Optical fiber connection system

The present disclosure provides an optical fiber receptacle, an optical fiber connection device and an optical fiber receptacle module. The optical fiber receptacle comprises a housing, a plurality of positioning hooks and at least one clamping unit. The housing has a rear wall, and at least one slot opened on an opposite side of the rear wall. The rear wall has an inner surface facing the slot and an outer surface opposite to the inner surface, the slot is used to be inserted by an optical fiber plug. The positioning hook protrudes from the outer surface of the rear wall in a column shape, is used to pass through a mounting hole of a panel to latched with a hole edge defining the mounting hole of the panel. The clamping unit is formed to the rear wall corresponding to the slot and comprises a clamping channel penetrating the rear wall and communicated with the corresponding slot for clamping a holding member of the optical fiber joint so that the first ferrule of the optical fiber plug and the second ferrule of the optical fiber joint are connected relative to each other. The optical fiber receptacle of the present disclosure can reduce the volume and greatly reduce the material costs.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Chinese Application No. 201720139031.4, filed Feb. 16, 2017, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an optical fiber connection system, more specifically to an optical fiber receptacle, an optical fiber connection device, and an optical fiber receptacle module.

BACKGROUND ART

In a typical optical fiber connection system, the more components of a connector, the larger volume of a housing, and the higher the cost, therefore, simplifying the components and reducing the volume to reduce the cost is the development direction of the optical fiber connector. For example, Chinese Patent No. CN203259689U discloses a tail fiber assembly with a converter, which can save an additional converter. The tail fiber assembly comprises a converter provided with a mating hole therein, a connecting cylinder, one end of which is provided on the converter and communicated with the mating hole, a ceramic ferrule, and a connecting seat sheathing on the ceramic ferrule. A side part of the connecting seat is provided with a connecting key, a cylinder wall of the other end of the connecting cylinder is provided with a L-shaped snap slot to snap the connecting key. The ceramic ferrule passes through the connecting cylinder to be fixed in the mating hole.

The connecting seat and the connecting cylinder of the aforementioned patent are rotated relative to each other, so that the connecting key slides into a short part of the L-shaped snap slot and the connecting seat is fixed relative to the connecting cylinder. However, such a connecting method has the risk that the connecting key exit from the snap slot to make the connection between the connecting seat and the connecting cylinder loose and even the connecting seat and the connecting cylinder are detached because of vibration or rotation. In addition, two opposite sides of the converter of the aforementioned patent each extend outwardly to form a protruding outer edge with a screw hole for being mounted to the panel. However, when a plurality of converters are provided on the same panel, the protruding outer edges of the converters may increase a distance between adjacent converters and increases an occupied area, thereby reducing the number of converters that can be mounted on a single panel.

SUMMARY

Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide an optical fiber receptacle with a small volume and which may stably clamp an optical fiber joint.

Another object of the present disclosure is to provide an optical fiber connection device.

Further another object of the present disclosure is to provide an optical fiber receptacle module.

Therefore, in some embodiments, an optical fiber connection system of the present disclosure comprises an optical fiber receptacle mounted to a panel having a mounting hole, an optical fiber plug; and an optical fiber joint. The optical fiber plug comprises a first ferrule, a first holding member holding the first ferrule, a base shell to which the first holding member is provided, an elastic piece provided to the base shell and abutting against the first holding member, and a sheathing shell sheathed on the base shell and covering the first holding member and making a part of the first ferrule protrude from the sheathing shell, the optical fiber joint comprises a second ferrule and a second holding member holding the second ferrule, the optical fiber receptacle comprises a housing, a plurality of positioning hooks and at least one clamping unit. The housing has a bottom wall, a top wall spaced apart from and facing the bottom wall, two side walls spaced apart from and facing each other and respectively connected to both sides of the bottom wall and the top wall, a rear wall connected to rear ends of the bottom wall, the top wall and the two side walls, and at least one slot opened on an opposite side of the rear wall, the rear wall has an inner surface facing the at least one slot and an outer surface opposite to the inner surface, the at least one slot is used to be inserted by the optical fiber plug. Each positioning hook has an elastic post protruding from the outer surface of the rear wall in a column shape and a hook portion formed to the elastic post, the positioning hook is used to pass through the mounting hole of the panel to latch with a hole edge defining the mounting hole of the panel. The at least one clamping unit is formed to the rear wall corresponding to the at least one slot, and the clamping unit comprises a clamping channel penetrating the rear wall and communicated with the corresponding slot for clamping the second holding member of the optical fiber joint to allow the second ferrule and the first ferrule to be connected relative to each other.

