Abstract:
A lens element includes a main body and a light splitting member. The main body includes an end surface allowing optical fibers to optically connect to the main body, and a bottom surface facing toward optical signal emitting/receiving elements. The main body defines a groove. The groove includes a reflecting surface for reflecting optical signals between the optical signal emitting/receiving elements and the optical fibers. The light splitting member is positioned in a path of light emitted by the optical signal emitting/receiving elements, the light splitting member splits the light into two split light beams, and directs one of the split light beams to the optical fibers and directs the other of the split light beams to an optical detector.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates to lens elements and optical communication apparatuses and, particularly, to an optical lens and optical communication apparatus with optical signal feedback function. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Optical communication apparatus generally include an emitter for emitting light, an optical fiber for transmitting the light, and a lens element for optically coupling the light between the emitter and the optical fiber. In typical optical communication apparatuses, the light from the emitter is directly sent to the optical fiber and therefore cannot be measured for intensity and stability. As such, communication quality may be adversely affected when the light does not qualify and cannot be detected. 
         [0005]    What is needed therefore is a lens element and an optical communication apparatus with the lens element addressing the limitations described. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    The components of the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout several views. 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view of an optical communication apparatus, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the optical communication apparatus includes a lens element. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the lens element of the optical communication apparatus of  FIG. 1 , viewing from another angle different from  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is an assembled view of the optical apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the optical apparatus of  FIG. 3 , taken along line IV-IV. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]      FIGS. 1-4  show an optical communication apparatus  100  according to an exemplary embodiment. The optical communication apparatus  100  includes a printed circuit board (PCB)  10 , two optical emitters  20 , two optical receivers  30 , two optical detectors  40  corresponding to the optical emitters  20 , a lens element  50 , two output optical fibers  60  corresponding to the optical emitters  20 , and two input optical fibers  70  corresponding to the optical receivers  30 . 
         [0012]    The PCB  10  includes a mounting surface  11  for mounting the optical emitters  20 , the optical receivers  30 , and the optical detectors  40  thereon. The PCB  10  further includes one or more printed circuits (not shown) for transmitting electrical signals and providing electrical power for the optical emitters  20 , the optical receivers  30 , and the optical detectors  40 . 
         [0013]    The optical emitters  20 , the optical receivers  30 , and the optical detectors  40  are electrically connected to the PCB  10 . The optical emitters  20  and the optical receivers  30  are arranged along a first linear direction, the optical detectors  40  are arranged along a second linear direction substantially parallel to the first linear direction, and each optical detector  40  is aligned with a corresponding optical emitter  20  along a direction substantially perpendicular to the first and second linear directions. The optical emitters  20  are configured for emitting light representing predetermined optical signals. The optical receivers  30  are configured for receiving light from the input optical fibers  70 . Each of optical detectors  40  is configured for detecting the optical signals emitted from a corresponding optical emitter  20  and transmitting a detecting result to the corresponding optical emitter  20 . The lens element  50  is positioned on the mounting surface  11  and covers the optical emitters  20 , the optical receivers  30 , and the optical detectors  40 . The lens element  50  is configured for coupling optical signals between the optical emitters  20  and the output optical fibers  60 , and coupling optical signals between the optical receivers  30  and the input optical fibers  70 . 
         [0014]    The lens element  50  includes a main body  51 , a number of first lens portions  52 , a number of second lens portions  53 , and a light splitting member  54 . 
         [0015]    The main body  51  is substantially rectangular-shaped. The main body  51  includes a first end surface  511 , a second end surface  512  opposite to the first end surface  511 , a bottom surface  513 , and a top surface  514  opposite to the bottom surface  513 . The main body  51  defines a first groove  501 , a second groove  502 , and a third groove  503 . The first groove  501  passes through the top surface  514  and the first end surface  511 . The first groove  501  forms a first surface  51   a  and a second surface  51   b  in the main body  51 . The first surface  51   a  is substantially parallel to the bottom surface  413 , and the second surface  51   b  is substantially parallel to the first end surface  511 . The main body  51  includes a protrusion  515  upwardly protruding from the first surface  51   a . The protrusion  515  defines a number of positioning grooves  5151  for receiving both the input optical fibers  60  and the output optical fibers  70 . The second groove  502  and the third groove  503  are defined in the top surface of the main body  51 , and the second groove  502  is located between the first groove  501  and the third groove  503 . The second groove  502  is positioned over the optical detectors  40  along the second linear direction. The length of the second groove  502  is not less than a distance between the optical detectors  40 . The second groove  502  forms two opposite positioning surfaces  51   c  and a first inclined surface  51   d  connected between the positioning surfaces  51   c . Each positioning surface  51   c  defines an engaging groove  516 . The first inclined surface  51   d  is adjacent to the third groove  503 , and an included angle between the first inclined surface  51   d  and the bottom surface  513  is substantial 45 degrees. The third groove  503  forms a second inclined surface  51   e  in the main body  51 . The second inclined surface  51   e  is substantially perpendicular to the first inclined surface  51   d . An included angle between the second inclined surface  51   e  and the bottom surface  513  is substantial 45 degrees. The main body  51  further includes a supporting portion  5131  protruding from the bottom surface  513 . 
