Optical Fiber Coupling Dust Trap for Cleaner Connector Mating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Optical fiber coupling devices face contamination issues when establishing connections between optical fiber connectors and modules, leading to potential damage of optical components due to debris particles, which requires frequent servicing and disrupts productivity.
Innovation Solution
An optical fiber coupling device with a deformable protection mechanism that surrounds the optical fiber connector, trapping contaminating particles and preventing them from reaching downstream components, thereby reducing contamination and extending servicing intervals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If optical fiber connector is coupled to the coupling mechanism with exposed optical paths, then coupling operation can be performed, but contaminating particles may reach and damage downstream optical components
Solution Approach 1:
A protective cap is pre-positioned on the coupling mechanism to cover the optical path before coupling occurs. This preliminary protective action prevents contaminating particles from reaching downstream optical components during the coupling operation, while still allowing the coupling to be performed normally.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective cap acts as an intermediary element between the coupling mechanism and the downstream optical components (such as laser transparent windows). It provides a physical barrier that mediates the potential harmful interaction between contaminating particles and the optical components, allowing the coupling operation to proceed without direct exposure of the optical path.
2Reliability
If laser transparent window is cleaned or replaced frequently, then optical component contamination is reduced, but productivity is reduced due to interrupting optical coupling
Solution Approach 1:
The protective cap is installed in advance on the coupling mechanism before any contamination can occur. This preliminary protective measure eliminates the need for frequent cleaning or replacement of laser transparent windows, thereby maintaining optical component cleanliness without interrupting the optical coupling and preserving productivity.
3Device complexity
If optical paths are exposed during coupling, then coupling mechanism is simple, but debris particles from friction and mechanical abrasion may access optical paths
Solution Approach 1:
The protective cap serves as an intermediary barrier that prevents debris particles generated by mechanical abrasion during coupling from accessing the optical paths. It is a simple addition that does not complicate the coupling mechanism structure while effectively blocking the harmful debris particles.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful function of the exposed optical path (allowing debris access) is separated from the coupling mechanism by introducing the protective cap. This extracts the contamination risk from the system, allowing the coupling mechanism to remain simple while the protective cap handles the contamination prevention.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention refers to an optical fiber coupling device (10) comprising a protection mechanism (20) comprising a deformable element (22) configured for deforming to receive therethrough an optical fiber connector (50), when the optical fiber connector (50) is coupled to a coupling mechanism (16) of the optical fiber coupling device (10), such that the deformable element (22) surrounds the optical fiber connector (50) and covers a portion of a cross-section of an axial channel (14) of the optical fiber coupling device (10) around the optical fiber connector (50). The invention further refers to an optical module (60) for laser-processing a workpiece (80) comprising such an optical fiber coupling device (10).