WO2017123460A1 - Electromagnetic interference shielding adapter for coupling expanded beam optical connectors - Google Patents

Electromagnetic interference shielding adapter for coupling expanded beam optical connectors Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2017123460A1
WO2017123460A1 PCT/US2017/012467 US2017012467W WO2017123460A1 WO 2017123460 A1 WO2017123460 A1 WO 2017123460A1 US 2017012467 W US2017012467 W US 2017012467W WO 2017123460 A1 WO2017123460 A1 WO 2017123460A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
electromagnetic interference
optical
receptacle
expanded beam
interference shield
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2017/012467
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Christopher Paul Lewallen
Andreas Matiss
Martin Schulte
Jeevan Kumar Vemagiri
Original Assignee
Ccs Technology, Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Ccs Technology, Inc. filed Critical Ccs Technology, Inc.
Publication of WO2017123460A1 publication Critical patent/WO2017123460A1/en

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
    • G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
    • G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
    • G02B6/381—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs of the ferrule type, e.g. fibre ends embedded in ferrules, connecting a pair of fibres
    • G02B6/3825—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs of the ferrule type, e.g. fibre ends embedded in ferrules, connecting a pair of fibres with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/26—Optical coupling means
    • G02B6/32—Optical coupling means having lens focusing means positioned between opposed fibre ends
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
    • G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
    • G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
    • G02B6/3833—Details of mounting fibres in ferrules; Assembly methods; Manufacture
    • G02B6/3853—Lens inside the ferrule
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
    • G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
    • G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
    • G02B6/3873—Connectors using guide surfaces for aligning ferrule ends, e.g. tubes, sleeves, V-grooves, rods, pins, balls
    • G02B6/3885—Multicore or multichannel optical connectors, i.e. one single ferrule containing more than one fibre, e.g. ribbon type
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/42—Coupling light guides with opto-electronic elements
    • G02B6/4201—Packages, e.g. shape, construction, internal or external details
    • G02B6/4274—Electrical aspects
    • G02B6/4277—Protection against electromagnetic interference [EMI], e.g. shielding means

Abstract

An electromagnetic interference shielding adapter for coupling expanded beam optical connectors comprises a receptacle having a first opening configured to receive a first one of the expanded beam optical connectors and a second opening configured to receive a second one of the expanded beam optical connectors. An electromagnetic interference shield comprising a central portion of an electrically conductive material comprising a plurality of holes is arranged in an optical pathway of a hollow body of the receptacle such that each of the lights rays coupled out of optical fibers being terminated by one of the expanded beam optical connectors run through a respective one of the holes of the central portion of the electromagnetic interference shield.

Description

ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERFERENCE SHIELDING ADAPTER FOR COUPLING EXPANDED BEAM OPTICAL CONNECTORS
PRIORITY APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 1 19 of U.S.
Provisional Application serial No. 62/278137, filed on January 13, 2016, the content of which is relied upon and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] An electromagnetic interference shielding adapter to couple expanded beam optical connectors is described. Furthermore, a coupling arrangement for coupling optical cables is described.
BACKGROUND
[0003] A fiber adapter is used to couple optical connectors and is arranged at a housing of an electronic/optoelectronic device to provide an input/output port for the device. Because a fiber adapter may create an opening in a housing of the electronic/optoelectronic device that otherwise protects against electromagnetic interference (EMI), the fiber adapter itself should also provide some EMI shielding. To this end, EMI shielded adapters are available for a variety of optical connectors to protect electronic components inside an electronic/ optoelectronic device comprising the adapters as input/output ports from external electromagnetic radiation. Most of these connectors utilize metal housings, metal ferrules, or externally applied metal shields to achieve sufficient EMI shielding. However, for high fiber count connectors, the use of metal ferrules, for example, is typically not economically feasible due to the local density of optical fibers in a multi-fiber ferrule. In general, the problem of EMI shielding in an arrangement of multiple multi-fiber connectors ("ganged connector") becomes increasingly difficult with the number of fiber connections. For some special optical connectors, such as, for example, expanded beam optical connectors, no EMI shielded adapter is available.
SUMMARY
[0004] It is desired to provide an electromagnetic interference shielding adapter for coupling expanded beam optical connectors, wherein the adapter provides good protection of the electronics inside an optoelectronic/electronic device comprising the adapter as an input/output port from external electromagnetic radiation. There is also a need to provide a coupling arrangement for coupling optical cables that enables good protection of the electronics inside an optoelectronic/electronic device comprising the coupling arrangement as an input/output interface from external electromagnetic radiation.
