Fiber Adapter Shutter Locking Mechanism for Optical Beam Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fibre adapter shutters in FTTH technology lack safety features, risking accidental disengagement of optical fibre connectors and potential exposure to harmful optical beams due to lack of locking mechanisms and external fixing structures.
Innovation Solution
A safeguard device with a shutter locking unit that locks the shutter in either open or closed positions, featuring a positioning member and locking mechanism, along with a fixing mechanism to securely attach the output optical fibre connector to the input connector, preventing accidental disengagement and optical beam leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a conventional shutter is provided at the fibre adapter interface, then optical beam leakage is prevented, but the shutter may be accidentally opened due to lack of locking mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter locking unit is engaged in advance to secure the shutter in the closed position before optical fibre connection is established, preventing accidental opening during operation
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism provides a backup safeguard against shutter malfunction or accidental opening, creating a redundant safety system that compensates for potential failures in the basic shutter mechanism
2Device complexity
If no external fixing structures are provided for the fibre adapter, then device complexity is reduced, but accidental disengagement between connectors occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing mechanism is segmented into separate components: a fixing protrusion on the fibre adapter and a corresponding fixing groove on the connector, allowing independent optimization of each part while maintaining overall simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The fixing protrusion and groove act as intermediary mechanical features that mediate between the fibre adapter and connector, providing a simple yet effective engagement mechanism without complex external structures
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a field of optical fiber communication. A safeguard device for a fiber adapter used to connect an input optical fiber connector with an output optical fiber connector is provided. In a preferred embodiment, the safeguard device comprises a shutter and a shutter locking unit. The shutter is operably provided at an interface of said fiber adapter to allow the interface to switch between an open position and a closed position, wherein, the shutter at least shuts off the optical beam emitted from the input optical connector when in said closed position. The shutter locking unit is adapted for selectively locking the shutter in the open position or in the closed position. The safeguard device for the interface of the fiber adapter is configured to lock the shutter in the conventional fiber adapter to stably hold the interface of the fiber adapter in an open position or in a closed position, especially, to lock the shutter in the closed position to shut off the optical beam emitted from the input optical fiber connector so as to effectively prevent the emission leakage of the optical beam from the input optical fiber connector, thus avoiding potential safety hazard to the user.