Optical Fiber Alignment Device Using Capillary Solidification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for aligning and fastening optical fibers with optoelectronic components face challenges in achieving accurate alignment due to asymmetric forces caused by the contraction of solidifiable products, leading to potential misalignment and damage to the optical fiber.
Innovation Solution
A device with a base supporting a framework featuring a bore for the optical fiber, a tank for solidifiable product, and a duct for capillary action, surrounded by a slot that limits the product's spread, ensuring symmetric forces and accurate alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a rectangular or square notch is used to contain the solidifiable product, then the fiber can be fastened in position, but the outer periphery of the fiber is not drawn uniformly in the radial directions due to dissymmetric contraction forces, leading to misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry principle in reverse by using a symmetric circular notch instead of an asymmetric rectangular or square notch. The circular geometry ensures uniform radial distribution of the solidifiable product, creating symmetric contraction forces that draw the fiber uniformly in all radial directions, thereby maintaining alignment accuracy while still achieving secure fastening.
2Reliability
If the solidifiable product is allowed to spread freely outside the tank, then it can fill gaps and secure the fiber, but asymmetric forces are generated during contraction that move the optical fiber and reduce alignment precision
Solution Approach 1:
The circular notch provides a symmetric boundary that prevents asymmetric spreading of the solidifiable product. The symmetric geometry ensures that when the product contracts during solidification, the forces are distributed uniformly in all radial directions, preventing fiber displacement and maintaining alignment precision while still achieving reliable coupling stability.
3Manufacturing precision
If a cylindrical tank is used to contain the solidifiable product, then symmetric forces can be provided around the fiber, but the product may still spread asymmetrically if the tank diameter is too large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the tank diameter parameter to be sufficiently small to prevent asymmetric spreading of the solidifiable product while maintaining the cylindrical symmetric geometry. This parameter optimization ensures that the product remains confined within the circular boundary, generating symmetric contraction forces that maintain alignment accuracy while still providing reliable coupling stability.
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 device ensures homogeneous distribution of the solidifiable product around the optical fiber, maintaining accurate alignment and preventing asymmetric forces during contraction, thus ensuring precise and stable coupling.
Implementation Method 1
a duct (13) connected at a first end to said tank and at a second end to said bore, so that the solidifiable product can migrate from the tank to the bore by capillarity action
Implementation Method 2
The solidifiable product is drawn into the optical fiber by surface tension forces
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~6
Figure 7~11
AI summary
A device for aligning the optical axis (2) of an optical element (3) with the optical axis (4) of an optoelectronic component (5) and for fastening the optical element (3) in the resulting position in relation to the optoelectronic component (5), comprises: - a base (6) construed and arranged to support at least one plane framework (7; 20), - and a framework (7) disposed onto said base (6) and comprising: -- a bore (9) having a longitudinal axis (10) approximately coaxial to the optical axis (4) of the optoelectronic component (5), said bore (9) being construed and arranged to receive an optical element (3), -- a tank (11) construed and arranged to contain some solidifiable product (12), -- a duct (13) connected at a first end to said tank (11) and at a second end to said bore (9) so that the solidifiable product (12) can migrate from the tank (11) to the bore (9) by capillarity action; -- and a slot (8, 8') surrounding the tank (11) for limiting an area (14) where the solidifiable product (17) can spread outside the tank (11) by wetting the framework (7).