[0005] An electromagnetic interference shielding adapter for coupling expanded beam optical connectors which enables the influence of external electromagnetic fields to the electronic components of an optoelectronic/electronic device comprising the adapter as an input/output port to be reduced is specified in claim 1.
[0006] The electromagnetic interference shielding adapter comprises a receptacle having a first opening configured to receive a first one of the expanded beam optical connectors and a second opening configured to receive a second one of the expanded beam optical connectors. The adapter further comprises an electromagnetic interference shield comprising a central portion of an electrically conductive material comprising a plurality of holes. The receptacle comprises a hollow body / passageway between the first and second opening. The hollow body of the receptacle is configured to provide an optical pathway to transfer respective light rays between the first expanded beam optical connector and the second expanded beam optical connector when the first optical beam connector is inserted in the first opening of the receptacle and the second optical beam connector is inserted in the second opening of the receptacle. The central portion of the electromagnetic interference shield is arranged in the optical pathway of the hollow body of the receptacle such that each of the light rays travel through a respective one of the holes of the central portion of the electromagnetic interference shield.
[0007] The first expanded beam optical connector may employ a lens to collimate respective diverging beams exiting from optical fibers of a first optical cable terminated by the first expanded beam optical connector. The second expanded beam optical connector may comprise another lens to focus the collimated beams impinging the lens into the optical fibers of a second optical cable terminated by the second expanded beam optical connector. The light in the collimated beams can pass a couple of millimeters in the hollow body of the receptacle before the beam divergence causes extra losses in the connector arrangement.
[0008] The space or gap in the hollow body of the receptacle between ends of respective connector ferrules of the first and second expanded beam optical connector, when inserted in the adapter, is filled with air only. According to the electromagnetic interference shielding adapter, an electromagnetic interference shield is placed into the space between the first and the second opening of the receptacle taking advantage of the fundamental principle of a non- physical contact connect of the expanded beam optical connectors.
[0009] The electromagnetic interference shield may be configured as a metal inlet, for example a metal sheet, a metal foil or a wire mesh, inside the hollow body of the receptacle. The central portion of the electromagnetic interference shield may comprise perforations/holes arranged in rows and columns that match a particular connector fiber arrangement, such as a fiber arrangement for MXC connectors ("MXC fiber arrangement"). The central portion of the electromagnetic shield may comprise, for example, up to 4*16 perforations/holes or any other number of perforations/holes matching any other expanded beam connector arrangement. The electromagnetic interference shield may be inserted from either front- or backside into the adapter before the first and the second expanded beam optical connector are plugged in.
[0010] A respective embodiment of a coupling arrangement for coupling optical cables, wherein electronic components of an optoelectronic/electronic device comprising the coupling arrangement as an input/output interface are protected from being disturbed by external electromagnetic fields, is described in present claims 13 and 14.
[0011] According to a first embodiment, the coupling arrangement may comprise an electromagnetic interference shielding adapter for coupling expanded beam optical connectors as described above. The coupling arrangement comprises a first one of the expanded beam optical connectors comprising a first ferrule, wherein first optical fibers of a first one of the optical cables are encapsulated or otherwise secured in the first ferrule, and a second one of the expanded beam optical connectors comprising a second ferrule, wherein the second optical fibers of a second one of the optical cables are encapsulated or otherwise secured in the second ferrule. The first opening of the receptacle of the electromagnetic interference shielding adapter is configured to receive the first expanded beam optical connector. The second opening of the receptacle of the electromagnetic interference shielding adapter is configured to receive the second expanded beam optical connector.
[0012] According to a second embodiment, a coupling arrangement for coupling optical cables comprises a first expanded beam optical connector comprising a first ferrule, wherein first optical fibers of a first one of the optical cables are encapsulated or otherwise secured in the first ferrule, and a second expanded beam optical connector comprising a second ferrule, wherein the second optical fibers of a second one of the optical cables are encapsulated or otherwise secured in the second ferrule. The coupling arrangement further comprises an adapter to couple expanded beam optical connectors. The adapter comprises a receptacle having a first opening configured to receive the first expanded beam optical connector and a second opening configured to receive the second expanded beam optical connector. The receptacle comprises a hollow body between the first and second opening. The hollow body of the receptacle is configured to provide an optical pathway to transfer a respective one of light rays emitted from a respective one of the first optical fibers to a respective one of the second optical fibers. The arrangement further comprises an electromagnetic interference shield comprising a central portion of an electrically conductive material comprising a plurality of holes. The electromagnetic interference shield is arranged in front of the first ferrule such that each of the first optical fibers is placed within a respective one of the holes of the central portion of the electromagnetic interference shield and/or the electromagnetic interference shield is arranged in front of the second ferrule such that each of the second optical fibers is placed within the respective one of the holes of the central portion of the electromagnetic interference shield.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] Figure 1 shows an exploded view of a coupling arrangement for coupling optical cables by means of an adapter part.
