Fiber Exit Element Housing for Thermal Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fiber exit elements with multiple glass fibers suffer from absorption losses of signal light beams, leading to heating of the optical element, which can distort the optical properties and reduce the effectiveness of the fiber exit element.
Innovation Solution
A fiber exit element design that incorporates a first housing surrounding the optical element, with a fiber feedthrough element that is optically absorbent or reflective, to redirect interference beams away from the optical element, thereby reducing heating and improving handling and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple glass fibers are connected to a common optical element, then the fiber exit element can handle multiple signal light beams, but absorption losses occur leading to heating of the optical element
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a housing structure that segments the optical element into multiple independent connection regions. Each glass fiber is connected to a specific region of the optical element, and the housing physically separates these connection regions. This segmentation prevents the interference beams from one fiber connection from affecting other connection regions, thereby reducing cumulative heating while maintaining the capability to handle multiple signal light beams simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediate housing structure as a mediator between the multiple glass fiber connections and the optical element. This housing acts as an intermediary that guides and isolates the interference beams from each fiber connection, preventing them from converging on the optical element. The housing serves as a buffer that maintains the versatility of handling multiple beams while protecting the optical element from excessive heating.
2Device complexity
If the optical element is exposed to interference beams from multiple fibers, then all fibers can be connected to the same optical element, but the optical properties become distorted
Solution Approach 1:
The housing structure segments the optical element into multiple isolated connection zones, one for each glass fiber. This segmentation ensures that interference beams from each fiber connection are confined to their respective zones and cannot reach other connection regions or distort the optical properties of the optical element. The segmentation maintains device simplicity while ensuring optical property stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the interference beams from the path to the optical element by using the housing structure to redirect them away. The housing is designed to take out the harmful interference beams from the optical path, allowing the optical element to remain exposed to multiple fiber connections without suffering from optical property distortion. This extraction maintains both device simplicity and optical reliability.
3Device complexity
If interference beams are not managed, then the fiber exit element structure remains simple, but heating and optical distortion reduce effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The housing structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides mechanical support for the optical element, isolates the connection regions for multiple fibers, redirects interference beams away from the optical element, and maintains the overall structural integrity. This multi-functionality allows the fiber exit element to manage interference beams effectively without significantly increasing structural complexity, thereby maintaining effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing acts as an intermediary structure that mediates between the simplicity requirement and the effectiveness requirement. It provides a straightforward structural solution that manages interference beams through its geometric design and material properties, enhancing effectiveness while adding minimal complexity to the overall structure.
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
The proposed design effectively reduces the heating of the optical element by absorbing or redirecting interference beams, maintaining the optical properties and enhancing the mechanical stability and handling of the fiber exit element.
Implementation Method 1
glass fibers are used for light transmission... the glass fibers can also be referred to as optical waveguides
Implementation Method 2
a fiber feedthrough element that is optically absorbent or reflective, to redirect interference beams away from the optical element, thereby reducing heating
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a fiber exit element (1, 2, 3) comprising: a plurality of glass fibers (1) each having at least one core (10), each of which is designed to guide a signal light beam (A); and at least one optical element (2) which is connected in each case to an open end of the cores (10) of the glass fibers (1) at an entry surface (21) and is designed to receive the signal light beam (A) from the open ends of the cores (10) of the glass fibers (1) and emit same outwards in the form of exit beams via at least one exit surface (22), characterized by at least one first housing (30) which is connected to the optical element (2) and, together with the optical element (2), forms a first housing space (C) which at least substantially, preferably completely, encloses at least the entry surface (21) of the optical element (2) with the open ends of the cores (10) of the glass fibers (1), wherein the first housing (30) has a first housing shell (30a) which extends at least substantially, preferably exactly, parallel to the glass fibers (1) and is designed to be optically transparent and/or optically absorbent at least in sections, and wherein the first housing (30) has a fiber feedthrough element (30b) through which the glass fibers (1) extend, preferably vertically, in a loosely guided or fixedly connected manner, and at least sections of which are designed to be optically reflective and/or optically absorbent.