Pluggable Optical Module Fiber Guide for Compact Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The miniaturization of pluggable optical modules for digital coherent communication is hindered by the difficulty in arranging and fixing optical fibers in narrow gaps between components, leading to potential damage due to bending or interference with other components.
Innovation Solution
A pluggable optical module design incorporating a printed circuit board with optical fiber housing means featuring a guide that winds and houses optical fibers, allowing them to be stacked without interfering with other components, using resin guides to manage fiber length and prevent damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If optical fibers are arranged in narrow gaps between components in a miniaturized housing, then the optical module achieves compact size, but the optical fibers are damaged due to bending or interference with other components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a plate-like member with a guide that extends in the thickness direction of the housing, utilizing the Z-dimension (vertical space) rather than only the horizontal plane. The guide has a winding path that allows optical fibers to be routed vertically and horizontally, effectively using three-dimensional space to accommodate fiber length while maintaining a compact horizontal footprint. This resolves the contradiction by enabling compact housing while preserving fiber integrity through proper spatial routing.
Solution Approach 2:
The plate-like member with the winding guide is inserted into the housing, nesting the fiber routing structure within the existing component layout. The guide itself contains the optical fibers along its winding path, nesting the fibers within the guide structure. This nested arrangement allows the optical fibers to be housed compactly without interfering with other components, maintaining both small housing volume and fiber reliability.
2Volume of moving object
If optical fibers are forced into the housing to achieve miniaturization, then the housing size is reduced, but the optical fibers and optical components interfere with each other, causing damage or breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The plate-like member with the winding guide acts as an intermediary structure between the optical components and the optical fibers. Instead of directly routing fibers between components (which causes interference), the guide mediates the connection by providing a dedicated winding path that elevates and separates the fibers from other components. This intermediary structure prevents harmful interference and damage while enabling compact housing.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing space is segmented by introducing the plate-like member, which creates distinct zones: components mounted on the PCB, the plate-like member with its winding guide, and the housing cavity. This segmentation separates the optical fibers (routed through the guide) from other components, preventing interference and damage while maintaining compact overall housing volume.
3Volume of moving object
If multiple optical components and optical fibers are mounted in a narrow housing for digital coherent communication, then the optical module achieves miniaturization, but it becomes difficult to arrange and fix the optical fibers without damage
Solution Approach 1:
The plate-like member with the pre-formed winding guide is prepared in advance and inserted into the housing before final component assembly. The guide's winding path is predetermined, allowing optical fibers to be easily routed and fixed along the guide's contours. This preliminary preparation of the fiber routing structure significantly simplifies the manufacturing process compared to attempting to arrange and fix fibers directly in the narrow housing gaps after component assembly.
Data Source
AI summary
An object is, in a pluggable optical module, to compactly house an optical fiber used for connecting optical components in a housing in which a plurality of optical components are mounted. The pluggable optical module (100) includes: a plurality of optical components, a printed circuit board (51); one or more optical fibers; and optical fiber housing means (14). All or a part of the plurality of optical components are mounted on the printed circuit board (51). One or more optical fibers connect between the plurality of optical components. The optical fiber housing means (14) includes a guide that is disposed on a plate-like member and can wind the one or more optical fibers, and mounted to be stacked with the printed circuit board (51) on which the optical components are mounted and all or a part of optical components other than the optical components mounted on the printed circuit board (51).