RU2807289C1 - Contact optical connector with extended isolated beam - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: optical systems.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to optical connectors with an extended light beam, intended for interconnecting fibre optic fibres and optical cables in communication systems and distributed optical sensor systems, the elements of which operate in harsh conditions, in particular in water, dirt, dust atmosphere, etc. The claimed optical connector contains two identical optical connectors connected to each other to form an optical contact, each of which consists of a protective housing in which an optical module is fixed, which contains a cover, a base and a precision centring washer installed between them, having coaxial through holes with the possibility of placement of optical channels and connecting elements in them, and in the holes of the precision centring washer, centring bushings are fixed, in which collimator lenses are installed at the base of the optical module. The centring sleeve is made with the ability to install inside it a ferrule with an optical fibre, the end surface of which lies in the focal plane of the collimator lens, while above the surface of the collimator lens, through a gap equal to its focal length, a support plate with windows made of optical material, positioned perpendicular to the optical axis of the collimator lens, is fixed, transparent in the used wavelength range, to which a face plate with windows covered by a transparent elastomeric material is rigidly attached, transparent in the used wavelength range, and that are part of a common elastomeric plate located under the face plate, and the windows of the support plate are in the optical contact with the windows of the face plate and coaxially with the holes of the precision centring washer for installing the centring bushings and with the corresponding holes in the cover. The windows made of elastomeric material are made with the possibility of mechanical deformation with the formation of an optical contact when connecting optical connectors with the formation of an isolated propagation path of the expanded light beam.

EFFECT: increasing the reliability and quality of optical communication in adverse conditions, as well as ensuring the versatility of using an optical connector for use in environments with different refractive indices, in which mechanical impacts on the outer optical surfaces of the lenses of the optical connector are minimized, and the optical properties of the environment do not influence for the operation of the optical connector in any operating conditions, including when operating in harsh conditions of a dusty atmosphere, muddy water, etc.

9 cl, 10 dwg

Description

The invention relates to optical connectors with an extended light beam, intended for interconnecting fiber-optic fibers and optical cables in communication systems and distributed optical sensor systems, the elements of which operate in harsh conditions. In particular, optical connectors may be exposed to water, dirt, dust, etc.

The need to create and use optical connectors with an extended beam is determined by the task of eliminating the problem of complete overlap of the light beam leaving (entering) from (into) the optical fiber by expanding the diameter of the light beam tens of times larger than the characteristic dimensions of dust or mud particles.

The basic principle used in such connectors is to create, using a spherical (ball) lens, an expanded light beam, the diameter of which is tens of times greater than the diameter (7÷9 µm) of the mode spot at the output of a single-mode fiber light guide on one of the mated optical cables and transmission this expanded light beam into a second mated optical cable for subsequent focusing and input into the corresponding optical fiber. In this case, the transmission of the expanded light beam occurs without optical contact between the fibers, as shown in Fig. 1.

The designs of such optical connectors are disclosed in a number of patents, for example, US 4781431; GB 2408350A; US 2009/032417S A1; WO 2019/012244 Al; CN201497816; FR2740879; JPH0572444; JPH04321002; KR20200064239; WO2023022219; RF 2786485.

