Fiber Optic Connector One-Piece Inner Housing Design

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional fiber optical connectors rely on outer clamp shells for secure attachment, which can be cumbersome and may not provide the necessary durability and environmental resistance.

Innovation Solution

A fiber optic connector design that eliminates the need for an outer clamp shell by using a one-piece inner housing to directly connect the connector sub-assembly to the optical fiber cable, providing a secure and robust attachment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If an outer clamp shell is used to secure the connector assembly, then the connector can be easily assembled and disassembled, but the durability and environmental resistance are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of assemblyVSAvoiddurability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the outer clamp shell from the connector assembly, extracting the problematic component that compromised durability. The inner housing is designed to directly secure the ferrule holder carrier to the cable without requiring the intermediate clamp shell, thereby eliminating the source of reliability issues while maintaining ease of assembly through the simplified one-piece construction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the inner housing and the cable attachment function into a single integrated component. The one-piece inner housing directly connects the ferrule holder carrier to the optical fiber cable, combining multiple functions (support, secure, attach) into one structural element that eliminates the need for separate clamp shells and provides enhanced durability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of operation

If an outer clamp shell is used to secure the connector assembly, then the connector can be easily assembled and disassembled, but the environmental resistance is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of assemblyVSAvoidenvironmental resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the outer clamp shell from the connector assembly, extracting the problematic component that compromised environmental resistance. The inner housing is designed to directly secure the ferrule holder carrier to the cable without requiring the intermediate clamp shell, thereby eliminating the source of environmental vulnerability while maintaining ease of assembly through the simplified one-piece construction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the inner housing and the cable attachment function into a single integrated component. The one-piece inner housing directly connects the ferrule holder carrier to the optical fiber cable, combining multiple functions (support, secure, attach) into one structural element that eliminates the need for separate clamp shells and provides enhanced environmental resistance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If an outer clamp shell is used to secure the connector assembly, then the connector can be easily assembled and disassembled, but the risk of mechanical failure is increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of assemblyVSAvoidmechanical failure risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the outer clamp shell from the connector assembly, extracting the problematic component that increased mechanical failure risk. The inner housing is designed to directly secure the ferrule holder carrier to the cable without requiring the intermediate clamp shell, thereby eliminating the source of mechanical vulnerability while maintaining ease of assembly through the simplified one-piece construction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the inner housing and the cable attachment function into a single integrated component. The one-piece inner housing directly connects the ferrule holder carrier to the optical fiber cable, combining multiple functions (support, secure, attach) into one structural element that eliminates the need for separate clamp shells and reduces mechanical failure risk.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3908867B1Fiber optical connector

Publication Date: 2025.04.30 PPC BROADBAND INC

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AI summary

A fiber optic connector for terminating a fiber optic cable includes an inner housing, an outer housing, a connector sub-assembly, and a crimp sleeve. The outer housing is disposed radially outward of the inner housing, and the connector sub-assembly includes a ferrule basket configured to receive a ferrule that terminates a fiber of the fiber optic cable. The crimp sleeve surrounds and is crimped onto a rearward portion of the connector sub- assembly and an end portion of the fiber optic cable. The inner housing is configured to be securely disposed about the crimp sleeve, and the outer housing is configured to be secured disposed about the inner housing.