Optical Receptacle Latch Structure with Force-Isolated Clips
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing latch structures in optical connectors experience force interactions during assembly, leading to stress and deformation, which affect the clipping and fixing effect.
Innovation Solution
A latch structure design that includes a supporting element with clip structures that do not interact with the housing, maintaining a consistent distance and ensuring a stable clipping effect by using assembly structures that engage without force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional latch structures are used during assembly, then the clip structures can engage with the optical connector, but interaction forces are generated causing stress and deformation that affect clipping stability
Solution Approach 1:
The latch structure is divided into independent components: a housing, a latch assembly, and separate clip structures. The latch assembly is further segmented into a supporting element and clip elements. This segmentation allows the supporting element to provide structural support while the clip elements perform the clipping function, isolating them from assembly forces that would cause deformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The clip structures are extracted from the housing and placed on a separate supporting element within the latch assembly. This extraction removes the clip structures from the direct path of assembly forces between the housing and other components, preventing stress transmission to the clip elements while maintaining their clipping function.
2Ease of manufacture
If clip structures are integrated into the housing, then assembly is simplified, but force interactions during assembly cause deformation and reduce clipping effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The latch assembly is segmented into a supporting element and separate clip elements. The supporting element is designed with features that facilitate simple assembly with the housing, while the clip elements are mounted on the supporting element in a way that isolates them from assembly forces, maintaining their dimensional stability for precise clipping.
Solution Approach 2:
The supporting element acts as an intermediary between the housing and the clip structures. It provides a stable mounting platform for the clip elements and absorbs or redirects assembly forces, preventing them from being transmitted to the clip structures. This intermediary role maintains both assembly simplicity and clip structure precision.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a latch structure arranged in an optical receptacle. The latch structure comprises a supporting element and a first clip structure, wherein the supporting element is assembled with the housing of the optical receptacle. The first clip structure is formed on the supporting element for retaining the optical connector inserting into the optical receptacle. The main idea of the present invention is that when the latch structure assembling with the optical receptacle, there is no interaction force between the first clip structure and optical receptacle so as to maintain the clipping force of the first clip structure acting on the optical connector.