Optical Fiber Connector With Depression Section For High Accuracy Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
The delicate nature of optical fibers, with thin and fragile core wires, makes it challenging to attach them to connectors with high positional accuracy, complicating the assembly process and increasing manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
A connector design featuring a fiber attachment path with a height less than the optical fiber's outer diameter, combined with a light-direction changing section, allows for the attachment of optical fibers with their overlayer intact by using a depression section and cover member to flatten and secure the fiber, ensuring high positional accuracy without removing the overlayer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the core wire is exposed by removing the overlayer and fixed to the supporting member, then high positional accuracy can be achieved, but the assembly process becomes very delicate and difficult to automate
Solution Approach 1:
The overlayer is removed in advance before the fiber attachment process, exposing the core wire beforehand. This preliminary action simplifies the subsequent assembly by allowing the exposed core wire to be directly placed and fixed in the V-groove without requiring precise real-time manipulation during assembly
Solution Approach 2:
The overlayer is extracted and removed from the optical fiber before assembly. By taking out the overlayer in advance, the core wire becomes accessible for direct fixation to the supporting member, enabling more straightforward assembly processes while maintaining positional accuracy
2Ease of manufacture
If the overlayer is removed to expose the core wire, then the core wire can be fixed to the supporting member, but the process becomes complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The overlayer removal is performed as a preliminary step before assembly, allowing the core wire to be exposed and ready for fixation. This separates the complex removal process from the assembly process, making each step more manageable and easier to manufacture
Solution Approach 2:
The manufacturing process is segmented into distinct steps: overlayer removal, core wire exposure, and fixation to the supporting member. This segmentation allows each step to be optimized and performed by specialized equipment, reducing overall process complexity
3Productivity
If the core wire is fixed without the overlayer, then fixation can be achieved, but the process is time-consuming and affects productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The overlayer is removed in advance before the fiber is placed in the connector assembly line. This preliminary preparation allows for faster assembly since the core wire is already exposed and ready for immediate fixation without requiring additional manipulation time during assembly
Data Source
AI summary
A connector includes: a fiber attachment path in which at least a part thereof has a height less than an outer diameter of an optical fiber; and a light-direction changing section provided at an end of the fiber attachment path.