Light Coupling Element Groove Alignment and Light Redirecting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current optical connectors face challenges in accurately aligning and securely positioning optical fibers, leading to issues with interference fringes and inefficient light coupling due to the lack of precise control over the fiber's lateral angle and contact with the groove's surface.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates grooves with features such as centering and stop regions, pinched regions, and a raised bottom surface portion to facilitate precise alignment and contact of optical fibers, utilizing a light redirecting member to adjust the light direction and minimize interference fringes by adjusting the fiber's position within the groove.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If optical fibers are positioned in grooves without special alignment features, then the device structure is simple, but the alignment precision and lateral angle control are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The groove structure incorporates localized features including a raised bottom surface portion, centering regions with specific width, and stop regions. These local structural variations provide precise alignment and lateral angle control without requiring the entire groove structure to be complex. The raised bottom surface portion specifically ensures proper contact and orientation of the optical fiber.
Solution Approach 2:
The groove is pre-formed with integrated alignment features including centering regions and stop regions that automatically guide and position the optical fiber during insertion. This preliminary structuring eliminates the need for post-assembly adjustment mechanisms, achieving precise alignment through the pre-designed geometric constraints.
2Ease of operation
If the optical fiber is allowed to contact the groove surface freely, then the insertion process is simple, but interference fringes occur due to poor alignment control
Solution Approach 1:
The raised bottom surface portion creates a localized contact region that ensures proper positioning of the optical fiber. This localized structural feature maintains insertion simplicity while preventing misalignment that would cause interference fringes, as the raised portion provides a definitive contact point that guides proper fiber orientation.
3Manufacturing precision
If the groove width is uniform throughout, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the lateral angle control and fiber positioning are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The groove width varies locally to create centering regions and stop regions with specific dimensional characteristics. These localized width variations provide the necessary lateral angle control and positioning precision without requiring the entire groove to be manufactured with high complexity. The non-uniform width profile is concentrated in specific zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The groove is segmented into distinct functional zones including centering regions, stop regions, and support regions with different width characteristics. This segmentation allows each zone to be optimized for its specific function while simplifying the overall manufacturing approach, as each segment can be formed using standard machining or molding techniques.
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
This solution enhances the alignment of optical fibers, reduces interference fringes, and improves light coupling efficiency by ensuring precise contact and alignment with the groove's surface, achieving an angle of less than 1 degree between the fiber's central ray and the groove's bottom surface.
Implementation Method 1
a light redirecting side for changing a direction of light received from the input side
Data Source
AI summary
A light coupling element including a groove and a light redirecting member is described. The groove is for receiving and aligning an optical waveguide and incudes an open front end and a back end. The light redirecting member includes an input side for receiving light from an optical waveguide received and supported in the groove and a light redirecting side for changing a direction of light received from the input side. The groove may include a bottom surface extending between the front and back ends of the groove and including a raised bottom surface portion raised upwardly relative to an unraised bottom surface portion. The unraised bottom surface portion of the bottom surface may be disposed between the raised bottom surface portion of the bottom surface and the input side of the light redirecting member. Optical coupling assemblies including the light coupling element and an optical waveguide are described.