MPO Trunk Adapter for Female Connector Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Female MPO connectors cannot be accurately mated to each other due to the absence of alignment pins, and male MPO connectors cannot be mated to other male connectors due to the lack of guidance holes, limiting the flexibility and length of MPO patch cords in interconnection scenarios.
Innovation Solution
An MPO connector adapter with a housing and an adapter ferrule that includes alignment pins extending from both faces, allowing precise alignment and connection of two female MPO connectors, enabling the extension of cordage between equipment with male MPO ports.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If female MPO connectors are used without alignment pins, then the connector design is simpler and easier to manufacture, but precise alignment during mating cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter acts as an intermediary component between two female MPO connectors. It contains an adapter ferrule with alignment pins that mate with the guidance holes of the first female connector, while its own guidance holes receive alignment pins from a second female connector (or male connector). This intermediary structure enables precise alignment without modifying the original female connector designs.
2Device complexity
If male MPO connectors are used without guidance holes, then the connector structure is simpler, but precision alignment during mating cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter ferrule serves as a mediator that provides both alignment pins and guidance holes in a single component. The alignment pins extend from one face to mate with guidance holes in the first connector, while guidance holes on the opposite face receive alignment pins from the second connector. This unified structure enables bidirectional alignment without complicating the original male or female connector designs.
3Length of moving object
If female-to-female MPO cord is too short to reach between two components, then the technician has no way to extend the connection without retrieving additional patch cords, but carrying multiple cord types increases equipment burden
Solution Approach 1:
The solution segments the connection path into three parts: first female connector to adapter, adapter to second female connector, and second female connector to equipment. By inserting the adapter with its extended housing between two existing female-to-female patch cords, the total connection length is extended without requiring the technician to carry different cord types. The adapter acts as a modular extension segment.
Data Source
AI summary
An MPO connector adapter to connect a first female MPO connector to a second female MPO connector includes a housing. An adapter ferrule is retained within the housing. First and second alignment pin sections extend from a first face of the adapter ferrule to mate with guide holes of the first female MPO connector. Third and fourth alignment pin sections extend from an opposite face of the adapter ferrule to mate with guide holes of the second female MPO connector. Optical fibers within the adapter ferrule couple optical signals from the first female MPO connector to the second female MPO connector.