Optical Receptacle Fixing Member Resin Thermal Expansion

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing resin lens structures in optical communications systems face challenges in maintaining positional accuracy under varying temperature conditions, leading to suboptimal performance due to thermal expansion and contraction.

Innovation Solution

An optical receptacle with a cylindrical fixing member made of a material with a smaller linear expansion coefficient than the receptacle body, which is fitted into an annular groove to maintain optical coupling accuracy between photoelectric conversion elements and optical transmission members across temperature changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the optical receptacle main body is made of resin, then it can be manufactured with ease and low cost, but it expands under high temperature and contracts under low temperature, causing positional accuracy to deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidpositional accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The optical receptacle is divided into two parts: the optical receptacle main body made of resin and the fixing member made of a material with small linear expansion coefficient. This segmentation allows each part to have optimized properties - the resin body provides ease of manufacture while the fixing member maintains positional accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The optical receptacle uses a composite structure combining resin material for the main body with a different material (having smaller linear expansion coefficient) for the fixing member. This composite approach leverages the advantages of both materials while mitigating their individual disadvantages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of manufacture

If the optical receptacle main body is made of resin, then it can be manufactured with ease and low cost, but the positional accuracy of light sources and detectors with respect to the lens structure cannot be maintained under temperature changes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidpositional accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The optical receptacle is divided into two parts: the optical receptacle main body made of resin and the fixing member made of a material with small linear expansion coefficient. This segmentation allows each part to have optimized properties - the resin body provides ease of manufacture while the fixing member maintains positional accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The optical receptacle uses a composite structure combining resin material for the main body with a different material (having smaller linear expansion coefficient) for the fixing member. This composite approach leverages the advantages of both materials while mitigating their individual disadvantages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Ease of manufacture

If the optical receptacle main body is made of resin, then it can be manufactured with ease and low cost, but the positional accuracy of optical fiber with respect to the lens structure cannot be maintained under temperature changes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidpositional accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The optical receptacle is divided into two parts: the optical receptacle main body made of resin and the fixing member made of a material with small linear expansion coefficient. This segmentation allows each part to have optimized properties - the resin body provides ease of manufacture while the fixing member maintains positional accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The optical receptacle uses a composite structure combining resin material for the main body with a different material (having smaller linear expansion coefficient) for the fixing member. This composite approach leverages the advantages of both materials while mitigating their individual disadvantages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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

Ensures stable and efficient optical communications by maintaining the positional accuracy of light sources, detectors, and optical fibers regardless of ambient temperature fluctuations.

Implementation Method 1

the lens structure disclosed in PTL 1 is made of resin, and consequently it expands under a high temperature environment while it contracts under a low temperature environment

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Data Source

PatentUS11768339B2Optical receptacle and optical module

Publication Date: 2023.09.26 ENPLAS CORP

AI summary

An optical receptacle includes an optical receptacle main body and a cylindrical fixing member. The optical receptacle main body includes a first optical surface, a second optical surface, and an annular groove disposed to surround a first central axis of the first optical surface or disposed to surround a second central axis of the second optical surface. The fixing member is configured with a material with a smaller linear expansion coefficient than that of the optical receptacle main body, and is fit to the groove so as to be in contact with at least a part of an inner surface of the groove.