Interchangeable Optical Head for Fiber Inspection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current optical-fiber connector endface inspection microscopes face challenges in efficiently inspecting both single-fiber and multi-fiber connectors due to size and image quality issues, particularly when adapting between different types of connectors, and often require additional mechanical components that can compromise image quality and precision.
Innovation Solution
An optical-fiber inspection microscope system with interchangeable optical heads designed specifically for single-fiber or multi-fiber connectors, allowing for optimal image quality and minimizing mechanical tolerance stack-up, using a telecentric objective lens system with a telecentric aperture stop to maintain consistent magnification and precision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single-fiber adaptor is added to a multi-fiber inspection microscope, then single-fiber inspection capability is achieved, but image quality and magnification level deteriorate due to inherited optical path compromises
Solution Approach 1:
The inspection microscope is divided into modular components: a multi-fiber optical head and a separate single-fiber adaptor. This segmentation allows the single-fiber adaptor to be added without affecting the multi-fiber optical path, thereby maintaining optimal image quality for both inspection types while achieving versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
A single-fiber adaptor serves as an intermediary component between the multi-fiber optical head and the single-fiber connector. This intermediary device enables single-fiber inspection capability while preserving the original multi-fiber optical path and image quality characteristics.
2Ease of operation
If adapter tips and lenses are made small for single-fiber inspection, then physical interference with adjacent connectors is avoided, but the ability to inspect multi-fiber connectors deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The inspection microscope employs dynamic adaptability through interchangeable adapters that can be switched between single-fiber and multi-fiber configurations. This allows the system to adjust its physical dimensions and optical characteristics dynamically to match the inspection requirements, maintaining ease of operation for both connector types.
Solution Approach 2:
The inspection microscope is designed with universal functionality to accommodate both single-fiber and multi-fiber connectors through a single device with interchangeable adapters. The multi-fiber optical head serves as a universal base that can work with both single-fiber and multi-fiber adaptors, eliminating the need for separate inspection microscopes.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a mechanical adaptor is used to convert multi-fiber microscope to single-fiber, then adapter tip compatibility is achieved, but mechanical tolerance stack-up increases and image quality compromises
Solution Approach 1:
The optical components (lens and mirror) are extracted from the adaptor tip and integrated into a dedicated single-fiber optical head. This extraction eliminates the mechanical tolerance stack-up issues associated with multi-component adaptors, as the optical components are precisely positioned in a fixed housing rather than being part of a mechanical assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a mechanical adaptor that copies the function of an adaptor tip, the invention uses a dedicated single-fiber optical head that replicates the optical performance of an ideal single-fiber inspection microscope. This copying approach maintains manufacturing precision by eliminating the cumulative tolerances of mechanical adaptors.
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
Enables efficient and precise inspection of both single-fiber and multi-fiber connectors without compromising image quality or mechanical precision, allowing for ergonomic design and minimizing mechanical tolerance stack-up, thereby improving the overall inspection process.
Implementation Method 1
using a telecentric objective lens system with a telecentric aperture stop to maintain consistent magnification and precision
Implementation Method 2
illumination light may propagate to and back from the inspected connector endface
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4A~4B
AI summary
There is provided an optical-fiber connector endface inspection microscope system for inspecting an endface of an optical-fiber connector. It comprises one or more image detector for capturing at least one image of the endface to be inspected; an objective lens system comprising a focusing lens for adjusting a focus of the objective lens system on the image detector and a fixed relay lens; a main housing structure enclosing the image detector and the focusing lens; and at least one interchangeable optical head releasably connectable to the main housing structure and enclosing the fixed relay lens, wherein the optical head is releasably connectable to an adapter tip for interfacing with the optical-fiber connector to be inspected.