Ingress Protected Connector Unitary Orientation Feature
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional connector assemblies in harsh environments tend to disconnect due to vibrations, impacts, and exposure to contaminants like dust and moisture, which compromises the reliability of telecommunication networks that require precise fiber optic connections.
Innovation Solution
An ingress protected connector with a unitary orientation feature, featuring a protrusion at its proximal end that aligns and locks into an adapter, ensuring secure mating and preventing contaminants from entering the connection interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional connector assemblies are used in harsh environments, then the connection may be simple and easy to manufacture, but the connection becomes unintentionally disconnected due to vibration, impact, and environmental stressors
Solution Approach 1:
The connector assembly is divided into distinct functional components: an outer housing for environmental protection, an inner housing for alignment, and a fiber optic connector for signal transmission. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall reliability in harsh environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a nested structure where the fiber optic connector is housed within the inner housing, which is in turn housed within the outer housing. This nested arrangement provides multiple layers of protection against environmental stressors while maintaining connection stability through aligned orientation features at each level.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional connector assemblies are used, then the manufacturing process may be simpler, but the connection interface becomes exposed to dust, dirt, moisture, and other contaminants
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs sealed housing structures that create protective barriers between the internal connection interface and the external harsh environment. The outer and inner housings are designed to prevent ingress of dust, dirt, moisture, and other contaminants while maintaining structural integrity under environmental stress.
3Measurement precision
If fiber optic connections require extremely precise termination and alignment, then the connection quality is high, but the connection becomes vulnerable to disconnection due to vibration and impact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric orientation features including a keyway in the outer housing that corresponds to a protrusion on the inner housing, and similar alignment features between the inner housing and fiber optic connector. These asymmetric features ensure precise angular alignment while providing mechanical constraints that prevent vibration-induced disconnection.
4Measurement precision
If separate alignment features are used for each component, then the alignment precision may be improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple alignment functions into integrated orientation features. The keyway-protrusion alignment system serves both the outer housing-to-inner housing interface and the inner housing-to-connector interface, ensuring precise alignment across all components through a unified mechanical constraint system rather than separate alignment mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
Ingress protected connectors used outdoors are mated with and within an adapter. To aid in mating an orientation finger is provided as part of the proximal end of the ingress protected connector. Within the ingress protected connector is a fiber optic connector being protected from the environment.