Optical Ferrule With Integrated Guide Part and Coupler
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Solution Overview
Problem
MT ferrules with mating pins increase costs and reduce space for optical fibers, making it difficult to accommodate multicore optical fibers effectively.
Innovation Solution
An optical ferrule with an integrated structure featuring a guide part, guide opening, and an optical coupler that aligns and holds optical waveguides, eliminating the need for mating pins and optimizing space for multicore fiber accommodation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a mating pin and mating hole are added to the ferrule for positioning, then positioning accuracy is improved, but the number of components increases and space for optical fibers is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the positioning function into the ferrule body itself by forming positioning protrusions and positioning grooves directly on the ferrule surface through integral molding. This eliminates the need for separate mating pins and holes, reducing component count while maintaining positioning accuracy. The positioning features are integrated into the single-piece ferrule structure, resolving the contradiction between positioning precision and device complexity.
2Manufacturing precision
If a mating pin and mating hole are added to the ferrule for positioning, then positioning accuracy is improved, but the space for attaching optical fibers is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating positioning features directly into the ferrule body, the patent eliminates the space that would have been occupied by separate mating pins and holes. This frees up valuable space within the ferrule structure for accommodating multiple optical fibers, particularly enabling multicore fiber configurations. The positioning function is achieved without sacrificing fiber attachment space.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate components are used in the ferrule, then functional requirements are met, but production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs integral molding to create a single-piece ferrule that incorporates guide openings, positioning features, and fiber attachment structures. This eliminates the need for assembling multiple separate components, significantly reducing production complexity and cost. The functional requirements are all embedded within the monolithic structure, achieving versatility without compromising ease of manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
The ferrule is designed as a multi-functional integrated component that simultaneously provides guidance for optical fibers, positioning through built-in protrusions and grooves, and structural support. This universal design consolidates multiple functions into a single component, reducing the total number of parts and lowering production costs while maintaining all necessary functionalities.
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 allows for easy accommodation of multicore optical fibers without increasing the number of components, reducing costs and processing complexity, while maintaining accurate light transmission.
Implementation Method 1
a light direction converting surface that receives light from the entrance surface propagated along an incoming axis, and reflects the received light, wherein the reflected light is propagated by the light direction converting surface along a direction converted axis that is different from the incoming axis
Data Source
AI summary
(Problem) To provide an optical ferrule that can easily accommodate multicore optical fibers, without an accompanying increase in the number of components. (Resolution Means) The optical ferrule 1 includes a guide opening 14 formed by an upper wall 10, a bottom wall 11, and a pair of side walls 12 and 13; a guide part 15 that extends forward from the upper wall 10 and the guide opening 14; and an optical coupler 20 provided on the upper surface of the upper wall 10. The optical coupler 20 has a waveguide aligning part 21 that aligns and holds an optical waveguide 2, and a light direction converter 22 that changes the direction of light from the optical waveguide 2 and emits the light toward an opposing optical ferrule 1.