Optical Fiber Bundle Connector Structure for Bending Loss Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical fiber bundle connectors face issues of bending loss and breakage due to unprotected optical fibers, particularly when multiple fibers are held by a ferrule, leading to potential damage and failure.
Innovation Solution
The optical fiber bundle connector incorporates a plastic tube to protect each optical fiber, connected via an intermediate member to a ferrule, which is pressed against a frame member by a pressing member, reducing bending loss and breakage by allowing the plastic tube to move with the ferrule.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If optical fibers are held by a ferrule without protective tubing, then the connector structure is simple, but the optical fibers are vulnerable to bending loss and breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements nested protective structures where plastic tubes are inserted into the ferrule, and the ferrule itself is nested within a frame member. This nested configuration provides multiple layers of protection for the optical fibers while maintaining a compact overall structure, effectively resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective structure is segmented into distinct functional components: plastic tubes for individual fiber protection, ferrule for alignment and holding, and frame member for overall support. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific protective function optimally while keeping the overall design manageable and not excessively complex.
2Productivity
If multiple optical fibers are held by a ferrule, then the connector can transmit multiple signals, but the risk of bending loss and breakage increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each optical fiber is individually nested within its own plastic tube, which is then collectively held by the ferrule. This nested arrangement allows multiple fibers to be transmitted simultaneously while each fiber receives individual protection, preventing the increased risk of bending loss and breakage that would otherwise accompany multi-fiber transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The plastic tubes provide localized protective quality to each individual optical fiber within the ferrule. This local protection ensures that each fiber maintains its integrity independently, allowing the connector to handle multiple signals reliably without the durability issues that would arise from holding multiple unprotected fibers.
3Manufacturing precision
If the ferrule is pressed against the frame member to secure the fibers, then the fiber positioning is precise, but the fibers may be damaged by excessive pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The plastic tubes are nested within the ferrule, which is then nested within the frame member. This nested structure distributes the pressing force from the frame member through the ferrule to the plastic tubes, which in turn protect the optical fibers. This force distribution mechanism achieves precise fiber positioning while preventing excessive pressure from damaging the fibers.
Solution Approach 2:
The plastic tubes serve as beforehand cushioning elements between the ferrule and the optical fibers. When the ferrule is pressed against the frame member to achieve precise positioning, the plastic tubes cushion the optical fibers from excessive pressure, preventing damage while still allowing accurate fiber positioning to be achieved.
Data Source
AI summary
An optical fiber bundle connector includes a plurality of optical fibers, a plastic tube, a ferrule, an intermediate member, a frame member, and a pressing member. A portion of each of the plurality of optical fibers is inserted in the plastic tube. The ferrule extends in a first direction and holds tip portions of the plurality of optical fibers. The intermediate member has a cylindrical shape. The plurality of optical fibers are inserted in the intermediate member. The intermediate member connects the plastic tube and the ferrule. The frame member accommodates at least a portion of the ferrule, the intermediate member, and at least a portion of the plastic tube. The pressing member is disposed around the intermediate member and configured to press the ferrule toward a tip side of each of the plurality of optical fibers against the frame member.