Optical Connector Anti-Pulling Mechanism Using C-Shaped Snap Ring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current optical beam expanding connectors lack standardization, leading to non-interchangeable components and increased development time and material waste, with existing anti-pulling mechanisms having limited capacity, large volume, and complex structure, hindering miniaturization.
Innovation Solution
A connector design featuring a standardized optical beam expanding module with a C-shaped snap ring and strengthening element, where the snap ring transfers pulling forces to the outer housing, allowing for improved anti-pulling capacity without affecting the optical fiber, and enabling miniaturization through a simplified structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a strong spring is used for anti-pulling, then anti-pulling capacity is improved, but volume increases and structure becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the spring component from the connector structure entirely, replacing it with a direct rigid connection between the cable strengthening element and the connector body. This eliminates the need for springs while maintaining anti-pulling functionality, thereby reducing structural complexity and volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the anti-pulling function from the optical coupling function by providing separate mounting holes: one for rigidly mounting the cable (anti-pulling) and another for mounting the optical component (coupling). This segmentation allows independent optimization of each function without requiring complex spring mechanisms.
2Ease of manufacture
If different series of connectors use different mounting hole structures, then specific mounting requirements are met, but component interchangeability is lost and development time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a standardized mounting hole structure with uniform diameter and positioning that can accommodate different optical components (ferrules, lenses, etc.) across different connector series. This universal mounting interface enables component interchangeability while maintaining precise mounting requirements through consistent dimensional specifications.
3Manufacturing precision
If the mounting hole internal structure conforms to each beam expanding functional component shape, then mounting precision is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases and standardization is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a universal mounting hole design with standardized dimensions and features that can accommodate multiple types of beam expanding functional components. Instead of customizing each mounting hole to match specific component shapes, the standardized design achieves precise mounting through consistent positioning features and uniform geometric parameters applicable to all components.
Data Source
AI summary
A connector that includes an outer housing having an assembly channel with a stopping step on an inner wall of thereof and an optical beam expanding module assembled with the assembly channel of the outer housing. The optical beam expanding module includes a rear seat, formed with a snap ring groove, in which a C-shaped snap ring is fitted. A cable having a strengthening element is fixed on a rear end portion of the rear seat. When the cable of the optical beam expanding module is pulled outwardly, the C-shaped snap ring abuts against the stopping step, so that a pulling force exerted on the cable is transferred to the outer housing through the strengthening element of the cable, instead of being transferred to an optical fiber of the cable, thus preventing the optoelectronic coupling end faces of the connector from being separated.