WO2014166860A1

WO2014166860A1 - Optical connector

Info

Publication number: WO2014166860A1
Application number: PCT/EP2014/056913
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ying HAO
Original assignee: Reichle & De-Massari Ag
Priority date: 2013-04-12
Filing date: 2014-04-07
Publication date: 2014-10-16
Also published as: EP2984511A1; DE102013103708A1

Abstract

The invention starts from an optical connector having at least one coupling unit (12a; 12b; 12c) intended for coupling with at least one optical device (14a, 52a), having at least one lens unit (16a; 16b; 16c), which comprises at least one lens element (18a; 18b; 18c), and having at least one mirror unit (20a; 20b; 16c), which has at least one mirror element (22a; 22b; 22c). To provide a generic optical connector with advantageous properties in terms of coupling two optical devices, it is proposed that the optical connector comprise at least one adjustment unit (24a; 24b; 24c) intended for modifying a position of a focal point (26a; 26b; 26c) of the at least one lens element (18a; 18b; 18c) relative to the at least one mirror element (22a; 22b; 22c).

Description

Optical connection device

The invention relates to an optical connection device according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

DE 102 39 575 B3 discloses a connecting device for connecting and transmitting optical signals from an optical printed circuit board designed as a plug-in card to an optical backplane and vice versa.

The object of the invention is in particular to provide a generic optical connection device with advantageous properties with respect to a coupling of two optical devices. The object is achieved by the characterizing features of claim 1, while advantageous embodiments and refinements of the invention can be taken from the dependent claims.

Advantages of the invention

The invention is based on an optical connection device with at least one coupling unit, which is provided for coupling to at least one optical device, with at least one lens unit, which comprises at least one lens element, and with at least one mirror unit which has at least one mirror element.

It is proposed that the optical connection device has at least one adjustment unit which is provided to change a position of a focal point of the at least one lens element relative to the at least one mirror element. An "optical connection device" is, in particular, a device which is provided for, at least one light guide of at least one first optical device with at least one optical fiber at least a second optical device to optically connect, wherein the optical connection device is preferably formed as a separate, in particular of the optical devices different device, which is in particular coupled to the optical devices. In this context, an "optical device" should be understood to mean, in particular, a device which comprises at least one optical waveguide, in particular for signal transmission The optical device may be designed, for example, as an optical printed circuit board, optical backplane or optical data signal cable hereinafter understood in particular specially designed and / or equipped and / or programmed. A "light guide" is to be understood in this context, in particular an optical transmission conductor, which is intended in particular to transport light signals, and which in particular a transparent core, preferably made of glass or plastic fiber, and a sheath surrounding the core of a material In particular, the at least one optical device may comprise a multiplicity of optical waveguides, which are preferably guided at least substantially parallel to one another. at least substantially parallel "should be understood in particular an orientation of a direction relative to a reference direction, in particular in a plane, wherein the direction relative to the reference direction a deviation in particular less than 2 °, advantageously less than 1 ⁰ and be especially advantageously less than 0.5 °.

By the fact that the at least one coupling unit "is intended for coupling with at least one optical device", it should be understood in particular that the at least one coupling unit can be connected to the at least one optical device in a detachable manner mechanically, in particular by at least one plugging operation At least one coupling unit in at least one coupled state of the optical connection device produces at least one optical connection path between at least one optical waveguide of the at least one optical device and the at least one lens element, which means in particular that an end face of the at least one optical waveguide of the at least one optical device The at least one coupling unit preferably has alignment elements, such as pins and / or pins, for example Bushings, for a particular passive alignment of the at least one light guide of the at least one optical device relative to the at least one lens element of the optical connection device. Preferably, the lens unit has a plurality of lens elements. Preferably, all lens elements of the lens unit are arranged at least substantially parallel to one another and particularly preferably in a common plane. Likewise, however, the lens elements can also be arranged in several planes, which in particular run at least substantially parallel to one another. In this context, a "lens element" is to be understood as meaning, in particular, an element which is intended to focus at least substantially parallel light beams in a focal point and / or to parallelize outgoing light beams from a focal point Preferably, the at least one lens element is embodied as a convex lens, in particular as a biconvex and / or pancake lens, but other lens types and / or lenses are also used. Preferably, all the lens elements of the at least one lens unit are of similar design, however, combinations of different lens types and / or shapes within the at least one lens unit are the same nso conceivable.