         [0016]    The first lens portions  52  are formed on the second surface  51   b , and each first lens portion  52  is optically aligned with a corresponding one of the output optical fibers  60  and the input optical fibers  70 . The second lens portions  53  are formed on the bottom surface  513 , and each second lens portion  53  is optically aligned with a corresponding one of the optical emitters  20 , the optical receivers  30 , and the optical detector  40 . In this embodiment, the first lens portions  52  and the second lens portions  53  are convex lenses, and the first lens portions  52  and the second lens portions  53  are integrally formed with the main body  51 . An optical axis of each first lens portion  52  is substantially parallel to the bottom surface  513 , and an optical axis of each second lens portion  53  is substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface  513 . The optical axis of each of the second lens portions  53  which are corresponding to the optical detectors  40  is intersected with the optical axis of a corresponding first lens portion  52  at the first inclined surface  51   d . The optical axis of each of the second lens portions  52  which are corresponding to the optical emitters  20  is intersected with the optical axis of a corresponding first lens portion  53  at the second inclined surface  51   e.    
         [0017]    The light splitting member  54  is substantially shaped accommodating to a shape of the second groove  502 . The light splitting member  54  includes a light splitting surface  541  and a light splitting film  542  coated on the light splitting surface  541 . The light splitting film  542  reflects a portion incident light and allows the other portion of the light to pass therethrough. A ratio of the reflected light and the passing light can be adjusted by changing the material of the light splitting film  542  according to different requirements. The light splitting member  54  includes two engaging blocks  543  respectively protruding from two opposite ends of the light splitting member  54 . The light splitting member  54  is received in the second groove  52 , the light splitting surface  541  overlaps the first inclined surface  51   d , and the engaging blocks  543  are engaged into the engaging grooves  516 , respectively. 
         [0018]    The main body  51  is positioned on the PCB  10  and covers the optical emitters  20 , the optical receivers  30 , and the optical detectors  40 . The supporting portion  5131  supports the main body  51  on the PCB. The second lens portions  53  each optically aligned with a corresponding one of the optical emitters  20 , the optical receivers  30 , and the optical detector  40 . 
         [0019]    The output optical fibers  60  and the input optical fibers  70  are fixed in the corresponding positioning grooves  5151 , and each of the output optical fibers  60  and the input optical fibers  70  is optically aligned with a corresponding one of the first lens portions  52 . 
         [0020]    In use, each optical emitter  20  converts electrical signals into corresponding optical signals and emits light representing the optical signals to a corresponding second lens portion  53 ; the second lens portion  53  converges the light into a substantially parallel light beam and directs the parallel light beam to the second inclined surface  51   e . The second inclined surface  51   e  reflects the parallel light beam to the first inclined surface  51   d  and the light splitting member  54 . The light splitting member  54  splits the light beam into two split light beams, one of the split light beams passes through the light splitting film  542  and reaches a corresponding first lens portion  52  and then transmits into a corresponding output optical fiber  60 , and the other of the split light beam is reflected to a corresponding second lens portion  53 , passes through the second lens portion  53 , and then projects on a corresponding optical detector  40 ; the optical detector  40  receives the other split light beam, detects an intensity and stability of the light according to the other split light beam, and transmits a detecting result to the corresponding optical emitter  20 ; the corresponding optical emitter  10  adjusts the emitted light according to the detecting result. Therefore, parameters of the emitted light can be timely detected by the optical detector  40 , and the performance of the optical communication apparatus  100  is ensured. 
         [0021]    In the embodiment, the number of the optical emitters  20 , the optical receivers  30 , the optical detectors  40 , the output optical fibers  60  or the input optical fibers  70  are two. Alternatively, the number of the optical emitters  20 , the optical receivers  30 , the optical detectors  40 , the output optical fibers  60  or the input optical fibers  70  can be changed according to different requirements. 
         [0022]    It is believed that the present embodiments and their advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiments of the disclosure.