Patent ID: 12242118

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the foregoing is illustrative of exemplary embodiments and is not to be construed as limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that modifications to the disclosed exemplary embodiments, as well as other exemplary embodiments, are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. These embodiments are provided so that this invention will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the inventive concept to those skilled in the art. The relative proportions and ratios of elements in the drawings may be exaggerated or diminished in size for the sake of clarity and convenience in the drawings, and such arbitrary proportions are only illustrative and not limiting in any way.

For convenience, certain terms employed in the specification, examples and appended claims are collected here. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of the ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs.

Various embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which illustrative embodiments are shown. The inventive concept, however, may be embodied in various different forms, and should not be construed as being limited only to the illustrated embodiments. Rather, these embodiments are provided as examples, to convey the inventive concept to one skilled in the art. Accordingly, known processes, elements, and techniques are not described with respect to some of the embodiments.

The singular forms “a”, “and”, and “the” are used herein to include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

The following descriptions are provided to elucidate a delatch mechanism and an optical connector using the same to aid it of skilled in the art in practicing this invention. These embodiments are merely exemplary embodiments and in no way to be considered to limit the scope of the invention in any manner.

Please refer toFIG.1, which is an exploded schematic diagram of the delatch mechanism of the optical connector in the present invention. In this embodiment, the optical connector3has a connector body2and a delatch mechanism25disposed on the optical connector3. The delatch mechanism25includes a supporting base250and a delatching unit251. The supporting base250is disposed on the connector body2of the optical connector3. The delatching unit251is coupled to the supporting base250and the connector body2. The delatching unit251further has a rotating base252, a pressing structure253and a release lever254. The rotating base252is rotatably coupled to the supporting base250. The pressing structure253is disposed on the rotating base252and is leaned against the connector body2. In one embodiment, the pressing structure253applies pressure to the connector body2or releases pressure to the connector body2as the rotating base252rotates. The release lever254is connected with the rotating base252.

Please refer toFIG.2, which is a three-dimensional exploded schematic diagram of an embodiment of the optical connector in the present invention. In this embodiment, the connector body2includes an accommodation base20, a terminal module21, a cover22and a polarity adjusting portion23. A side of the accommodation base20has an opening200, an accommodation space201disposed into the accommodation base20is connected to the opening200, and the accommodation base20has at least one terminal accommodation portion202. In this embodiment, the terminal accommodation portions202are a pair and are arranged in parallel with each other. The terminal module21is arranged in the terminal accommodation portion202. In this embodiment, the terminal module21further includes an elastic member210and a terminal member211. The elastic member210is disposed in the terminal accommodation portion202, and an end of the elastic member210is leaned against a wall surface of an end of the terminal accommodation portion202. The terminal member211is disposed in the terminal accommodation portion202, and one end portion E1of the terminal member211protrudes from the terminal accommodation portion202, and another end portion E2of the terminal member211passes through the elastic member210. An optical fiber cable24is connected to an end of the terminal accommodation portion202. The terminal member211is used for coupling with the optical fiber in the optical fiber cable24. In this embodiment, the accommodation base20is integrally formed by the housing of the accommodation space201, the housing of the terminal accommodation portion202, and the end base207at the front end of the terminal accommodation portion202to reduce the number of assembly elements and increases the rigidity of the entire accommodation base20.

The cover22is disposed on the side of the opening200of the accommodation base20to seal the opening200. The cover22has an extending cover220corresponding to each terminal accommodation portion202, and a first buckle structure221is disposed on an end of the extending cover220. In this embodiment, the first buckle structure221is extended from the supporting arm221aprotruding from an end of the extending cover220. The supporting arm221amay be deformed under an interaction force to change the position of the first buckle structure221. When the interaction force is removed, the first buckle structure221can return to the initial position. In this embodiment, the cover22, the extending cover220and the first buckle structure221are integrally formed to reduce the number of assembly elements and increase the rigidity of the entire cover22. In addition, the extending arms203are respectively extended from both sides of the accommodation base20, an end of the extending arm203has a first engaging structure204corresponding to a second engaging structure222on both sides of the cover22. In this embodiment, a plate body223corresponding to the first engaging structure204is formed on both sides of the cover22, and the second engaging structure222is formed on the plate body223. When the cover22is disposed on the accommodation base20, the first engaging structure204is engaged with the second engaging structure222. In this embodiment, the first engaging structure204is a convex cylinder, and the second engaging structure222is a slot structure corresponding to the convex cylinder. In another embodiment, the second engaging structure222may be a convex cylinder, and the first engaging structure204may also be a slot structure corresponding to the convex cylinder. It should be noted that the aspect of the first engaging structure and the second engaging structure is not limited thereto, and those skilled in the art may appropriately change according to needs.

