Optical Fiber Connector Assembly Crimping Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing optical fiber connector assemblies have mechanical strength and tensile strength issues due to intermediate mechanical couplings, which increase complexity and production costs.

Innovation Solution

An optical fiber connector assembly design featuring a sleeve to house the ferrule, a connector body with a distal portion for the sleeve and a proximal portion for direct coupling to the fiber optic cable, using a crimping element at the proximal portion to secure the cable, reducing mechanical couplings and simplifying assembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If an intermediate mechanical coupling (spring push and crimp band) is used to connect the connector housing to the fiber optic cable, then the assembly allows modular construction and ease of assembly, but the mechanical strength and tensile strength are reduced, exposing optical fibers to possible ruptures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemodular constructionVSAvoidmechanical strength and tensile strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges the connector housing and the fiber optic cable assembly into a single integrated unit by directly coupling the cable to the housing without intermediate mechanical couplings. This eliminates the spring push and crimp band, creating a monolithic structure that maintains full mechanical strength while preserving ease of assembly through direct integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of manufacture

If an intermediate mechanical coupling (spring push and crimp band) is used to connect the connector housing to the fiber optic cable, then the assembly allows modular construction, but the complexity of assembling and production operations increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemodular constructionVSAvoidassembling and production complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges multiple separate components (connector housing, spring push, crimp band, and cable assembly) into a single integrated structure. This eliminates the need for complex assembly operations involving multiple parts, reducing production complexity while maintaining modular benefits through direct integration of functional elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If an intermediate mechanical coupling is used to connect the connector housing to the fiber optic cable, then the assembly allows for separate termination of components, but the mechanical strength is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseparate terminationVSAvoidmechanical strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention combines the termination functions directly into the connector housing structure itself, eliminating the need for intermediate coupling components. This integrated approach maintains adaptability for various cable types while preserving full mechanical strength through direct structural coupling between the housing and cable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3177952B1Optical fiber connector assembly
Publication Date: 2020.11.18 PRYSMIAN SPA
  • EP3177952B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3177952B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP3177952B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6b

AI summary

Optical fiber connector assembly (100) for a fiber optic cable (1) comprising an optical fiber (10) having an end portion terminated with a ferrule (30). The optical fiber connector assembly (100) comprises: - a sleeve (110) configured to at least partially house the end portion of the optical fiber (10) terminated with the ferrule (30); - a connector (120) comprising a body (121) extending lengthwise and having an internal passageway for the sleeve (110), the body (121) having a distal portion (123), configured to house the sleeve (110) and to mate with a corresponding receptacle, and a proximal portion (125) configured to be coupled to an end portion of the fiber optic cable (1), the proximal portion (125) having on its later surface at least one aperture (127); and - a crimping element (130) adapted to couple the proximal portion (125) of the body (121) to the end portion of the fiber optic cable (1) at said at least one aperture (127). There is also disclosed a pre-connectorized fiber optic cable comprising a fiber optic cable (1) and the optical fiber connector assembly (100) mounted upon an end portion of the fiber optic cable (1).