Optical Connector Refracting Section Scatters Parallel Light
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing optical connectors with collimating lenses face issues such as exposure to contamination, difficulty in maintenance, and potential emission of parallel light during disconnection, which can lead to health hazards and signal quality degradation.
Innovation Solution
The optical communication connector design incorporates a refracting section and a scattering member to prevent direct emission of parallel light during non-optical coupling, ensuring the collimating lenses are protected and maintaining signal quality by refracting and scattering light within the connector.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a collimating lens is exposed to the outside for optical coupling, then optical signal transmission is enabled, but the lens surface becomes contaminated by dust and oil, requiring frequent cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The collimating lens is nested within the connector housing and the refracting section, rather than being exposed. The lens is positioned inside the connector body, with the refracting section forming a protective enclosure that allows optical coupling while preventing direct exposure to the external environment, thus avoiding contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The refracting section acts as an intermediary structure between the collimating lens and the external environment. It allows light to pass through while providing a protective barrier that prevents dust and oil from reaching the lens surface, enabling optical coupling without direct exposure.
2Ease of operation
If the collimating lens is exposed during disconnection, then optical coupling can be established, but parallel light is emitted to the outside causing laser hazard
Solution Approach 1:
The refracting section converts the potentially harmful parallel light emission into a beneficial scattering effect. By designing the refracting section with specific surface geometries (convex or concave surfaces), the parallel light that would otherwise be emitted harmfully is instead refracted and scattered in multiple directions, reducing laser hazard while maintaining optical coupling functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The refracting section serves as an intermediary that controls light propagation. During disconnection, it refracts and scatters the parallel light before it can escape the connector, preventing laser hazard. During connection, it allows the light to pass through for optical coupling, thus mediating between safety and functionality.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If projection-recess structures are used to scatter light during disconnection, then laser hazard is reduced, but the structure becomes complicated requiring moving mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The refracting section combines multiple functions into a single integrated component: it provides structural support for the collimating lens, acts as a protective barrier against contamination, refracts and scatters parallel light during disconnection, and enables optical coupling during connection. This eliminates the need for separate projection-recess structures and moving mechanisms, reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The refracting section is designed as a multi-functional element that performs light scattering, protection, and optical coupling functions simultaneously. By making this single component universal for multiple purposes, the design avoids the complexity of multiple specialized components and moving parts.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the collimating lens is protected from exposure, then contamination is prevented, but the lens cannot be cleaned when soiling occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The refracting section can be designed with a protective coating or thin film layer that is both protective and cleanable. This flexible protective barrier prevents contamination while allowing the lens to be accessed and cleaned when necessary, combining protection with maintainability.
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 effectively prevents the emission of parallel light during non-optical coupling, enhances maintenance by shielding the lenses, and maintains signal quality by ensuring light is refracted and scattered within the connector, thus addressing health and operational concerns.
Implementation Method 1
a collimating lens 111A on the leading end side, the lens section 11A converts light of an optical signal ejected from the optical transmission path 202A into a parallel light LA1
Implementation Method 2
a scattering section 151A that scatters the refracted light LA2 when the optical communication connector 10A is not connected
Implementation Method 3
a refracting section 13A arranged on the leading end side with respect to the lens section 11A... refracting section 13A, and the scattering sections 151A and 151B to each other... refracted light LA2
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
[Object] To propose an optical communication connector, an optical communication cable, and an electronic device being novel and improved that have excellent maintenance properties and can prevent parallel light (collimated light) from being directly emitted to the outside of an optical connector during non-optical coupling. [Solution] There is provided an optical communication connector device including: a collimating lens configured to collimate light from an optical transmission path; a refracting section arranged on a leading end side with respect to the collimating lens, and configured to refract and eject light from the optical transmission path ejected from the collimating lens; and a scattering section configured to scatter at least a part of the light ejected from the refracting section.