Pluggable Optical Module Fiber Housing Guide
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Solution Overview
Problem
In digital coherent communication, pluggable optical modules face challenges in miniaturization due to the difficulty in arranging and fixing optical fibers within narrow gaps without exceeding the bending limit, necessitating innovative solutions for housing optical fibers between components.
Innovation Solution
A pluggable optical module design that includes a pluggable electric connector, optical output and reception modules, and optical fiber housing means with guides for winding extra fiber lengths, preventing excessive bending and tangling, and allowing for compact housing of optical fibers.
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 module size is reduced, but the optical fibers may exceed their bending limit and become damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a guide structure that creates a nested path system where optical fibers are routed through designated channels and grooves within the housing. The guide includes a housing with internal channels and a cover with grooves that form nested pathways, allowing fibers to bend within controlled radii while maintaining module miniaturization. This nested guidance system prevents fibers from exceeding their bending limits by confining them to predetermined safe paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a guide structure as an intermediary element between the optical fibers and the housing components. This guide acts as a mediator that controls fiber routing, preventing direct contact between fibers and sharp edges or narrow gaps that could cause damage. The guide structure includes channels and grooves that mediate the fiber path, ensuring bending radius requirements are met while enabling compact module design.
2Productivity
If extra lengths of optical fibers are provided to accommodate manufacturing variations, then manufacturing yield is improved, but the fibers may tangle and interfere with other components in the housing
Solution Approach 1:
The guide structure provides nested channels and grooves that accommodate extra fiber lengths in an organized manner. The housing includes internal channels that guide fibers from connection portions to mounting portions, while the cover includes grooves that form additional nested pathways. This nested structure allows manufacturing variations in fiber length without causing tangling, as extra lengths are confined to predetermined pathways rather than freely moving and interfering with components.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide structure utilizes flexible routing channels and grooves that can accommodate variations in fiber length while maintaining organized pathways. The channels and grooves are designed with sufficient flexibility to absorb length variations without creating tangling or interference, allowing the system to adapt to manufacturing tolerances while preventing complexity from arising.
3Volume of moving object
If the housing is designed to be compact for miniaturization, then the module meets size requirements, but it becomes difficult to route and secure optical fibers without exceeding bending limits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested guide structure where the housing includes internal channels and the cover includes grooves that form integrated pathways for fiber routing. This nested design allows compact housing dimensions while providing predetermined safe bending paths for fibers. The channels and grooves are positioned to guide fibers through the compact space without requiring excessive clearance, making the compact design manufacturable and easy to assemble.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide structure is pre-designed with predetermined channels and grooves that establish safe fiber pathways before assembly. The housing and cover are manufactured with these guiding features already in place, so that during assembly, fibers simply need to be routed through the predetermined channels rather than requiring complex routing decisions. This preliminary provision of guidance pathways simplifies the manufacturing process while maintaining compact dimensions.
Data Source
AI summary
An object is to be capable of housing an optical fiber that connects between components not to exceed a bending limit of the optical fiber in a housing of a pluggable optical module. A pluggable electric connector (11) is configured to be insertable into and removable from an optical communication apparatus (93). An optical output module (12) outputs an optical signal (LS1) and a local oscillation light (LO). An optical reception module (13) outputs a communication data signal (DAT) generated by demodulating using the local oscillation light (LO). A pluggable optical receptor (15) is configured in such a manner that optical fibers are insertable thereinto and removable therefrom. A first optical fiber (F11) is connected between the optical output module (12) and the pluggable optical receptor (15). A second optical fiber (F12) is connected between the optical output module (12) and the optical reception module (13). A third optical fiber (F13) is connected between the optical reception module (13) and the pluggable optical receptor (15). Optical fiber housing means winds extra lengths of the first to third optical fibers (F11 to F13) around a guide.