Optical Connector Lens Magnification for Misalignment Tolerance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical communication connectors face challenges in maintaining communication quality due to the small diameter of collimated light, which is easily blocked by foreign substances and misalignment of optical fibers, especially in single-mode fibers with smaller numerical apertures, leading to increased costs when using coreless fiber configurations for magnification.
Innovation Solution
An optical communication connector design incorporating a first lens to magnify light and a second lens to shape the light, allowing for a larger diameter output even with a short distance between the light emitter and the second lens, thereby improving tolerance to foreign substances and misalignment, without the need for individual junction processes on each optical fiber.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If the distance between the optical fiber and the lens is lengthened to increase the diameter of collimated light, then the diameter of collimated light is increased, but the distance between the optical fiber and the mating optical fiber is also lengthened, increasing the possibility of misalignment and loss of light
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the optical path into two independent segments: the first lens system (including the concave lens) that magnifies light from the optical fiber, and the second lens system that collimates the magnified light. This segmentation allows each lens system to be optimized independently - the first lens can be positioned close to the optical fiber for magnification while the second lens creates the collimated beam, resolving the contradiction between light diameter and alignment precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a concave lens as an intermediary optical element between the optical fiber and the collimating lens. This concave lens acts as a magnifying element that enlarges the light beam before it enters the collimating lens, enabling the collimated light to have a larger diameter without requiring the collimating lens to be positioned far from the optical fiber, thus maintaining alignment precision while increasing light diameter.
2Area of moving object
If a coreless fiber with a concave part is used to magnify light, then the light diameter is increased, but the manufacturing cost increases due to the need to join coreless fiber to each optical fiber
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical joining process of coreless fiber to optical fiber with an optical lens system. Instead of physically joining coreless fiber to each optical fiber (which requires complex junction processes), the patent uses lens elements (concave lens and collimating lens) that can be mounted in a connector housing, eliminating the need for individual fiber joining operations and significantly reducing manufacturing cost while achieving the same light magnification effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses standard optical lenses that can be mass-produced and easily replaced compared to custom coreless fiber assemblies. The lens-based solution allows for simpler manufacturing where the lenses are mounted in the connector body, eliminating the need for expensive and time-consuming fiber joining processes for each channel, making the system more cost-effective especially for multi-channel configurations.
3Volume of moving object
If collimated light with small diameter is used, then the optical communication connector is compact, but the collimated light is easily blocked by foreign substances such as dust
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the optical system into magnification and collimation functions performed by separate lens elements. The first lens (concave lens) magnifies the light from the optical fiber, and the second lens (collimating lens) creates the collimated beam. This segmentation enables the collimated light to have a larger diameter without proportionally increasing the overall connector volume, as the magnification occurs within the compact lens assembly rather than requiring a large separation distance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the concave lens to magnify the light beam in the radial dimension before collimation. By increasing the beam diameter through magnification rather than through increased propagation distance, the system achieves larger collimated light diameter without proportionally increasing the connector's length or overall volume, thus resolving the contradiction between compact size and foreign substance tolerance.
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 design enhances communication quality by enlarging the light diameter and improving tolerance to foreign substances and misalignment, reducing costs by eliminating the need for complex junction processes, especially in multi-channel configurations.
Implementation Method 1
The first lens magnifies light emitted from a light emitter
Implementation Method 2
The second lens shapes light incident from the first lens and outputs the shaped light
Data Source
AI summary
To provide an optical communication connector, an optical transmitter, an optical receiver, an optical communication system, and an optical communication cable that make it possible to prevent reduction in communication quality at low cost. An optical communication connector according to the present technology is capable of spatial optical coupling, and the optical communication connector includes a first lens and a second lens. The first lens magnifies light emitted from a light emitter. The second lens shapes light incident from the first lens and outputs the shaped light.