Optoelectronic Module With Deformable Retainers for Fiber Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optoelectronic modules often struggle to efficiently connect and manage multiple fiber optic cables, leading to potential misalignment and instability during optical signal transmission and reception.
Innovation Solution
The design of an optoelectronic module with a housing that includes a printed circuit board, a transmitter, a receiver, and a receiving member with deformable retaining members to securely engage multiple fiber optic cables, preventing movement along the longitudinal axis and ensuring stable connectivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multiple fiber optic cables are connected to a single optoelectronic module, then the quantity of optical connections is increased, but the alignment stability and connection reliability deteriorate due to potential misalignment and movement
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving member is divided into multiple separate receptacles, each designed to individually receive and secure a specific fiber optic cable connector. This segmentation allows each cable to be independently aligned and fixed, preventing mutual interference and maintaining alignment stability even when multiple cables are connected simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The retainers are pre-configured within the receptacles to automatically engage with the fiber optic cable connectors upon insertion. This preliminary positioning ensures that alignment is established before the connection is finalized, preventing misalignment and ensuring immediate connection stability when multiple cables are connected.
2Reliability
If deformable retaining members are used to secure fiber optic cables, then connection stability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The retainers are designed as deformable elastic members that can flexibly adapt to the connector geometry. This flexibility allows the retainers to securely hold multiple different connector types without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms, maintaining connection stability while avoiding excessive structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The deformable retainers automatically adjust and secure the fiber optic cable connectors through their elastic properties without requiring external actuation or complex control systems. The retainers self-adjust to maintain optimal contact and alignment, providing connection stability through their inherent mechanical properties rather than complex control mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
An example optoelectronic module includes a housing that extends between a first end and an opposite second end. The optoelectronic module includes a printed circuit board (“PCB”) with an electrical connector at an end thereof, a transmitter electrically coupled to the PCB, a receiver electrically coupled to the PCB, and a receiving member including a plurality of ports each configured to receive a respective one of a plurality of fiber optic cables. In one aspect, the receiving member includes a plurality of deformable retaining members configured to be positioned in corresponding receptacles of the housing member in an arrangement structured to limit movement of the receiving member. In another aspect, the module also includes a plurality of fiber optic cable receptacles and a receptacle retaining member is positioned between the housing and the receptacles and limits movement of the receptacles in the housing.