[0014] Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of an electromagnetic interference shielding adapter with inserted optical connectors.
[0015] Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of an electromagnetic interference shield to be used as an inlet in an electromagnetic interference shielding adapter.
[0016] Figure 4 shows a simplified cross-sectional view of an electromagnetic interference shielding adapter with inserted optical connectors.
[0017] Figure 5 shows an embodiment of an electromagnetic interference shield to be used in an electromagnetic interference shielding adapter.
[0018] Figure 6 shows a diagram illustrating the insertion loss of an expanded beam optical connector depending on a gap between optical lenses of the expanded beam optical connector.
[0019] Figure 7A shows an embodiment of an electromagnetic interference shield to be used in an electromagnetic interference shielding adapter.
[0020] Figure 7B shows a cross-sectional view of an electromagnetic interference shielding adapter with an electromagnetic interference shield.
[0021] Figure 8A shows another embodiment of an electromagnetic interference shield to be used in an electromagnetic interference shielding adapter. [0022] Figure 8B shows a cross-sectional view of an electromagnetic interference shielding adapter with an electromagnetic interference shield.
[0023] Figure 9 shows an arrangement of electromagnetic interference shields in a ganged electromagnetic interference shielding adapter.
[0024] Figure 10A shows a ganged electromagnetic interference shielding adapter for coupling expanded beam optical connectors without an electromagnetic interference shield.
[0025] Figure 10B shows a ganged electromagnetic interference shielding adapter with an electromagnetic interference shield.
[0026] Figure 11 shows an embodiment of an electromagnetic interference shield to be used in an electromagnetic interference shielding adapter.
[0027] Figure 12A shows a diagram illustrating the shielding effectiveness of an electromagnetic interference shielding adapter.
[0028] Figure 12B shows an electromagnetic interference shielding adapter with a probe location inside the adapter used for simulation of the shielding effectiveness.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0029] An electromagnetic interference shielding adapter for coupling expanded beam optical connectors as well as a coupling arrangement for coupling optical cables will now be described in more detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings showing different embodiments of the adapter and the coupling arrangement. The electromagnetic interference shielding adapter and the coupling arrangement may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that the disclosure will fully convey the scope of the electromagnetic interference shielding adapter and the coupling arrangement to those skilled in the art. The drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale but are configured to clearly illustrate the electromagnetic interference shielding adapter and the coupling arrangement.
[0030] Figure 1 shows a coupling arrangement for coupling optical cables. The coupling arrangement may be configured as a multi-connector, multi-fiber front panel interface. The coupling arrangement comprises a first optical connector 10 and a second optical connector 20 to be coupled to each other. The first and the second optical connectors 10, 20 may be embodied as expanded beam optical connectors. The coupling arrangement further comprises an optical adapter to couple the first and the second optical connector 10, 20 to each other. The optical adapter 300 comprises a receptacle 30 and a housing 50. The receptacle 30 is housed by a cap 51 of the housing. An input part 52 of the housing may be mounted to the cap 51 to provide a guide for inserting the optical cables in the adapter 300. According to the multi-connector design of the adapter 300, the receptacle 30 comprises several input ports for respectively inserting the first and second optical connectors 10, 20. The optical fibers of the optical cables to be coupled are arranged within in respective ferrules of the optical connectors 10 and 20.
[0031] The optical connectors 10 and 20 are mechanically coupled and optically aligned to each other by means of a coupling/alignment means, for example a pin/hole connection part. For this purpose, the housing of the optical connector 10 as well as the housing of the optical connector 20 may respectively comprise a pin and a hole. When coupling the optical connector 10 with the optical connector 20 inside the receptacle 30, the pin of the optical connector 10 is inserted in the corresponding hole of the optical connector 20, and the pin of the optical connector 20 is inserted in the corresponding hole of the optical connector 10.