In this context, a "mirror unit" is to be understood as meaning, in particular, a unit which comprises at least one base body and at least one mirror element. "Body" in this context should be understood to mean, in particular, a body which is intended to carry the at least one

To carry mirror element. The at least one main body can be made in particular of glass and / or ceramic and / or a plastic. In this context, a "mirror element" should be understood to mean, in particular, an element which is intended to completely and / or at least partly reflect an incident light beam, preferably at an output angle corresponding to an input angle to redirect a light signal parallelized by the at least one lens unit, in particular by at least substantially 90.degree .. Under the fact that a light beam is "deflected by at least substantially 90.degree. It can be understood that two straight lines which run along the direction of incidence and the directions of emission of the light beam form a cutting angle of less than 20 °, in particular less than 10 °, preferably less than 5 ° and particularly advantageously less than 2 ° ° deviates from a right angle. In particular, the at least one mirror element, in particular a reflective surface of the at least one mirror element, is arranged at an angle of at least substantially 45 ° with respect to an optical axis of the at least one lens element. Preferably, the at least one mirror element is in particular formed by at least one surface of the at least one main body of the at least one mirror unit itself. Alternatively, the at least one mirror element can also be applied to at least one surface of the at least one base body of the mirror unit, for example by gluing or vapor deposition.

In this context, a "setting unit" is to be understood as meaning, in particular, a unit which is intended to change, in particular, at least one optical and / or geometric parameter of the optical connection device mechanically and / or electronically and / or electrically and / or electromechanically, in particular, the at least one adjusting unit has at least one adjusting element, which in particular is operatively connected to the at least one lens unit, in particular the at least one lens element In this context, a shift of the focal point of the at least one lens element, in particular along the optical axis of the at least one lens element, should be understood in this context. The shifting of the focal point can take place over a distance of, in particular, at least 20 μm, advantageously at least 50 μm, and particularly advantageously at least 100 μm. Preferably, a shift of the focal point is infinitely. Alternatively, a gradual shift, in particular in equidistant steps, is conceivable.

By such a configuration, an optical connection device with advantageous properties with regard to a coupling of two optical devices can be provided, which in particular enables a comfortable and modular connection of two optical devices. In particular, due to the changeability of the fuel point position, an advantageous focusing of a light signal in a light guide of the at least one optical device and / or an advantageous parallelization of a light emitted from an end face of the light guide of the at least one optical device light signal can be achieved. By using the mirror element, an advantageous deflection of light signals can be achieved. In particular, in the case of a coupling of the optical connection device with an edge of an optical device, a space-saving connection with a second optical device can be achieved. The coupling of the optical connection device to an edge of an optical device is particularly relevant in a coupling of optical plug-in cards with an optical backplane.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is proposed that a number of mirror elements of the at least one mirror unit corresponds to a number of lens elements of the at least one lens unit. In particular, each lens element is assigned exactly one mirror element in each case. In this context, it should be understood, in particular, that a light beam passing through a respective lens element also strikes the mirror element associated with the lens element, Preferably, the optical axis of each lens element intersects precisely one mirror element, at least In this way, an advantageously exact deflection of a plurality of parallel light signals can be achieved.

Advantageously, the at least one adjustment unit comprises at least one movably mounted slide element. In this context, a "slide element" should be understood to mean, in particular, an element which is displaceable along at least one rail element, in particular in a translatory manner In particular, the at least one rail element extends at least substantially parallel to the optical axis of the at least one lens element. unit can be assigned exactly one slide element. As a result, an advantageously simple and precise adjustment mechanism can be made available.

