Optical fiber connector

An optical fiber connector includes a coupling portion. The coupling portion includes a first end surface and an opposite second end surface. The first end surface includes a number of lenses arranged thereat and a number of engaging holes formed therein. The second end surface includes a number of optical fiber holes formed therein and aligned with the respective lenses, and a number of posts formed thereon. Each of the posts has a spring member arranged thereon.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to optical fiber connectors.

2. Description of Related Art

Optical fiber connectors are widely used in optical fiber communication. Some optical fiber connectors include at least one optical fiber hole and one lens aligned with the hole. The optical fiber connector may be connected to another optical fiber connector or a device. Connecting optical fiber connectors can be difficult, and users may use too much force and damage the connectors.

What is needed, therefore, is an optical fiber connector which can overcome the above shortcomings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present optical fiber connector will now be described in detail below and with reference to the drawings.

Referring toFIGS. 1 to 3, an optical fiber connector10in accordance with a first embodiment is provided. The optical fiber connector10includes a sheath20and a coupling portion30. The sheath20includes a recess22formed therein, and the coupling portion30is received in the recess22.

The sheath20includes a plurality of through holes23defined therein from a back outside surface through to an inner surface220of the recess22, i.e, the through holes23are exposed in the recess22. The inner surface220is a flat surface. The through holes23are configured for receiving and guiding optical fibers (not shown) to the coupling portion30. In the illustrated embodiment, the number of the through holes23is two. The sheath20further includes a pole39formed in a front end thereof across the recess22from a bottom surface of the recess22.

The coupling portion30includes a first end surface31, a second end surface32opposite to (i.e, facing away from) the first end surface31, and a top surface35perpendicularly interconnecting the first end surface31and the second end surface32. When the coupling portion30is received in the recess22, the first end surface31is exposed to outside. The first end surface31has a groove38formed therein, and the pole39is engaged in the groove38. In the illustrated embodiment, the groove38is formed along a central axis of the first end surface31.

The first end surface31further includes a plurality of engaging structures formed therein, to be engaged with another optical fiber connector or a device. In the illustrated embodiment, the first end surface31includes two engaging holes37serving as the engaging structures. The engaging holes37are symmetrical about the central axis of the first end surface31, and are arranged adjacent to two sides of the coupling portion30, respectively. In this embodiment the other optical fiber connector or device which is coupled to the optical fiber connector10includes two protrusions to be engaged in the engaging holes37.

The first end surface31further includes two lenses70arranged thereat. In the present embodiment, the lenses70are integrally formed on the first end surface31. The lenses70are also symmetrical about the central axis of the first end surface31, and are arranged adjacent to the groove38.

The second end surface32has a recess34formed in a central area thereof, and the recess34is exposed to the top surface35. A bottom surface340of the recess34is parallel with the top surface35, and an inner surface341of the recess34opposes both the first and second end surfaces31,32. A plurality of optical fiber guiding grooves36corresponding to the through holes23are formed in the bottom surface340, and corresponding blind holes33are formed in the inner surface341. The blind holes33are aligned with the lenses70, respectively. When the coupling portion30is received in the recess22, optical fibers (not shown) from the through holes23can insert into the blind holes33through the guiding grooves36. The recess34exposes part of the optical fibers, such that adhesive can be applied in the recess34to fix the optical fibers in position.

Two posts80are formed on the second end surface32. The posts80are symmetrical about a central axis of the second end surface32, and are arranged adjacent to the recess34. Two spring members40surround the respective posts80, and one end of each of the spring members40can be fixed to the corresponding post80. When the coupling portion30is received in the recess22, the spring members40elastically contact the second end surface32and the inner surface220. In the present embodiment, the spring members40are coil springs and are in a compressed state. The pole39prevents the coupling portion30from escaping out from the recess22.

The spring members40allow adjustments to the position of the coupling portion30, such that, when the other optical fiber connector or device is coupled to the coupling portion30, the coupling portion30can be easily and quickly engaged with the other optical fiber connector or device without any damage to the coupling portion30.

Referring toFIG. 4, an optical fiber connector100in accordance with a second embodiment is provided. The optical fiber connector100is essentially similar to the optical fiber connector10illustrated above, except that an inner surface2200of a sheath200of the optical fiber connector100has two receiving holes240formed therein, and each of the receiving holes240is configured to receive a spring member400and a post800of the coupling portion300and guide movement of the spring member400and the post800.

In other embodiments, the sheath of the optical fiber connector illustrated above can be replaced by a shell of a device. That is, the coupling portion can directly be elastically connected to a device with actions of the spring members, and the optical fibers can just be received in the guiding groove and optical fiber blind hole of the coupling portion.

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.