Patent Publication Number: US-2013251312-A1

Title: Optical fiber connector and photoelectric transmitting module including same

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to optical fiber connectors. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Optical fiber connector used in photoelectric transmitting module, typically includes a main body and a plurality of optical fibers. The main body includes a fixing groove for receiving the optical fibers. The optical fiber connector further includes cured adhesive for keeping the optical fibers in the fixing groove. However, the cured adhesive easily drops off from the fixing groove. 
     Therefore, a photoelectric transmitting module and an optical fiber connector which can overcome the above-mentioned problems is needed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric and schematic view of a photoelectric transmitting module according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the photoelectric transmitting module of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is similar to  FIG. 2 , but viewed from another angle. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of the photoelectric transmitting module of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view taken along line V-V of the photoelectric transmitting module of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 5 , a photoelectric transmitting module, according to an embodiment, includes an optical fiber connector  10  and a reflector  20  optically coupled to the optical fiber connector  10 . 
     The optical fiber connector  10  includes a main body  12  and a plurality of optical fibers  30 . In the embodiment, the number of the optical fibers  30  is four. The main body  12  is substantially a transparent cube. The main body  12  includes a first surface  120  adjacent to the reflector  20 , a second surface  121  opposite to the first surface  120 , and a third surface  122  connecting the first surface  120  to the second surface  121 . The first surface  120  defines two holes  123  at opposite ends of the first surface  120 . The main body  12  defines a fixing groove  124  extending from the second surface  121  towards the first surface  120 . The fixing groove  124  is a dovetail groove and is open at the third surface  122 . The main body  12  further includes a first inner surface  125 , two second inner surfaces  126 , and a third inner surface  127  for cooperatively form the fixing groove  124 . The first inner surface  125  is parallel to the first surface  120 . The two second inner surfaces  126  are opposite to each other and perpendicularly extend from the first inner surface  125  to the second surface  121 . The third inner surface  127  is parallel to the third surface  122  and is connected to the first inner surface  125  and the second inner surfaces  126 . An included angle θ between the second inner surface  126  and the third inner surface  127  is less than 90 degrees. 
     The third inner surface  127  defines a plurality of receiving grooves  128 . The extending direction of the receiving grooves  128  is perpendicular to the first surface  120 . In the embodiment, the receiving grooves  128  are half-circular shaped, in other embodiments, the receiving grooves  128  can also be V-shaped. The main body  12  further defines a plurality of receiving holes  129 . The receiving holes  129  extend from the first inner surface  125  to the first surface  120 . The receiving holes  129  are aligned and communicated with the receiving grooves  128 . The receiving grooves  128  and the receiving holes  129  are configured for receiving optical fibers  30 . 
     The reflector  20  is a transparent plate. The reflector  20  includes a fourth surface  201  adjacent to the optical fiber connector  10  and a fifth surface  202  perpendicularly extending from the fourth surface  201 . The reflector  20  includes two posts  203  protruding from the fourth surface  201 . The posts  203  are configured for being inserted into holes  123 , to connect the optical fiber connector  10  to the reflector  20 . 
     The fifth surface  202  defines a reflective groove  204 . The reflective groove  204  includes a reflective surface  205 . The reflective surface  205  is inclined relative to the fifth surface  202 . The reflective surface  205  is coated with reflective material. 
     When assembling, each of the optical fibers  30  is put in a respective one of the receiving grooves  128 . One end of each optical fiber  30  is inserted into the receiving hole  129  and reaches the first surface  120 . Curing adhesive  40  is injected into the fixing groove  124  and then is cured. The cured adhesive  40  keeps the optical fibers  30  in the fixing groove. The posts  203  are inserted into the holes  123  to connect the optical fiber connector  10  to the reflector  20 . 
     Because the included angle θ between the second inner surface  126  and the third inner surface  127  is less than 90 degree, the second inner surface  126  can prevent the cured adhesive  40  being dropped from the fixing groove  124 , thus to fix the optical fibers  30  in the fixing groove  124  firmly. 
     It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.