It is also proposed that the at least one lens element is arranged on the at least one slide element. The fact that the at least one lens element is "arranged" on the at least one slide element is to be understood in this context to mean that the at least one lens element is detachably or non-detachably connected to the at least one slide element in an assembled state Preferably, all the lens elements of the at least one lens unit are arranged together on a carriage element By arranging the at least one lens element on at least one slide element, an advantageously simple and reliable device can be provided be made to shift a focal point of the at least one lens element available. Furthermore, it is proposed that the at least one adjustment unit comprises at least one operating element which is provided to change a position of the at least one slide element relative to the at least one mirror element. A "control element" is to be understood in particular to be an element which is provided to receive an input quantity from an operator during an operating procedure and in particular to be contacted directly by an operator, whereby a touch of the operating element senses and / or an on the The at least one operating element is preferably in an operative connection with the at least one slide element, for example by means of a set screw and / or electronic and / or electromechanical actuator, which is intended, in particular, to effect a movement of the at least one slide element advantageous comfortable handling of the optical connection device can be achieved.

Furthermore, it is proposed that the optical connection device has at least one fixing unit which is provided to fix the at least one slide element in one position. In this context, a "locking unit" is to be understood as meaning, in particular, a unit which comprises at least one locking element The at least one locking element may be designed in particular as a pin and / or a bolt and / or a cam and / or a latching lug, wherein The at least one locking element is intended in particular to block a movement of the at least one slide element. Movement of the at least one carriage element is at least largely prevented. In particular, a movement of the at least one slide element is prevented in that, in the fixing position of the at least one fixing unit, the at least one locking element engages in particular in at least one recess of the at least one slide element. In particular, the at least one locking element, in particular at least largely free of play, engages in the at least one recess of the slide element. As a result, an advantageous securing of a set configuration of the optical connection device can be achieved.

It is also proposed that the at least one adjusting unit has at least one spring element which is assigned to the at least one slide element. In this context, a "spring element" is to be understood as meaning, in particular, an element which has at least an extent of at least 10%, in particular at least 20%, preferably at least 30% and particularly advantageously at least 50% in a normal operating state In particular, a maximum distance between two points of a vertical projection of the element is intended to be elastically variable, and which in particular produces a counterforce that is dependent on a change in extent and preferably proportional to the change Elements are understood on one level. Preferably, each carriage element is assigned in each case at least one spring element. Through the use of spring elements tolerances, which occur in particular during assembly of the connecting device, can be advantageously compensated. Furthermore, an advantageous exact adjustability of a position of the at least one slide element can be achieved. Furthermore, the at least one slide element can be displaced in at least one direction by a spring force of the at least one spring element. In this way, an advantageously simple construction of a drive for the at least one slide element can be realized.

It is further proposed that a focal length of the at least one lens element is variable. The fact that a focal length of the at least one lens element is "changeable" should in this context be understood in particular to mean that a distance between a focal point and an associated main plane of the at least one lens element can be reduced and / or increased In particular, the deformation of the at least one lens element can be achieved by applying an electrical element

Tension and / or by a mechanical force. When using liquid-crystal lenses, the focal length can be effected in particular by a reorientation and / or a rearrangement of liquid crystals. A reorientation and / or rearrangement of liquid crystals can be triggered in particular by applying an electrical voltage. As a result, an adjustment of a focal point of the at least one lens unit can be achieved with advantageously low tolerances. Furthermore, a number of mechanical components can be advantageously reduced.

Furthermore, a system with at least one first optical device, at least one second optical device and at least one optical connection device is proposed. In particular, the first optical device is designed as an optical backplane. The second optical device is designed in particular as an optical plug-in card. The at least one optical device is preferably attached to the optical backplane. By such a system, an advantageously fast communication between at least two optical devices with integrated optical fibers can be made possible. Furthermore, such a system can achieve a space-saving and modular connection of at least two optical devices and an exact alignment of the at least two optical devices with respect to each other. Advantageously, the at least one first optical device has at least one adapter which comprises at least one alignment element and is provided for coupling to the at least one optical connection device, in particular its at least one coupling unit. Preferably, the at least one first and the at least one second optical device each have at least one adapter. In particular, all optical devices of the system each have at least one adapter. In this context, an "adapter" is to be understood as meaning, in particular, an arrangement of at least one alignment element and at least one light guide, which forms an interface between at least one optical device and at least one optical connection device Optical coupling of at least one optical connecting device with at least one optical device In this context, a "mechanical coupling" is to be understood in particular as meaning that there is a detachable connection between at least one optical printed circuit board and an optical connecting device. An "optical coupling" should in particular be understood to mean that the at least one optical waveguide of an optical device is adapted to the at least one lens element of an optical connecting device, in particular with regard to position, orientation and / or geometry, such that an advantageously low-attenuation transmission of an optical signal In this context, an "alignment element" should be understood to mean, in particular, an element, such as a pin or a sleeve, which is in particular provided to be positively connected to at least one alignment element of the at least one optical connection device. Advantageously, the adapter and the optical connection device each have two, in particular mutually corresponding, alignment elements, whereby an exact alignment takes place. In this way, an advantageously accurate coupling of at least one optical waveguide of the optical device with at least one optical waveguide of the connecting device can be achieved.