Please refer toFIGS.3A and3B, which are respectively a three-dimensional schematic diagram from different viewing angles of an embodiment of the accommodation base, and a partial cross-sectional schematic diagram illustrating the combination of the cover and the accommodation base. ThroughFIGS.3A and3B, the combination of the cover and the accommodation base, and the combination of supporting base and the optical connector are going to be explained. In this embodiment, a double locking mechanism is disposed between the cover22and the accommodation base20to prevent the cover22from falling off. The first engaging structure204and the second engaging structure222shown inFIG.2are the first locking mechanism between the cover22and the accommodation base20. The second locking mechanism is to have a first assembly structure205in the accommodation base20and a second assembly structure224on the cover22. In an embodiment, the cover22has a connecting wall225between the two extending cover220corresponding to the terminal accommodation portion202, the connecting wall225protrudes toward the accommodation space22, and a second assembly structure224is disposed on the connecting wall225. When the cover22is disposed on the opening200, the second assembly structure224is combined with the first assembly structure205. In this embodiment, the first assembly structure205is disposed on the connecting structure206between the two terminal accommodation portions202. In one embodiment, the first assembly structure205is a groove, and the second assembly structure224is a convex structure, and the second assembly structure224is embedded in the groove when the cover22is disposed on the opening200to generate a fixing effect. In another embodiment, the first assembly structure205may be a convex structure, and the second assembly structure224may also be a groove.

Next, an embodiment of combining the supporting base250and the optical connector3is going to be described. In this embodiment, referring toFIGS.1and3B, the supporting base250includes a connecting portion250a, a flexible member250b, and a pair of shaft bases250c. The connecting portion250ais coupled to the optical connector3. In this embodiment, the connecting portion250ais connected to the connecting structure206between the two terminal accommodation portions202on the accommodation base20. In one embodiment, the connecting portion250ahas a first connecting structure2500a, and the connecting structure206has a second connecting structure206afor connecting with the first connecting structure2500a, so that the connecting portion250amay be fixed to the accommodation base20. In this embodiment, the first connecting structure2500ais a through slot, and the second connecting structure206ais a convex structure that can be matched with the through slot. It should be noted that the first connecting structure2500amay be a convex structure, and the second connecting structure206amay also be a through slot.

An end of the flexible member250bis connected with the connecting portion250a, and another end of the flexible member250bis leaned against the rotating base252. In this embodiment, the flexible member250bfurther has a first rod2500band a second rod2501b, wherein the first end of the first rod2500bis connected to the connecting portion250a, the second end of the first rod2500bis connected to the second end of the second rod2501b, and the first end of the second rod2501bis leaned against the rotating base252. Since the first rod2500bis connected to an end of the second rod2501b, but not connected to another end of the second rod2501b, the first rod2500band another end of the second rod2501bare separated by a certain distance, so that the flexible member250bcan generate elastic compression and accumulate elastic restoring force through the first rod2500band the second rod2501b. The pair of shaft bases250care respectively arranged on both sides of the flexible member250band connected to the connecting portion250a. In this embodiment, a pivot groove2500cis disposed on the shaft base250c. On both sides of the rotating base252, pivot shafts255are pivotally connected to the corresponding pivot grooves2500con the rotating base250c, respectively.