RF patent No. 2786485, which is taken as the closest analogue to the claimed solution, discloses a non-contact type optical connector with light beam expansion. A known optical connector is shown in Fig. 2, where an optical module is shown on an enlarged callout. The optical connector contains, inside the main protective sealing body (11) of hermaphroditic type, an optical module (14), consisting of a base (1), a centering washer (2) and a module cover (3). The base, centering washer and cover contain coaxial holes (15, 17, 23), parallel to the symmetry axis of the module (14). Centering sleeves (4) are glued into the holes (17) of the centering washer (2), in which collimator lenses (5) with spherical lenses (20) facing the corresponding holes of the protective cover (3) of the housing (14) are installed and fixed on one side. , and on the opposite side of the centering sleeve a ceramic ferrule tip (7) of the optical fiber (8) is inserted, coming from the optical cable (13) so that the surface of the ferrule tip (7) of the optical fiber (8) lies, as a result of being pressed by a spring ( 9), in the focal plane of the collimator lens (5), and the center of the optical fiber is at the focal point on the optical axis, as a result of which the light emitted from the optical fiber (8) in the form of a divergent beam, passing through the collimator lens, is refracted and converted into an expanded collimated beam of light, which, being directed at an identical collimator lens (5) located in another module (14) of the protective housing (11) of a connector of identical design, is refracted and focused into an optical fiber (8) supplied in another identical connector design, similar to radiating fiber (8), but from a different cable. In this case, the direction of the expanded light beam is set using guide pins (10) and receiving holes (15), located parallel to the symmetry axis of the optical module (14) and passing through the corresponding centering bushings (4) of the centering washer (2), the position of which is also determined with using the centering washer (2). The base (1) and cover (3) of the optical module (14) play the role of a protective casing for mechanical protection and sealing of the centering washer (2) and the optical elements in it. The optical module (14) is fixed inside a protective housing (11), which can also provide sealing when connecting connectors, and also have a fixation unit (12) for the optical cable (13).

From the above description of the known solution, as well as from the patent solutions of other authors, it follows that all optical parts of the optical connectors, with the exception of part of the spherical surface of the collimator lens, are located in a sealed space, protected from external adverse factors.

The presence of unprotected optical surfaces (Fig. 2) in these types of contactless extended beam optical connectors under actual field conditions can create a number of problems, namely:

1. the outer spherical surfaces may find themselves in an environment unfavorable for optical materials, for example, turbid water or a dusty atmosphere, or be contaminated when docking and undocking optical connectors, which on the one hand leads to power losses when passing through the gap with a contaminated, opaque environment between opposite parts of optical connectors, and on the other hand, to the abrasive effect on the surface of spherical lenses when cleaning them during maintenance work in the field in the process of undocking and joining optical connectors, which also leads to losses in optical power, resulting in a decrease in the quality of optical communications and reducing the service life of optical connectors;

2. Calculations in the geometric approximation of paraxial light rays, given in RF patent No. 2786485, show that if a lens is used consisting of a spherical lens with a radius of curvature R, made of a material with a refractive index N ₁ , then the focal length AB of such a lens, measured from the center A of the spherical surface, when rays fall from a medium with refractive index N ₀ into a medium with refractive index N ₂ , is equal to:

From this formula it follows that the focal length of a collimator lens that forms parallel light beams between the outer surfaces of spherical lenses depends on the refractive index N ₀ of the medium between the lenses. As stated above, the optical surfaces of collimator lenses, with the exception of the outer part of the spherical lens, are located in a sealed space, where the optical medium with refractive index N ₂ is air (N ₂ = 1). Therefore, it is not possible to use such a lens simultaneously in different environments, for example in air and in water (N ₀ = 1.3), since a collimator lens designed for the conditions of forming a parallel beam in air will not form a parallel beam, for example, in water. Therefore, optical connectors designed to connect optical cables on land cannot be used when crossing into an aquatic environment.

The objective of the present invention is to eliminate these disadvantages.

The technical result of the patented invention is to increase the reliability and quality of optical communication in adverse conditions, as well as to ensure the versatility of using an optical connector for use in environments with different refractive indices, in which mechanical impacts on the outer optical surfaces of the lenses of the optical connector are minimized, and the optical properties of the environment are not influence the functioning of the optical connector under any operating conditions, including when operating in harsh conditions of a dusty atmosphere, muddy water, etc.