[0032] The optical cables, not shown in Figure 1 , may be surrounded by a cable boot 71 and a crimping sleeve 72. The end sections of the optical fibers of the optical cables are encapsulated by ferrules and are arranged within the optical connectors 10 and 20. The optical connectors 10 and 20 are pressed against each other in the receptacle 30 by means of a spring push 80 exerting a force to a spring element 90.
[0033] Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of an electromagnetic interference shielding adapter 300 with inserted optical connectors 10 and 20. The optical connectors 10 and 20 may be configured as expanded beam connectors, such as MXC connectors. The optical connector 10 terminates an optical cable 100 comprising optical fibers 110. The optical connector 20 terminates an optical cable 200 comprising optical fibers 210.
[0034] The electromagnetic interference shielding adapter 300 comprises a receptacle 30 having a first opening 31 being configured to receive the first expanded beam optical connector 10 and a second opening 32 being configured to receive the second expanded beam optical connector 20. The receptacle 30 is configured as (i.e., comprises) a hollow body / passageway 33 between the first opening 31 and the second opening 32. The optical fibers 110 and 210 are mechanically coupled and aligned to each other within the hollow body 33 of the receptacle by means of respective pins 13, 23 and holes 14, 24 of the optical connectors 10 and 20.
[0035] The adapter 300 further comprises an electromagnetic interference shield 40. The electromagnetic interference shield 40 comprises a central portion 41 of an electrically conductive material. The central portion 41 of the electromagnetic interference shield 40 includes a plurality of holes 41, as shown for example in Figure 3.
[0036] The hollow body 33 of the receptacle 30 is configured to provide an optical pathway to transfer light rays 1 between the first expanded beam optical connector 10 and the second expanded beam optical connector 20. The light rays 1 are coupled out of the optical fibers of an optical cable terminated by one of the expanded beam optical connectors. The hollow body/optical pathway 33 is configured such that respective light rays 1 emitted from the optical fibers 110 terminated by the expanded beam optical connector 10 are running through the hollow body 33 of the receptacle 30 to be coupled in respective optical fibers 210 terminated by the expanded beam optical connector 20. The central body 41 of the electromagnetic interference shield 40 is arranged in the optical pathway of the hollow body 33 of the receptacle such that each of the light rays 1 run through a respective one of the holes 44 of the central body 41 of the electromagnetic interference shield 40.
[0037] The electromagnetic interference shield 40 comprises an outer portion 42 of an electrically conductive material. The outer portion 42 of the electromagnetic interference shield is located outside of the hollow body 33 of the receptacle 30 to apply a ground potential to (i.e., to electrically ground) the electromagnetic interference shield, especially to the central portion 41 of the electromagnetic interference shield 40. The receptacle 30 is housed by the cap 51 shown in Figure 1. The cap 51 comprises an electrically conductive portion to which the outer portion 42 of the electromagnetic interference shield 40 is in electrical contact.
[0038] The outer portion 42 of the electromagnetic interference shield may be configured as metal flanges or extensions which are in contact with the metal cap 51 of the housing 50 of the equipment to build an electro conductive arrangement and thus providing EMI shielding. The design of the flanges or extensions can be made to accommodate an arbitrary number of parallel connectors.
[0039] The electromagnetic interference shield 40 comprises an intermediate portion 43 of an electrically conductive material. The receptacle 30 may comprise a feedthrough 34. According to the embodiment of the electromagnetic interference shielding adapter shown in Figure 2, the intermediate portion 43 of the electromagnetic interference shield 40 is arranged within the feedthrough 34 of the receptacle 30. The intermediate portion 43 is provided to connect the central portion 41 and the outer portion 42 of the electromagnetic interference shield. The interference portion 43 of the electromagnetic interference shield is arranged in a feedthrough 34 of the receptacle 30. [0040] Figure 3 shows an embodiment of an electromagnetic interference shield 40 which may be used as an inlet in the hollow body 33 of the receptacle 30. The electromagnetic interference shield 40 comprises the central portion 41 including a plurality of holes 44 which are arranged in rows and columns corresponding to the number of optical fibers terminated by the optical connectors 10 and 20. The central portion 41 of the electromagnetic interference shield may be configured as a metal sheet that may comprise, for example, up to 4*16 (row*column) perforations/holes 44 that match the MXC connector fiber arrangement, or any other number of holes matching any other expanded beam connector arrangement. According to an embodiment of the electromagnetic interference shield 40, the holes/perforations 44 may have a diameter of between 0.15 mm and 5 mm and the length of each hole may be in a range of between 0.25 mm and 1 mm.
