Optical Connector Guide Pin Alignment Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing optical connection structures for high-speed signal transmission between boards suffer from decreased optical coupling efficiency due to axis misalignment caused by the tolerance during attachment and detachment of optical connectors and receptacles, leading to inefficiencies in optical communication.
Innovation Solution
The proposed optical connection structure incorporates a substrate with optical waveguides, a receptacle featuring first lenses for coupling with the waveguides, and an optical connector with second lenses for coupling with optical fibers, allowing for detachable and adjustable optical coupling to maintain alignment and efficiency, even with tolerance shifts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the optical connector and receptacle are made detachable for easy operation and maintenance, then the ease of operation is improved, but the optical coupling efficiency decreases due to axis misalignment from tolerance during attachment and detachment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces guide pins and guide holes as intermediary elements between the optical connector and receptacle. These guide structures serve as mediators that constrain the relative position and orientation during attachment, ensuring the optical axes of the connector and receptacle align accurately even when repeatedly attached and detached. This resolves the contradiction by enabling detachability while maintaining manufacturing precision through the guiding mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the geometric parameters of the connector and receptacle by incorporating specific guide pin dimensions, guide hole positions, and alignment features. By changing these physical parameters, the system maintains optical axis alignment within acceptable tolerances during repeated attachment cycles, thus preserving optical coupling efficiency while allowing detachable operation.
2Ease of operation
If the optical connector is repeatedly attached and detached, then the ease of operation is improved, but the optical axis alignment shifts due to tolerance accumulation, reducing optical coupling efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates guide pins and guide holes that pre-establish the correct alignment path before the optical connector is fully attached. This beforehand cushioning mechanism prevents tolerance accumulation from affecting optical axis alignment, even after repeated attachment and detachment cycles. The guide structures compensate for potential misalignments before they occur, ensuring reliable optical coupling is maintained.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the optical connector is made detachable for maintenance and reconfiguration, then the adaptability is improved, but the optical coupling efficiency decreases due to tolerance-induced axis shifts
Solution Approach 1:
The guide pins and guide holes act as intermediary elements that ensure precise optical axis alignment during each attachment cycle. This intermediary mechanism allows the system to be reconfigured and detached multiple times while maintaining manufacturing precision, thus achieving adaptability without sacrificing optical coupling efficiency.
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 effectively suppresses the decrease in optical coupling efficiency by maintaining alignment between the optical waveguides and fibers, ensuring stable high-speed signal transmission even with tolerance-induced shifts, and is easily manufacturable with common processes.
Implementation Method 1
a receptacle including a first lens and a connector guide and disposed on the substrate such that the first lens and the optical waveguide are optically coupled; and an optical connector including a second lens and a guide unit and holding an optical fiber so as to be optically coupled with the second lens
Data Source
AI summary
An optical connection structure comprising: a substrate including a main surface and an optical waveguide in which a beam is incident or emitted in a direction intersecting with the main surface; a receptacle including a first lens and a connector guide and disposed on the substrate such that the first lens and the optical waveguide are optically coupled; and an optical connector including a second lens and a guide unit and holding an optical fiber so as to be optically coupled with the second lens, wherein: the receptacle and the optical connector are configured to be detachably through the connector guide and the guide unit; and the first lens and the second lens are optically coupled by mounting the optical connector to the receptacle.