Optical Collimator Recess Positioning Metal Holder

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing optical collimators face challenges in maintaining positional accuracy and efficiency during repeated insertion and extraction of optical fibers, especially as they become smaller in size, leading to increased operational costs due to the complexity of spacer insertion or integration within the holding member.

Innovation Solution

The optical collimator features a cylindrical metal holding member with a housing part for the collimator lens and an insertion hole for the optical fiber, utilizing recesses on the holding member's circumference to facilitate precise positioning by allowing the collimator lens and optical fiber to abut, thereby eliminating the need for separate spacers and reducing costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a separate spacer member is inserted into the holding member for positioning, then positioning accuracy between the collimator lens and optical fiber is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates the positioning function directly into the holding member by forming a recess on its surface, merging the positioning feature with the holding member itself rather than using a separate spacer component. This eliminates the need for additional parts while maintaining positioning accuracy between the collimator lens and optical fiber.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the positioning function from a separate spacer component and incorporates it directly into the holding member structure through a recess, simplifying the overall device by removing unnecessary separate parts while preserving the essential positioning capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Volume of moving object

If the optical collimator is reduced in size for high-capacity communications, then compactness is improved, but positioning stability during repeated insertion and extraction deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollimator sizeVSAvoidpositioning stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating a specific recess structure on the holding member surface at the precise location where positioning is needed. This localized feature provides stable positioning for the optical fiber and collimator lens without requiring the entire holding member to be complex or large, enabling compact design while maintaining positioning stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Manufacturing precision

If a separate spacer is inserted into the holding member for positioning, then positioning accuracy is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidmanufacturing ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the positioning function with the holding member itself through an integrally formed recess, eliminating the need for separate spacer components and their associated insertion operations. This simplifies the manufacturing process by reducing the number of parts and assembly steps while maintaining positioning accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Volume of moving object

If the optical collimator is reduced in size, then compactness is improved, but the difficulty of inserting spacers and providing spacer parts increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollimator sizeVSAvoidspacer insertion difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the separate spacer component entirely and integrates the positioning function directly into the holding member through a recess. This extraction eliminates the manufacturing difficulties associated with inserting and positioning small spacer parts in compact collimator designs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the positioning function with the holding member structure itself, eliminating the need for separate spacer parts that become difficult to insert and position as the collimator size is reduced for compactness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS8687929B2Optical collimator, optical connector using same and holding member for optical collimator

Publication Date: 2014.04.01 MITSUBISHI PENCIL CO LTD

AI summary

In order to facilitate positioning of a collimator lens and an optical fiber while preventing cost increase, provided is an optical collimator having a holder (11) which has a cylindrical shape and is made of metal; a collimator lens (12) which is housed in a housing part (11c) formed at an end of the holder (11); and an optical fiber (13) which is inserted via an insertion hole (11a) formed at an opposite end of the holder (11) and is fixed at a predetermined position. At least one of the collimator lens (12) and an end surface of the optical fiber (13) is made to abut to a recess (11e) formed in proximity of the housing part (11c) of the holder (11) thereby to perform positioning.