Optical Multiplexer Curved Component Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical multiplexers/demultiplexers with square or rectangular pass-through holes fail to prevent inclination of optical components, especially when connecting surfaces are curved, leading to difficulties in combining multiple light rays effectively.
Innovation Solution
An optical multiplexer/demultiplexer design featuring a holder with a recessed portion and structural members that contact curved optical components, ensuring three-point contact to stabilize the components and reduce inclination angles, using either light-transmissive or metal materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If square or rectangular pass-through holes are used in conventional optical multiplexers/demultiplexers, then the structure is simple to manufacture, but the inclination of optical components cannot be prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by replacing the conventional flat connecting surfaces with curved surfaces. The holder includes a curved surface that contacts the curved plane of the optical component, and the structural members are positioned to contact the optical component at multiple points on its curved surface. This curved geometry enables stable positioning and prevents inclination while maintaining manufacturability through precise curvature design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the holder into multiple functional components: a base holder body with curved surface, and separate structural members positioned at specific locations. These structural members contact the optical component at discrete points (at least three points) to stabilize inclination. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each component's shape and position to achieve both stability and manufacturability.
2Ease of operation
If glass holders are used with curved plane connecting surfaces, then the optical components can be connected, but the inclination cannot be reduced due to the curved surface geometry
Solution Approach 1:
The patent explicitly addresses curved surface challenges by designing the holder's connecting surface to match the curvature of the optical component. The holder includes a curved surface that conforms to the optical component's curved plane, and structural members are positioned to contact this curved surface at multiple points. This curved-geometry design maintains ease of connection while preventing inclination through geometric constraint.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the holder's connecting surface to match the optical component's curvature. By adjusting the radius of curvature, contact point positions, and structural member dimensions, the design achieves stable inclination control while maintaining compatibility with curved-plane optical components. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction between connection ease and inclination stability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple optical components are connected to the holder, then the device functionality is achieved, but differences in inclination angles between components occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses separate structural members for each optical component connection point. Each structural member is independently positioned and dimensioned to contact its corresponding optical component at the appropriate points on the curved surface. This segmentation enables each component to be precisely positioned independently, achieving uniform inclination angles across multiple components while maintaining multi-component functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes parameters such as structural member position, contact point location, and member dimensions to achieve consistent inclination angles across multiple optical components. By carefully controlling these geometric parameters for each component connection, the design ensures uniformity in inclination angles while supporting multiple components with different optical functions.
Data Source
AI summary
An optical multiplexer/demultiplexer comprises: a holder including a recessed portion formed on one surface in the holder in a rectangular parallelepiped shape whose shape of boundary line with the one surface is rectangular, and structural members, forming in pairs when viewed from the one surface, contacting with portions of opposing longer segments of the boundary line, or crossing along longitudinal sections approximately equal to portions of the opposing longer segments; and optical components on which curved planes are formed by coating a surface treatment film, wherein the structural members and the optical components are formed in pairs and placed to overlap on each other so that the curved planes of the optical components have contacts with the holder, and the optical components are connected on the holder, among edge portions of the holder in contact with the optical components, at least, at three edge portions thereof forming a plane.