Fiber Exit Element Structure for Thermally Isolated Fusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for connecting multiple glass fibers to a fiber exit element are prone to mechanical instability, thermal damage, and optical interference, leading to poor signal transmission and increased production costs, especially when fusing glass fibers in succession.
Innovation Solution
The fiber exit element features an optical element with strategically designed depressions or elevations on its entry surface to thermally decouple glass fibers during the fusion process, preventing heat transfer and minimizing damage, while also using spacer elements and transition fibers for precise alignment and enhanced mechanical stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple glass fibers are fused to the optical element in succession, then the fiber exit element can be manufactured with integrated connection, but thermal damage occurs to previously fused fibers from the processing heat of subsequent fibers
Solution Approach 1:
The entry surface of the optical element is segmented into separate processing zones for each glass fiber connection. These zones are spatially separated to prevent thermal interference between sequentially fused fibers, allowing each fiber to be fused independently without thermal damage from subsequent processing.
Solution Approach 2:
Spacer elements are introduced as intermediary components between adjacent glass fibers at the entry surface. These spacers act as thermal barriers and physical separators, preventing heat from one fiber's fusion zone from damaging neighboring fibers while maintaining precise alignment and spacing.
2Volume of moving object
If glass fibers are arranged closely together for compact design, then the fiber exit element becomes more compact, but mechanical stability and alignment precision deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The entry surface is pre-configured with depressions, elevations, or integrated spacer structures that establish precise positioning features before fiber fusion. This preliminary structuring ensures that glass fibers are automatically aligned with the correct spacing and orientation, maintaining manufacturing precision even in compact arrangements.
Solution Approach 2:
The entry surface features localized structural variations (depressions, elevations, or spacer elements) at specific fiber positions. These local modifications provide tailored mechanical support and alignment features for each fiber, ensuring precise positioning while maintaining overall compactness of the fiber array.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If thermal protection measures like spacers are introduced between fibers, then thermal damage is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer elements are merged with the optical element itself, forming an integrated structure where the spacers are part of the optical element's entry surface. This integration eliminates separate components, reducing assembly steps and overall device complexity while maintaining thermal protection functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The entry surface structures serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide thermal isolation between fibers, mechanical support for fiber positioning, alignment references for precise fusion, and spatial organization for compact arrangement. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional dedicated components.
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 approach improves the thermal protection and mechanical stability of glass fibers during the fusion process, reduces thermal damage, and enhances the quality and reliability of the fiber exit element, allowing for a more compact and efficient arrangement of glass fibers.
Implementation Method 1
at least the material of the open ends of the cores and/or of the shells of the glass fibers is fused to the material of the optical element
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to A fiber exit Element (1, 2) having A plurality of glass fibers (1), each having at least one core (11), which is each designed to guide A signal light radiation (A), and to at least one optical Element (2), preferably an optical window (2), an optical lens (2), an optical beam splitter (2), an optical prism (2) or an optical lens array (2), which is respectively connected and designed to receive the signal light radiation (A) from the open ends of the cores (11) of the glass fibers (1) and to discharge them as exit radiations via at least one exit surface (26), wherein the open ends of the cores (10) of the glass fibers (1), preferably further the open ends of the cores (10), are arranged within the material of the optical Element (2), preferably in relation to an entry surface (21) of the optical Element (2), and wherein at least the material of the open ends of the cores (11) of the glass fibers (1) is fused to the material of the optical Element (2). The fiber exit element (1, 2) is characterized in that the entrance surface (21) of the optical element (2) has at least one first depression (22a) and at least one first fused glass fiber (1a) and a second fused glass fiber (1b) are spaced apart from one another by the first depression (22a) of the entry surface (21).