The claimed technical result is achieved due to the design of an optical connector containing two identical optical connectors connected to each other to form an optical contact, each of which consists of a protective housing in which an optical module is fixed, which contains a cover, a base and a precision centering device installed between them a washer having coaxial through holes with the possibility of placing optical channels and connecting elements in them, and in the holes of the precision centering washer there are centering sleeves fixed, in which collimator lenses are installed at the base of the optical module, the centering sleeve is configured to install a ferrule with optical fiber inside it, the surface of the end of which lies in the focal plane of the collimator lens, while above the surface of the collimator lens, through a gap equal to its focal length, a support plate positioned perpendicular to the optical axis of the collimator lens is fixed with windows made of an optical material that is transparent in the wavelength range used, to which it is rigidly attached face plate with windows covered with transparent elastomeric material, transparent in the wavelength range used, which are part of a common elastomeric plate located under the face plate, and the windows of the support plate are in optical contact with the windows of the face plate and coaxial with the holes of the precision centering washer for installing the centering bushings and with corresponding holes in the cover, while the windows made of elastomeric material are made with the possibility of mechanical deformation with the formation of optical contact when connecting optical connectors with the formation of an isolated propagation path of the expanded light beam.

In particular, the support plate may be located between the centering washer and the protective cover of the optical module, or above the protective cover of the optical module, or may be a protective cover of the optical module, or may contain an optical window common to a portion of the collimator lenses, or may contain an optical window common to all collimator lenses.

In particular, As an elastomeric material, a material is used whose characteristics must satisfy the following conditions:

- the hardness of the proposed elastomers is (Shore A) up to 50, the optimal value is 30-35, the hardness of the transparent elastomer selected for a specific optical connector design is determined by the level of mechanical forces when connecting (pulling) two parts of the optical connector to achieve elastic deformation within 50 %,

- tensile strength of at least 1 MPa,

-temperature range for the existence of a highly elastic state from -65°C up to + 85°С^.,

- the refractive index of elastomers N ₁₆ should be in the range of 1.4÷1.5.

In particular, such materials can be silicone or polyurethane elastomers, which have refractive indices N ₁₀₁ ≈ N ₁₀₂ ≈ 1.4 -1.5 in the region of their own transparency, coinciding with the working lengths of fiber-optic communication lines 1.3÷1.6 microns.

In addition, to increase the reliability of protection and versatility of use, the optical module is placed in a sealed housing.

Thus, increasing the reliability during operation and the quality of optical communication, as well as the creation of a universal optical connector with technical characteristics and operational capabilities unattainable at the previous level of technology development, is achieved through the use of a new principle for constructing an optical connector with an extended beam, which consists in supplementing collimator lenses that form a parallel beam of light in optical connectors with an expanded beam, a new universal optical element containing transparent, easily deformable elastomeric materials, atypical for use in such optical systems, that are in optical contact with windows made of transparent optical solid materials. This new element, accordingly structurally designed, allows the formation of an optical environment isolated from external influences, leveling out the negative effects on optical elements and isolating the propagation path of expanded light beams.

The versatility and improvement of the characteristics of the proposed principle is due to the addition of a single optical element to the optical circuits of optical connectors with an extended beam: a base plate with windows made of commonly used optical materials (glass, quartz, sapphire, etc.), which is in optical contact with the front plate with windows made of transparent elastomer. At the same time, the proposed solution is applicable for any type of collimator lenses, including those based on gradient lenses that form a parallel beam of light.

The solution is further explained by reference to the figures, which depict the following:

Figure 1 shows a diagram of the formation of an expanded light beam without optical contact between the fibers according to the closest analogue;

Figure 2 is a general view of an optical connector, consisting of 2 identical parts with an enlarged view of the optical module according to the closest analogue;

Figure 3 shows a diagram of the formation of a contact optical connector with an expanded isolated beam according to the patented solution;

Figure 4 shows an optical diagram of a contact optical connector with an extended isolated beam according to the patented solution;

Figure 5 is a general view of the optical module, made according to Figure 4, for a variant of the patented solution, when plates (15) with elastomer (16), separate for each optical channel, are part of a sealed optical module 14;

Figure 6 is an illustration of the patented solution, based on Figure 4, for the option when plates (15) with elastomer (16), separate for each optical channel, are part of a sealed housing (11);

Figure 7 is a general view of the optical module made according to Figure 4, for a solution where the plate (15) with elastomer (16) common to all optical channels is part of the sealed optical module 14;

Figure 8 is an illustration of the patent solution, based on Figure 4, for the option when the plate (15) with elastomer (16) common to all optical channels is part of a sealed housing (11);

Figure 9 is a general view of the design details of the optical module (14), made according to Figure 4 and Figure 5;

Figure 10 is a view of the optical module (14) made on the basis of Figure 4, Figure 5 and Figure 9.

