Fiber Optic Connector Axial Displacement Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical fiber connectors face challenges in ensuring correct optical contacting due to varying dimensions and insertion depths of mating connectors with opto-electrical converters, leading to inconsistent pressure on ferrules, which can hinder light wave signal transmission.
Innovation Solution
A connector design featuring axially displaceable ferrules and a sliding housing with a wave spring, allowing for adjustable insertion depth compensation up to 4 mm, combined with a push-pull mechanism and sealing devices for environmental resilience, ensures optimal pressure and alignment of optical surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an adapter or screw-on housing is used to enable convenient plug-in connections, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases and correct optical contacting cannot be guaranteed due to changed connector dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is divided into multiple independent components: a connector housing, a sliding housing that can move axially within the connector housing, and ferrules with optical waveguides. This segmentation allows the sliding housing to independently adjust the insertion depth of the optical waveguides, compensating for dimensional variations in mating connectors while maintaining the overall connector structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The sliding housing is designed to be axially displaceable within the connector housing, transforming a static connector structure into a dynamic one. This dynamic capability enables the connector to adapt to different insertion depths of mating connectors, ensuring correct optical contacting despite variations in mating connector dimensions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If different dimensions of mating connectors are accommodated, then adaptability is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase to ensure correct optical contacting
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the insertion depth parameter dynamically through the axially displaceable sliding housing. Instead of relying on precise manufacturing of a fixed-length connector, the sliding housing allows the effective insertion depth to be adjusted, compensating for variations in mating connector dimensions and ensuring correct optical contacting across different connector types.
3Reliability
If spring-loaded ferrules are used to ensure optimal pressure for light transmission, then transmission reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ferrules are pre-loaded with springs that apply the necessary contact pressure before the connector is fully assembled or during the insertion process. This preliminary action ensures that the optical waveguides are already under optimal pressure for light transmission, maintaining reliability without requiring complex active control mechanisms.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a sliding housing with axial displacement capability is added to compensate for insertion depth variations, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity and length increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sliding housing is nested within the connector housing, with the sliding housing moving axially inside the connector housing. This nested arrangement allows the sliding mechanism to be compact and integrated within the existing connector structure, minimizing the increase in overall device complexity and length while still providing the necessary adjustment capability.
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 design ensures reliable optical coupling and transmission by maintaining the recommended pressure of 5N on ferrules, accommodating different insertion depths and environmental conditions, while preventing excessive curvature of optical fibers through a specialized cable manager.
Implementation Method 1
the sliding path being predetermined by means of a wave spring acting on the sliding housing
Implementation Method 2
the spring-loaded ferrules are fixed in their ferrule housings in the sliding housing, so that initially only the ferrules with the optical waveguides can be moved axially
Data Source
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AI summary
For precise contacting of optical fibers in connectors, a connector (1) for optical fibers is proposed, particularly for insertion and contacting in a mating connector (35) equipped with an opto-electronic transducer. In this connector, two optical fibers (30) are each arranged in individual ferrules, spring-loaded within their respective ferrule housings (27), and are axially displaceable independently of one another. Furthermore, the ferrule housings (27) are arranged in a sliding housing (10), which is also spring-loaded and axially displaceable by a further defined distance within an all-encompassing connector housing (2). This allows dimensional tolerances caused by manufacturing processes, which lead to different insertion depths, to be reliably compensated between the ferrule housings and the opto-electronic transducers in a mating connector or other adapter connector.