Hermaphroditic Fiber Optic Connector Alignment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fiber optic connectors experience high transmission losses due to misorientation of longer cables and require special adapters, leading to additional handling and contamination risks, especially in applications where connectors are frequently coupled and decoupled.
Innovation Solution
A hermaphroditic fiber optic cable connector design with a termini receiving optical fibers, featuring an insert body with a shoulder for alignment and retention, allowing for identical cable ends to be mated without regard to orientation, reducing the need for special adapters and minimizing handling-induced contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional fiber optic connectors are used with pin and socket termini, then alignment can be achieved, but the connectors require special adapters when cable orientation is wrong, increasing device complexity and handling steps
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is designed as hermaphroditic with identical cavity structures on both ends, allowing each end to function as either pin or socket. This universal design eliminates the need for special adapters when connecting cables of any orientation, as both connectors can mate with each other regardless of which end connects to which cable.
Solution Approach 2:
While the overall connector structure is symmetric (hermaphroditic), the internal cavity geometry is asymmetrically designed to provide directional alignment features. The cavities include alignment shoulders and positioning surfaces that ensure proper optical fiber alignment while allowing the connector to mate in either orientation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If cables are frequently coupled and decoupled, then installation flexibility is improved, but contamination risk increases due to repeated handling
Solution Approach 1:
The connector includes pre-assembled ferrules with optical fibers precisely positioned and secured in the cavities before field installation. The alignment shoulders and positioning features are pre-configured to guide proper insertion, reducing the need for field adjustments and minimizing handling of sensitive optical components.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector body acts as an intermediary protective structure that shields the optical fiber terminals from direct exposure to contaminants during coupling and decoupling operations. The cavity design allows the ferrules to remain protected within the connector housing until the final connection is made.
3Ease of operation
If expanded beam termini are used, then alignment tolerance is improved, but transmission loss increases beyond acceptable levels
Solution Approach 1:
The connector employs different optical coupling approaches for different parts of the connection. The ferrule interfaces use precision alignment with small clearance fits for low-loss direct coupling, while the overall connector structure provides generous mechanical tolerance through alignment shoulders and positioning features. This local optimization allows tight optical alignment without requiring expanded beam geometry.
Data Source
AI summary
A fiber optic cable connector for connecting the terminal ends of two fiber optic cables having termini of respective ones of multiple optical fibers included within said cables. The connector has a termini with a pin body that includes a flat alignment surface at the rear of the main body. The pin body is received in a bore of an insert body. The forward face of the insert body has a shoulder that partially obstructs the bore and aligns with the flat alignment surfaces of the pin body. The shoulder and flat alignment surface cooperate to ensure that the termini is properly inserted into the bore so that an angled forward contact surface of the termini is properly aligned with the angled forward contact surface of a mating termini of another connector.