Furthermore, it is proposed that the system has at least one control unit which is provided to perform an adaptive adaptation of the at least one optical connection device to at least one first optical device. Under a "control unit" is intended in particular a unit with at least one control electronics be understood. A "control electronics" is to be understood as meaning, in particular, a unit having a processor unit and a memory unit as well as an operating program stored in the memory unit, in particular the control unit may be designed as a microcontroller and / or ASIC and / or CPLD and / or FPGA In this context, an "adaptive adaptation" is to be understood in particular to mean an adaptation during which a focal point of the at least one lens element optimally positions to the at least one optical waveguide on the at least one first optical device becomes. Preferably, the adaptive adaptation takes place, in particular at the same time, for all optical lens elements. In particular, the adaptive adaptation takes place by activating the at least one setting unit and displacing the at least one slide element and / or by activating the at least one lens unit and changing the focal length of the at least one lens element. In particular, the adaptive adaptation is autonomous and independent of input from an operator. In particular, the at least one control unit receives

Control information from the at least one first and / or the at least one second optical device. A transmission of the control information can in particular be wired and / or wireless. In this way, a system can be provided with an advantageously low adjustment effort.

Furthermore, a method with an optical connecting device is proposed, which comprises at least one coupling unit, which is provided for coupling with at least one optical device, and which has at least one lens unit with at least one lens element and at least one mirror unit with at least one mirror gel element, wherein a Position of a focal point of the at least one lens element is changed relative to the at least one mirror element. In particular, the optical connection device is mechanically connected to a first optical device. A second optical device is in particular mechanically connected to the optical connection device. A light signal is radiated in particular as a test signal from at least one light guide of the first optical device. The light signal is preferably parallelized by the at least one lens element of at least one first lens unit of the optical connection device. The parallelized light signal is deflected by the at least one mirror element of the at least one mirror unit. The deflected light signal is preferably at least a lens element of at least one second lens unit is focused in at least one light guide of the second optical device. The light signal received by the second optical device is in particular qualitatively evaluated by an operator and / or by at least one evaluation unit, which is preferably arranged on or in the first and / or the second optical device. The position of the focal point of the at least one lens element of the at least one first lens unit and / or the position of the focal point of the at least one lens element of the at least one second lens unit is changed in particular to an optical adjustment. A change of focus positions occurs in particular manually by an operator and / or autonomously by a control and / or regulating unit, which receives a control signal in particular from the at least one evaluation unit. In this way, advantageously low-loss transmission of light signals, in particular between an optical backplane and an optical plug-in card, can be achieved.

drawing

Further advantages emerge from the following description of the drawing. In the drawings, three embodiments of the invention are shown. The description and claims contain numerous features in combination. The person skilled in the art will expediently also consider the features individually and combine them into meaningful further combinations.

Show it:

1 shows a section through a system with an optical connecting device, with two lens units and a mirror unit, and two optical devices coupled to the optical connecting device,

2 shows the system in a sectional view along a line II - II in Figure 1 with a decoupled optical device,

3 shows a detailed view of a slide element and a rail element,

Fig. 4 shows an alternative optical connection device with a lens element with variable focal length and Fig. 5 shows an alternative optical connection device with control unit and electromechanical actuator.

