Optical Connector Cap With Preliminary Ferrule Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
The misalignment of ferrules in optical connectors due to gaps between the ferrule and housing leads to misaligned optical axes, increasing transmission loss of optical signals.
Innovation Solution
A cap is designed to attach to the optical connector, featuring a body part, housing contact part, and ferrule contact part, which adjusts the position of the ferrule relative to the housing by sliding and centering mechanisms to align the optical axes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a gap is placed between the ferrule and the housing to allow the ferrule to float, then the ferrule can be positioned freely, but the position of the ferrule relative to the housing varies, causing misalignment of optical axes
Solution Approach 1:
The cap performs preliminary positioning action on the ferrule before the optical connector is fully assembled and used. The ferrule contact part adjusts the ferrule position in advance, ensuring proper alignment is established before the connector enters service, thus resolving the contradiction between positioning freedom and alignment accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The cap acts as an intermediary device between the housing and the ferrule. It introduces a new element (the ferrule contact part) that mediates the position relationship between the housing and ferrule, allowing the ferrule to be positioned accurately even though it floats within the housing.
2Ease of manufacture
If the ferrule is allowed to float inside the housing, then assembly is simplified, but transmission loss increases due to misaligned optical axes
Solution Approach 1:
The cap performs preliminary alignment action on the ferrule before the connector is put into use. By adjusting the ferrule position in advance through the ferrule contact part, the optical axes are properly aligned, preventing transmission loss while maintaining the simple floating assembly structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The cap provides self-service positioning function to the ferrule. When the cap is attached, its ferrule contact part automatically contacts and positions the ferrule at the appropriate location, enabling the system to self-correct the alignment without external intervention, thus reducing transmission loss while maintaining assembly simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
A cap attachable to an optical connector including a ferrule and a housing that slidably houses the ferrule, includes: a body part configured to attach to the optical connector and configured to cover a connecting end face of the ferrule projecting from the housing and a side surface of the ferrule projecting from the housing; a housing contact part configured to contact the housing inside the body part; and a ferrule contact part configured to contact the side surface of the ferrule in a state where the housing contact part is in contact with the housing.