Guide Pin Insert Structure for Precise Fiber Ferrule Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The alignment and gender change of fiber optic connectors using guide pins in optical links are challenging, leading to misalignment, damage, and the need for excessive inventory of connectors due to orientation difficulties.
Innovation Solution
A guide pin insert with a central body and cantilevered plates that securely hold guide pins within an adapter, ensuring precise alignment and reducing the need for gender changes by integrating elastic members for flexible retention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If guide pins are held in the mount by interference snap fit, then the guide pins can be easily installed, but the guide pins may have angular cocking and misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible guide pin holders made of elastomeric material that can deform elastically to accommodate guide pins during insertion, then maintain precise alignment when engaged. The elastomeric guide pin holders flex to allow easy installation while their resilient nature ensures accurate positioning without angular cocking.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and properties of the guide pin holder material by using elastomeric compounds with specific durometer ranges (e.g., 30-70 Shore A). This parameter change allows the material to exhibit both flexibility for easy insertion and rigidity for precise alignment maintenance.
2Device complexity
If conventional adapters with two halves and mounted guide pins are used, then the adapter structure is simple, but the planarity and depth of cavities cause alignment issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the guide pin holding function from the adapter body by using separate, removable guide pin holders. This allows the alignment function to be optimized independently from the adapter structure, with each holder precisely formed to ensure proper ferrule alignment while the overall adapter remains simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces guide pin holders as intermediary components between the adapter body and the guide pins. These holders act as precision alignment elements that mediate the connection, ensuring accurate ferrule positioning while allowing the adapter itself to maintain structural simplicity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If guide pins are removed or added to change connector gender, then the connector can mate with different ferrules, but the process is difficult and requires special tools
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates universal guide pin holders that can accommodate both male and female connector configurations. By using elastomeric holders that can be positioned in different orientations and that flex to accommodate various pin arrangements, a single holder design serves multiple connector gender requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic, flexible guide pin holders that can adapt their configuration rather than requiring static, fixed-position pins. The elastomeric material allows the holders to dynamically adjust to different connector genders through simple insertion and rotation, eliminating the need for difficult removal and addition operations.
4Reliability
If more fiber optic connectors are ordered to ensure correct orientation availability, then the correct connector gender is available, but the inventory cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes guide pin holders universal components that can serve both male and female connector applications. This universality allows a single inventory of guide pin holders to support multiple connector genders, reducing the need to maintain separate inventories for different connector types while ensuring the correct orientation is always available.
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
Facilitates accurate alignment of fiber optic ferrules, minimizes connector misalignment and damage, and simplifies the process of changing connector genders, reducing the need for multiple connector types.
Implementation Method 1
integrating elastic members for flexible retention
Data Source
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AI summary
A guide pin insert for an adapter to align two fiber optic connectors includes a central body having an opening configured to allow two fiber optic ferrules to mate therethrough, the opening having a longitudinal axis therethrough, a first guide pin holder in communication with the opening on a first side of the central body to engage a first guide pin, a second guide pin holder in communication with the opening on a second side of the central body to engage a second guide pin, a third guide pin holder spaced from the first guide pin holder along the longitudinal axis to engage the first guide pin, and a fourth guide pin holder spaced from the second guide pin holder along the longitudinal axis to engage the second guide pin.