Description of the embodiment

Figures 1 and 2 show an optical connecting device 10a according to the invention with a first coupling unit 12a, which is coupled to a first optical device 14a. A second coupling unit 50a of the optical connector 10a is similarly coupled to a second optical device 52a. The first and second optical devices 14a, 52a are formed as optical circuit boards 54a. Alternatively, it is also conceivable that optical devices are designed, for example, as optical data cables or optical backplanes.

In addition to the coupling units 12a, 50a, the optical connection device 10a has a mirror unit 20a. The mirror unit 20a is disposed in a housing 58a of the optical connector 10a. The housing 58a of the optical connector 10a is made of an opaque material, such as a suitable plastic, preferably polyethylene and / or polypropylene. The mirror unit 20a comprises a base body 60a of glass, ceramic or plastic as well as a plurality of mirror elements 22a (see FIG. Alternatively, a mirror unit with only one mirror element is conceivable. The mirror elements 22a are applied to the base body 60a by vapor deposition, for example. Further, the optical connector 10a includes a first lens unit 16a and a second lens unit 56a. As shown in Figure 2, the first and second lens units 16a, 56a each have an identical number of lens elements 18a. Furthermore, the mirror unit 20a comprises an identical number of mirror elements 22a to the number of lens elements 18a of one of the lens units 16a, 56a. Alternatively, it is also possible to combine a plurality of mirror elements into a mirror element. The lens elements 18a are designed as concave lenses made of glass or plastic. The lens elements 18a of the first and second lens units 16a, 56a are each arranged in a common plane. The first lens unit 16a has an identical number of lens elements 18a to the second lens unit 56a. For reasons In the overview, only five lens elements 18a are shown in FIG. However, a different number of lens elements 18a is also conceivable. The first optical device 14a includes a number of optical fibers 62a corresponding to a number of lens elements 18a of the first lens unit 16a. Each light guide 62a of the first optical device 14a is associated with a respective lens element 18a of the first lens unit 16a. Correspondingly, each light guide 62a of the second optical device 52a is assigned a respective lens element 18a of the second lens unit 56a.

The lens elements 18a of the first lens unit 16a and the lens elements 18a of the second lens unit 56a are respectively disposed on a carriage member 30a of a setting unit 24a, respectively. In this case, the lens elements 18a of the first lens unit 16a are aligned so that they lie on a plane with the light guides 62a of the first optical device 14a. Accordingly, the lens elements 18a of the second lens unit 56a are aligned so as to be in one plane with the optical fibers 62a of the second optical device 52a. The alignment of the lens elements 18a of the lens units 16a, 56a relative to the optical fibers 62a of the optical devices 14a, 52a takes place via two respective alignment elements 64a of the coupling units 12a, 50a. The alignment elements 64a of the coupling units 12a, 50a are formed as pins. The alignment elements 64a of the coupling units 12a, 50a preferably have a round cross section. However, alternative cross-sectional shapes are also conceivable (see Figure 3). The alignment elements 64a of the coupling units 12a, 50a are each formed integrally with the carriage elements 30a. The alignment elements 64a of the coupling units 12a, 50a are each connected in a form-locking manner to an alignment element 66a of an adapter 68a of the optical devices 14a, 52a. The alignment elements 66a of the adapters 68a are designed as sockets into which the alignment elements 64a of the coupling units 12a, 50a engage in each case without play. In addition to the alignment elements 64a of the coupling units 12a, 50a, the optical connection device 10a has coarse alignment elements 70a. The coarse-directional elements 70a are integrally formed with the housing 58a of the optical connector 10a. The coarse alignment elements 70a are each arranged in pairs parallel to the alignment elements 64a of the coupling units 12a, 50a. During and after a coupling operation, the coarse-directional elements 70a lie flat against a respective bottom side 74a of the first or the second optical device 14a, 52a. In a coupled state, the coarse-directional elements 70a additionally serve a mechanical stabilization of a connection between the optical connection device 10a and the optical devices 14a, 52a.

