Optical Cable Spool with In-Plane Mirrors for Compact Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Optical cables used in electronic devices are prone to tangling and are fragile, requiring proper storage that respects their minimum bend radius to prevent damage, and existing storage solutions often fail to manage these constraints effectively in space-limited environments.
Innovation Solution
A single spool rotatable about an axis with optical coupling features that optically couple two optical cables, allowing for winding and unwinding while maintaining the integrity of the cables by using in-plane mirrors to reduce the size of the spool and bypass minimum bend radius limitations, enabling smaller, retractable optical cable coupling devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If optical cables are stored in traditional storage solutions, then cable management is simplified, but the cables are prone to tangling and damage due to excessive bending
Solution Approach 1:
The optical cable is segmented into two separate cables (first optical cable and second optical cable) that are wound in opposite directions on the spool. This segmentation allows each cable to be independently managed and prevents tangling, while the spool mechanism provides centralized control for both cables.
Solution Approach 2:
The spool acts as an intermediary device between the two optical cables and the external environment. It provides a controlled mechanism for winding and unwinding the cables, ensuring they maintain proper bend radius and are protected from damage while enabling cable extension and retraction.
2Area of stationary object
If the spool size is reduced to fit space-limited environments, then spatial efficiency is improved, but the minimum bend radius constraint becomes harder to satisfy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a traditional out-of-plane mirror configuration to an in-plane mirror configuration. This dimensional change allows the optical path to be folded within the plane of the spool, effectively reducing the required spool area while maintaining the minimum bend radius constraint for the optical cable.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical coupling features and mirrors are integrated within the spool structure itself, nesting the optical coupling mechanism inside the cable storage mechanism. This nested configuration reduces the overall device footprint while maintaining functional requirements for cable protection and optical coupling.
3Ease of operation
If optical cables are made more flexible to improve ease of operation, then cable handling is improved, but the cables become more prone to damage and tangling
Solution Approach 1:
The spool provides a dynamic winding mechanism that actively manages cable tension and positioning during extension and retraction operations. This dynamic control ensures flexible cables are handled properly, preventing tangling and excessive bending while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The biasing apparatus provides self-service by automatically applying a winding force to the spool, causing the optical cables to rewind themselves when the spool is rotated in the first direction. This self-service mechanism reduces the risk of manual handling damage while maintaining operational flexibility.
4Device complexity
If a single spool is used to store multiple cables, then device complexity is reduced, but cable management becomes more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The single spool is designed with multi-functionality to manage multiple optical cables simultaneously. By winding the first and second cables in opposite directions and using a single rotational mechanism, the spool simplifies the device structure while the optical coupling features enable independent cable management and connection operations.
Data Source
AI summary
Optical couplings systems, apparatus, and methods may include an optical cable coupling device, or spool, and one or more optical coupling features. The one or more optical coupling features may be configured to optically couple an optical cable and another optical cable, each of which are storable on the optical cable coupling device. The optical cable coupling device and optical cables may be used on a modular device (e.g., computing device, networking device, storage device, etc.). The optical cable coupling device may define a radius that less than about 200% the minimum bend radius of the optical cables.