Optical Connector Reducing Return Light via Gap Venting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical connectors face challenges in reducing return light, especially when the inclination angle of the optical fiber's end surface is small, leading to increased assembly tolerance issues and return light.
Innovation Solution
The optical connector design includes a holding part, a first optical part for light entry or emission, and a second optical part for inter-connector light transfer, with a space between the first optical part and the end surface communicating with the outside through a gap, reducing return light.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If the inclination angle of the optical fiber end surface is increased to reduce return light, then return light is reduced, but assembly tolerance becomes narrower and manufacturing difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
A positioning part is introduced as an intermediary component between the optical fiber holder and the optical fiber. This positioning part has a positioning surface that contacts the end surface of the optical fiber, allowing the optical fiber to be positioned at the correct angle without requiring the optical fiber holder itself to have complex angled structures. The positioning part absorbs the angular adjustment function, thereby reducing return light while maintaining loose assembly tolerance.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical connector is divided into multiple functional parts: an optical fiber holder for holding the optical fiber, and a separate positioning part for angular positioning. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized independently - the optical fiber holder can have simple geometry with loose tolerance, while the positioning part provides the necessary angular precision to reduce return light.
2Manufacturing precision
If the inclination angle of the optical fiber end surface is decreased to widen assembly tolerance, then assembly tolerance is widened, but return light increases
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning part acts as a mediator that decouples the relationship between assembly tolerance and return light reduction. It provides a dedicated angular positioning function that ensures the optical fiber end surface is oriented at the optimal angle for minimizing return light, regardless of variations in the overall assembly tolerance of the optical connector.
3Measurement precision
If a positioning part is added to position the end surface, then positioning accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning part uses simple geometric parameters - specifically, the angle between the positioning surface and the optical axis - to achieve precise angular positioning. By optimizing this single angular parameter, the positioning part can effectively control the orientation of the optical fiber end surface without requiring complex mechanisms or multiple adjustment elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning part provides localized angular positioning functionality at the specific location where the optical fiber contacts it. Rather than requiring the entire optical connector structure to be complex, only the local interaction between the positioning surface and the optical fiber end surface needs to be precisely engineered, while other parts can maintain simple structures.
Data Source
AI summary
An optical connector of the present invention comprises: a holding part, for holding an end of one optical transmission body; a positioning part that is brought into contact with part of an end surface of the optical transmission body in order to effect positioning of the end surface; a first optical part, and a second optical part When the part of the end surface is brought into contact with the positioning part, a space between the first optical part and the end surface communicates with the outside via a gap between the optical connector and the end surface.