Optical Connector Waveguide Alignment for Multi-Core Fiber Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing optical connecting configurations for multi-core fibers and single-core fibers face challenges in maintaining low optical connecting loss and achieving efficient connections, particularly in high-density optical cable applications, due to the complexity of aligning multiple optical axes.
Innovation Solution
An optical connecting member with a main body and waveguide parts that are arrayed to maintain parallelism, allowing for efficient connection between multi-core fibers and single-core fibers by using straight-line portions and fixing components to align optical axes, thereby minimizing optical connecting loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If multi-core fiber is used to increase transmission capacity, then transmission capacity is improved, but connecting loss increases due to alignment difficulty
Solution Approach 1:
The optical connector is segmented into a multi-core fiber connection portion and a single-core fiber connection portion, with each portion having waveguide parts arranged in different patterns (two-dimensional array for multi-core, one-dimensional array for single-core). This segmentation allows independent optimization of alignment for each fiber type, reducing connecting loss while maintaining high transmission capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical connector acts as an intermediary device between multi-core fiber and single-core fiber systems. It includes conversion means that transforms the multi-core optical signal into multiple single-core optical signals, enabling connection to standard single-core fiber infrastructure while preserving the high capacity benefits of multi-core fiber.
2Loss of energy
If complex alignment structure is used to reduce connecting loss, then connecting loss is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The optical connector merges the alignment functions for multi-core and single-core fibers into a single integrated structure. The housing contains both two-dimensional and one-dimensional array arrangements within one component, eliminating the need for separate alignment mechanisms and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining low connecting loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The waveguide parts are designed with homogeneous material composition and consistent geometric dimensions throughout. This uniformity simplifies manufacturing and assembly processes, reducing device complexity while ensuring predictable optical performance and low connecting loss across all connection points.
3Productivity
If waveguide parts are arranged in two-dimensional array for multi-core fiber connection, then connection efficiency is improved, but adaptability to single-core fiber decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The optical connector is designed with multi-functionality to handle both multi-core and single-core fiber connections. It includes a first connection portion with two-dimensional waveguide array for multi-core fiber and a second connection portion with one-dimensional waveguide array for single-core fiber, allowing the same device to adapt to different fiber types and connection requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector transitions from a two-dimensional waveguide array configuration (optimized for multi-core fiber) to a one-dimensional array configuration (optimized for single-core fiber) through the conversion means. This dimensional transformation enables the system to maintain high connection efficiency for multi-core fiber while also achieving good adaptability to single-core fiber connections.
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
The solution enables efficient and low-loss optical connections between multi-core fibers and single-core fibers, facilitating the use of multi-core fibers in high-density optical cable systems by maintaining parallelism and aligning optical axes effectively.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of waveguide parts disposed in the main body part and extending so as to connect the first end and the second end
Data Source
AI summary
An optical connecting member realizes an optical connecting between a multi-core fiber and a plurality of single-core fibers by a waveguide part which connects a first end face and a second end face. With the optical connecting member, a connected end which is connected to the first end face is a straight-line portion that is orthogonal to the first end face in each of the plurality of waveguide parts. In addition, a diverged end which is diverged to the second end face is a straight-line portion that is orthogonal to the second end face. Consequently, light that has passed through the waveguide parts is emitted from the first end face and the second end face substantially perpendicularly to the faces, thereby enabling optical connecting loss to be favorably inhibited.