Optical Ferrule Beam Shaping for Low-Loss Fiber Alignment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The alignment of fiber optic light guides in optical connectors requires higher precision due to their smaller core diameter, leading to challenges in achieving accurate coupling without optical loss.
Innovation Solution
An optical ferrule with a fixing area, beam shaping means, and guide areas to align optical waveguides with a counter-waveguide, ensuring precise alignment and minimizing optical loss through focused or collimated light beam coupling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fiber optic optical fibers with smaller core diameter are used to achieve higher bandwidth and wider temperature range, then data transmission performance is improved, but alignment precision requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a beam shaping means (lens) as an intermediary component between the optical fiber and the coupling interface. This lens transforms the divergent light cone from the fiber into a focused or collimated beam, creating a larger effective coupling area that is less sensitive to alignment errors. The beam shaping means acts as a mediator that bridges the gap between the small fiber core and the larger coupling space, reducing the impact of misalignment on transmission performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the optical parameters of the light beam by using a beam shaping means to transform the light from a divergent cone into a focused or collimated beam. This parameter transformation (from divergent to focused/collimated) increases the depth of focus and reduces the sensitivity to axial and lateral misalignments, thereby improving the robustness of the connection while maintaining the benefits of small core diameter fibers.
2Manufacturing precision
If groove-shaped subsections and rib-shaped sections are added to guide alignment, then alignment accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the alignment guide function with the existing ferrule structure by integrating groove-shaped subsections and rib-shaped sections directly into the ferrule body. These guiding features are formed as part of the ferrule's internal geometry, combining the structural support function with the alignment guidance function in a single integrated component, thereby minimizing the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds alignment guidance in the lateral dimension by introducing groove-shaped subsections that extend in the insertion direction. These grooves provide lateral constraint and guidance for the rib-shaped sections of the mating connector, adding a dimensional constraint that improves alignment accuracy without significantly complicating the overall structure. The guiding features utilize the lateral dimension to achieve precise positioning while maintaining a relatively simple ferrule geometry.
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 design achieves precise alignment of optical fibers, reducing signal attenuation and insertion loss, and is insensitive to impurities, with enhanced mechanical stability and reduced manufacturing costs.
Implementation Method 1
an optical area (5) for beam shaping between a light beam transmitted in the optical waveguide (3) and a light beam transmitted focused or collimated in a free space
Implementation Method 2
a beam shaping means, preferably a converging lens (9), with an optical axis extending in the insertion direction (S) is formed for the optical waveguide (3)
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C~1E
Figure 1F~1I
AI summary
An optical ferrule (1) for aligning an optical waveguide (3) with a counter-waveguide (3'') of an optical counter-ferrule (6) has a fixing area (4) for fixing an axial end section (12) of the optical waveguide (3). The fixing area (4) is configured such that a longitudinal axis of the axial end section (12) of the optical waveguide (3) can be aligned in a insertion direction S of the optical ferrule (1). The optical ferrule (1) further has an optical area (5) for beam shaping between a beam of light transmitted in the optical waveguide (3) and the beam of light transmitted in a free space, either focused or collimated. The optical area adjoins the fixing area (4) axially in the insertion direction S and contains a beam shaping element (9) with an optical axis extending in the insertion direction S.The optical ferrule (1) finally has at least one guide area (7) with a longitudinal extension in the insertion direction S, each of which has a groove-shaped subsection (71). The groove-shaped subsections (71) are each formed laterally adjacent to the beam shaping means (9) and are configured to align with a rib-shaped subsection (81) of an associated counter-guide area (8) of the optical counter-ferrule (6).