Fiber Breakout Assembly with Integrated Crimp Post
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Solution Overview
Problem
Transitioning multiple optical fibers from a trunk cable to a set of fanout cables efficiently is challenging due to fiber strain and assembly complexity.
Innovation Solution
A fiber breakout assembly comprising a tube with a trunk portion and a plug with multiple entry holes, where the plug is inserted into the tube, and a crimp post with retention features secures the assembly, reducing rotation and fiber strain, and allowing for secure attachment to both trunk and fanout cables.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional fiber transition methods are used, then fiber connectivity is achieved, but fiber strain and assembly complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The tube and plug are integrated into a single molded assembly, combining two separate components into one unified structure. This integration eliminates the need for additional fasteners and reduces assembly steps while maintaining fiber strain relief functionality through the integrated crimp post design.
Solution Approach 2:
The tube serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, acts as a crimping surface for the trunk cable, offers strain relief for fibers, and serves as a receptacle for the plug. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components and simplifies the overall assembly.
2Productivity
If multiple separate components are used for fiber transition, then assembly flexibility is maintained, but assembly time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The tube and plug are combined into a single molded component, reducing the number of parts that need to be handled and assembled. This integration directly improves assembly speed by eliminating multiple assembly steps while the modular design maintains flexibility for different fiber counts.
Solution Approach 2:
While integrated, the design maintains functional segmentation between the tube portion (for trunk cable management) and the plug portion (for fanout cable organization), allowing the single component to handle different functional requirements efficiently.
3Strength
If additional fasteners are used to secure the assembly, then connection strength is improved, but device complexity and assembly time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The crimp post is integrated directly into the tube structure, eliminating the need for separate fasteners. The crimp post provides sufficient mechanical strength through its molded integration with the tube, maintaining connection strength while reducing component count.
Solution Approach 2:
The crimp post structure is designed to self-secure the trunk cable and fibers through its geometry and material properties, without requiring additional fastening elements. The integrated design provides inherent mechanical strength and strain relief.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus implements a fiber breakout assembly. The fiber breakout assembly includes a tube and a plug. The tube includes a trunk portion and a plug receiving portion. The plug includes multiple entry holes and is configured to be inserted into the plug receiving portion of the tube. A crimp post is formed as part of the tube and includes one or more crimp retention features.