Optical Fiber Connection Device Sealing Tip Against Contaminants

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Solution Overview

Problem

Optical fibers used in environments with dust and humidity, such as Galvano scanner heads and laser machining heads, face breakage due to foreign matter adhering to the high-power laser emission surface, requiring clean room conditions for safe installation.

Innovation Solution

An optical fiber connection device with a first connection member, a second connection member, and a light transmission protection part that seals the optical fiber tip, preventing exposure to air and foreign matter, allowing for secure connection without clean room gloves or booths.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the optical fiber tip is exposed to air during installation, then the installation process is simpler and faster, but foreign matter adheres to the laser emission surface causing fiber breakage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation speedVSAvoidfiber durability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A protective cap is introduced as an intermediary component that covers the optical fiber tip during installation and handling. This cap acts as a barrier between the fiber tip and foreign matter in the environment, allowing installation to proceed at normal speed without requiring clean room conditions, while still preventing foreign matter adhesion that would cause fiber breakage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The protective cap creates a controlled environment around the optical fiber tip, effectively isolating it from the external environment containing dust and humidity. This isolation mimics an inert atmosphere effect, preventing harmful interactions between foreign matter and the laser emission surface during installation operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #39Inert atmosphere (Inert environment)

2Reliability

If clean room gloves and clean booth are used to prevent foreign matter adhesion, then fiber breakage is prevented, but operational efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefiber durabilityVSAvoidoperational efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The protective cap serves as a portable protective barrier that eliminates the need for elaborate clean room facilities and specialized gloves. By providing direct protection at the fiber tip level, it maintains fiber durability while allowing installation to proceed in normal environmental conditions with standard operational procedures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The protective function is extracted from the complex clean room infrastructure and concentrated into a simple, dedicated protective cap component. This extraction allows the essential protection function to be maintained while eliminating the need for time-consuming clean room procedures and specialized personal protective equipment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS11215766B2Optical fiber connection device for connecting optical fiber and optical fiber assembly

Publication Date: 2022.01.04 FANUC LTD

AI summary

An optical connection device includes an optical fiber, a first connection member which includes an inlet to which the optical fiber is connected and an outlet, a second connection member which includes an aperture connected to the outlet of the first connection member and to which light from the optical fiber is transmitted through the first connection member, and a first light transmission protection part which protects a tip of the optical fiber in the first connection member.