Abstract
An optical plug connector device includes at least one lens array and at least one fiber holder, which is designed to position end regions of a plurality of optical fibers relative to the lens array, and which has at least one first fiber holding element wherein the fiber holder comprises at least one second fiber holding element having a higher manufacturing precision than the first fiber holding element.
Claims
1. An optical plug connector device with at least one lens array and with at least one fiber holder which is designed to position end regions of a plurality of optical fibers relative to the lens array and which has at least one first fiber holding element, wherein the fiber holder comprises at least one second fiber holding element having a higher manufacturing precision than the first fiber holding element.
2. The optical plug connector device according to claim 1, wherein the first fiber holding element is designed for a prepositioning and the second fiber holding element for a fine positioning of the optical fibers.
3. The optical plug connector device according to claim 1, wherein the second fiber holding element is designed to orient the end regions of the optical fibers relative to the lens array.
4. The optical plug connector device according to claim 1, wherein the first fiber holding element is embodied at least in a two-part implementation.
5. The optical plug connector device according to claim 1, wherein the fiber holder and the lens array are fabricated as separate components.
6. The optical plug connector device according to claim 1, wherein an index adjustment material is arranged between the lens array and the fiber holder.
7. The optical plug connector device according to claim 1, wherein the lens array has one-sidedly arranged recesses which are designed to receive the end regions of the optical fibers.
8. The optical plug connector device according to claim 1, wherein the first fiber holding element and/or the second fiber holding element is at least substantially plate-shaped.
9. The optical plug connector device according to claim 1, wherein the fiber holder has at least partially conical recesses, which are designed to at least partially receive the optical fibers.
10. The optical plug connector device according to claim 1, wherein the fiber holder comprises at least one third fiber holding element having has a higher manufacturing precision than the first fiber holding element and a lower manufacturing precision than the second fiber holding element.
11. The optical plug connector device according to claim 1, wherein the fiber holding elements are arranged, with increasing manufacturing precision, along a direction of longitudinal extension of the optical fibers toward the end regions of the optical fibers.
12. The optical plug connector device according to claim 1, wherein the first fiber holding element has at least one separating means, which is designed to separate the optical fibers.
13. The optical plug connector device according to claim 1, wherein the second fiber holding element is implemented at least substantially from a ceramic material and/or from a glass and/or silicon and/or metal and/or plastic.
14. The optical plug connector device according to claim 1, wherein the first fiber holding element has an accommodation for the second fiber holding element.
15. The optical plug connector device according to claim 12, wherein the second fiber holding element is made from a casting compound.
16. A prefabricated optical cable with at least one optical plug connector device according to claim 1.
17. The prefabricated optical cable according to claim 16, comprising the optical fibers which have at least substantially mushroom-shaped thickened end sections, which are designed to center end regions of the optical fibers each in at least one recess.
18. A method for manufacturing an optical plug connector device, in particular according to claim 1, with at least one lens array and with at least one fiber holder which has at least one first fiber holding element and at least one second fiber holding element having a higher manufacturing precision than the first fiber holding element, wherein end regions of a plurality of optical fibers are positioned relative to the lens array by means of the fiber holder.
Description
DRAWING
[0027] Further benefits will emerge from the following description of drawings. The drawings represent three sample embodiments of the invention. The description and the claims contain many features in combination. The skilled person will also advisedly consider the features individually and put them together in further meaningful combinations.
[0028] There are shown:
[0029] FIG. 1 a configured optical cable with an optical plug connector device, having a lens array and a fiber holder for the positioning of a plurality of optical fibers relative to the lens array,
[0030] FIG. 2 a first fiber holding element of the fiber holder of FIG. 1 in a nonassembled state,
[0031] FIG. 3 a base element of the first fiber holding element with inserted optical fibers,
[0032] FIG. 4 the first fiber holding element in an assembled state,
[0033] FIG. 5 the fiber holder with first fiber holding element and a second fiber holding element,
[0034] FIG. 6 the base element of the first fiber holding element, the second fiber holding element and a lens array arranged on the second fiber holding element,
[0035] FIG. 7 a partial cross section of the second fiber holding element,
[0036] FIG. 8 a configured optical cable with an alternative optical plug connector device, having a lens array and a fiber holder for the positioning of a plurality of optical fibers relative to the lens array,
[0037] FIG. 9 a first step of the method for manufacturing the optical plug connector device of FIG. 8,
[0038] FIG. 10 a second step of the method for manufacturing the optical plug connector device of FIG. 8,
[0039] FIG. 11 a third step of the method for manufacturing the optical plug connector device of FIG. 8,
[0040] FIG. 12 a fourth step of the method for manufacturing the optical plug connector device of FIG. 8,
[0041] FIG. 13 a configured optical cable with another alternative optical plug connector device, having a lens array and a fiber holder with three fiber holding elements for the positioning of a plurality of optical fibers relative to the lens array and
[0042] FIG. 14 the lens array of FIG. 13 in a cross section representation.
