Fiber Optic Adapter Release Mechanism for Dense Packing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Fiber optic connector assemblies face challenges in being easily and reliably connected and disconnected, especially in densely packed configurations where space is limited, due to minimal distance between connectors, making manipulation difficult.

Innovation Solution

A fiber optic connector assembly comprising a connector housing, a conversion housing, a retention housing, and a release member that allows for selective coupling and disengagement, enabling axial movement restriction and easy removal by positioning the release member between engaged and disengaged states, facilitating secure engagement and easy disconnection without requiring external radial movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If fiber optic connectors are densely packed to increase network capacity, then the number of connectors per unit space increases, but the distance between connectors becomes minimal making manipulation difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of connectorsVSAvoidmanipulation difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The connector assembly is segmented into distinct functional components: a connector housing containing the optical fiber, a retention housing with retention features, and a release member with release features. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, enabling dense packing while maintaining ease of manipulation through the dedicated release mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The release member is designed to engage with the retention housing in an inverted configuration where the release features extend radially outward and axially forward, allowing the release member to be manipulated from the front of the assembly rather than requiring access from the rear or side, thus facilitating easy operation in densely packed configurations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If a robust locking mechanism is used to ensure reliable connection, then connection reliability improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidhardware complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The retention housing serves as an intermediary component between the connector housing and the conversion housing. It provides the locking function through retention features that engage with corresponding features on the connector housing, while the release member acts as a mediator to facilitate easy disengagement by interacting with the retention housing. This intermediary structure achieves reliable connection without requiring complex integrated locking mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The connector housing is nested within the retention housing, which is in turn nested within the conversion housing. This nested arrangement allows the locking mechanism to be distributed across multiple hierarchical levels, with each housing providing a portion of the retention function, thereby achieving robust connection reliability while distributing complexity across simple, modular components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Ease of operation

If a release mechanism requiring radial movement is used, then disconnection is achieved, but space requirements between connectors increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisconnection capabilityVSAvoidspace between connectors

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The release mechanism transitions from requiring radial movement to requiring axial movement. The release features on the release member are configured to engage with and move axially relative to the retention features on the retention housing. This dimensional change allows the release mechanism to operate within the axial space already allocated for connector insertion and removal, eliminating the need for additional radial clearance between densely packed connectors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS11927810B2Fiber optic adapter assemblies including a conversion housing and a release member

Publication Date: 2024.03.12 CORNING RES & DEV CORP

AI summary

A fiber optic connector assembly includes a connector housing defining a locking portion defined on an outer surface of the connector housing, an adapter assembly selectively coupled to the connector housing, the adapter assembly including a conversion housing extending around the connector housing and defining a conversion front end, a retention housing including a connector retention feature engaged with the locking portion of the connector housing and the retention housing defining one or more outwardly-extending retention features, and a release member, engageable with the retention housing, where the release member is positionable between an engaged position, in which axial movement between the retention housing and the conversion housing is restricted, and a disengaged position, in which the retention housing is removable from the conversion housing.