Optical Fiber Connector Curved Spring Seat Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical fiber connectors face issues with misalignment, side loading, and torque due to the non-flat surface of the spring end, which can lead to poor optical contact and connection reliability.
Innovation Solution
The optical fiber connector design incorporates a multifiber ferrule with a spring seat featuring curved tooth portions that apply a biasing force in the longitudinal direction, preventing moment application about a lateral axis, thus ensuring proper alignment and contact without misalignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a conventional spring end is used to apply biasing force to the ferrule, then the ferrule can be biased into position, but side loading and torque are introduced causing misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The spring end is designed with a curved surface that contacts the ferrule at multiple points around its circumference. This curved geometry allows the spring to apply axial biasing force while accommodating minor ferrule position variations without generating side loading or torque, thereby preventing misalignment during connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring seat is designed with a specific curved contact surface geometry that differs from conventional flat or point contact designs. This localized curved surface configuration ensures that the biasing force is distributed evenly around the ferrule circumference, eliminating the generation of moments about lateral axes while maintaining effective axial biasing.
2Force
If the spring end applies biasing force, then the ferrule is positioned correctly, but misalignment occurs during connection
Solution Approach 1:
The curved contact surface on the spring end accommodates ferrule position variations by distributing contact pressure around the ferrule circumference. This prevents misalignment during the connection process and ensures reliable optical contact between mated connectors, thereby improving connection reliability while maintaining effective biasing force.
3Device complexity
If a conventional spring seat design is used, then the structure is simple, but torque is applied to the ferrule causing misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The spring seat incorporates a curved contact surface that contacts the ferrule at multiple circumferential points. This curved geometry allows the spring to apply axial force without generating torque or moments about lateral axes, preventing misalignment while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that does not require complex mechanisms.
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 effectively prevents misalignment and ensures reliable optical contact by maintaining the ferrule's alignment during connection, even under side loading or torque, enhancing the connector's performance and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
The coil spring has a front end, a rear end and a middle section between the front end and the rear end... the coil spring is still able to apply a biasing force to the spring seat in the axial direction when the coil spring buckles
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a
Figure 2b~2c
AI summary
An optical fiber connector according to the present disclosure includes a fiber ferrule, a spring, a coil spring seat and a spring push. An opening extends through the front end of the spring. The spring seat includes two first tooth portions and two second tooth portions. The spring seat has opposing front and rear surfaces. The front surface of the spring comes in contact with the fiber ferrule. An opening extends through the rear surface of the spring. The first tooth portions extend from the rear surface and the respective first tooth portion has a first inner surface and a first outer surface. The first outer surface is a curved surface. The second tooth portions extend from the rear surface and the respective second tooth portion has a second inner surface and a second outer surface. The second outer surface is a curved surface. The first and second tooth portions extend into the opening of the spring and the convex surfaces thereof come in contact with the inner sides of the spring. The spring push comes in contact with the rear end of the spring to push the spring toward the spring seat.