DESCRIPTION OF THE SAMPLE EMBODIMENTS
[0043] FIG. 1 shows a configured optical cable 34a, in particular an optical patch cable. The optical cable 34a comprises an optical plug connector device 10a and a plurality of optical fibers 18a. The optical plug connector device 10a has a lens array 12a. The lens array 12a comprises a plurality of optical lens elements 38a. The number of lens elements 38a of the lens array 12a corresponds to the number of optical fibers 18a. Alternatively, the number of lens elements may differ from the number of optical fibers and in particular be greater than the number of optical fibers. Moreover, the optical plug connector device 10a has a fiber holder 14a. The fiber holder 14a is designed to position end regions 16a (not visible in FIG. 1) of the optical fibers 18a relative to the lens array 12a. The fiber holder 14a and the lens array 12a are produced as separate components. Between the lens array 12a and the fiber holder 14a there is arranged an index adjustment material, in particular an index-matching gel, an index-matching adhesive and/or an index-matching film. The fiber holder 14a comprises a first fiber holding element 20a and a second fiber holding element 22a. The second fiber holding element 22a has a higher manufacturing precision than the first fiber holding element 20a. The first fiber holding element 20a is designed for a prepositioning and the second fiber holding element 22a for a fine positioning of the optical fibers 18a. The first fiber holding element 20a is embodied in a two-part implementation. The first fiber holding element 20a comprises a base element 40a and a cover element 42a. The second fiber holding element 22a is plate-shaped. The second fiber holding element 22a is made of a ceramic material, a glass, silicon, a metal and/or a plastic. Preferably, the second fiber holding element 22a is made of a glass and/or silicon.
[0044] FIG. 2 shows the base element 40a and the cover element 42a of the first fiber holding element 20a in a non-assembled state. The base element 40a has a recess 44a corresponding to the cover element 42a, which is designed to receive the cover element 42a. The first fiber holding element 20a has a separating means 46a, which is designed to separate the optical fibers 18a. The separating means 46a is fashioned as a toothing 48a arranged on the cover element 42a. Alternatively or additionally, a separating means can likewise be arranged on a base element of a first fiber holding element.
[0045] FIGS. 3 to 7 represent steps in the method of manufacturing the optical plug connector device 10a. The optical fibers 18a as shown in FIG. 3 and the base element 40a of the first fiber holding element 20a are inserted. The end regions 16a of the optical fibers 18a stick out beyond the base element 40a. The cover element 42a is installed in the recess 44a of the base element 40a (cf. FIG. 4). The optical fibers 18a are mechanically secured between the cover element 42a and the base element 40a. The optical fibers 18a are separated from each other by the separating means 46a. Alternatively, only a separating of the optical fibers may also be done, omitting the mechanical securing of the optical fibers. In the assembled state of the first fiber holding element 20a shown in FIG. 4, the optical fibers 18a are prepositioned by means of the first fiber holding element 20a. Spatial regions in which the optical fibers are situated after a prepositioning are in particular smaller than a spatial extension of the recesses of the second element at an entry side, while the corresponding regions are at least substantially aligned.
