External Magnet Optical Coupling for Lens Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical connectors require complex coupling operations due to the placement of magnets, which complicates the alignment and insertion of optical fibers, leading to inefficiencies in light propagation.
Innovation Solution
An optical coupling member with a holding member and an external magnet that generates an attracting force to align the lens with the optical fiber, eliminating the need for intricate coupling operations by using a guide member and fixing mechanism to stabilize the alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If magnets are placed inside the socket hole and around the insertion shaft to enable coupling, then the optical connector can be coupled together, but the coupling operation becomes complicated requiring insertion of the plug into the socket
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the magnet from the internal structure and places it on the external surface of the optical connector. Specifically, the magnet is positioned on the outer circumferential surface of the connector body, allowing magnetic attraction to occur externally between mating connectors without requiring internal insertion operations. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining coupling reliability through magnetic attraction while dramatically simplifying the coupling operation to a simple external attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of placing magnets inside the connector structure where they require complex insertion operations, the patent inverts the approach by positioning magnets on the external surface. The magnet is arranged so that its attracting force acts externally on the mating connector, reversing the conventional internal placement strategy and eliminating the need for complicated coupling procedures.
2Measurement precision
If complex coupling operations are required to align optical components, then precise alignment can be achieved, but the operation time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a guide member that performs preliminary alignment of the optical connectors before the final coupling is completed by magnetic attraction. The guide member pre-positions the connectors in the correct orientation and alignment, so that when the magnets attract the connectors together, the optical components are already properly aligned. This preliminary action eliminates the need for complex manual alignment operations during coupling, reducing both time and complexity while maintaining precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide member acts as an intermediary between the external connector structures and the internal optical components. It mediates the coupling process by ensuring proper alignment is established before the magnetic force completes the connection, thereby achieving precise optical alignment without requiring complex operational steps from the user.
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 configuration simplifies the coupling process, improving light propagation efficiency in optical fibers without requiring complex operations and ensuring stable alignment of optical components.
Implementation Method 1
an attracting member provided outside in a direction crossing a housing direction of the lens at the one end of the holding member, in which the attracting member generates an attracting force for aligning a center of the lens with a center of an optical element provided in a coupling target
Data Source
AI summary
It is an object of the present invention to accurately maintain a positional relationship between a lens held in a holding member and an optical fiber without requiring any complicated operation. The invention includes a holder (11), at one end of which a housing section (11c) that houses a ball lens (12) is formed and at the other end of which an insertion hole (11a) for inserting an optical fiber (13) is formed, and a magnet (14) provided outside in a direction crossing a housing direction of the ball lens at the one end of the holder, in which the magnet generates an attracting force for aligning a center of the ball lens with a center of an optical element provided in a coupling target.