Lightweight Fiber Optic Splice Housing for Natural Bending
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional fiber optic splice protectors are bulky, heavy, and interfere with the natural bending of optical fibers, requiring separate management regions that increase the size of splice trays and reduce splice density.
Innovation Solution
Lightweight fiber optic splice configurations with mechanical alignment features and adhesive securing, allowing for compact splices that do not alter the natural bending of optical fibers, including thixotropic index matching gel and adhesives for optical and mechanical coupling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional fusion splice protectors are used, then the splice location is reinforced and protected, but the protectors become bulky, heavy, and interfere with the natural bending of optical fibers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the splice protector by using a re-coat process that applies a thin protective coating directly to the fusion splice point. This replaces the traditional bulky tube structure with a thin-layer coating, dramatically reducing the length and bulk while maintaining protection and reinforcement functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the essential protective function from the traditional fusion splice protector tube and applies it directly to the splice point through re-coating. This removes the need for the bulky outer tube structure while retaining the protective and reinforcing capabilities.
2Reliability
If traditional fusion splice protectors are used, then the splice location is reinforced, but the protectors apply undesirable loading to the spliced optical fibers when subject to vibrations or accelerations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the mass parameter of the splice protector by reducing it to a thin re-coat layer, making the protective structure lightweight enough that its weight does not impose undesirable loading on the optical fibers during vibrations or accelerations, while still providing necessary reinforcement.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention effectively counteracts the harmful weight effect by using a re-coat process that applies protection with minimal mass, ensuring the protective layer itself does not become a burden to the optical fibers under dynamic conditions.
3Ease of operation
If splice trays include separate regions for securing splice protectors and managing optical fibers, then both components are organized, but the splice trays become larger and splice density is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the splice protector function directly with the optical fiber by applying re-coat protection directly to the splice point on the fiber itself. This eliminates the need for separate splice protector tubes that would require dedicated securing regions in splice trays, allowing the entire tray surface to be used for fiber management and increasing splice density.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the splice protector function from being a separate component and integrates it directly onto the optical fiber through re-coating, eliminating the need for separate securing regions and maximizing the usable area for fiber management.
4Reliability
If traditional fusion splice protectors are used, then the splice location is protected, but the protectors require separate management regions that increase the complexity of fiber routing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the protective function with the fiber itself through re-coating, eliminating the need for separate splice protector management. This simplifies the overall system by removing the complexity of routing and managing separate protector components while maintaining protection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the management complexity by integrating protection directly into the fiber structure through re-coating, eliminating the need for separate management regions and simplifying the routing and organization of fibers and protectors.
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
The lightweight splices maintain the natural bending of optical fibers, enabling higher splice density and reduced complexity in fiber management systems, with improved flexibility and reduced installation time.
Implementation Method 1
thixotropic index matching gel
Implementation Method 2
thixotropic index matching gel
Implementation Method 3
adhesive for securing the ends of the first and second optical fibers within the splice housing
Implementation Method 4
weight less than a spring force generated by the inherent elastic bending characteristics of the spliced optical fibers
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to an optical splice package for splicing together first and second optical fibers or first and second sets of optical fibers. The optical fibers have elastic bending characteristics. The splice package includes a splice housing including a mechanical alignment feature for co-axially aligning ends of the first and second optical fibers or sets of optical fibers within the splice housing. The splice housing contains adhesive for securing the ends of the first and second optical fibers or sets of optical fibers within the splice housing. The optical package has a weight less than a spring force corresponding to the elastic bending characteristics of the first and second optical fibers or sets of optical fibers.