Lens Array Positioning for Optical Coupling Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current lens arrays face challenges in achieving high optical coupling efficiency between photovoltaic devices and optical fibers due to lack of standardized positioning structures for photovoltaic devices, leading to inaccuracies and disruptions in communication, especially under temperature changes.
Innovation Solution
A lens array with integrated photovoltaic-device and optical-fiber positioning structures, along with a light control section, that allows for precise alignment and compensation for temperature-induced deformations, ensuring optimal optical coupling efficiency through conditional expressions (1) and (2), which define the positional accuracy and tolerance requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a lens array is used to optically couple light-emitting elements and optical fibers, then multichannel optical communication can be achieved, but positioning accuracy between the photovoltaic device and optical fibers deteriorates due to lack of standardized positioning structures
Solution Approach 1:
The lens array is designed with dual functionality: it serves both as an optical coupling component (with lens faces for light transmission) and as a positioning structure (with integrated positioning protrusions and recesses). This eliminates the need for separate positioning mechanisms and ensures accurate alignment between the photovoltaic device and optical fibers during assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The lens array acts as an intermediary component between the photovoltaic device and optical fibers, providing both optical coupling and mechanical positioning functions. The positioning structures on the lens array mediate the alignment process, ensuring that the light-emitting elements and optical fibers are accurately positioned relative to each other.
2Ease of operation
If mechanical operation of engaging positioning structures is used for positioning, then ease of assembly is improved, but positioning accuracy deteriorates for photovoltaic devices due to lack of standardization
Solution Approach 1:
The lens array integrates both positioning and optical functions into a single component. The positioning protrusions and recesses provide standardized mechanical engagement for easy assembly, while the lens faces provide optical coupling. This dual functionality ensures both ease of assembly and positioning accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning structures are designed with specific dimensional parameters (protrusion height, recess depth, spacing) that are optimized to provide both easy mechanical engagement and accurate positioning. By carefully controlling these parameters, the design achieves both ease of assembly and positioning precision.
3Reliability
If output control based on monitor light is implemented, then stability of light-emitting element output is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional light control sections
Solution Approach 1:
The light control section is integrated into the lens array structure rather than being a separate component. The reflection surfaces and light control sections are formed as part of the lens array body, combining the optical coupling function with the monitor light extraction function in a single integrated component.
Solution Approach 2:
The lens array serves multiple functions: optical coupling through lens faces, monitor light extraction through reflection surfaces, and positioning through integrated positioning structures. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components and simplifies the overall device structure while maintaining output stability.
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 highly accurate positioning of photovoltaic devices on the lens array, maintaining optical coupling efficiency regardless of temperature changes, thereby improving manufacturing efficiency, optical performance, and temperature stability.
Implementation Method 1
some of the light emitted from the light-emitting elements and entering the lens array is reflected as monitor light by a reflection surface disposed on the optical path of the lens array
Implementation Method 2
The lens array is capable of optically coupling the plurality of light-emitting elements and end faces of the plurality of optical fibers
Data Source
AI summary
A lens array satisfies a+b+d1+e+ΔL≦W1 where:a: positional accuracy of first lens faces 11, b: positional accuracy of second lens faces 12, d1: positional accuracy of light-emitting elements 7, e: positional accuracy of optical fibers 5, ΔL=α×ΔT×L (α: coefficient of linear expansion of lens array main body 4; ΔT: temperature change in the lens array main body 4; and L: distance from a fixed position on a first surface 4a to a position of a lens face on the first surface 4a farthest from the fixed position),W1: a distance between attachment positions before and after movement, under a premise that a photovoltaic device 3 is moved from an attachment position at which optical coupling efficiency between the light-emitting elements 7 and fiber ends 5a indicates a maximum efficiency to an attachment position at which efficiency reduction equivalent to 2 dB is indicated.