Floating Quad Fiber Connector With Sliding Duplex Groups
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fiber optic connection systems lack standardization in the spacing between middle ports of quad adapters, making it challenging to design connectors that can accommodate varying spacings, leading to compatibility issues across different devices.
Innovation Solution
A quad connector assembly that groups four simplex connectors into two duplex groups, allowing each group to slide independently within the connector housing, enabling the distance between the duplex groups to be varied while maintaining a consistent standardized spacing between connectors, thus accommodating different quad adapter spacings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a fixed spacing design is used for quad connectors, then manufacturing precision is improved, but adaptability deteriorates because it cannot accommodate varying spacings between middle ports of different quad adapters
Solution Approach 1:
The quad connector is divided into two independent duplex sub- connectors that can slide relative to each other along guide rails. Each duplex sub-connector maintains fixed internal spacing between its two ports, while the distance between the two sub- connectors can be adjusted to match different quad adapter spacings. This segmentation allows the connector to simultaneously maintain manufacturing precision within each sub-connector while achieving adaptability across different configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector employs a dynamic sliding mechanism where the two duplex sub- connectors can move independently along guide rails within the housing. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the connector to adapt to different spacing requirements of various quad adapters while maintaining standardized spacing between ports within each duplex group, resolving the contradiction between fixed manufacturing precision and variable adaptability.
2Device complexity
If a standardized spacing is enforced for all quad connectors, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability deteriorates due to incompatibility with non-standardized quad adapters
Solution Approach 1:
The quad connector design incorporates a universal sliding mechanism that enables a single connector type to interface with multiple quad adapter configurations. The two duplex sub- connectors can slide to different positions along the guide rails, allowing the same connector to accommodate various spacing standards across different manufacturers and applications, thereby achieving multi-functionality without increasing overall design complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide rails and sliding mechanism act as intermediaries between the standardized duplex sub- connectors and the variable spacing requirements of different quad adapters. This intermediary mechanism allows the connectors to maintain their standardized internal spacing while adapting to external spacing variations, bridging the gap between standardization and customization needs.
Data Source
AI summary
A floating quad connector assembly is designed to hold two pairs of simplex connecters in a quad formation and to permit the two pairs of connectors to float within the assembly, thereby rendering the quad connector assembly compatible with different quad adapters having different spacings between the two middle simplex ports. Also, a segmental switch module is configured to aggregate multiple category-rated connectors in an array formation while permitting the spacings between the connectors to float, thereby rendering the switch module compatible with port arrays of different port-to-port spacings.