[0041] The central portion 41 of the electromagnetic interference shield 40 may be arranged within the hollow body 33 of the receptacle 30 such that the plurality of holes 44 of the central portion 41 of the electromagnetic interference shield 40 are located at a medial location (midway or approximately midway) between the first opening 31 and the second opening 32 of the receptacle 30. According to another embodiment, the interference shield 40 may be inserted from either front- or backside into the adapter 300 before the optical connectors 10 and 20 are plugged in.
[0042] According to an embodiment of the electromagnetic interference shielding adapter, the electromagnetic interference shield 40 and particularly the central portion 41 of the electromagnetic interference shield 40 may be configured as a metal sheet. According to a further embodiment, the electromagnetic interference shield 40 and particularly the central portion 41 of the electromagnetic interference shield 40 may be configured as a molded plastic device having a metallized surface. This embodiment may provide mechanical design advantages to the solution. A molded plastic part can take over more functionalities and features than a metal sheet, while a metal sheet provides a more robust solution because of its thinner diameter.
[0043] According to another embodiment of the electromagnetic interference shielding adapter, the electromagnetic interference shield 40 and particularly the central portion 41 of the electromagnetic interference shield 40 may be configured as a wire mesh. The wire mesh may be integrated in the receptacle to provide the EMI shield functionality of the adapter 300. According to another embodiment of the electromagnetic interference shielding adapter, the electromagnetic interference shield 40 and particularly the central portion 41 of the electromagnetic interference shield 40 may comprise an electromagnetic field absorbing base material filled with a filler material of one of carbon and metal particles.
[0044] Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view of an electromagnetic interference shielding adapter 300 comprising an electromagnetic interference shield 40 having a central portion 41 , an outer portion 42 and an intermediate portion 43 arranged in the feedthrough 34 of the receptacle body 30. The first and second optical connectors 10 and 20 are inserted in the openings 31 and 32 of the receptacle and are aligned to each other by a mechanical coupling/alignment means. The coupling/alignment means may comprise a pin 13 of the optical connector 10 which is inserted in an appropriately shaped hole 24 of the optical connector 20. The optical connector 20 may comprise a pin 23 protruding out of the housing of the connector 20. The pin 23 is inserted in an appropriately shaped hole 14 of the optical connector 10 to mechanically couple and optically align the optical connectors 10 and 20 within the hollow body 33 of the receptacle 30.
[0045] The optical connectors 10 and 20 may be configured as expanded beam connectors, such as MXC connectors. The optical connector 10 comprises an optical lens 12 being arranged to collimate the light rays 1 emitted from the optical fibers 110 and/or to focus each of the collimated light rays 1 to a respective one of the optical fibers 110. The optical connector 20 comprises an optical lens 22 being arranged to collimate the light rays 1 emitted from the optical fibers 210 and/or to focus each of the collimated light rays 1 to a respective one of the optical fibers 210.
[0046] If the coupling arrangement shown in Figure 4 is used to transfer optical signals from the optical cable 10 to the optical cable 20, the light rays emitted from the optical fibers 110 are collimated by means of the optical lens 12. The collimated light beam is transferred through the optical pathway of the hollow body 33 of the receptacle 30 and the holes/perforations 44 of the electromagnetic interference shield 40.
[0047] For this purpose the electromagnetic interference shield 40 is aligned so that the collimated light rays 1 emitted from the optical fibers 110 pass through the holes/perforations 44 of the electromagnetic interference shield 40. Figure 4 shows in the cross-sectional view of the electromagnetic interference shielding adapter a light ray/beam coupled out of the optical fiber 110 transferred through the optical pathway an a hole/perforation 44 of the central portion 41 of the electromagnetic interference shield 40 towards the optical fiber 210. The collimated light ray 1 is focused by means of the optical lens 22 of the optical connector 20 into the optical fiber 210 arranged within the ferrule 21 of the optical connector 20. [0048] To achieve a high attenuation of the electromagnetic interference shield 40, the length of the cylindrical holes 44 of the electromagnetic interference shield 40 needs to be expanded, which might increase the insertion loss of the optical link, because the light beams 1 collimated by the optical lenses 12, 22 diverge in the expanded optical pathway According to an embodiment of the electromagnetic interference shielding adapter 300, the adapter comprises at least an optical element 60 being arranged within the hollow body 33 of the receptacle 30 to collimate the light rays 1 emitted from the optical fibers. The optical element 60 added into the optical pathway enables the increase of the insertion loss of the optical link to be reduced. According to an embodiment of the electromagnetic interference shielding adapter, a respective optical element 60 is arranged in a respective one of the holes/perforations 44 of the central portion 41 of the electromagnetic interference shield 40. The optical element may be configured as an optical lens.
