Optical Connector Housing Alignment for Misalignment-Tolerant Mating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical connector systems face challenges in accurately aligning optical transmission lines, leading to potential damage and reduced optical transmission characteristics due to misalignment during insertion, which complicates the mating process.
Innovation Solution
The optical connector system includes a first optical connector module with a housing and a second optical connector module with a casing, where the leading ends of the housing and casing are positioned to facilitate accurate alignment and reduce the likelihood of contact between optical components, enhancing ease of mating and tolerance to misalignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the optical connector is designed for accurate alignment of optical transmission lines, then coupling loss is reduced, but the mating process becomes more complex and fragile components are more prone to damage during insertion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by designing the housing and casing with leading ends that extend beyond the optical connectors before mating occurs. This preliminary structural arrangement ensures that alignment is established by the robust housing and casing interfaces first, before the fragile optical connectors make contact, thereby protecting them during the mating process while ensuring accurate alignment for low coupling loss.
2Volume of moving object
If the optical connector components are positioned close together for compact design, then device size is reduced, but misalignment during insertion causes component damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements beforehand cushioning by creating a protective structural arrangement where the housing and casing with extended leading ends act as cushioning elements. These robust outer structures absorb and distribute insertion forces before they reach the fragile optical connectors, providing preemptive protection against damage while maintaining compact overall dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing and casing serve as intermediary structures between the external mating forces and the internal optical connectors. The leading ends of the housing and casing make initial contact and establish alignment, mediating the transfer of forces and preventing direct impact on the vulnerable optical components, thus enabling compact design without increasing breakage risk.
3Ease of operation
If the optical connector allows tolerance for misalignment, then ease of mating is improved, but coupling loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses preliminary action by having the housing and casing establish rough alignment through their extended leading ends before the optical connectors engage. This preliminary alignment phase allows operators to mate connectors easily without precise positioning, while the subsequent engagement of the optical connectors occurs within a pre-established alignment framework that minimizes coupling loss.
Data Source
AI summary
In an optical connector system (1) according to the present disclosure, a first optical connector module (2) includes a first optical connector (21) attached to a first optical transmission line (40) and a housing (22) covering the first optical connector (21). A second optical connector module (3) includes a second optical connector (31) attached to a second optical transmission line (50) and mated with the first optical connector (21) and a casing (32) located apart from the second optical connector (31) and attached to a substrate (51). In a mating direction, a leading end of the housing (22) is located closer to the second optical connector module (3) than a leading end of the first optical connector (21), and a leading end of the casing (32) is located closer to the first optical connector module (2) than a leading end of the second optical connector (31).