[0046] The second fiber holding element 22a is shoved onto the end regions 16a of the prepositioned optical fibers 18a (cf. FIG. 5). A guiding of the second fiber holding element 22a during this process is done by two guide elements 50a previously introduced into corresponding accommodations 52a in the base element 40a of the first fiber holding element 20a. Alternatively, guide elements may also be embodied as a single piece with a first fiber holding element, in particular with a base element of a first fiber holding element. Alternatively, it is likewise conceivable that guide elements are arranged in a second fiber holding element and/or fashioned as a single piece with a second fiber holding element. The second fiber holding element 22a has conical recesses 26a, which are designed to receive the optical fibers 18a, in particular the end regions 16a of the optical fibers 18a. The recesses 26a are conical in shape, at least in a partial region, in particular in an inserting region. Thanks to the conical shape of the recesses 26a, the second fiber holding element 22a can advantageously be shoved on easily. The second fiber holding element 22a is designed to orient the end regions 16a of the optical fibers 18a relative to the lens array 12a. After shoving on the second fiber holding element 22a, the optical fibers 18a are cut to length by means of laser cleaving. Thanks to the laser cleaving, mushroom-shaped thickened end sections 36a (cf. FIG. 7) are implemented on the optical fibers 18a. Alternatively, optical fibers may also be cut to length by means of another method, such as machining.
[0047] As is represented in FIG. 6, the lens array 12a is mounted on the second fiber holding element 22a. Prior to this, an index adjustment material is applied to the lens array 12a and/or to the second fiber holding element 22a, in particular an index-matching adhesive. Before mounting the lens array 12a on the second fiber holding element 22a, the cover element 42a is removed from the base element 40a of the first fiber holding element 20a, thereby releasing the mechanical fixation of the optical fibers 18a. If there is no mechanical fixation of the optical fibers 18a between the base element 40a and the cover element 42a, the removal of the cover element 42a may be omitted. By the mounting of the lens array 12a on the second fiber holding element 22a, the optical fibers 18a are shoved back into the conical recesses 26a of the second fiber holding element 22a. Alternatively, the optical fibers 18a may be pulled back into the conical recesses 26a of the second fiber holding element 22a prior to the mounting of the lens array 12a. The mushroom-shaped thickened end sections 36a of the optical fibers 18a are designed to center the end regions 16a of the optical fibers 18a in the conical recesses 26a and/or to minimize the play of the end regions 16a of the optical fibers 18a in the conical recesses 26a (cf. FIG. 7). The cover element 42a is once more inserted into the base element 40a of the first fiber holding element 20a, thereby restoring the mechanical fixation of the optical fibers 18a. Finally, the lens array 12a is positioned on the second fiber holding element 22a. The positioning of the lens array 12a may be done actively optically and/or by means of optical orienting marks, for example. Alternatively or additionally, a positioning of a lens array may be done via the guide elements 50a.
[0048] FIGS. 8 to 14 show two further sample embodiments of the invention. The following descriptions and drawings are substantially confined to the differences between the sample embodiments, so that one may basically refer to the drawings and/or the description of the other sample embodiments, in particular FIGS. 1 to 7, with respect to components of the same designation, in particular with respect to components having the same reference numbers. In order to differentiate between the sample embodiments, the letter a has been placed in the reference numbers of the sample embodiment in FIGS. 1 to 7. In the sample embodiments of FIGS. 8 and 14, the letter a has been replaced by the letters b and c.
[0049] FIG. 8 shows a configured optical cable 34b with an alternative optical plug connector device 10b and a plurality of optical fibers 18b. The optical plug connector device 10b has a lens array 12b. The lens array 12b comprises a plurality of optical lens elements 38b. The number of lens elements 38b of the lens array 12b corresponds to the number of optical fibers 18b. Alternatively, the number of lens elements may differ from the number of optical fibers and in particular be greater than the number of optical fibers. Moreover, the optical plug connector device 10b has a fiber holder 14b. The fiber holder 14b is designed to position end regions 16b of the optical fibers 18b relative to the lens array 12b. The fiber holder 14b and the lens array 12b are produced as separate components. Between the lens array 12b and the fiber holder 14b there is arranged an index adjustment material, in particular an index-matching gel and/or an index-matching adhesive. The fiber holder 14b comprises a first fiber holding element 20b and a second fiber holding element 22b. The second fiber holding element 22b has a higher manufacturing precision than the first fiber holding element 20b. The first fiber holding element 20b is designed for a prepositioning and the second fiber holding element 22b for a fine positioning of the optical fibers 18b. The first fiber holding element 20b comprises an accommodation 32b for the second fiber holding element 22b. The second fiber holding element 22b is made from a casting compound.
