Floating Optical Connector Housing for Backplane Operability
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing backplane connector design makes it difficult to insert and remove optical connector plugs from the printed board housing due to their proximity, requiring the use of a jig for these operations.
Innovation Solution
An optical connector device with a first housing that can float relative to a second housing, featuring a to-be-locked portion and a locking portion that detachably engage, allowing for easy attachment and detachment without a jig, and a fixing member to secure the second housing to an attachment object.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the plug holes of the printed board housing are positioned close to the printed board to achieve compact integration, then the structural integration is improved, but the ease of operation for insertion and removal of optical connector plugs deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into two separate housings: a first housing that holds the optical connector and a second housing that holds the first housing. This segmentation allows the optical connector to be accessed through the second housing, providing operational space while maintaining compact integration when the two housings are assembled together.
Solution Approach 2:
The first housing is nested within the second housing, creating a layered structure. The optical connector is held in the first housing, which is itself held in the second housing. This nesting arrangement allows compact integration while providing access to the optical connector through the second housing for easy insertion and removal operations.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the first housing is fixed rigidly to the second housing to ensure stable connection, then the connection stability is improved, but the adaptability to alignment variations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The first housing is allowed to float within the second housing rather than being rigidly fixed, providing dynamic adaptability to alignment variations. Locking portions with elastic members enable the first housing to be positioned and locked at different locations within the second housing, maintaining stable connection while adapting to alignment differences between mating connectors.
Solution Approach 2:
The position of the first housing relative to the second housing can be changed by moving the locking portions along the guide portions. This parameter change allows adjustment of the floating position to compensate for alignment variations, while the elastic members provide the necessary force to maintain stable connection once positioned.
3Ease of operation
If a locking mechanism with multiple components is added to enable detachable engagement, then the ease of operation for attachment and detachment is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism uses elastic members that automatically engage with the locking portions when the housings are assembled, requiring no additional fastening operations. For detachment, the elastic members are simply pressed to release the locking portions, enabling easy attachment and detachment without complex manual operations or additional components.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism combines multiple functions into a single integrated structure: the locking portions provide both positioning and locking functions, while the elastic members provide both engagement force and release mechanism. This merging reduces the number of separate components needed compared to traditional locking mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
Optical connectors can be easily attached to and detached from a housing.An optical connector device 11 adapted to be connected to a mating optical connector device 81 includes a first housing 31 for receiving and holding optical connectors 61, a second housing 41 for holding the first housing 31 in a floating manner, and a fixing member 51 for fixedly attaching the second housing 41 to an attachment object 201. To-be-locked portions 35, 37 of the first housing 31 and locking portions 43, 44 of the second housing 41 detachably engage with each other and cause the first housing 31 to engage with the second housing 41 in a floating manner. The to-be-locked portions 35, 37 and the locking portions 43, 44 engage with each other in a direction perpendicular to a direction A1 of connection to the mating optical connector device 81.