Optical Circuit Board Fixation Pin Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for attaching optical coupling devices to optical circuit boards are unreliable due to environmental conditions, particularly temperature fluctuations, and are difficult to remove for repair, leading to potential loosening and misalignment issues.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical fixation system is introduced, featuring a fixation pin extending through the optical circuit board and a positioning member, along with Z-reference means and alignment components, to securely attach the optical coupling device, ensuring precise alignment and reliable optical coupling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the optical coupling device is glued to the optical circuit board, then the alignment can be maintained initially, but the attachment becomes unreliable under temperature fluctuations and difficult to remove for repair
Solution Approach 1:
The fixation system is divided into separate functional components: positioning members that provide precise alignment and a fixation pin that provides secure mechanical attachment. This segmentation allows the positioning function to be optimized independently from the fixation function, enabling reliable attachment while maintaining removability for repair.
Solution Approach 2:
Positioning members serve as intermediary elements between the optical coupling device and the optical circuit board. These members extend into cut-outs in the board and provide a stable reference surface that mediates the alignment and transmission of positional information, ensuring precise optical coupling while allowing the device to be removed and reattached.
2Reliability
If the optical coupling device is firmly attached to ensure stable alignment, then optical connection reliability improves, but the device becomes difficult to remove for repair or replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The fixation system transitions from a static glued attachment to a dynamic mechanical system with distinct attachment and release states. The fixation pin can be inserted to secure the device during operation, providing stable alignment, and can be removed when repair or replacement is needed, enabling easy maintenance while maintaining operational reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The chemical bonding mechanism of gluing is replaced with a mechanical fixation system using a pin and positioning members. This substitution provides controllable mechanical engagement that ensures stable alignment during operation while allowing simple mechanical disengagement for maintenance, eliminating the irreversible nature of adhesive bonding.
3Reliability
If positioning precision is increased to maintain alignment under temperature changes, then optical coupling reliability improves, but the complexity of the positioning system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning system utilizes the Z-dimension (vertical dimension) by having positioning members extend downward into cut-outs in the optical circuit board. This dimensional approach provides stable vertical positioning and alignment reference without requiring complex lateral positioning mechanisms, maintaining alignment stability while minimizing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning members and cut-outs form a self-aligning system where the geometry of the cut-outs and positioning members automatically ensures precise alignment when assembled. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for complex active alignment systems or multiple adjustment components, providing temperature-stable alignment with minimal complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An optical system comprises : an optical circuit board (1) having an optical layer, embedded between top and bottom faces, and a cut-out (17) having a bottom reference layer defining an X-Y plane, an optical coupling device having a positioning member (19) extending in the cut-out, a mechanical fixation system (31) attaching the optical circuit board to the optical coupling device, and comprising a fixation pin extending through the optical circuit board at the positioning member (19).