[0049] Figure 5 shows an embodiment of an electromagnetic interference shield 40 to be arranged in the hollow body 33 of the receptacle 30. The central portion 41 is formed as a thin plate, for example of copper or a generic stainless steel, including a plurality of holes/perforations 44 for each of the expanded optical beams running through the holes/perforations. The central portion 41 comprises at the upper and lower border of the central portion 41 a hole to insert the pins 13 and 23 of the optical connectors 10 and 20. The intermediate portion 43 of the electromagnetic interference shield 40 is orthogonally bent with reference to the central portion 41 and is configured to be placed on the upper/lower outer surface of the receptacle 30. The outer portion 42 to apply the ground potential is formed as a contact bow protruding from the intermediate portion 43 of the electromagnetic interference shield.
[0050] Figure 6 shows results of a simulation of the insertion loss values of expanded beam connectors depending on the gap between the lenses 12, 22 of the expanded beam optical connectors 10 and 20. As can be seen from Figure 6, the insertion loss is low and nearly constant until a length of the gap of about 1.4 mm between the optical lenses 12 and 22 of the optical connectors 10 and 20. That means that the electromagnetic interference shield 40 may have a thickness that can be in the range of about 1 mm without causing additional attenuation.
[0051] Figure 7A shows an embodiment of the electromagnetic interference shield 40 comprising a plurality of holes/perforations 44 arranged in the central portion 41 of the electromagnetic interference shield 40. In dependence on the design of the receptacle 30, the electromagnetic interference shield 40 may comprise an outer portion 42 which is arranged on the upper and lower side of the central portion 41 , as shown in Figure 7A.
[0052] Figure 7B shows an electromagnetic interference shielding adapter 300 comprising the receptacle 30 and the electromagnetic interference shield 40 of Figure 7 A. The electromagnetic interference shield is arranged in the hollow body 33 of the receptacle 30. The outer portion 42 of the electromagnetic interference shield 40 protrudes out of the feedthrough of the receptacle 30 on the upper and lower side of the receptacle 30.
[0053] Figure 8A shows an embodiment of the electromagnetic interference shield 40 comprising the central portion 41 comprising a plurality of holes/perforations 44 arranged in rows and columns as respective optical passageways for the expanded light beams. The electromagnetic interference shield 40 comprises the outer portion 42 being laterally arranged at the central portion 41 of the shield. Figure 8B shows an electromagnetic interference shielding adapter 300 comprising the electromagnetic interference shield 40 of Figure 8 A. The outer portion 42 of the shield 40 laterally protrudes out of the receptacle body 30.
[0054] Figure 9 shows an arrangement of an electromagnetic interference shield 40 in a ganged electromagnetic interference shielding adapter 300. The ganged electromagnetic interference shielding adapter 300 comprises a plurality of hollow bodies 33 of the receptacle body 30 to insert expanded beam optical connectors. A respective electromagnetic interference shield 40 is arranged in each of the hollow bodies 33 of the receptacle 30. The respective outer portion 42 of each of the electromagnetic interference shields 40 protrudes out of the upper and lower surface of the receptacle body 30 to apply a ground potential to the electromagnetic interference shield 40.
[0055] According to the embodiments of the adapter 300 shown in Figures 2 to 9, the electromagnetic interference shield 40 is arranged such that the central portion 41 , and thus the holes/perforations 44, are centred in the hollow body 33 of the receptacle 30. The electromagnetic interference shield 40 may be arranged at the receptacle 30 as an overmold or a pluggable part.
[0056] Figure 10A shows an embodiment of a coupling arrangement for coupling optical cables comprising an adapter 300 to couple expanded beam optical connectors 10 and 20. The adapter 300 comprises the receptacle 30 and the cap 51 of the housing 50. Figure 10A shows a ganged MXC adapter without an electromagnetic interference shield.