In some embodiments, the clamping unit further comprises a tubular body and a pair of clamping arms, the tubular body has an inner tube section protruding from the inner surface of the rear wall and extending into the slot and an outer tube section protruding from the outer surface of the rear wall, the pair of clamping arms extend from a distal end of the outer tube section, and each clamping arm has a latching hole.

In some embodiments, the clamping unit further comprises a sleeve provided in the tubular body to allow the first ferrule and the second ferrule to insert in and allow the first ferrule and the second ferrule to align with each other.

In some embodiments, the clamping unit further comprises a stopper portion provided in the clamping channel and between the pair of clamping arms and the outer tube section, the stopper portion is used to limit a position that the second ferrule extends into the housing.

In some embodiments, the stopper portion is a hollow annular block.

In some embodiments, an optical fiber connection device of the present disclosure comprises at least one optical fiber plug, at least one optical fiber joint and an optical fiber receptacle. The optical fiber plug comprises a first ferrule, a first holding member holding the first ferrule, a base shell to which the first holding member is provided, an elastic piece provided to the base shell and abutting against the first holding member, and a sheathing shell sheathed on the base shell and covering the first holding member and making a part of the first ferrule protrude from the sheathing shell. The optical fiber joint comprises a second ferrule and a second holding member holding the second ferrule. The optical fiber receptacle comprises a housing, a plurality of positioning hooks and at least one clamping unit. The housing has a bottom wall, a top wall spaced apart from and facing the bottom wall, two side walls spaced apart from and facing each other and respectively connected to both sides of the bottom wall and the top wall, a rear wall connected to rear ends of the bottom wall, the top wall and the two side walls, and at least one slot opened on an opposite side of the rear wall, the rear wall has an inner surface facing the at least one slot and an outer surface opposite to the inner surface, the at least one slot is used to be inserted by the at least one optical fiber plug respectively. Each positioning hook has an elastic post protruding from the outer surface of the rear wall in a column shape and a hook portion formed to the elastic post, the positioning hook is used to pass through a mounting hole of a panel to latch with a hole edge defining the mounting hole of the panel. The at least one clamping unit is formed to the rear wall corresponding to the at least one slot and correspondingly clamping the second holding member of the at least one optical fiber joint, and the clamping unit comprises a clamping channel penetrating the rear wall and communicated with the corresponding slot. The first ferrule and the second ferrule are connected relative to each other in the corresponding clamping channel.

In some embodiments, the clamping unit further comprises a tubular body and a pair of clamping arms, the tubular body has an inner tube section protruding from the inner surface of the rear wall and extending into the slot and an outer tube section protruding from the outer surface of the rear wall, the pair of clamping arms extend from a distal end of the outer tube section, and each clamping arm has a latching hole.

In some embodiments, the clamping unit further comprises a sleeve provided in the tubular body to allow the first ferrule and the second ferrule to insert in and allow the first ferrule and the second ferrule to align with each other.

In some embodiments, the clamping unit further comprises a stopper portion provided in the clamping channel and between the pair of clamping arms and the outer tube section, the stopper portion is used to limit a position that the second ferrule extends into the housing.

In some embodiments, the stopper portion is a hollow annular block.

In some embodiments, the second holding member is hollow tubular and has a second tube portion and a second stopping portion connected to one end of the second tube portion, and an outer diameter of the second stopping portion at a connecting position between the second stopping portion and the second tube portion is larger than an outer diameter of the second tube portion to form a second shoulder, the second stopping portion connects with the second ferrule, the second shoulder abuts against inner edges defining the latching holes of the corresponding pair of clamping arms.

In some embodiments, the second stopping portion is formed with a second tapered surface at a position away from a distal end of the second tube portion.

