Optical Connector Plug With Checking Hole For Fiber Length Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical connector-plug manufacturing methods fail to ensure a fixed length of the optical fiber extra portion, leading to variations in optical transmission conditions such as transmission loss due to inconsistent fitting of the bushing, which affects the fixed position of the optical cable and fiber.
Innovation Solution
The method involves inserting an optical cable into a bushing with an optical fiber taken out from the cable end, fitting the bushing into a tubular member while checking the cable and fiber length through a hole in the member's peripheral wall, and mounting a surrounding member to cover the hole, ensuring a consistent length and position of the fiber.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the bushing is fitted into the tubular member without position checking, then the assembly process is simpler and faster, but the length of the optical fiber extra portion varies, affecting optical transmission conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by forming a checking hole in the tubular member before the fitting process. This hole allows operators to visually check the position of the optical cable and fiber before the bushing is fully fitted, enabling position verification in advance. The surrounding member is also prepared with an opening to facilitate this checking process, ensuring that the optical fiber extra portion achieves the correct length before final assembly completion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the checking hole as an intermediary element that enables visual access to the internal components during assembly. This hole acts as a mediator between the external checking environment and the internal components (optical cable and fiber), allowing operators to verify positions without disassembling or opening the tubular member. The surrounding member with its opening serves as another intermediary structure that facilitates this checking function.
2Productivity
If the bushing is fitted without position verification, then the manufacturing process is more efficient, but the optical transmission loss varies due to inconsistent fiber length
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by designing the tubular member with an integrated checking hole that enables self-verification of component positions during the assembly process. Operators can directly observe the position of the optical cable and fiber through this hole without requiring additional measurement tools or external assistance. The surrounding member with its opening also contributes to this self-checking capability, allowing the assembly process to verify its own correctness inherently.
3Manufacturing precision
If a checking mechanism is added to verify fiber length during assembly, then the fiber length precision is improved, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing the checking hole in the tubular member to serve multiple functions: it enables visual checking of the optical cable position, allows verification of the optical fiber extra portion length, and provides insight into the overall assembly state. The surrounding member with its opening also serves dual purposes of facilitating the checking process and contributing to the overall structural integrity. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated checking devices.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided an optical connector-incorporating plug properly assembled such that an optical fiber taken out from an end portion of an optical cable can have a fixed length. The optical connector-incorporating plug of the invention includes: a cable insertion component having an insertion hole in which an optical cable is inserted with an optical fiber being taken out from a cable end portion of the optical cable; a tubular member in which the cable end portion and the optical fiber are placed and in which the cable insertion component is fitted; a hole formed at a peripheral wall of the tubular member to check at least one of the cable end portion and the optical fiber in the tubular member; and a surrounding member mounted to the tubular member to surround the portion of the tubular member where the cable insertion component is fitted, thereby covering the hole.