Offset Hole Capillary Tube for Optical Fiber Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing glass capillary tubes with rectangular or partially cylindrical exterior surfaces face challenges during the skewing process, including inadequate jig holding, chipping, and alignment issues with optical components, due to restricted dimensions and adhering surface limitations.
Innovation Solution
A capillary tube with one or multiple flat portions and partial cylindrical portions, all sharing a common central axis and radius, featuring an insertion hole offset from the central axis perpendicular to a benchmark flat portion, allowing for stable alignment and secure adhesion with optical components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the exterior surface of the glass capillary tube is rectangular in shape, then alignment with optical components is improved, but jig holding during skewing process becomes inadequate and chipping/breaking occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The exterior surface is divided into multiple flat portions (first, second, third, fourth flat portions) arranged around the central axis. This segmentation allows different portions to serve different functions: some provide alignment references while others provide stable jig contact surfaces, resolving the conflict between alignment precision and structural integrity during handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The insertion hole is intentionally positioned asymmetrically relative to the central axis, at a predetermined offset distance. This asymmetric positioning enables precise alignment with optical components that have corresponding asymmetric structures, while the symmetric arrangement of flat portions around the axis maintains stability during jig handling.
2Manufacturing precision
If the exterior surface is rectangular with limited chamfers, then alignment is improved, but jig complexity increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The flat portions on the exterior surface serve multiple functions: they provide alignment references for optical components, provide stable contact surfaces for jig gripping, and define the geometric structure for skewing processes. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for specialized jig structures, reducing jig complexity while maintaining alignment precision.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the insertion hole is centered, then structural symmetry is improved, but alignment with optical components becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The insertion hole is positioned asymmetrically at a predetermined offset distance from the central axis. This asymmetric positioning enables precise alignment with optical components that have corresponding asymmetric core positions, while the overall structure maintains symmetry through the arrangement of flat portions around the axis, preserving structural stability.
4Area of stationary object
If the flat portion dimension is increased, then adhesion area with optical component is improved, but jig contact stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The exterior surface is segmented into multiple flat portions distributed around the central axis. This segmentation allows the total adhesion area to be increased across multiple surfaces while each individual contact point with the jig remains small and stable, resolving the conflict between adhesion area and jig contact stability.
Data Source
AI summary
One or a plurality of flat portions and one or a plurality of partial cylindrical portions connected to such flat portions are an exterior surface of a glass capillary tube for holding an optical fiber, with all partial cylindrical portions having the same single central axis and being defined by a common radius, and an insertion hole, into which an optical fiber is inserted and held, is formed at a position deviated from the central axis in a direction perpendicular to one of the flat portions, which serves as a benchmark.