In the figures, positions 1-29 show:

1 - base of the optical module,

2 - precision centering washer of the optical module,

3 - optical module cover,

4 - centering sleeve,

5 - collimator lens,

6 - ferrule segment limiter,

7 - ferula,

8 - optical fiber,

9- spring,

10 - guide pin,

11 - optical connector housing

12 - optical cable fixation unit,

13 - optical cable,

14 - optical module,

15 - window in the base plate,

16 - elastomeric windows,

17 - support plate,

18 - threaded holes for adjusting screws

19 - smooth holes for adjusting screws 18

20 - adjustment screws

21 - rubber-like spring rings

22 - flat surface of the support plate

23 - thrust washer

24 - front metal plate

25 - elastomeric plate with elastomeric windows 16

26 - screw securing the face plate 24

27 - adjusting washer

28 - holes for guide pins 10

29 - holes for windows 15.

The optical circuit, illustrating the new principle of constructing an optical connector within the framework of the proposed solution, is shown in Fig. 4 and differs in that all surfaces of the collimator lenses (5) are placed in an isolated (sealed) space, and the parallel radiation beam is output through windows (15) made of optical materials (glass, quartz, sapphire, etc.) of a support plate (17), the inner surface of which is located at a distance equal to the focal length of the collimator lens, where the parallel beam has an almost flat wave front (https://in-science .ru/library/article_post/rasprostranenie-gaussova-puchka), and is positioned (aligned) strictly perpendicular to the optical axis of the collimator lens (5), and the outer surface is in optical contact with the elastomeric windows (16) (according to the figures, 16 are windows ) made of optically transparent, easily deformable material. In this case, the design and geometric dimensions of the elastomeric windows are made in such a way that the free surface of the elastomeric windows protrudes above the edge of the end of the protective housing of the optical connector so that when the optical connectors are articulated in the connector, the surfaces of the elastomeric windows come into contact and are mechanically deformed to form an optical contact, forming propagation path of an expanded light beam isolated from external conditions.

The following design solutions are possible:

- windows (15) of the support plate (17) with elastomeric windows (16), separate for each optical channel, are part of the sealed optical module 14, forming output optical windows for each optical channel (Fig. 5);

- windows (15) of the support plate (17) with elastomeric windows (16), separate for each optical channel, are part of the sealed housing (11) of the optical connector, into which the module (14) with collimator lenses is placed (Fig. 6);

- the support plate (17) can be made in the form of the upper part of the cover (3) from a homogeneous optical material (glass, quartz, sapphire, etc.) and is common to all optical channels and, accordingly, collimator lenses in the module (14 ) (Fig.7), acting as a sealed output window for removing optical radiation from the module (14);

- the support plate (17) can be made in the form of the upper part of the cover (3) from a homogeneous optical material (glass, quartz, sapphire, etc.) and is common to all optical channels of the connector (11), acting as a sealed output window for outputting optical radiation (Fig. 8) from the connector body (11).

When two parts of the optical connector are connected, the outer surfaces of the elastomeric windows (16) are deformed and form an optical contact between the two parts of the optical connector. Thus, the space between the two parts of the optical connector, when connected, is filled with a homogeneous optically transparent window elastomer (16), in which a light beam propagates, which is guaranteed to be isolated from the external environment.

