Optical Fiber Adapter Shutter for Laser Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical fiber adapters do not effectively obstruct high-power laser beams emitted from unused connectors, posing a risk to eye safety and requiring complex or costly solutions for protection.
Innovation Solution
An optical fiber adapter with a shutter member comprising a main body, inner housings, a cover plate, and an elastic shutter member, which includes a fixing portion, hooks, a shutter plate, and a connecting portion, allowing the shutter plate to spring up and obstruct light beams when a connector is inserted or removed, preventing exposure to harmful light.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a detachable cap is used to block the receiving recess, then the light beam is obstructed, but the cap is apt to get lost and requires manual removal for connector mating
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter member automatically opens when a connector is inserted and closes when removed, eliminating the need for manual cap removal and attachment. The system serves itself by using the connector insertion/removal action to trigger the shutter movement, ensuring eye protection without interfering with mating operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The shutter member transitions from a static cap to a dynamic component that automatically moves between open and closed positions. This dynamic behavior allows the shutter to respond to connector insertion/removal events, maintaining eye safety while enabling seamless connector mating operations.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a cover pivotally connected to the housing is used, then the light beam is obstructed when closed, but the construction becomes much more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter member is extracted from the housing structure and positioned on the cover plate within the accommodation room. This separation allows the shutter to function independently as a lightweight obstacle rather than requiring a heavy pivoting cover mechanism, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining eye protection functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The shutter member uses a thin, flexible plate structure that can easily block light beams without requiring substantial mechanical support. This thin-film approach eliminates the need for complex pivoting mechanisms and heavy covers, achieving eye protection with minimal structural complexity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a protection cap with pivoting cover is used, then the light beam is obstructed, but the structure is somewhat complex and therefore not inexpensive
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter member is designed as a simple, inexpensive component made from basic materials like metal or plastic. Rather than using expensive pivoting cover mechanisms, the invention employs a straightforward shutter plate that can be manufactured at low cost, making the eye protection feature economically viable.
Solution Approach 2:
The protection function is segmented into a separate shutter member independent of the main housing structure. This segmentation allows the shutter to be manufactured and assembled as a simple, low-cost component rather than integrating complex protective mechanisms into the main adapter body, reducing overall manufacturing costs.
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 solution provides effective obstruction of high-power laser beams without the need for detachable caps, ensuring user safety and reducing complexity and cost, while maintaining ease of connector mating and preventing dust entry.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic shutter member, which includes a fixing portion, hooks, a shutter plate, and a connecting portion, allowing the shutter plate to spring up and obstruct light beams
Data Source
AI summary
An optical fiber adapter according to the present disclosure includes a main body, two inner housings, a cover plate and an elastic shutter member. The main body has an axial accommodation room defined by a first wall, a second wall, a third wall and a fourth wall, wherein the first wall faces the third wall and connects with the second and fourth walls. The accommodation room has a first opening and a second opening opposing to the first opening. An access opening is provided on the first wall for the inner housings to place within the accommodation room. The cover plate is positioned to cover the access opening on the first wall. The shutter member includes a fixing portion, at least one first hook, a shutter plate and a connecting portion. The fixing portion is positioned on the cover plate and within the accommodation room. The first hook is provided at the fixing portion for the fixing portion to be fixed on the cover plate. The connecting portion connects the fixing portion with the shutter plate. The shutter plate extends from the connecting portion and is positioned within the accommodation room.