Optical Connector Ferrule Sleeve Coupling for Compactness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical connectors require a large protection sleeve to ensure proper coverage of fusion spliced optical fibers, leading to increased size and difficulty in housing within small cabinets, and may result in increased bending loss and breakage due to compressive loads on the short optical fiber.
Innovation Solution
An optical connector design where the protection sleeve is coupled to the optical connector ferrule, utilizing a thermal shrinkable tube, core rod, and adhesive tube, allowing for accurate positioning and reduced length, thereby preventing excessive compressive loads on the short optical fiber and enhancing compactness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a long protection sleeve is used to ensure proper coverage of fusion spliced optical fibers, then the protection reliability is improved, but the connector size increases and it becomes difficult to house within small cabinets
Solution Approach 1:
The protection sleeve is pre-positioned and coupled to the optical connector ferrule before the fusion splicing process. This preliminary coupling ensures that the sleeve is already in the correct position to receive and protect the fusion spliced portion, eliminating the need for a long sleeve to accommodate positioning errors and reducing the overall connector size.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical positioning system with a coupling mechanism that directly attaches the protection sleeve to the ferrule. This substitution allows for more precise positioning and reduces the tolerance requirements, enabling the use of a shorter protection sleeve while maintaining protection reliability.
2Reliability
If a long protection sleeve is used to ensure proper coverage, then the protection reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protection sleeve is merged with the optical connector ferrule through a direct coupling mechanism. This integration reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the overall structure, while the coupled sleeve maintains its protective function with a shorter length, thereby reducing device complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If the protection sleeve is not coupled to the ferrule, then the manufacturing process is simpler, but compressive loads cause bending loss and breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The protection sleeve is pre-coupled to the ferrule before the fusion splicing process. This preliminary coupling establishes a fixed reference point that prevents excessive compressive loads on the short optical fiber during connector assembly, thereby preventing bending loss and breakage while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
4Volume of moving object
If the protection sleeve is coupled to the ferrule, then the connector compactness is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a coupling mechanism that replaces traditional mechanical positioning methods. This coupling system provides inherent positioning features that guide the sleeve into the correct position during assembly, reducing the stringency of manufacturing precision requirements while achieving connector compactness.
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 a compact optical connector that reduces bending loss and breakage risks by accurately positioning the protection sleeve, ensuring reliable protection and efficient housing within small spaces.
Implementation Method 1
the protection sleeve comprises: a thermal shrinkable tube; and a core rod and an adhesive tube which are passed through the thermal shrinkable tube, and the protection sleeve is coupled to the optical connector ferrule
Data Source
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AI summary
An optical connector in which the housing property into a cabinet or the like can be enhanced because of the compacification, and which can solve problems of the increase of the bending loss of an optical fiber, the breakage, and the like is obtained. In an optical connector 1 which houses and holds a fusion spliced portion 13 where a short optical fiber 5 previously fitted to an optical connector ferrule 7 is fusion-spliced with a coated optical fiber 3, one end of a protection sleeve 15 which armors the fusion spliced portion 13 is coupled to the optical connector ferrule 7. As a result, the length of the protection sleeve 15 which covers the fusion spliced portion 13 so that the fusion spliced portion 13 is positioned at the middle can be set with reference to an end portion of the optical connector ferrule 7. Therefore, the protection sleeve 15 can be shortened, and compactification of the optical connector 1 can be realized.