[0050] FIGS. 9 to 12 represent steps in the method of manufacturing the optical plug connector device 10b. As is shown in FIG. 9, a jacket is removed from the optical fibers 18b. The optical fibers 18b are inserted and secured in two orienting units 54b, each of which has a high manufacturing precision. The orienting units 54b are oriented relative to each other in particular with high precision. The orienting units 54b each have a plurality of parallel extending V-grooves, which are designed to receive the optical fibers 18b. The optical fibers 18b are led free in a region 56b between the orienting units 54b. By means of the orienting units 54b, a traction force 58b is applied to the optical fibers 18b. The first fiber holding element 20b is arranged and/or oriented in the region 56b between the orienting units 54b, so that the optical fibers 18b run through the accommodation 32b.
[0051] The accommodation 32b in a further step of the method is filled with a casting compound, such as a UV-curing adhesive, and the casting compound is cured. After the curing, the casting compound forms the second fiber holding element 22b. After the curing of the casting compound, the orienting unit 54b arranged at a side of the fiber holder 14b facing away from a cable 60b is removed and the optical fibers 18b are cut to length flush with the fiber holder 14b, for example by means of laser cleaving. Alternatively, a piece of the fiber holder 14b may additionally be removed. As shown in FIG. 12, in a further step of the method the lens array 12b is positioned on the fiber holder 14b. The positioning of the lens array 12b may be done actively optically and/or by means of optical orienting marks, for example. Alternatively or additionally, a positioning of a lens array may be done by guide elements, not shown here. A fixation of the lens array 12b is done preferably by means of a UV-curing adhesive. After the fixation of the lens array 12b, the second orienting unit 54b is removed.
[0052] FIG. 13 shows an exploded view of a configured optical cable 34c with another alternative optical plug connector device 10c and a plurality of optical fibers 18c. The optical plug connector device 10c has a lens array 12c. The lens array 12c comprises a plurality of optical lens elements 38c. The number of lens elements 38c of the lens array 12c corresponds to the number of optical fibers 18c. Alternatively, the number of lens elements may differ from the number of optical fibers and in particular be greater than the number of optical fibers. FIG. 14 shows a cross sectional representation of the lens array 12c. The lens array 12c has onesidedly arranged recesses 24c, which are designed to receive end regions 16c of the optical fibers 18c.
[0053] Moreover, the optical plug connector device 10c has a fiber holder 14c. The fiber holder 14c is designed to position the end regions 16c of the optical fibers 18c relative to the lens array 12c. The fiber holder 14c and the lens array 12c are produced as separate components. The fiber holder 14c comprises a first fiber holding element 20c and a second fiber holding element 22c. The second fiber holding element 22c has a higher manufacturing precision than the first fiber holding element 20c. The first fiber holding element 20c is designed for a prepositioning and the second fiber holding element 22c for a fine positioning of the optical fibers 18c. Moreover, the fiber holder 14c has a third fiber holding element 28c having a higher manufacturing precision than the first fiber holding element 20c and a lower manufacturing precision than the second fiber holding element 22c. Alternatively, a fiber holder may also have more or fewer fiber holding elements. The fiber holding elements 20c, 22c, 28c are arranged with increasing manufacturing precision along a direction of longitudinal extension 30c of the optical fibers 18c toward the end regions 16c of the optical fibers 18c. The fiber holding elements 20c, 22c, 28c are plate-shaped. The fiber holding elements 20c, 22c, 28c each have conical recesses 26c, which are designed to at least partially receive the optical fibers 18c. A mechanical orienting of the fiber holding elements 20c, 22c, 28c and the lens array 12c is done by guide elements 50c. The diameters of the recesses 26c diminish in the direction from the first fiber holding element 20c to the third fiber holding element 28c to the second fiber holding element 22c.
[0054] The configured optical cable 34c moreover comprises a housing 62c, having a housing upper shell 64c and a housing lower shell 66c. The housing 62c has accommodations 68c which are designed to hold the lens array 12c, the fiber holding elements 20c, 22c, 28c and the guide elements 50c. Intermediate spaces between the fiber holding elements 20c, 22c, 28c are filled with an adhesive, so that a compound unit is realized. Optionally, an index-matching gel or index-matching adhesive can be placed between the end regions 16c of the optical fibers 18c and the lens array 12c.
