Optical Connector Guide Hole Oil-Repellent Coating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical connectors face issues with adhesive creeping up into guide holes due to capillary action, which affects the reliability of optical coupling and requires excessive external force for guide pin removal.
Innovation Solution
An optical connecting part with a holder, optical waveguides, and a through-hole coated with a fluorine-containing organic compound and metal mixture, providing oil repellency to prevent adhesive penetration into the guide hole.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional guide hole without oil-repellent coating is used, then adhesive can fill the guide hole completely, but adhesive creeps up into the guide hole due to capillary action affecting reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies oil-repellent coating to the guide hole to convert the harmful capillary action that causes adhesive creeping into a beneficial effect. The coating creates a surface that repels adhesive, preventing it from penetrating into the guide hole while still allowing proper optical coupling functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the surface properties of the guide hole by applying a coating layer with different surface energy characteristics. This parameter change in surface properties modifies the interaction between adhesive and guide hole, transforming the capillary action from harmful to beneficial by preventing adhesive penetration.
2Ease of operation
If excessive external force is applied for guide pin removal, then adhesive bonding can be broken, but the bonding strength is compromised affecting reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The oil-repellent coating prevents adhesive from penetrating into the guide hole in the first place, converting the potential harm of strong bonding into a benefit. This allows guide pins to be removed easily without compromising bonding strength, as the coating prevents excessive adhesive accumulation that would require forceful removal.
3Reliability
If a coating layer is applied to the guide hole, then adhesive creeping is prevented, but the fabrication process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite coating structure consisting of multiple layers with different functions. This composite material approach provides the oil-repellent properties needed to prevent adhesive creeping while managing fabrication complexity through established multi-step coating processes.
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 oil-repellent coating reduces adhesive creeping into the guide hole, enhancing the reliability of optical coupling and reducing the force required for guide pin removal, thereby improving the optical connection process.
Implementation Method 1
a coating disposed on an inner surface of the through-hole, the coating having oil repellency
Implementation Method 2
adhesive creeping up into guide holes due to capillary action
Data Source
AI summary
An optical connecting part includes: a holder including an end face for optical connection, one or more optical waveguides and a through-hole, the optical waveguides having a portion extending from the end face in a direction of a first axis, the through-hole extending from the end face in the direction of the first axis; and a coating disposed on an inner surface of the through-hole, the coating having oil repellency. The coating on the inner surface of the through-hole forms a guide hole.