Please refer toFIGS.1-2andFIG.4, the polarity adjusting portion23is rotatably sleeved on a periphery of the terminal accommodation portion202. When the polarity adjusting portion23rotates to a position, the second buckle structure230on the polarity adjusting portion23is connected with the first buckle structure221for positioning the polarity adjusting portion23. In this embodiment, the polarity adjusting portion23has a frame231with a through hole232for allowing the end base207of the terminal accommodation portion202to pass through, so that the first buckle structure221located on the end base207is buckled with the second buckle structure230to achieve the effect of fixing the polarity adjusting portion23on the terminal accommodation portion202. In addition, in one embodiment, the second buckle structure230is formed on the surface233of the polarity adjusting portion23, and a third buckle structure235corresponding to the second buckle structure230is formed on the another surface corresponding to the surface233. When the first buckle structure221and the second buckle structure230are released and the polarity adjusting portion23is rotated by a predetermined angle, which is 180 degrees in this embodiment, the third buckle structure235rotates to a position corresponding to the first buckle structure221and buckles with the first buckle structure221. In this embodiment, a pressing rod237is further formed on the surface233of the polarity adjusting portion23, and the deformation of the supporting arm221acan be controlled by the pressing rod237, and the latching status between the first buckle structure221and the second buckle structure230or between the first buckle structure221and the third buckle structure235is also controlled. In this embodiment, an end of the pressing rod237has an opening slot237bfor accommodating a pressing structure253. In this embodiment, the pressing structure253is two protruding rods, which are respectively arranged on both sides of the rotating base252and respectively leaned against the corresponding opening slots237b.

Please refer toFIGS.5A to5C, which are schematic diagrams of the polarity change of the optical connector in the present invention. It should be noted that when changing the polarity, the delatch mechanism25is disassembled from the connector body2. InFIG.5A, the connector body2has a pair of sub-connectors2aand2b. In the state ofFIG.5A, the polarity adjusting portion23is located at the first position, that is, the pressing rod237is located on such side of the cover22. Please refer toFIG.5B, which illustrates a schematic cross-sectional diagram of one of the sub-connectors2a. In this embodiment, in the state of the connector body shown inFIG.5A, taking the sub-connector2aas an example, when the polarity adjusting portion23is located at the first position, the second buckle structure230is buckled with the first buckle structure221. In this situation, there are two ways to change the polarity, which is to switch from the latching status between the second buckle structure230and the first buckle structure221to the latching status between the third buckle structure235and the first buckle structure221. The first way to change the polarity is to apply an interaction force92to the first buckle structure221by a tool or a finger, so that the second buckle structure230is separated from the first buckle structure221. After that, the polarity adjusting portion23may be rotated by a predetermined angle, which is 180 degrees in this embodiment, so that the third buckle structure235of the polarity adjusting portion23corresponds to the first buckle structure221. When the interaction force92inFIG.5Bno longer acts on the first buckle structure221, the supporting arm221abrings the first buckle structure221back to the initial position, so that the third buckle structure235is buckled with the first buckle structure221to form the state shown inFIG.5C, and the effect of changing the polarity is achieved.

The second way to change the polarity is to use the pressing rod237of the polarity adjusting portion23. In this embodiment, through the interaction force93applied to the pressing rod237, the pressing rod237drives the connecting body237ato apply a force on the supporting arm221a, so that the supporting arm221ais deformed downward, and the second buckle structure230is separated from the first buckle structure221. After that, the polarity adjusting portion23may be rotated by a predetermined angle, which is 180 degrees in this embodiment, so that the third buckle structure235of the polarity adjusting portion23corresponds to the first buckle structure221. Since the interaction force93inFIG.5Bno longer acts on the first buckle structure221, the supporting arm221abrings the first buckle structure221back to the initial position, so that the third buckle structure235is buckled with the first buckle structure221to form a state as shown inFIG.5C, and the effect of changing the polarity is achieved.

Please refer toFIG.6, which is a partial schematic cross-sectional diagram illustrating the combination of the optical connector and the receptacle in the present invention. In this embodiment, the receptacle4includes a first side A and a second side B. The first side A and the second side B have at least one insertion hole40aand40b, respectively. The insertion hole40aof the first side A corresponds to the insertion hole40bof the second side B. In this embodiment, the first side A and the second side B have two insertion holes40aand40b, respectively. In the receptacle4, the insertion holes40aand40bcorresponding with each other have a coupling structure41for coupling with a pair of sub-connectors2aand2bof the inserted connector body2. The sub-connectors2aand2bare coupled to the optical connector (not shown) inserted from the insertion holes40aand40b. In this embodiment, positioning structures238are disposed on both sides of the pressing rod237to be combined with the positioning holes42on the receptacle4to generate the effect of positioning the connector body2in the receptacle4.