The carriage elements 30a are movably supported on two rail elements 76a. FIG. 3 shows a simplified illustration of a carriage element 30a and of a rail element 76a. The rail elements 76a each have a T-shaped cross section in an upper region 78a. The T-shaped regions 78a of the rail elements 76a engage in a form-fitting manner in correspondingly shaped recesses 80a in the carriage elements 30a. The rail members 76a are integrally formed with the housing 58a of the optical connector 10a. The carriage members 30a are slidable along the rail members 76a relative to the mirror member 22a. A displacement of the carriage elements 30a simultaneously leads to a displacement of the lens elements 18a respectively arranged on the carriage elements 30a. A displacement of the lens elements 18a takes place in each case in direction and magnitude equal to a displacement of the respective carriage element 30a. By shifting the lens elements 18a, a position of the focal points 26a of the lens elements 18a also changes.

The positions of the focal points 26a of the lens elements 18a of the first and the second lens unit 16a, 56a are displaceable via the setting units 24a. FIG. 1 shows an optimum setting of the optical connection device 10a. In this, each lens element 18a of the first lens unit 16a parallelizes a light signal 84a radiated from a light guide 62a of the first optical device 14a associated with the respective lens element 18a of the first lens unit 16a. The parallelized light signals 84a strike centrally on a respective mirror element 22a of the mirror unit 20a. The mirror elements 22a of the mirror unit 20a are at a 45 ° angle with respect to the parallelized light signals 84a, so that the light signals 84a are deflected by 90 °. The deflected light signals 84a impinge on a respective lens element 18a of the second lens unit 56a. The lens elements 18a of the second lens unit 56a focus the respective light signal 84a into a respective light guide 62a of the second optical device 52a. The same applies in the reverse direction for light signals 84a, which are irradiated by the light guides 62a of the second optical device 52a via the lens elements 18a of the second lens unit 56a in the optical connection device 10a. For shifting the carriage elements 30a, the adjustment units 24a each have an operating element 32a. The operating elements 32a are designed as screw elements, each with a slider 86a. In a screwing movement of the operating elements 32a directed into the optical connecting device 10, the respective slide 86a presses against one of the slide elements 30a. As a result, the position of the respective carriage element 30a shifts. Furthermore, the adjusting units 24a each have two spring elements 36a, which are assigned to the respective carriage elements 30a. The spring elements 36a are embedded in spring element receptacles 88a of the housing 58a. The spring element receivers 88a further serve as spacers 134a between the optical connector 10a and the first and second optical devices 14a, 52a so that the optical devices 14a, 52a can be located at an exact distance from the optical connector 10a. As shown in Figure 2, the carriage members 30a can be slid to an outermost position in which the carriage members 30a are flush with the respective spacers 134a. In this outermost position, the lens elements 18a physically contact an end face of their associated optical fibers 62a. This allows a wide range of settings. The spring element receptacles 88a are designed as blind holes, whose openings are each aligned in the direction of the carriage elements 30a. The spring elements 36a each exert a force on the carriage elements 30a, which counteracts the force exerted by the sliders 86a of the operating elements 32a on the carriage elements 30a. When unscrewing the operating elements 32a from the optical connecting device 10a, the spring elements 36a cause a movement of the carriage elements 30a, which follows in magnitude and direction of movement of the slides 86a of the operating elements 32a. For monitoring, the operating elements 32a each have a scale 90a, via which a position of the slide elements 30a or the lens elements 18a can be read. Alternatively, controls are conceivable, which are designed as pressure or tension elements. The pressure or tension elements can have a plurality of latching steps, so that a precise adjustment is possible.

