output by the CMOS sensors. In particular, each of the light sensors  32  can have a predetermined light level reference, and the light sensors  32  can be connected to a photoelectric converting device  34  through wires  320  received in holes  321  formed in the second optical fiber connector  22 , and the photoelectric converting device  34  is finally connected to a display  36 . 
     The predetermined light level reference may be a light level detected by the light sensor  32  when the first optical fiber connector  21  is aligned with the second optical fiber connector  22 , or when the alignment degree of the first optical fiber connector  21  and the second optical fiber connector  22  is acceptable. The detected incident light level can be compared with the predetermined light level reference, thereby indicating whether the first optical fiber connector  21  is aligned with the second optical fiber connector  22 , or whether the alignment of the first optical fiber connector  21  and the second optical fiber connector  22  is acceptable. 
     In the present embodiment, the light sensors  32  are located in positions where the light emitted by light sources  30  can be detected by the light sensors  32 . The predetermined light level reference may be 80 lumina, when the detected incident light level is 70 lumina, that means the alignment of the first optical fiber connector  21  and the second optical fiber connector  22  is not acceptable, and one of the first optical fiber connector  21  and second optical fiber connector  22  has to be shifted to align with the other one. When the detected incident light level is 85 lumina, that means the first optical fiber connector  21  and the second optical fiber connector  22  are in a high degree alignment. In such cases, light transmission loss between the first optical fiber connector  21  and the second optical fiber connector  22  is can be reduced. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the light sensors  32  may be located in positions where the light emitted by light sources  30  cannot be detected by the light sensors  32 , then the predetermined light level reference may be 5 lumina or even 0 lumina. If the detected incident light level is higher than 5 lumina, that means the first optical fiber connector  21  and the second optical fiber connector  22  are in a lower degree alignment, or even the first optical fiber connector  21  is not in alignment with the second optical fiber connector  22 . In contrast, If the detected incident light level is lower than 5 lumina or even 0 lumina, that means the first optical fiber connector  21  and the second optical fiber connector  22  are in a high degree alignment. 
     Through the photoelectric converting device  34 , the detected incident light level, or the compare result between the detected and the predetermined light level can be displayed on the display  36 . According to a high degree alignment between the first optical fiber connector  21  and the second optical fiber connector  22 , structures on the first matching surface  210  and the second matching surface  220 , such as protrusions  23  on the first matching surface  210  and concave portions  24  on the second matching surface  220 , the first lenses  212  on the first matching surface  210  and the second lenses  222  on the second matching surface  220  can be formed at the right positions where the protrusions  23  are aligned with the hole portions  24 , and the first lenses  212  are aligned with the second lenses  222 . In addition, in product applications, the first optical fiber connector  21  and the second optical fiber connector  22  can be in a high degree alignment owing to the light sources  30  and the light sensors  32 . 
       FIG. 2  shows an optical fiber coupling device  40  in accordance with a second embodiment. The optical fiber coupling device  40  includes a first optical fiber connector  401  and a second optical fiber connector  402  matching with the first optical fiber connector  401 . In the second optical fiber connector  402 , two troughs  421  are formed in the second matching surface  420 , and two light sensors  42  are mounted in the respective troughs  421 . Furthermore, two light concentrating units  44  are arranged at the opening of the respective troughs  421 . In the present embodiment, the light concentrating unit  44  includes only a Fresnel lens  440 , and the Fresnel lens  440  is positioned on a light-transmitting plate  422  mounted at the opening of the respective troughs  421 . 
     By the light concentrating unit  44 , light can be concentrated at a small area of the light sensors  42 , such that the light sensors  42  are more sensitive. 
       FIG. 3  shows an optical fiber coupling device  60  in accordance with a third embodiment. The optical fiber coupling device  60  is essentially similar to the optical fiber coupling device  40 , however, the optical fiber coupling device  60  includes light concentrating units  64  each including a main lens  640  and a number of sub-lenses  642 . The main lens  640  is arranged in the center, and the sub-lenses  642  are evenly arranged in a circle around the main lens  640 . The light sensors (not shown) are arranged after the light concentrating units  64 . 
     In the present embodiment, each of the light concentrating units  64  includes four sub-lenses  642 . In a high degree alignment of the first optical fiber connector and the second optical fiber connector, a position of the light sensor corresponding to the main lens  640  may detect most light signals, and positions of the light sensor corresponding to the sub-lenses  642  are uniform in light signal output. If a position of the light sensor corresponding to one of the sub-lenses  642  detects more light signals, then it indicates that the first optical fiber connector or the second optical fiber connector is deviated from the right position. 
     It is understood that the above-described embodiments are intended to illustrate rather than limit the disclosure. Variations may be made to the embodiments and methods without departing from the spirit of the disclosure. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the disclosure.