OPTICAL CONNECTOR Russian patent published in 2022 - IPC G02B6/32 G02B6/38 

FIELD: optics.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to optical transmission systems, in particular to optical connectors with an expanded light beam, designed to connect fiber-optic fibers and optical cables in communication systems and distributed optical sensor systems, elements of which function in harsh conditions, namely: optical connectors can be in water, dirt, dust atmosphere, and other unfavorable conditions. The claimed optical connector consists of two absolutely identical contactless optical connectors mechanically connected to each other, each of which consists of a protective case, in which an optical module is fixed. The optical module consists of a cover, a base, and a precision centering washer installed between them, having coaxial through holes, wherein centering bushings are fixed in holes of the precision centering washer, in which guide pin elements for precision positioning of optical connectors of the optical connector, and collimator lenses consisting of a spherical lens located towards holes of the protective cover and a flat-concave lens with a diameter exactly coinciding with an inner diameter of the centering bushing are installed, rigidly fixed at the base of the optical module. In this case, the flat-concave lens is located inside the centering bushing and is formed in the process of gluing the spherical lens of optical glue with a refractive index coinciding within accuracy of 10% with a refractive index N of the spherical lens material, which has a value less than 2 (N<2). Moreover, the centering bushing is made with the possibility of installation inside it of a ferule with optical fiber glued into it to form an optical contact between optical fiber and a plane of the collimator lens at a focus point on the optical axis of a cylindrical part of the collimator lens, and an optical focus of the collimator lens is located on a flat surface of the flat-concave lens on the optical axis of optical fiber glued into the ferule. At the same time, coaxial holes in the cover, the base, and the precision centering washer of the optical module are made with the possibility of placement of optical channels and connecting elements in them, and optical fiber glued into the ferule is in optical contact with a plane of the collimator lens at the focus point on the optical axis of the flat-concave lens of the collimator lens inside the centering bushing due to an element fixing the ferule.

EFFECT: simplification of a manufacturing technology of an optical connector.

4 cl, 9 dwg