Optical Fiber Connector Ferrule Alignment Guide Groove Rib
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing optical fiber connecting structures face difficulties in smoothly inserting ferrules into ferrule receivers due to misalignment and relative movement of ferrules within the protectors, leading to assembly challenges and inefficiencies in optical fiber connections.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a guide groove and guide rib in the interface housing, along with mating concave and convex portions and a lock mechanism in the ferrule holding members, ensures proper alignment and secure mating of ferrule holding members, facilitating easy and precise insertion of ferrules into ferrule receivers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If ferrule holding members are united with opening sides of ferrule holding grooves facing each other, then assembly efficiency is improved, but ferrule alignment precision deteriorates due to relative movement
Solution Approach 1:
A guide rib is introduced as an intermediary element between the ferrule holding members and ferrule receivers. The guide rib fits into a guide groove on the ferrule holding member and extends into the ferrule receiver, serving as a mediator that transmits and maintains alignment information throughout the assembly process, ensuring both assembly efficiency and alignment precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide rib is pre-positioned in the guide groove before the ferrule is inserted into the ferrule receiver. This preliminary action establishes the correct alignment path in advance, preventing misalignment during the subsequent insertion process and ensuring precise ferrule positioning without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If separate protectors are used for each optical fiber, then optical inspection capability is improved, but assembly complexity increases due to multiple components
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple separate protector components are merged into a single integrated ferrule holding member structure. The guide groove and multiple ferrule holding grooves are combined in one piece, reducing the number of separate protectors needed while maintaining the optical inspection capability through the transparent material and structural design.
Solution Approach 2:
The ferrule holding member is designed with multi-functionality: it provides protection for optical fibers, holds multiple ferrules in precise positions, enables optical inspection through its transparent construction, and guides alignment via the integrated guide groove. This universal design eliminates the need for separate dedicated components for each function.
Data Source
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AI summary
An optical fiber connecting structure (50) includes a first connector (10) for a terminal of an optical fiber and a second connector (20) on an optical signal receiver side. The first connector (10) include a plurality of ferrule holding members (12, 13) each holding a ferrule (11) and being unitable with each other. The second connector (20) includes an interface housing (21) with a cavity (22) for insertion of the first connector (10), the interface housing (21) in which a plurality of ferrule receivers for insertion of the ferrules are disposed. The interface housing (21) includes a ferrule guide (24) configured to guide each of the ferrules (11) to a proper insertion position upon insertion of the first connector (10) into the cavity (22).