In order to fix a configuration set on the optical connector 10a, the optical connector 10a has a lock unit 34a for each slide member 30a, respectively. The detection units 34a each have a throttle belelement 92a and an actuating element 94a. The fork elements 92a of the locking units 34a each have two locking elements 106a. The locking elements 106a are formed as latching elements. The actuators 94a of the detent units 34a are each guided through a recess 100a in the housing 58a of the optical connector 10a. In the recesses 100a in the housing 58a of the optical connector 10a, a rubber member 102a is completely fitted, which completely surrounds the respective actuator 94a in the circumferential direction. The actuators 94a of the detent units 34a each have a thickened portion 104a. When the locking units 34a are displaced, the rubber element 102a in the respective recess 100a is compressed by the thickened region 104a of the actuating element 94a. When the thickened portion 104a has passed the respective rubber member 102a, it relaxes and the lock unit 34a is fixed in position. The locking units 34a can thus be held in a fixing position or in a release position relative to a respective slide element 30a. If the locking units 34a are in the fixing position shown in FIG. 1, the locking elements 106a of the locking units 34a engage in corresponding recesses 108a of a respective slide element 30a associated with the respective locking unit 34a. The locking units 34a are held in this fixing position by the respective rubber member 102a. This prevents that a position of the respective carriage member 30a, for example, accidentally or by a misoperation of the optical connection device 10a, is changed. In the release position, the thickened portion 104a of the actuators 94a of the detent units 34a is located outside the housing 58a of the optical connector 10a. Furthermore, the locking elements 106a of the locking units 34a are each located outside the recesses 108a of the respective slide element 30a, whereby a change in the position of the respective slide element 30a is possible.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show two further embodiments of the invention. The following descriptions and the drawings are essentially limited to the differences between the exemplary embodiments, with reference in principle also to the drawings and / or the description of the other exemplary embodiments, in particular those relating to identically named components, in particular with regard to components having the same reference symbols Figures 1 to 3, can be referenced. In order to distinguish the exemplary embodiments, the letter a is denoted by the reference number of the embodiment. Example adjusted in Figures 1 to 3. In the embodiments of Figures 4 and 5, the letter a is replaced by the letters b and c.

FIG. 4 shows an alternative optical connection device 10b in an uncoupled state. The optical connector 10b has variable focal length lens elements 18b 38b. The lens elements 18b are formed as liquid lenses. The lens elements 18b are arranged on positionally fixed lens carriers 140b. The lens elements 18b each have an oily liquid 11b and an aqueous liquid 112b in a chamber 14b with transparent walls 16b. The oily liquid 110b and the aqueous liquid 112b have the same density but different refractive indices and electrical properties. Furthermore, the lens elements 18b each circumferentially on two mutually insulated electrodes 1 18b, 120b. By applying a voltage to the electrodes 1 18b, 120b of the lens element 18b, an electric field is generated within the lens elements 18b. This electric field leads to a change in a curvature of a contact surface 122b between the oily liquid 110b and the aqueous liquid 112b. A change in the curvature leads correspondingly to a change in the focal length 38b of the lens elements 18b. A control of the lens elements 18b is performed by an adjustment unit 24b, which comprises a drive unit 138b. The drive unit 138b is connected to the lens elements 18b via drive lines 142b. For the purpose of

Power supply, the drive unit 138b, a power source 128b, which may be formed as a battery or accumulator. For an operation of the drive unit 138b, the optical connection device 10b has two operating buttons 136b. The control buttons 136b are connected to the drive unit 138b via connection lines 130b. Each operating button 136b is associated with each of the lens elements 18b of one of the lens units 16b, 56b.

As an alternative or in addition to the described lens element 18b, it is also conceivable to use other lens elements with a variable focal length.

FIG. 5 shows another alternative optical connection device 10c in a non-coupled state. The adjusting unit 24c of the optical connector 10c is coupled to a control unit 44c. The control unit 44c comprises an electromechanical actuator 126c. The actuator 126c is designed, for example, as an electric motor. forms. To supply the control unit 44c with electrical energy, the control unit 44c comprises a power source 128c, which may be designed as a battery or rechargeable battery, so that the optical connection device 10c can be operated independently of an external power supply. Operating elements 32c of the setting unit 24c are designed as buttons, which are connected via connecting lines 130c to the control unit 44c. Upon actuation of the controls 32c slide 86c are moved by the actuator 126c. By a method of the sliders 86c, a displacement of the carriage members 30c and thus a change of a position of the focal points 26c of the lens elements 18c is effected. A beam path through a lens element 18a is indicated here only schematically. As an alternative to operation via the operating elements 32c, the control unit 44c can also receive a control signal from an evaluation unit, not shown, which is located on an optical device, also not shown. A signal quality of light signals is determined by the evaluation unit and corresponding control signals are sent to the control unit 44c of the optical connection device 10c. Due to the received control signals, the control unit 44c controls the actuator 126c. An adaptive adaptation of the optical connection device 10c to conditions within a respective optical system takes place. For receiving the control signals, the control unit 44c has a receiving module 132c, which is designed, for example, as a radio module. However, a wired communication is also conceivable.