[0057] Figure 10B shows a coupling arrangement for coupling optical fibers comprising electromagnetic interference shields 40. [0058] The coupling arrangement comprises the adapter 300 with the receptacle 30 and the cap 51, as shown in Figure 10B. Expanded beam optical connectors 10 are inserted in the input ports of the receptacle 30. The coupling arrangement comprises a plurality of electromagnetic interference shields 40 respectively comprising a body of an electrically conductive material. The central portion of the shields 40 comprises a plurality of holes/perforations 44.
[0059] A respective one of the electromagnetic interference shields 40 is fixed to a respective one of the optical connectors from the front-side. The optical connectors 10 are inserted in the input ports of the receptacle. Each of the electromagnetic interference shields 40 is arranged in front of a respective ferrule of each of the optical connectors such that each of the optical fibers of an optical cable is placed within a respective one of the holes/perforations of the central portion of each of the electromagnetic interference shields 40. According to another embodiment the respective electromagnetic interference shields 40 may be arranged in front of a respective ferrule of each of the optical connectors 20 inserted in the receptacle 30 from the back-side such that each of the optical fibers of the optical cable is placed within a respective one of the holes/perforations of the central portion of the respective electromagnetic interference shields 40.
[0060] Figure 11 shows an embodiment of an electromagnetic interference shield 40 which may be used to be fixed to the optical connectors 10 or 20 as shown in Figure 10B. The electromagnetic interference shield 40 comprises a central portion 41 including a plurality of holes/perforations 44 arranged in rows and columns for inserting optical fibers of an optical cable. An intermediate body 43 of the shield 40 connects an outer portion 42 of the electromagnetic interference shield 40 with the central portion 41. The intermediate body 43 may be configured as a clamping device/bracket being configured to be fixed to an optical connector 10, 20, for example an expanded beam optical connector. The outer portion 42 of the electromagnetic interference shield 40 may be configured as a contact bow to apply a ground potential.
[0061] Figure 12A displays a simulated efficiency of a coupling arrangement for coupling optical fibers comprising electromagnetic interference shields 40 which may be fixed to a respective optical connector 10 inserted in a respective input port of the receptacle 30 as shown in Figure 10B. The electromagnetic interference shields 40 provide additional 16 dB to 20 dB shielding at a probe location 1 inside the adapter 300, up to a frequency of 8 GHz. The probe location 1 inside the adapter 300 is shown in Figure 12B. By changing design parameters such as the thickness or the design of the adapter part 300 from the electromagnetic interference shield 40 to the housing 50, this efficiency can be optimized.
[0062] The electromagnetic interference shielding adapter allows a high density of EMI shielded optical interconnects in a given area. Furthermore, the coupling arrangement allows for improved cut-off frequencies due to the small diameter of the holes 44 in the central portion 41 of the electromagnetic interference shield 40. The attenuation is a function of the diameter and the thickness of the central portion 41 of the electromagnetic interference shield 40. The diameter and the thickness of the central portion 41 of the electromagnetic interference shield 40 can be used as design parameters. The manufacturing costs of an electromagnetic interference shield being embodied, for example as a thin metal sheet, are significantly cheaper compared to full metal housings. The assembly can be compatible with existing MXC adapters, thus providing an easy upgrade path.

Claims

What is claimed is:
1. An electromagnetic interference shielding adapter for coupling expanded beam optical connectors, comprising:
a receptacle having a first opening configured to receive a first one of the expanded beam optical connectors and a second opening configured to receive a second one of the expanded beam optical connectors; and
an electromagnetic interference shield comprising a central portion of an electrically conductive material comprising a plurality of holes;
wherein:
the receptacle comprises a hollow body between the first and second openings; the hollow body of the receptacle is configured to provide an optical pathway to transfer respective light rays between the first expanded beam optical connector and the second expanded beam optical connector when the first expanded beam optical connector is inserted in the first opening of the receptacle and the second expanded beam optical connector is inserted in the second opening of the receptacle; and
the central portion of the electromagnetic interference shield is arranged in the optical pathway of the hollow body of the receptacle such that each of the lights rays travel through a respective one of the holes of the central portion of the electromagnetic interference shield.
2. The electromagnetic interference shielding adapter of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the electromagnetic interference shield is overmolded with the material of the receptacle.
3. The electromagnetic interference shielding adapter of either claim 1 or 2, wherein the central portion of the electromagnetic interference shield is arranged within the hollow body of the receptacle such that the plurality of holes of the central portion of the electromagnetic interference shield are located at a medial location between the first opening and the second opening of the receptacle.