In some embodiments, the second stopping portion is polygonal column, and the second shoulder abuts against the inner edges defining the latching holes of the pair of clamping arms respectively at two corners of the second stopping portion

In some embodiments, the optical fiber joint further comprises a sheath surrounding and covering the second holding member and a part of the second ferrule.

In some embodiments, the sheath further covers the pair of clamping arms.

In some embodiments, the base shell has a mounting portion in which the first holding member is inserted, the elastic piece is provided in the mounting portion and abuts against the first holding member, the sheathing shell is sheathed on the mounting portion and covers the first holding member and makes a part of the first ferrule protrude from one end of the sheathing shell.

In some embodiments, an optical fiber receptacle module of the present disclosure comprises an outer shell and a plurality of the optical fiber receptacles as previously mentioned. The outer shell comprises a panel, the panel is formed with a plurality of mounting holes arranged in a matrix. The plurality of the optical fiber receptacles are provided to the panel respectively corresponding to the mounting holes, outer side faces of the bottom wall and the two side walls of the housing of the each optical fiber receptacle all are flat surfaces, and so that the housings of the adjacent optical fiber receptacle are provided close to each other, the positioning hook of each optical fiber receptacle passes through the corresponding mounting hole and latches with a hole edge defining the mounting hole of the panel, and so that the outer surface of the rear wall faces towards an inside of the outer shell.

In some embodiments, the panel has a main body portion and a plurality of tab portions respectively protruding from the main body portion into the mounting holes, each tab portion is provided with a through hole, a screw hole is formed to the rear wall of the housing of each optical fiber receptacle to correspond to the through hole of the corresponding tab portion, a screw locking piece screws with the screw hole after passing through the through hole.

The present disclosure at least has the following beneficial effects: the optical fiber receptacle of the present disclosure can reduce the volume, and greatly reduce the material costs. And the optical fiber joint can greatly reduce the components, thereby not only saving the material costs, but also reducing the manufacturing hours. Furthermore, the plurality of optical fiber receptacles of the optical fiber receptacle module can be densely arranged on the panel, so as to greatly reduce the overall occupied area on the panel and increase the number of optical fiber receptacles provided on the panel, so that the optical fiber receptacle module can accommodate more optical fiber wires, thereby the number of signals that can transmitted by the optical fiber receptacle module is increased, and then the number of data center cabinets used to be provided with the optical fiber receptacle module can be reduced.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring toFIG. 1toFIG. 3, an embodiment of an optical fiber connection device of the present disclosure comprises an optical fiber connector1, two optical fiber joints3and an optical fiber receptacle4. The optical fiber connector1comprises two optical fiber plugs2to respectively connect with the two optical fiber joints3.

Referring toFIG. 4toFIG. 6andFIG. 9, each optical fiber plug2comprises a first ferrule21, a first holding member22holding the first ferrule21, a base shell23, an elastic piece24and a sheathing shell25. The first holding member22is hollow tubular and has a first tube portion221and a first stopping portion222connected to one end of the first tube portion221, and an outer diameter of the first stopping portion222at a connecting position between the first stopping portion222and the first tube portion221is larger than an outer diameter of the first tube portion221to form a first shoulder223. The first tube portion221has a large diameter section221aconnecting with the first shoulder223and a small diameter section221bhaving an outer diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the large diameter section221a. The first stopping portion222connects with the first ferrule21, is polygonal column, and is formed with a first tapered surface222aat a distal end thereof away from the first tube portion221. The base shell23has a mounting portion231in which the first holding member22is inserted, a coupling portion232, and a positioning pin233. The mounting portion231and the positioning pin233respectively protrude from opposite ends of the coupling portion232, and the mounting portion231has an inner annular wall231aand an outer annular wall231bencircling the inner annular wall231aand spaced apart from the inner annular wall231a. A top portion of the outer annular wall231bis formed with a guide protruding rib231c, and both side portions of the outer annular wall231beach are respectively formed with a positional limiting block231d. The small diameter section221bof the first tube portion221is inserted into a space surrounded by the inner annular wall231a. The elastic piece24is provided in the mounting portion231and abuts against the first holding member22. In the embodiment, the elastic piece24is a spring, and is sheathed on the inner annular wall231a, both ends of the elastic piece24respectively abut against the first shoulder223and the coupling portion232. The sheathing shell25is sheathed on the mounting portion231and covers the first holding member22and makes a part of the first ferrule21protrude from one end of the sheathing shell25. The sheathing shell25has a sheathing tube portion251, an elastic arm252connected to a top side of the sheathing tube portion251, and two positioning blocks253respectively protruding from both sides of the elastic arm252. The sheathing tube portion251is formed with a guide groove251acooperating with the guide protruding rib231cand penetrating grooves251bpositioned on both sides and respectively engaging with the two positional limiting blocks231d, when the sheathing tube portion251is sheathed on the mounting portion231, the guide groove251areceives the guide protruding rib231c, and the two penetrating grooves251brespectively receive the two positional limiting blocks231d, thereby the sheathing tube portion251the mounting portion231are connected and fixed.

