Floating Fiber Optic Pin Contact Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fiber optic pin contacts face alignment issues due to restricted movement of ceramic ferrules, leading to misalignment and degradation of signal transmission and integrity when interfaced with socket contacts.
Innovation Solution
A floating fiber optic pin contact design featuring a ceramic ferrule within a multi-piece body with an undercut and a gap between concentric inner and outer body members, allowing radial and angular movement for improved alignment with the socket contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the ceramic ferrule is tightly fitted into the one-piece contact body, then the structural stability is improved, but the alignment accuracy between pin and socket ferrules deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The contact body is divided into an outer body member and an inner body member that are not in physical contact with each other. The ceramic ferrule is received within the inner body member, allowing it to float and self-align. This segmentation enables the ferrule to move independently for alignment while the outer body provides structural stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The ceramic ferrule is designed to float within the inner body member rather than being tightly fixed, enabling dynamic movement and self-alignment. The gap between the inner and outer body members allows the ferrule to adjust its position dynamically to achieve optimal alignment with the socket ferrule.
2Reliability
If the interfacial sealing member compresses against the mating connector insert, then the sealing performance is improved, but the ease of operation for self-alignment deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The contact body is segmented into inner and outer members with a gap between them. This segmentation creates a floating mechanism for the ceramic ferrule that operates independently from the sealing member's compression, allowing self-alignment without compromising sealing performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner body member acts as an intermediary between the ceramic ferrule and the outer body member. It allows the ferrule to float and self-align while the outer body member interfaces with the sealing member, decoupling the alignment function from the sealing function.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the ceramic ferrule is restricted from moving within the cavity, then the structural stability is improved, but the alignment accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The ceramic ferrule is designed to float within the inner body member, enabling dynamic movement and self-alignment. The gap between the inner and outer body members allows the ferrule to adjust its position dynamically to achieve optimal alignment with the socket ferrule.
Solution Approach 2:
The design changes the positional parameters of the ceramic ferrule from fixed to variable, allowing it to move within a controlled range. This parameter change enables the ferrule to adapt its position for optimal alignment while maintaining structural stability through the constrained floating mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
A floating fiber optic pin contact including a ceramic ferrule (405) defining a glass fiber channel (445) for allowing light beams to pass therethrough. The ceramic ferrule has an end portion (406) with a first diameter and a body portion (410) with a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter. The floating fiber optic pin contact also includes a multi-piece body having an inner body member (420) in physical contact with the body portion of the ceramic ferrule and an outer body member (445) not in physical contact with the body portion of the ceramic ferrule and spaced apart from the inner body member. The floating fiber optic pin contact also includes a washer (425)connected between the inner body member and the outer body member.