Fiber Optic Connector Guide Member Prevents Fiber Pinching

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Fiber optic connectors, particularly LC connectors, risk damaging optical fibers during assembly due to the snap-assembly mechanism, which can pinch the fibers and cause connection issues.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating an optical fiber guide member with a flared transition end into the connector housing to loosely confine and guide the fibers, preventing pinching and ensuring safe passage to the connector sub-assemblies.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If snap-assembly of connector housing sections is used, then connector assembly is simplified and faster, but optical fibers are at risk of being pinched or damaged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnector assembly speedVSAvoidfiber pinching and damage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A guide member is introduced as an intermediary component between the optical fiber and the connector housing sections. This guide member has a flared end that interfaces with the fiber and a tapered section that guides it safely through the housing assembly process, preventing direct contact and pinching by the housing sections while maintaining assembly simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The guide member is pre-installed in the connector housing before the housing sections are mated together. This beforehand placement cushions and protects the optical fiber from the potential pinching action of the snap-assembly mechanism, allowing the housing sections to snap together without direct force application to the fiber

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Reliability

If optical fiber guide member is added to protect fibers, then fiber protection is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefiber protection and connection reliabilityVSAvoidconnector structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide member serves multiple functions simultaneously: it guides the optical fiber during assembly, protects the fiber from pinching by the housing sections, and provides structural support in the connector housing. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving reliable fiber protection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS8662760B2Fiber optic connector employing optical fiber guide member

Publication Date: 2014.03.04 CORNING OPTICAL COMMUNICATIONS LLC

AI summary

A fiber optic connector that employs an optical fiber guide member, and a cable assembly that uses the connector are disclosed. The connector has a connector housing formed by mateable sections. The connector housing defines a housing passage having opposite connector-end and channel-end portions that define respective connector-end and channel-end passages, with the channel-end portion configured to be arranged adjacent the end of a fiber optic cable. An optical fiber guide member is disposed in the channel-end passage and has a first transition end that faces the connector-end passage. The optical fiber guide member has a conduit configured to loosely confine and guide the optical fibers to the connector-end passage. Connector sub-assemblies can be operably supported at the connector-end portion supporting end portions of the optical fiber.