Thus, the technical result is achieved by the presence in the support plate (17) of output windows (15) made of K8 glass, quartz or other solid optical material 1÷2 mm thick, transparent in the wavelength range used in the optical connector, which is in optical contact with the easily deformable material of elastomeric windows (16), which can be used as various types of silicone or polyurethane elastomers or any other elastomers that are transparent in the wavelength range used, the characteristics of which satisfy the following conditions:

- the hardness of the proposed elastomers is (Shore A) up to 50, the optimal value is 30-35, the hardness of the transparent elastomer selected for a specific optical connector design is determined by the level of mechanical forces when connecting (pulling) two parts of the optical connector to achieve elastic deformation within 50 %,

- tensile strength of at least 1 MPa,

- temperature range of existence of a highly elastic state from

-65°С up to + 85°С^.,

- refractive index of elastomers N₁₆should be in the range 1.4÷1.5 and should be approximately (to within 1 decimal place) equal to the refractive index N₁₅ window material (15). Requirement for similar refractive index values N₁₅ ≈ N₁₆ is due to the need to reduce optical power losses due to Fresnel reflection during the transition from one optical medium to another, and since, as is known (G.Ya. Landsberg, “Optics”, M., “Fizmatlit”, 2006), the reflection coefficient R is determined by the formula :

then expression (2) determines the specified requirement.

This requirement is satisfied by a large number of elastomers based on silicone and polyurethane, which have refractive indices N ₁₀₁ ≈ N ₁₀₂ ≈ 1.4 -1.5 in the region of intrinsic transparency, coinciding with the working lengths of fiber-optic communication lines 1.3÷1.6 μm (E.I. Alekseeva et al. “Optical transparent photocurable silicone compositions”, VIAM/2007-204873. 2007).

Reliable optical contact between the elastomeric windows (16) of the two parts of the optical connector (Fig. 4) is achieved due to their deformation during mechanical joining of the parts of the optical connector. Deformation of the window material (16) should occur in the region of elastic deformation of the elastomer within 50% of the change in the thickness of the window material (16). Moreover, even in the event of mechanical damage to the surface of the elastomeric material of the windows (16) such as scratches, small gouges, etc., which would make it impossible for the functioning of optical elements made of glass or other solid-state transparent materials under these conditions, the elastomeric surfaces of the windows (16) Due to the deformation of their shape under mechanical compression, the contacting surfaces are “straightened”, making optical contact without introducing distortions and power losses into the propagating optical beam. Thus, the new principle of constructing optical connectors with an extended beam assumes that optical radiation from one part of the optical connector propagates to another part of the optical connector in a homogeneous transparent medium, independent of harsh external conditions and independent of the refractive index of the external environment. Consequently, in the proposed scheme, while maintaining all the advantages of the expanded optical beam, power losses are minimized when operating in polluted water or a dusty atmosphere, and all losses due to Fresnel reflection from the surfaces of all elements in collimator lenses (5) are practically eliminated when radiation passes from one environment to another, since the surfaces of all optical parts can be coated for an optical transition of the glass-to-air type, since they are in an environment protected from external conditions. (G.Ya. Landsberg, “Optics”, M., “Fizmatlit”, 2006). At the same time, the proposed optical design allows us to maintain the possibility of using different types of optical materials with different refractive index values in the manufacture of spherical collimator lenses (5).

The functionality of this optical scheme must be ensured by a rigid mechanical structure, in which the surfaces of the windows (15), through which the parallel light beam formed by the collimator lens (5) propagates, must be positioned strictly perpendicular to the optical axis of the lens (5).

In this case, according to the laws of optics, there is no deviation of the output parallel beam from the given direction of propagation. Accordingly, a rigidly fixed support plate with windows made of optically transparent material, upon deforming contact with plates made of elastomeric materials, forms optical contact surfaces that are also strictly perpendicular to the optical axis of the collimator lenses.

The design of an extended beam optical connector according to the new construction principle according to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 is shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10. The design of an optical connector known from RF patent No. 2786485 was used as a prototype.

A rigid support metal (steel, titanium, etc.) plate (17) with holes coaxial to the existing holes in the centering washer (2) and with 3 threaded holes (18) coaxial to the smooth holes is fixed parallel to the centering washer (2). (19), additionally drilled in the centering washer (2).

