Optical Connector Polarity Change via Sliding Boot Restraint
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical connectors lack a reliable mechanism for changing polarity and securing the boot structure, which is essential for adapting to different connection scenarios in high-frequency bandwidth applications like 400G optical communications.
Innovation Solution
The optical connector employs a sliding member that can change positions to restrain or release the boot structure within the housing, allowing for secure attachment and detachment from the receptacle, as well as polarity changes by rotating the boot structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the boot structure is fixed to the connector body, then the connector maintains stable connection, but the polarity cannot be changed
Solution Approach 1:
The boot structure is designed to be dynamically adjustable rather than fixed. A sliding member with multiple positions controls the boot structure's state: in the first position, the boot structure is constrained to maintain stable connection; in the second position, the boot structure can be rotated to change polarity. This dynamic design allows the system to switch between stability and adaptability as needed.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the boot structure is made detachable to enable polarity change, then the connector becomes more versatile, but the connection stability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a controlled dynamic mechanism where the boot structure's detachability is managed by the sliding member. The structure transitions from a constrained state (stable connection) to a detachable state (polarity change) only when the sliding member is moved to the appropriate position, ensuring that versatility is achieved without compromising overall connection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The sliding member acts as an intermediary control element between the user and the boot structure. It mediates the transition between stable connection and polarity change modes, ensuring that the boot structure is only detached or rotated when properly authorized by the sliding mechanism, thus maintaining connection stability while enabling versatility.
3Reliability
If a sliding member is added to control the boot structure, then both connection stability and polarity change are enabled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sliding member is designed to perform multiple functions within a single component: it controls the boot structure's constraint state, enables polarity rotation, and provides positioning feedback. By consolidating these functions into one multi-functional element, the increase in device complexity is minimized while achieving the desired reliability and adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides an optical connector electrically coupled to an optical receptacle. The optical connector comprises a connector body, and a sliding member. The connector body inserted into the optical receptacle comprises a housing and a boot structure detachably arranged in the housing. The sliding member is slidably coupled to the housing wherein the boot structure is restrained inside the housing or is removed from the housing according to a sliding position of the sliding member.