Optical fiber connector

An optical fiber connector includes a number of optical fibers, a body, a number of supports and a cover. The body includes a number of lens portions at a first end thereof, a number of through holes at an opposite second end, and a recess located between the lens portions and the through holes. The through holes are in communication with the recess. The optical fibers extend through the respective through holes and terminate at the respective lens portions. The supports are formed in the recess. Each support supports and retains a portion of the corresponding optical fiber exposed in the recess. The cover is received in the recess. The cover has a number of slanted faces spatially corresponding to the respective supports. The slanted faces and the supports cooperatively securely sandwich the exposed portions of the optical fibers in the body.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to optical fiber connectors.

2. Description of Related Art

Optical fiber connectors typically include a lens and a blind hole behind the lens. The blind hole receives an optical fiber. The lens receives and guides light from the optical fiber.

Injection molding is a popular method of fabricating optical fiber connectors. A mold used includes a core pin to form the blind hole. During injection molding, however, the core pin may be bent by impact of introduced molding material, thus producing a blind hole out of spec.

Therefore, an optical fiber connector which can overcome the limitations described, is needed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIGS. 1 to 5, an optical fiber connector100, according to a first embodiment, includes a body10, a cover40, and two optical fibers50.

The body10is substantially cuboid and includes a first end14, an opposite second end13, a first side surface11, and a second side surface12opposite to the first side surface11. The first side surface11and the second side surface12connect the first end14to the second end13. Two lens portions20are formed at the first end14. Two insertion holes16are defined at the first end14. The two lens portions20are located between the two insertion holes16. The insertion holes16are configured for positioning the body10when the optical fiber connector10is coupled to another optical fiber connector. The body10may be formed by injection molding.

The body10defines two through holes15and a recess30. The through holes15are defined at the second end13and respectively receive the optical fibers50. Each of the optical fibers50has a distal portion502exposed in the recess30. The two through holes15are parallel to each other and are aligned with the lens portions20respectively. The through holes15extend from the second end13to the first end14and are in communication with the recess30. The recess30is located between the lens portions20and the through holes15. The optical fibers50extend through the respective through holes15and terminate at the respective lens portions20. The body10includes a first inner surface31, a second inner surface32and a bottom surface33in the recess30. The first inner surface31is opposite to the second inner surface32. The bottom surface33connects the first inner surface31to the second inner surface32. The through holes15extend through the second inner surface32. In this embodiment, the first inner surface31coincides with a focal plane of the lens portion20. It is to be understood that in alternative embodiments, the first inner surface31may be positioned on a plane parallel to the focal plane of the lens portion20.

Two L-shaped supports34are formed in the recess30and extend from the bottom surface33. Each support34supports and retains the portion502of the corresponding optical fiber50exposed in the recess30. The support34connects the first inner surface31to the bottom surface33. Specifically, each support34includes a horizontal surface341and a vertical surface342connecting perpendicular to the horizontal surface341. The horizontal surface341is substantially parallel to the bottom surface33. The vertical surface342is substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface33. The exposed portions502of the optical fibers50are supported on the corresponding supports34. Ends of the optical fibers50distal from the second inner surface32are in contact with the first inner surface31.

The cover40is shaped to be received in the recess30and may be secured in the recess30by adhesive. Material of the cover40may be transparent to ultraviolet light so that the adhesive can be cured thereby. The cover40is received substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the through hole15.

The cover40includes two slanted faces41arranged at opposite ends of the cover40. Each of the slanted faces41is obliquely oriented relative to the corresponding the vertical surface342and the horizontal surface341. The slanted faces41respectively abut the exposed portions502of the corresponding optical fibers50so that the supports34and the cover40cooperatively securely sandwich the exposed portions502of the optical fibers50in the body10. Cooperation of the supports34and the slanted faces41can function as blind holes and the blind holes for receiving the optical fibers50are omitted, making it is easier to mold the body10to desired tolerances with the supports34and the cover40with slanted faces41than to mold a body with blind holes to desired tolerances.

Referring toFIG. 6, an optical fiber connector200, according to a second embodiment, is shown, differing from optical fiber connector100of the first embodiment only in that the optical fiber connector200includes two covers240and a body210of the optical fiber connector200defines two recesses230.

Each of the covers240is shaped to be received in a corresponding recess230. A support234is formed in each recess230. The supports234and the covers240cooperatively securely sandwich portions250of the optical fibers exposed in the respective recesses230.