When the connector body2is to be taken out from the receptacle4, the connector body2can be pulled out of the receptacle4by operating the delatch mechanism25. In one embodiment, as shown inFIGS.6,7A and7B, the rotational movement94may be performed by the release lever254. In this embodiment, it rotates counterclockwise to release the latching status between the positioning structure238and the positioning hole42. As shown inFIG.7A, the positioning structure238at this time is located in the positioning hole42to generate a latching effect. When the release lever254performs the rotational movement94, the release lever254drives the rotating base252to rotate. At this time, the rotating base252would rotate counterclockwise with the pivot shaft255of the shaft base250cas the rotation axis to form the state shown inFIG.7B. Once the rotating base252rotates counterclockwise, the rotating base252and the pressing structure253synchronously presses the pressing rod237, so that the pressing rod237rotates clockwise, and the positioning structure238on the pressing rod237is separated from the positioning hole42and the latching status is released. At this time, the optical connector can be immediately pulled out of the receptacle.

It should be noted that while the pressing structure253presses the pressing rod237, the rotating base252is synchronously pressed against the flexible member250b, so that the flexible member250bis deformed and the elastic restoring force is accumulated. Therefore, after the optical connector is pulled out of the receptacle, once the rotational movement94applied to the release lever254disappears, the elastic restoring force accumulated by the flexible member250bcan be released. The released elastic restoring force acts on the rotating base252, so that the rotating base252rotates clockwise with the pivot shaft255of the shaft base250cas the rotation axis. When the rotating base252rotates clockwise, the pressing rod237returns to the initial position counterclockwise shown inFIG.7Abecause it is no longer pressed by the pressing structure253.

In another embodiment, in addition to the rotation way ofFIG.7A, it is also possible to pull the release lever254through a linear movement95as shown inFIG.7Cto release the latching status. Since there is a distance D between the pivot shaft255and the release lever254, when the release lever254is pulled in the direction of linear movement95, the pivot shaft255would be used as the rotation axis and the distance D would be used as the arm to produce a torque effect in counterclockwise, so that the rotating base252rotates counterclockwise to form the state shown inFIG.7D. Once the rotating base252rotates counterclockwise, the rotating base252and the pressing structure253synchronously presses the pressing rod237, so that the pressing rod237rotates clockwise, and the positioning structure238on the pressing rod237is separated from the positioning hole42and the latching status is released. At this time, the optical connector may be immediately pulled out of the receptacle.

It should be noted that while the pressing structure253presses the pressing rod237, the rotating base252is synchronously pressed against the flexible member250b, so that the flexible member250bis deformed and the elastic restoring force is accumulated. Therefore, after the optical connector is pulled out of the receptacle, once the rotational movement95applied to the release lever254disappears, the elastic restoring force accumulated by the flexible member250bcan be released. The released elastic restoring force acts on the rotating base252, so that the rotating base252rotates clockwise with the pivot shaft255of the shaft base250cas the rotation axis. When the rotating base252rotates clockwise, the pressing rod237is no longer pressed by the pressing structure253and returns to the initial position counterclockwise shown inFIG.7C. At this time, the release lever254also moves to the initial position due to the rotating base252rotates back to the original position.

From the above description of the operation, the present invention provides a delatch mechanism which allows the user to choose the linear or rotating double delatching ways according to the situation, which improves the flexibility of operation. In addition, the present invention also releases the latching status between the optical connector and the receptacle by the delatch mechanism with flexible restoring force. In addition, the delatch mechanism also generates the restoring force to return the buckle structure of the optical connector to the original position, ensuring that the buckle structure of the connector can return to the original position.

It will be understood that the above description of embodiments is given by way of example only and that various modifications may be made by those with ordinary skill in the art. The above specification, examples, and data provide a complete description of the present invention and use of exemplary embodiments of the invention. Although various embodiments of the invention have been described above with a certain degree of particularity, or with reference to one or more individual embodiments, those with ordinary skill in the art could make numerous alterations or modifications to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention.