Optical Ferrule Beamforming and Grooved Alignment for Low-Loss Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
The alignment of fiber optic light guides in optical plug connections is challenging due to their smaller core diameters, leading to higher demands for precise coupling, which existing technologies have not adequately addressed.
Innovation Solution
An optical ferrule with a fixing area, beamforming means, and guide areas is used to align optical waveguides, ensuring precise alignment and minimizing optical losses through focused or collimated light beam coupling, utilizing a converging lens and grooved segments for alignment with a counter ferrule.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If fiber optic light guides are used with smaller core diameters to enable higher bandwidth transmission, then data transmission capability is improved, but alignment precision requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The ferrule is divided into functionally distinct segments: a fixing area for securing the optical waveguide, a beamforming area with lens elements for optical processing, and guide areas with grooved segments for alignment. This segmentation allows each area to be optimized for its specific function, particularly the guide areas that provide precise alignment through mechanical engagement features.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces guide areas with grooved segments as intermediary alignment features between the fixing area and the optical coupling interface. These grooved segments engage with corresponding features in the counter ferrule to establish precise relative positioning, acting as a mediator that ensures accurate alignment without requiring extremely high precision in the entire ferrule structure.
2Device complexity
If conventional optical coupling is used without beamforming means, then device complexity is reduced, but optical losses increase due to misalignment and signal damping
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the beamforming function with the ferrule structure by integrating lens elements directly into the beamforming area of the ferrule. This combination allows optical beam shaping and alignment to be achieved within the ferrule itself, reducing the need for separate external optical components and minimizing overall system complexity while improving optical coupling efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The beamforming means performs preliminary optical processing within the ferrule before the light reaches the coupling interface. By pre-focusing or collimating the beam in the beamforming area, the system compensates for potential misalignments and reduces optical losses at the interface, achieving better coupling efficiency without requiring complex external alignment mechanisms.
3Device complexity
If alignment is performed only in one dimension, then device complexity is reduced, but coupling precision deteriorates due to multi-dimensional misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends alignment from single-dimension to multi-dimensional control by incorporating guide areas with grooved segments that provide engagement features in multiple spatial dimensions. These grooved segments interact with corresponding features in the counter ferrule to constrain relative positioning in both lateral and axial directions, enabling precise three-dimensional alignment without requiring an overly complex alignment mechanism.
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
This design achieves reduced signal damping and backflow damping, minimizing optical losses and sensitivity to contaminants, while allowing for precise alignment in multiple dimensions, ensuring efficient optical transmission.
Implementation Method 1
a beamforming means, preferably a converging lens, having an optical axis extending in the plug-in direction is formed for the optical waveguide
Implementation Method 2
an optical area for beamforming between a light beam bundle transmitted in the optical waveguide and the light beam bundle transmitted in a focused or collimated manner in a free space
Implementation Method 3
at least one guide area having a longitudinal extension in the plug-in direction, which in each case has a grooved segment, wherein the grooved segments are each formed laterally adjacent to the beamforming means and are each configured to align themselves with a ribbed segment of an associated counter guide area
Data Source
AI summary
Optical ferrule includes a fixing area for fixing an axial end section of the optical waveguide. The fixing area is designed such that a longitudinal axis of the axial end section of the optical waveguide is alignable in a plug-in direction S of the optical ferrule. The optical ferrule further includes an optical area for beamforming between a light beam bundle transmitted in the optical waveguide and the light beam bundle transmitted in a focused or collimated manner in a free space. The optical area axially adjoins the fixing area in the plug-in direction S and a beamforming means having an optical axis extending in the plug-in direction S is formed therein. The optical ferrule further includes at least one guide area having a longitudinal extension in the plug-in direction S, which has a plurality of grooved segments.