Asymmetric Optical Connector Mating Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current optical connectors rely on symmetric mating schemes where both ferrules move relative to their housings, leading to complex and expensive designs, whereas an asymmetric scheme with one fixed and one movable ferrule can achieve similar alignment with less complexity and cost.
Innovation Solution
An optical connector design featuring a housing with engagement features that transition from one portion to another as the connector moves from a partial to full mating position, allowing the optical ferrule to move relative to the housing, enabling alignment with a mating connector's fixed ferrule, thus reducing complexity and cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a symmetric mating scheme is used where both ferrules move relative to their housings, then proper optical alignment can be achieved, but the design becomes complex and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by designing one connector with a movable ferrule and the other with a fixed ferrule, eliminating the need for both ferrules to move. This asymmetric configuration achieves proper optical alignment while reducing design complexity and manufacturing costs compared to symmetric schemes where both ferrules must move.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the movement function from one ferrule, making it fixed relative to its housing, while retaining movement capability only in the other ferrule. This extraction of the movement function from both ferrules reduces the overall system complexity while maintaining the necessary alignment capability.
2Manufacturing precision
If a symmetric mating scheme is used where both ferrules move relative to their housings, then proper optical alignment can be achieved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By making one ferrule fixed and the other movable, the patent reduces manufacturing complexity and cost. The asymmetric design eliminates the need to manufacture two movable ferrule assemblies, simplifying production while achieving the required optical alignment precision.
3Device complexity
If an asymmetric mating scheme with one fixed and one movable ferrule is used, then design complexity is reduced, but the engagement features must transition between portions during mating
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement features are segmented into multiple portions that guide the mating process. As the movable connector engages with the fixed connector, the engagement features transition between these portions, providing guided movement and ensuring proper alignment while maintaining ease of operation despite the asymmetric configuration.
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
This design achieves proper optical alignment with reduced complexity and cost by using an asymmetric mating scheme, where one ferrule is fixed and the other moves, allowing for efficient optical communication between optical fibers.
Implementation Method 1
a light redirecting side for receiving the central light ray transmitted by the input surface along a first direction and redirecting the received central light ray along a different second direction
Data Source
AI summary
An optical connector includes a housing and an optical ferrule configured to move relative to the housing. The optical ferrule is configured to mate with a mating optical connector which includes a mating housing and a mating optical ferrule fixed relative to the mating housing. The housing includes at least one first engagement feature for engaging a corresponding first mating engagement feature of the mating housing. The optical ferrule includes an input surface for receiving and transmitting a central light ray from an optical fiber, and a light redirecting side for receiving the central light ray and redirecting it along a different second direction, until it exits the optical ferrule through an output surface. When the optical connector moves to a full mating position relative to the mating optical connector, the transition causes the optical ferrule to move relative to the housing.