Off-axis Fiber Routing in Cable Attach Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fiber-optic cables used in consumer electronics require a robust and cost-effective attachment structure that can withstand frequent connections and disconnections while maintaining low manufacturing complexity and ensuring compatibility with existing USB ports, which support faster data rates than previous standards.
Innovation Solution
A cable attachment structure that secures fiber optic cables to a rear end and routes optical fibers away from the centerline of the connector, incorporating a monolithic or multi-piece design with a passageway and crimp band for securing strength members, and includes features for off-axis routing and strain relief, allowing for easy integration with a circuit board and connector assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the optical fiber is routed through the centerline of the connector, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the fiber is susceptible to sharp bends and mechanical stress during connections and disconnections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by routing the optical fiber through an off-center passage in the cable attachment structure, positioning it away from the central axis of the connector. This asymmetric routing creates spatial separation between the fiber path and the connector's mechanical interface, preventing sharp bends and mechanical stress during connections and disconnections while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through a straightforward passageway design.
2Reliability
If a robust attachment structure is used to withstand frequent connections and disconnections, then the reliability is improved, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the attachment structure into distinct functional components: a cable attachment structure with an off-center passage for fiber routing, a connector assembly, and a circuit board. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the cable attachment structure provides robust fiber protection through its off-center passage design, while the connector and circuit board handle the electrical interface, achieving high reliability without overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable attachment structure serves as an intermediary element between the optical fiber and the connector assembly. It provides a dedicated off-center passage that protects the fiber from mechanical stress during connections and disconnections, while the connector assembly handles the electrical interface. This intermediary design isolates the fiber protection function from the electrical connection function, achieving robustness without increasing overall manufacturing complexity.
3Volume of moving object
If the fiber is routed close to the connector centerline, then the cable assembly size is reduced, but the fiber experiences increased mechanical stress and signal loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by applying asymmetric routing - the optical fiber passes through an off-center passage that positions it away from the connector's central axis. This asymmetric placement creates sufficient separation to prevent sharp bends and mechanical stress that would cause signal loss, while the passage is designed to minimize the overall cable assembly footprint. The asymmetric design achieves optimal balance between compact size and optical signal integrity.
Data Source
AI summary
A cable attach structure for attaching a fiber-optic cable to a rear end and a connector to a front end is disclosed. In one embodiment, the cable attach structure is a portion of a fiber optic cable assembly having a fiber optic cable with at least one optical fiber and a connector attached to the optical fiber. The fiber optic cable is attached to the cable attach structure at a rear end and circuit board is attached to the cable attach structure at the front end. The cable attach structure also routes the at least one optical fiber away from the centerline of the connector for off-axis fiber routing. In other embodiments, the optical fiber can enter the connector from a first direction and attach to the connector in a second direction if desired.