Optical Fiber Centering in Actuator Tubes via Adhesive Beads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing scanning fiber devices face issues with asymmetric movement of optical fibers due to surface tension of adhesives, leading to poor image quality, as the fibers tend to be pulled away from the center of the actuator tube, affecting the accuracy and consistency of scan patterns.
Innovation Solution
The use of a bead of adhesive as a spacer near the proximal end of the optical fiber, which is partially inserted into the actuator tube and secured with a suitable adhesive, helps center the fiber and reduce movement away from the tube's center, employing adhesives like Copper-Bond epoxy or TRA-BOND F123 to maintain mechanical stability and viscosity for effective attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If adhesive is applied to attach the optical fiber to the actuator tube, then the fiber is secured mechanically, but the surface tension of the adhesive causes the fiber to be pulled away from the center of the tube
Solution Approach 1:
A bead made of inert material (such as glass or plastic) is introduced as an intermediary component between the optical fiber and the actuator tube. The bead is positioned on the fiber at the desired attachment location before applying adhesive, serving as a physical barrier that prevents the adhesive from directly contacting and adhering to the fiber surface, thereby eliminating surface tension effects while still allowing mechanical attachment through the bead-to-tube adhesive bond
2Ease of operation
If the optical fiber is inserted through the actuator tube, then the scanning function is enabled, but the fiber moves away from the tube center affecting scan pattern accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The bead is pre-positioned on the optical fiber at the exact location where the fiber should contact the actuator tube end, before the fiber is inserted into the tube. This preliminary placement ensures that when adhesive is applied to secure the bead to the tube, the fiber is already centered correctly, preventing any subsequent movement or drift from the center position that would compromise scan pattern accuracy
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 method ensures accurate and consistent centering of the optical fiber within the actuator tube, reducing breakage and promoting high-quality image construction by minimizing mechanical stress and surface tension effects, thereby enhancing the scanning performance.
Implementation Method 1
asymmetric movement of optical fibers due to surface tension of adhesives
Implementation Method 2
A portion of an optical fiber is inserted through a piezoelectric tube and attached to an end of the tube with a bead and an adhesive
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods of attaching optical fibers to actuator tubes in the manufacture of scanning fiber devices are disclosed. In one aspect, a method may include applying a bead to an optical fiber of a scanning fiber device near a proximal end of a free end portion of the optical fiber. Then, the bead may be adhered at least partially within an actuator tube of the scanning fiber device by applying and curing an adhesive. Scanning fiber devices manufactured by such methods are also disclosed.