In the embodiment, the optical fiber connector1also comprises a coupling seat11, a jacket12, a clamping piece13, a pull tab14and a shaft15. The coupling seat11has two mounting grooves111to allow the positioning pins233of the two optical fiber plugs2to respectively insert and be fixed. The jacket12is connected to the coupling seat11and is communicated with the mounting grooves111to pass through and fix optical fiber wires7. The optical fiber wire7comprises an optical fiber71and a protective layer72covering the optical fiber71, in which an end of the optical fiber71exposes out of the protective layer72to insert in the first ferrule21. The clamping piece13has a clamping portion131clamping the coupling portions232of the base shells23of the two optical fiber plugs2and a force exerting portion132connected to a top side of the clamping portion131, in addition, the coupling portion232is formed with a encircling recessed groove232a, a corresponding positioning rib131ais formed to an inner side of the clamping portion131to latch with the recessed groove232a, so as to prevent the clamping piece13from sliding with respect to the base shell23. The force exerting portion132is wedge-shaped and provided with a shaft receiving hole132aat a top away from the clamping portion131to receive the shaft15. The pull tab14has a abutting portion141which is wedge-shaped and a pulling portion142extending from the abutting portion141, and the abutting portion141is formed with shaft through holes143at positions corresponding to the shaft receiving holes132aof the force exerting portion132to allow both ends of the shaft15to insert and allow the pull tab14to be pivoted on the force exerting portion132. An end of the abutting portion141opposite to the pulling portion142is connected to distal ends of the elastic arm252of the two optical fiber plugs2, and the abutting portion141has a receiving groove141areceiving the force exerting portion132. When the pulling portion142is upwardly pulled, the abutting portion141can be moved downwardly by using the shaft15as a fulcrum and press downwardly the elastic arm252. In a varied embodiment, each optical fiber plug2may also be independent, and is inserted into the optical fiber receptacle4respectively. In the embodiment, the optical fiber connector1can facilitate operation of inserting and pulling out of the two optical fiber plugs2.

Referring toFIG. 7,FIG. 8andFIG. 10, each optical fiber joint3comprises a second ferrule31, a second holding member32holding the second ferrule31, and a sheath33. In the embodiment, the second holding member32has the same structure as the first holding member22, the second holding member32is hollow tubular and has a second tube portion321and a second stopping portion322connected to one end of the second tube portion321, and an outer diameter of the second stopping portion322at a connecting position between the second stopping portion322and the second tube portion321is larger than an outer diameter of the second tube portion321to form a second shoulder323, the second stopping portion322connects with the second ferrule31, is polygonal column, and is formed with a second tapered surface322aat a position away from a distal end of the second tube portion321. The sheath33surrounds and covers the second holding member32and a part of the second ferrule31. Each optical fiber joint3is used to connect with an optical fiber wire7. The optical fiber wire7comprises an optical fiber71and a protective layer72covering optical fiber71, in which an end of the optical fiber71exposes out of the protective layer72to insert in the second ferrule31.

