Duplex Optical Connector Plug Latch Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional duplex optical connector plugs experience accidental decoupling from adaptors due to weak resilience of engagement latches, leading to communication loss when subjected to pulling forces, as the latches deform downward and fail to securely re-engage with the adaptor.
Innovation Solution
The duplex optical connector plug design incorporates elastically deformable engagement latches with horizontal and inclined portions, which resist downward deformation under tensile loads, ensuring secure engagement and preventing accidental decoupling by maintaining contact with the adaptor even under pulling forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the engagement latch is designed to be elastically deformable to allow easy engagement and disengagement, then the ease of operation is improved, but the resilience becomes weak causing accidental decoupling under pulling forces
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement latch is divided into multiple functional segments: a resilient portion providing elastic deformation capability for easy engagement, and a rigid portion providing structural strength to resist pulling forces. This segmentation allows each part to optimize its properties independently, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the engagement latch have different mechanical properties: the resilient portion is designed with high elasticity for easy engagement, while the rigid portion is designed with high strength for maintaining engagement under load. This local differentiation of material properties allows the single component to satisfy both contradictory requirements.
2Reliability
If the engagement latch is made rigid to withstand pulling forces, then the reliability is improved, but the ease of engagement and disengagement deteriorates due to increased resistance to deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement latch is divided into multiple functional segments: a resilient portion providing elastic deformation capability for easy engagement, and a rigid portion providing structural strength to resist pulling forces. This segmentation allows each part to optimize its properties independently, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the engagement latch have different mechanical properties: the resilient portion is designed with high elasticity for easy engagement, while the rigid portion is designed with high strength for maintaining engagement under load. This local differentiation of material properties allows the single component to satisfy both contradictory requirements.
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 enhanced latch design effectively withstands pulling forces, preventing accidental decoupling and ensuring reliable communication by maintaining engagement with the optical connector adaptor, thus preventing communication loss.
Implementation Method 1
a first spring disposed between the first ferrule and the first stop ring to bias the first ferrule axially frontward
Implementation Method 2
an engagement latch configured to couple the plug frame to an optical connector adaptor, the engagement latch including: an arm, which extends in the axial direction from an axial rear side of the plug frame to the protrusion portion, and is elastically deformable in a vertical direction
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention provides a duplex optical connector plug which maintains an optical connection with an optical connector adaptor withstanding any force of pulling the optical connector plug applied in the direction of decoupling the optical connector plug and the optical connector adaptor from each other. A duplex optical connector plug 10 includes: a first engagement latch 75a being elastically deformable and including a first abutting projection 81a configured to abut on a front end of a first top wall 31 and a first engagement part 82a formed on an axial rear side of the first abutting projection 81a and configured to engage with an optical connector adaptor when the first optical connector assembly 11a is inserted into the optical connector adaptor; and a second engagement latch 75b being elastically deformable and including a second abutting projection 81b configured to abut on a front end of a second top wall 31 and a second engagement part 82b formed on an axial rear side of the second abutting projection 81b and configured to engage with the optical connector adaptor when the second optical connector assembly 11b is inserted into the optical connector adaptor.