Optical Connection Component for Multi-Core Fiber Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical connectors face challenges in accurately positioning optical systems to achieve efficient optical coupling between multi-core fibers and single-core fibers, especially when the end surfaces are inclined, leading to degraded coupling rates.
Innovation Solution
The optical connection component is designed to guide light beams from a multi-core fiber to single-core fibers by separating and enlarging beam diameters at the input end, and ensuring the output beams are parallel to the axial direction of the multi-core fiber, even when the end surfaces are inclined. A second optical connection component is used to collect and align the light beams with the single-core fibers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the end surfaces of multi-core fiber and single-core fiber are inclined to reduce reflected return light, then the optical coupling rate is significantly degraded when optical systems are not highly accurately positioned
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a light beam separating element as an intermediary component between the multi-core fiber and single-core fibers. This element separates the light beams from different cores and guides them to corresponding single-core fibers, acting as a mediator that facilitates optical coupling without requiring high positioning accuracy between the fiber end surfaces
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the optical coupling function into multiple independent components: the multi-core fiber, the light beam separating element with multiple separating surfaces, and the single-core fibers. Each component performs a specific function, and the segmenting approach allows each component to be optimized independently, reducing the need for high overall positioning accuracy
2Object-affected harmful factors
If two optical systems are used to optically couple multi-core fiber and single-core fibers with inclined end surfaces, then reflected return light is reduced, but the device complexity increases due to the need for highly accurate positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the light beam separating function and the light guiding function into a single integrated light beam separating element. This merging of functions reduces the number of separate optical systems needed, thereby simplifying the device structure and reducing positioning complexity while still effectively reducing reflected return light
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration allows for easy and efficient optical coupling between multi-core and single-core fibers, even with inclined end surfaces, by maintaining parallelism and appropriate beam diameters, thereby reducing the need for precise positioning.
Implementation Method 1
an input end configured such that a plurality of light beams output from an output end surface are separated from each other toward a plurality of single-core fibers
Implementation Method 2
each beam diameter of the plurality of light beams is enlarged
Implementation Method 3
an output end configured such that the plurality of light beams passing through the input end and directed toward the plurality of single-core fibers are parallel to an axial direction of the multi-core fiber
Data Source
AI summary
An optical connection component includes: an input end that separates each of light beams output from an output end surface of a multi-core fiber toward single-core fibers, and enlarges each beam diameter of the light beams; and an output end that allows the light beams from the input end to be parallel to an axial direction of the multi-core fiber. The optical connection component guides the light beams output from the output end surface, inclined with respect to a plane perpendicular to the axial direction, to the single-core fibers, wherein the light beams output from the output end surface propagate in a direction inclined with respect to the axial direction.