Lens-Equipped Connector Flat End Face Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lens-equipped connectors with lenses on the ferrule end face face cleaning challenges due to the non-flat surface, leading to ineffective dirt removal.
Innovation Solution
A lens-equipped connector design featuring a ferrule with a flat surface for easy cleaning, where the lens array is positioned on the rear face, allowing for a flat end face configuration and improved connection mechanisms with identical material expansion coefficients to maintain optical accuracy and reduce refractive index differences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If lenses are formed on the end face of the ferrule, then optical connection is achieved, but the end face becomes non-flat and cleaning becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is divided into two separate components: the ferrule (holding optical fibers) and the lens array (performing optical functions). This segmentation allows the ferrule end face to remain flat for easy cleaning, while the lens array provides the necessary optical connection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The lenses are extracted from the ferrule end face and placed on a separate lens array component. This extraction resolves the contradiction by removing the optical elements from the surface that needs to be cleaned, allowing the ferrule end face to remain flat while still achieving optical connection through the separate lens array.
2Reliability
If lenses are formed on the ferrule end face, then optical connection is achieved, but the surface structure becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the ferrule and lens array into distinct components, the surface structure of the ferrule remains simple and flat, while the lens array independently provides the optical functionality. This segmentation simplifies the overall device structure compared to integrating lenses directly into the ferrule end face.
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 easy cleaning of the connector end face, stable optical connections, and improved mechanical strength, while maintaining optical characteristics and preventing adhesive leakage.
Implementation Method 1
lenses receiving the light from the optical fibers
Implementation Method 2
a flat face from which the light from the optical fibers is emitted
Data Source
AI summary
The ferrule has a rear end and a front end, an opening that is formed in the rear end and communicates with fiber holding holes holding the optical fibers formed from the rear end toward the front end, and first connection parts which are formed at the front end and to which the lens array is connected. The lens array has a rear face and a surface including an outgoing plane, lenses receiving the light from the optical fibers, and second connection parts connected to the first connection parts, the lenses and the second connection parts being formed on the rear face, and a flat face from which the light from the optical fibers is emitted, and third connection parts connected to an opposite connector, the flat face and the second connection parts being formed on the surface.