Dual-Jacketed Fiber Module Assembly for Bend Protection and Rotation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Optical fibers in fiber coupled optoelectronic modules are prone to physical damage due to their fragile nature, particularly when bent too tightly, leading to potential breakage.
Innovation Solution
A dual-jacketed protection sleeve is implemented, comprising an inner and outer jacket with a reducer adaptor, allowing for slidable and rotatable attachment to prevent excessive bending and protect the optical fibers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If optical fibers are made thin to achieve compact size, then the module size is reduced, but the fibers become more prone to physical damage and breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dual-layer protective structure where an inner jacket directly encloses the optical fiber, and an outer jacket surrounds the inner jacket. This nested configuration provides redundant protection against physical damage while maintaining compact dimensions, as each layer acts as a protective barrier without significantly increasing the overall module volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs different material properties for the inner and outer jackets to optimize both protection and flexibility. The inner jacket uses a softer material that conforms to the fiber and prevents micro-bending, while the outer jacket uses a more rigid material that resists external forces and prevents macro-bending, creating a composite protective system that enhances fiber durability without increasing size.
2Strength
If rigid attachment is used to secure the fiber, then mechanical strength is improved, but the ability to rotate for polarization alignment is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the protective structure into distinct segments: a rigid outer jacket for mechanical strength, a flexible inner jacket for rotation, and a reducer adaptor that connects them. This segmentation allows each component to fulfill its specific function - the outer jacket provides structural support while the inner jacket enables rotation, resolving the contradiction between strength and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic capability through the inner jacket and reducer adaptor assembly, which can rotate relative to the outer jacket. This dynamic feature allows polarization alignment adjustments while the outer jacket maintains its rigid structure for mechanical strength, enabling both stability and adaptability in the same system.
3Reliability
If tight bending is avoided to prevent damage, then fiber reliability is improved, but the compact packaging of the module becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses flexible thin-walled jackets that can bend without damaging the fiber. The inner jacket, in particular, is designed with sufficient flexibility to allow the fiber to follow compact routing paths within the module while maintaining a minimum bending radius that prevents damage. This flexible shell approach enables compact packaging while preserving fiber reliability.
4Reliability
If a single thick jacket is used for protection, then fiber protection is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different material qualities and thicknesses at different locations and layers. The inner jacket uses a softer, more flexible material with appropriate thickness for conformal protection, while the outer jacket uses a more rigid material optimized for external force resistance. This local quality differentiation provides effective protection while keeping each layer's manufacturing relatively simple and straightforward.
Data Source
AI summary
A dual-diameter armor jacketing assembly method for protecting the fiber optic cable of an optoelectronic module is demonstrated. This method allows for rigid attachment of the armor jacketing to both the optoelectronic module housing and the fiber connector and also for rotation of the fiber connector for polarization maintaining fiber assemblies.