Referring toFIG. 7throughFIG. 10, the optical fiber receptacle4comprises a housing41, a plurality of positioning hooks42and two clamping units43. The housing41has a bottom wall411, a top wall412spaced apart from and facing the bottom wall411, two side walls413spaced apart from and facing each other and respectively connected to both sides of the bottom wall411and the top wall412, a rear wall414connected to rear ends of the bottom wall411, the top wall412and the two side walls413, and two slots415opened on an opposite side (that is a front side) of the rear wall414, the two slots415allow the optical fiber plugs2to respectively insert in. The rear wall414has an inner surface414afacing the slot415and an outer surface414bopposite to the inner surface414a. In the embodiment, the housing41also has a middle wall416between the two side walls413and connecting with the bottom wall411and the top wall412to define the two slots415with the bottom wall411, the top wall412, the two side walls413and the rear wall414together. Inner sides of the two side walls413and both sides of the middle wall416each are formed with a stopper417to allow to latch with the positioning block253(seeFIG. 5) of the optical fiber plug2. When the optical fiber plug2enters into the slot415, the elastic arm252can be compressed to elastically move downwardly and then make the positioning block253move downwardly to pass the stopper417, after the positioning block253passes the stopper417, the elastic arm252returns to a normal position, and make the positioning block253abut against the stopper417to prevent the optical fiber plug2from exiting from the slot415. When the optical fiber plug2is detached, the pulling portion142of the pull tab14is pulled to press downwardly the elastic arms252of the two optical fiber plugs2, thereby the positioning block253moves downwardly to be able to pass the stopper417, and then the optical fiber connector1is pulled towards a direction of exiting from the slot415, the two optical fiber plugs2can be moved out of the corresponding slots415together.

Each positioning hook42has an elastic post421protruding from the outer surface414bof the rear wall414in a column shape and a hook portion422formed to the elastic post421. The two clamping units43are formed to the rear wall414respectively corresponding to the two slots415, and respectively clamp the two corresponding optical fiber joints3. Each clamping unit43comprises a clamping channel431penetrating the rear wall414and communicated with the corresponding slot415, a tubular body432and a pair of clamping arms433. The tubular body432has an inner tube section432aprotruding from the inner surface414aof the rear wall414and extending into the slot415and an outer tube section432bprotruding from the outer surface414bof the rear wall414. The pair of clamping arms433extend from a distal end of the outer tube section432b, and each clamping arm433has a latching hole433a. The clamping unit43also comprises a sleeve434provided in the tubular body432, and a stopper portion435provided in the clamping channel431and between the pair of clamping arms433and the outer tube section432b. In the embodiment, the stopper portion435is a hollow annular block.

Also referring toFIG. 11andFIG. 12, the sleeve434is used for insertion of the first ferrule21and the second ferrule31and aligning the first ferrule21and the second ferrule31with each other, the stopper portion435is used to limit a position that the second ferrule31extends into the housing41. Specifically, when the optical fiber joint3is connected with the optical fiber receptacle4, the second ferrule31passes through the stopper portion435and extends into the sleeve434, the second stopping portion322of the second holding member32first enters between the two clamping arms433by the second tapered surface322a, so that distal ends of the two clamping arms433are elastically pushed open along the second tapered surface322a, until the second stopping portion322completely enters between the two clamping arms433, a distal end of the second stopping portion322abuts against the stopper portion435, and two corners of the second stopping portion322positioned on opposite sides respectively extend into the two latching holes433a, so that the second shoulder323respectively abuts against inner edges defining the latching holes433aof the pair of clamping arms433at the two corners, thereby the two clamping arms433clamp and fix the second holding member32, so that the second holding member32cannot be withdrawn in an opposite direction. And when the optical fiber joint3is connected with the optical fiber receptacle4, the sheath33further covers the pair of clamping arms433. When the optical fiber joint3and the optical fiber plug2are inserted into the optical fiber receptacle4together, the optical fiber plug2enters into the slot415and a front end of the sheathing shell25mates with the inner tube section432a, and the first ferrule21is inserted into the sleeve434with respect to the second ferrule31, that is, the first ferrule21and the second ferrule31are respectively inserted into the sleeve434from both ends of the sleeve434, and connected together in the sleeve434, the first ferrule21and the second ferrule31are aligned with each other by the sleeve434and connected in the corresponding clamping channel431, that is, the optical fibers71in the first ferrule21and the second ferrule31can be accurately connected to each other to make the optical signal can be transferred smoothly.