The plate (17) is precisely positioned relative to the surface of the centering washer (2) using 3 adjusting screws (20) and spring rings (21) of rubber-like material located concentrically with the centering sleeves (4) in the centering washer (2), as well as using holes (28) through which guide pins (10) pass. One of the surfaces (22) of the metal plate (17) must have high flatness (tolerance no more than 10 µm over a length of 15 mm), since plane-parallel plates (15) are glued onto this flat surface. The specified requirements for the parallelism of the base plate (17) and the flatness of the plates (15) are due to the need for precise positioning of the plane-parallel plates (15) strictly perpendicular to the optical axes of the collimator lenses (5) to eliminate losses of optical power during the transition of radiation from one part of the optical connector to another part, since, as is known from the optics course (G.Ya. Landsberg, “Optics”, M., “Fizmatlit, 2006), with normal (90°) incidence of light radiation on the surface of a transparent dielectric medium, the radiation emerging from the windows of the base plate also propagates normal to the surface of the plate.

The windows (15) of the support plate (17) must have a tapered shape of no more than 5" (5 arcsec). These requirements for wedge shape are due to possible differences in the refractive indices of the materials of the plates (15) and the elastomer (16). However, in the case of an exact (within 2 decimal place) coincidence of the refractive indices of the materials of the plates (15) and the material of the elastomeric windows (16) and a sufficiently good flatness of the surface of the plate (15) facing the output surface of the collimator lens (5) and located strictly perpendicular to the optical axis of the lens (5), the requirement for the wedge shape of the plate (15) turns out to be insignificant, since after leaving the plate (15) further in the elastomeric plate (25) and windows (16), optical radiation will propagate in an optically indistinguishable medium of the plate materials (15) and (16).

The positioning of the support plate (17) with rigidly fixed plates (15) is ensured by adjusting screws (20) with the spring-loading effect of elastic rings (21) made of rubber-like material and a thrust washer (23) made of metal (steel, titanium, etc.). The thickness of the support plate (17) is selected from the condition of preventing deformation of the surface (22) and, as a result, deterioration of flatness above the specified limit (tolerance no more than 10 µm at a length of 15 mm), when fixing the plate (17) with adjusting screws (20).

After adjustment, the space between the surface of the centering washer (2) and the lower surface of the support plate (17) is filled with a compound to stiffen the optical system. The resulting assembly of the centering washer (2) and the support plate (17) is placed in the base (1), in which the guide pin (10) is fixed, and is closed with a protective cover (3), which is positioned relative to the centering washer (2) and the support plate ( 17) using pins (10) passing through the hole in the protective cover (3). In this case, the upper surface of the support plate (17) with windows (15) must be accessible for optical contact with windows made of transparent elastomeric material (16) when installing the front plate (24) with windows made of transparent elastomeric material (16), which are part of the overall elastomer plate (25). The windows (16) are aligned with the holes for installing the centering bushings (4) in the centering washer (2), as well as with the corresponding holes in the protective cover (3). The face metal plate (24) with the elastomeric plate (25) is positioned relative to the centering washer (2) and the support plate (17) using the holes through which the guide pins (10) pass, and is attached to the protective cover (3) of the optical module (14 ) using one screw (26) passing through the adjusting metal washer (27) . By pressing the rigid face plate (24) with a screw (26) to the surface of the protective cover (3), the support plate (17) with windows (15) deforms the elastomer plate (25) in the area of the windows with elastomer (16), thereby creating a reliable optical contact and protecting the surface of the plate (15) from damaging mechanical influences that deteriorated the performance properties of optical connectors at the previous level of technology. The level of deformation of the elastomeric plate is determined by the thickness of the adjusting washer (27). Moreover, when operating this version of the optical connector, the front plate (25) with windows made of elastomeric material (6) is an easily replaceable consumable element that does not require adjustments and settings, and can be easily and quickly replaced if necessary in the field, even by unqualified personnel. However, the rest of the optical connector requires easier and less frequent maintenance compared to prior art optical connectors.

