Optical Connector with Angled Parallel Guides
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical connectors face challenges in achieving precise, loss-free, and interference-free signal transmission due to high tolerances and complexity in manufacturing, which can lead to contamination and accuracy issues during connection and disconnection.
Innovation Solution
An optical connector design featuring a two-part structure with a plug area forming an optical lens and guides aligned at an angle, combined with a cable guide, strand guide, and contact area, utilizing an optically transparent and conductive material for accurate beam expansion and alignment, and a clamping mechanism for secure fiber fixation, allowing for precise assembly and reduced susceptibility to contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional injection molding is used to manufacture optical connectors, then production efficiency is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to large tolerances when assembling multiple molded parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple previously separate molded parts (connector housing, lens holder, and alignment features) into a single integrated molded component. This eliminates the need to assemble multiple parts with tight tolerances, thereby achieving both high production efficiency through single-shot injection molding and high manufacturing precision by avoiding cumulative assembly tolerances.
2Reliability
If beam expansion is used to reduce sensitivity to contamination, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional lens components and alignment requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The lens for beam expansion is integrated directly into the connector housing as a single molded feature rather than being a separate component. This maintains the beam expansion functionality for improved reliability against contamination while reducing device complexity by eliminating separate lens assemblies and their associated alignment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector design incorporates self-aligning features where the integrated lens and guide structures automatically align during insertion without requiring complex external alignment mechanisms. The guides and lens are positioned such that they self-correct minor misalignments, reducing the need for additional alignment components.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design enables accurate, loss-free, and interference-free signal transmission with minimal components, ensuring high precision and reliability in optical connections by minimizing tolerances and environmental influences through precise alignment and beam expansion.
Implementation Method 1
The optical beam that emerges from the optical conductor is expanded by means of a lens. The diameter of the light beam is enlarged and aligned in parallel through the lens.
Implementation Method 2
The plug parts which are locked together form a plug region at the front along a plug axis and a rear connection region. The plug area of the optical connector forms an optical lens
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an optical connector (1), having a first connector part (1 a) and a second connector part (1 b) that can interlock with the first connector part, the optical connector (1) having, along a connection axis (A), a plug-in region (2) in a front region and a connection region (3) in a rear region. An optical lens (10), a first guide (11) and a second guide (12) are provided in the plug-in region (2). The first guide (11) and the second guide (12) are aligned in parallel and are arranged at an angle (a) that is greater than 0° to the connection axis (A).