Referring toFIG. 13toFIG. 16, the optical fiber receptacle4is mounted on a panel51having a mounting hole511. In the embodiment, the panel51is formed with a plurality of mounting holes511arranged in a matrix, and the panel51has a main body portion512and a plurality of tab portions513respectively protruding from the main body portion512into the mounting holes511, each tab portion513is provided with a through hole513a. The positioning hook42of the optical fiber receptacle4is used to pass through one mounting hole511of the panel51to latch with a hole edge defining the mounting hole511of the panel51. In the embodiment, the optical fiber receptacle4totally has three positioning hooks42, and the three positioning hooks42respectively latch with hole edges on three sides defining the mounting hole511, and interpose the panel51with the rear wall414, and so that the optical fiber receptacle4can be securely fixed on the panel51. In addition, a screw hole414cis formed to the rear wall414of the housing41of the optical fiber receptacle4to correspond to the through hole513aof the corresponding tab portion513, a screw locking piece6screws with the screw hole414cafter passing through the through hole513a, thereby further increasing stability of combination of the optical fiber receptacle4with the panel51.

The optical fiber receptacle4cooperating with the optical fiber joint3may make the housing41of the optical fiber receptacle4only be provided with the slot415on one side to receive the optical fiber plug2, while the structure forming the slot415on another side is replaced by the clamping unit43. Compared to the structure of the receptacle with the slots on opposite sides, the structure of the optical fiber receptacle4of the embodiment can be reduced almost by half, and the volume can be reduced, and the material costs can be reduced greatly. And the components of the optical fiber joint3can be greatly reduced compared to the optical fiber plug2, thereby not only saving the material costs, but also reducing the manufacturing hours.

It can be understood that in a varied embodiment, the optical fiber receptacle4also may only have one slot415and be provided with one clamping unit43for connection between one optical fiber joint3and one optical fiber plug2. Or the optical fiber receptacle4has more than two slots415, certainly the number of the clamping units43is correspondingly adjusted according to the number of the slots415, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiment.

Referring toFIG. 16toFIG. 19, an embodiment of an optical fiber receptacle module of the present disclosure comprises an outer shell5and a plurality of optical fiber receptacles4as above mentioned. The outer shell5comprises a panel51as above mentioned. The optical fiber receptacles4are provided to the panel51respectively corresponding to the mounting holes511. The positioning hook42of each optical fiber receptacle4passes through the corresponding mounting hole511and latches with the hole edge defining the mounting hole511of the panel51, that is, the positioning hook42latches with a periphery of a rear surface of the panel51surrounding the mounting hole511, and the outer surface414bof the rear wall414abuts against a front surface of the panel51, and so that the optical fiber receptacle4is fixed on the panel51. Furthermore, the outer surface414bof the rear wall414faces towards an inside of the outer shell5, therefore, the optical fiber joint3can be positioned inside the outer shell5and protected by the outer shell5after the optical fiber joint3is inserted in the optical fiber receptacle4. And the housing41is positioned outside the outer shell5for the optical fiber plug2(seeFIG. 12) to be inserted into the slot415. Outer side faces of the bottom wall411and the two side walls413of the housing41of each optical fiber receptacle4all are flat surfaces, and so that the housings41of the adjacent optical fiber receptacles4are provided close to each other. In the embodiment, the optical fiber receptacles4are arranged in two rows, that is an upper row a lower row, and the optical fiber receptacles4in the upper row and the optical fiber receptacles4in the lower row are adjacent to each other by the bottom walls411, while the optical fiber receptacles4in the same row are adjacent to each other by the side walls413, so that the optical fiber receptacles4can be densely arranged to greatly reduce a whole area of them occupying the panel51, so as to increase the number of the optical fiber receptacles4which can be provided on the panel51, that is, more optical fiber joints3can be inserted, so that the optical fiber receptacle module can accommodate more optical fiber wires7, so that the number of signals that can transmitted by the optical fiber receptacle module is increased, and then the number of data center cabinets for providing the optical fiber receptacle module can be reduced.

The above described are only the embodiments of the present disclosure, which cannot limit the scope of the implementation of the present disclosure, that is, simple equivalent variations and modifications made according to the scope of the claims and the description content of the present disclosure are still fallen within the scope of the present disclosure.