4. The electromagnetic interference shielding adapter of any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the central portion of the electromagnetic interference shield comprises a metal sheet.
5. The electromagnetic interference shielding adapter of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the central portion of the electromagnetic interference shield comprises a molded plastic device having a metallized surface.
6. The electromagnetic interference shielding adapter of any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the central portion of the electromagnetic interference shield comprises a wire mesh.
7. The electromagnetic interference shielding adapter of any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the central portion of the electromagnetic interference shield comprises an electromagnetic field absorbing base material comprising a filler material of one of carbon and metal particles.
8. The electromagnetic interference shielding adapter of any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the electromagnetic interference shield comprises an outer portion of an electrically conductive material, the outer portion of the electromagnetic interference shield being located outside of the hollow body of the receptacle for electrically grounding the electromagnetic interference shield.
9. The electromagnetic interference shielding adapter of claim 8, further comprising: a cap to house the receptacle, wherein the cap comprises an electrically conductive portion in electrical contact with the outer portion of the electromagnetic interference shield.
10. The electromagnetic interference shielding adapter of either claims 8 or 9, wherein the electromagnetic interference shield comprises an intermediate portion of an electrically conductive material, the intermediate portion of the electromagnetic interference shield connecting the central portion and the outer portion of the electromagnetic interference shield, wherein the receptacle comprises a feedthrough, and wherein the intermediate portion of the electromagnetic interference shield is arranged within the feedthrough of the receptacle.
11. The electromagnetic interference shielding adapter of any of claims 1 to 10, further comprising:
at least one optical element arranged within the hollow body of the receptacle to collimate the lights rays emitted from the first optical fibers.
12. The electromagnetic interference shielding adapter of claim 11 , wherein the at least one optical element is arranged in one of the holes of the central portion of the
electromagnetic interference shield.
13. A coupling arrangement for coupling optical cables, comprising:
an electromagnetic interference shielding adapter of any of claims 1 to 12 for coupling expanded beam optical connectors;
a first one of the expanded beam optical connectors comprising a first ferrule, wherein first optical fibers of a first one of the optical cables are secured in the first ferrule; and
a second one of the expanded beam optical connectors comprising a second ferrule, wherein the second optical fibers of a second one of the optical cables are secured in the second ferrule;
wherein the first opening of the receptacle of the electromagnetic interference shielding adapter is configured to receive the first expanded beam optical connector, and wherein the second opening of the receptacle of the electromagnetic interference shielding adapter is configured to receive the second expanded beam optical connector.
14. A coupling arrangement for coupling optical cables, comprising:
a first expanded beam optical connector comprising a first ferrule, wherein first optical fibers of a first one of the optical cables are secured in the first ferrule;
a second expanded beam optical connector comprising a second ferrule, wherein the second optical fibers of a second one of the optical cables are secured in the second ferrule; and
an adapter to couple the first and second expanded beam optical connectors, wherein: the adapter comprises a receptacle having a first opening configured to receive the first expanded beam optical connector and a second opening configured to receive the second expanded beam optical connector;
the receptacle comprises a hollow body between the first and second openings; and
the hollow body of the receptacle is configured to provide an optical pathway to transfer a respective one of collimated light rays emitted from a respective one of the first optical fibers to a respective one of the second optical fibers; and an electromagnetic interference shield comprising a central portion of an electrically conductive material comprising a plurality of holes, wherein the electromagnetic interference shield is arranged in front of the first ferrule such that each of the first optical fibers is placed within a respective one of the holes of the central portion of the electromagnetic interference shield and/or wherein the electromagnetic interference shield is arranged in front of the second ferrule such that each of the second optical fibers is placed within the respective one of the holes of the central portion of the electromagnetic interference shield.
15. A coupling arrangement of either claim 13 or 14, wherein the first optical connector comprises a first lens being arranged to collimate the light rays emitted from the first optical fibers and/or to focus each of the collimated light rays to a respective one of the first optical fibers, and further wherein the second optical connector comprises a second lens being arranged to collimate the light rays emitted from the second optical fibers and/or to focus each of the collimated light rays to a respective one of the second optical fibers.
PCT/US2017/012467 2016-01-13 2017-01-06 Electromagnetic interference shielding adapter for coupling expanded beam optical connectors WO2017123460A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US201662278137P 2016-01-13 2016-01-13
US62/278,137 2016-01-13

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