Fiber Optic Adapter Shutter with Selective Wavelength Transparency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies lack effective solutions for confirming the presence of a fiber optic connector in an adapter and blocking harmful laser light from optical fibers, which is essential for remote monitoring and user safety.
Innovation Solution
An optical fiber adapter system that includes an infrared signal transmitter and receiver for presence sensing, along with a movable shutter door made of materials that allow infrared and visible light to pass while blocking potentially eye-damaging laser light, ensuring correct alignment and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a shutter door is used to block laser light, then user safety is improved, but the ability to confirm connector presence is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter door is divided into multiple sections: a first portion that blocks laser wavelengths and a second portion that transmits infrared wavelengths. This segmentation allows different parts of the shutter to perform different functions simultaneously, blocking harmful laser light while allowing infrared presence sensing to work.
Solution Approach 2:
The shutter door acts as an intermediary element between the laser light source and the user's eye. It selectively transmits certain wavelengths (infrared for sensing) while blocking harmful wavelengths (laser light), mediating between the conflicting requirements of safety and monitoring.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the shutter door blocks all light, then laser safety is improved, but the ability to sense connector presence is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
Different portions of the shutter door have different optical properties. The first portion is designed to block laser wavelengths while the second portion is designed to transmit infrared wavelengths. This local differentiation of material properties allows the shutter to simultaneously protect against laser damage and enable infrared sensing.
Solution Approach 2:
The shutter door is constructed as a composite structure with different material sections having different spectral transmission characteristics. One material blocks laser wavelengths while another material transmits infrared wavelengths, creating a composite shutter that satisfies both safety and sensing requirements.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the shutter door is positioned close to the laser source, then blocking effectiveness is improved, but the complexity of alignment and positioning is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of positioning the shutter extremely close to the laser source in one dimension, the patent positions the shutter at a distance where the laser beam has naturally diverged and attenuated. This uses the spatial dimension of beam propagation to reduce the blocking requirement, simplifying the positioning precision needed while still achieving effective protection.
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
The system effectively confirms the presence of fiber optic connectors and prevents harmful laser exposure by using a shutter door that attenuates laser light, ensuring user safety and accurate alignment during connector insertion.
Implementation Method 1
The shutter door includes a material that is adapted to pass the infrared signal therethrough when in the shutter closed position. The shutter door includes a material that is adapted to block the first signal wavelength therethrough when in the shutter closed position.
Implementation Method 2
The shutter door is positioned distally from the non-collimated laser light source a distance by which the laser light attenuates to not transmit through the shutter door in the shutter closed position.
Implementation Method 3
An infrared signal transmitter and receiver are adapted to transmit and receive an infrared signal between adapter ports.
Data Source
AI summary
An optical fiber adapter for supporting a non-collimated laser light source transmitting a laser light with a first signal wavelength. The optical fiber adapter includes an infrared signal transmitter for transmitting an infrared signal, and an infrared signal receiver for receiving the infrared signal. The infrared signal includes a second signal wavelength. The optical fiber adapter also includes a movable shutter door intersecting the infrared signal in a shutter closed position. The shutter door includes a material that is adapted to pass the infrared signal therethrough when in the shutter closed position. The shutter door includes a material that is adapted to block the first signal wavelength therethrough when in the shutter closed position. The shutter door is positioned distally from the non-collimated laser light source a distance by which the laser light attenuates to not transmit through the shutter door in the shutter closed position. The shutter is movable to a shutter open position to not block the laser light source transmitting the laser light with the first signal wavelength.