The top surface of the support plate (17) with windows (15) must be accessible for optical contact with the windows of clear elastomeric material (16) when installing the face plate (24) with windows of clear elastomeric material (16) that are part of the overall elastomeric plate (25). The windows (16) are aligned with the holes for installing the centering bushings (4) in the centering washer (2), as well as with the corresponding holes in the protective cover (3). The face metal plate (24) with the elastomeric plate (25) is positioned relative to the centering washer (2) and the support plate (17) using the holes through which the guide pins (10) pass, and is attached to the protective cover (3) of the optical module (14 ) using one screw (26) passing through the adjusting metal washer (27) . By pressing the rigid face plate (24) with a screw (26) to the surface of the protective cover (3), the support plate (17) with windows (15) deforms the elastomer plate (25) in the area of the windows with elastomer (16), thereby creating a reliable optical contact and protecting the surface of the plate (15) from damaging mechanical influences that deteriorated the performance properties of optical connectors at the previous level of technology. The level of deformation of the elastomeric plate is determined by the thickness of the adjusting washer (27). Moreover, when operating this version of the optical connector, the front plate (24) with the elastomeric plate (25) and windows made of elastomeric material (16) is an easily replaceable consumable element that does not require adjustments and settings, and can be easily and quickly replaced if necessary in the field even without qualified personnel. However, the rest of the optical connector requires easier and less frequent maintenance compared to prior art optical connectors.

Claims (13)

1. An optical connector, characterized in that it contains two identical optical connectors connected to each other to form an optical contact, each of which consists of a protective housing in which an optical module is fixed, which contains a cover, a base and a precision centering washer installed between them , having coaxial through holes with the possibility of placing optical channels and connecting elements in them, and in the holes of the precision centering washer, centering bushings are fixed, in which collimator lenses are installed at the base of the optical module, the centering bushing is made with the possibility of installing a ferrule with optical fiber inside it, the surface the end of which lies in the focal plane of the collimator lens, while above the surface of the collimator lens, through a gap equal to its focal length, a support plate with windows made of optical material, transparent in the used wavelength range, is fixed, positioned perpendicular to the optical axis of the collimator lens, to which it is rigidly attached face plate with windows covered with transparent elastomeric material, transparent in the wavelength range used, which are part of a common elastomeric plate located under the face plate, and the windows of the support plate are in optical contact with the windows of the face plate and coaxial with the holes of the precision centering washer for installing the centering bushings and with corresponding holes in the cover, while the windows made of elastomeric material are made with the possibility of mechanical deformation with the formation of optical contact when connecting optical connectors with the formation of an isolated propagation path of the expanded light beam. 2. An optical connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the support plate is located between the centering washer and the protective cover of the optical module. 3. An optical connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the support plate is located above the protective cover of the optical module. 4. An optical connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the support plate is a protective cover of the optical module. 5. The optical connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the support plate contains an optical window common to part of the collimator lenses of one optical module. 6. An optical connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the support plate contains an optical window common to all collimator lenses of one optical module. 7. An optical connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the elastomeric material is a material whose characteristics satisfy the following conditions: - the hardness of the proposed elastomers is (Shore A) up to 50, while the hardness of the transparent elastomer selected for a specific optical connector design is determined by the level of mechanical forces when connecting two parts of the optical connector to achieve elastic deformation within 50%, - tensile strength of at least 1 MPa, - temperature range for the existence of a highly elastic state from -65°C to +85°C, - the refractive index of elastomers N ₁₆ is selected from the range 1.4÷1.5. 8. Optical connector according to claim 7, characterized in that it is used as an elastomeric material silicone or polyurethane elastomers that have refractive indices N₁₀₁≈N₁₀₂≈1.4-1.5 in the region of intrinsic transparency, coinciding with the working lengths of fiber-optic communication lines 1.3÷1.6 microns. 9. An optical connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the optical connector has a sealed housing.