reference numeral

10 optical connection device

12 coupling unit

14 optical device

16 lens unit

18 lens element

20 mirror unit

22 mirror element

24 setting unit

26 focal point

30 carriage element

32 control element

34 Locking unit

36 spring element

38 focal length

44 control unit

50 coupling unit

52 optical device

54 optical circuit board

56 lens unit

58 housing

60 basic body

62 light guides

64 alignment element

66 alignment element

68 adapters

70 coarse alignment element

74 bottom

76 rail element 78 T-shaped area 80 recess

84 light signal

86 pushers

88 spring element holders 90 scale

92 fork element

94 actuator 100 recess

102 rubber element

104 thickened area 106 locking element 108 recess

1 10 liquid

1 2 liquid

1 14 chamber

1 16 wall

1 18 electrode

120 electrode

122 contact surface

126 actuator

128 energy source

130 connecting line 132 receiving module 134 spacer

136 control buttons

138 Control unit 140 lens carrier

142 control line

Claims

claims

1 . An optical connector comprising at least one coupling unit (12a; 12b; 12c) provided for coupling to at least one optical device (14a 52a), at least one lens unit (16a; 16b; 16c) comprising at least one lens element (18a; 18b; 18c), and at least one mirror unit (20a; 20b; 20c) having at least one mirror element (22a; 22b, 22c) characterized by at least one adjustment unit (24a; 24b; 24c) arranged to provide a position a focal point (26a; 26b; 26c) of the at least one lens element (18a; 18b; 18c) relative to the at least one mirror element (22a; 22b; 22c).

Optical connection device according to claim 1, characterized in that a number of mirror elements (22a; 22b; 22c) of the at least one mirror unit (20a; 20b; 20c) of a number of lens elements (18a; 18b; 18c) of the at least one lens unit (FIG. 16a, 16b, 16c).

3. Optical connection device according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that the at least one adjustment unit (24a, 24c) comprises at least one movably mounted slide element (30a, 30c).

4. Optical connecting device according to claim 3, characterized in that the at least one lens element (18a, 18c) is arranged on the at least one slide element (30a, 30c).

Optical connection device according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the at least one adjustment unit (24a, 24c) comprises at least one operating element (32a, 32c), which is intended to relatively position a position of the at least one slide element (30a, 30c) to the at least one mirror element (22a; 22c) to change.

6. Optical connecting device according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized by at least one locking unit (34a), which is intended to fix the at least one slide element (30a) in one position.

7. Optical connecting device according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the at least one adjusting unit (24a, 24c) has at least one spring element (36a, 36c) which is associated with the at least one slide element (30a, 30c).

8. An optical connection device according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that a focal length (38b) of the at least one lens element (18b) is variable.

A system comprising at least a first optical device (14a), at least one second optical device (52a) and at least one optical connection device (10a; 10b; 10c) according to any one of the preceding claims.

A system according to claim 9, characterized in that the at least one first optical device (14a) comprises at least one adapter (68a) comprising at least one alignment element (66a) and for coupling to the at least one optical connection device (10a; 10b ; 10c) is provided.

1 1. System according to one of claims 9 or 10, characterized by at least one control unit (44c) which is provided to perform an adaptive adaptation of the at least one optical connection device (10c) to at least one first optical device (14a).

12. A method comprising an optical connection device (10a, 10b, 10c) which comprises at least one coupling unit (12a, 12b, 12c) which is provided for coupling to at least one optical device (14a) and which comprises at least one lens unit (16a; 16b; 16c) having at least one lens element (18a; 18b; 18c) and at least one mirror unit (20a; 20b; 20c) having at least one mirror element (22a; 22b; 22c), wherein a position of a focal point (26a; 26b; 26c ) of the at least one lens element (18a; 18b; 18c) is changed relative to the at least one mirror element (22a; 22b; 22c).