Rectangular Waveguide Cladding for Ferrule Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional waveguide connectors require precise alignment and additional manufacturing steps, such as forming step portions on waveguides and ferrules, which increase costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A waveguide connector design featuring a ferrule with a front passageway and a rear passageway in communication, where the waveguide's cladding layer is configured to fit within these passageways, ensuring precise positioning and alignment without the need for additional manufacturing steps, using a rectangular shape to secure the waveguide cores for light transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If step portions are formed on waveguides and convex portions are formed on ferrules to restrict over-insertion, then positioning precision is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The waveguide connector utilizes the natural rectangular geometry of the waveguide cladding layer to achieve self-positioning within the ferrule. The cladding layer's rectangular shape automatically aligns with the ferrule's corresponding rectangular opening, eliminating the need for additional step portions or convex portions. This self-positioning mechanism reduces manufacturing complexity and cost while maintaining precise alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and eliminates the unnecessary step portions and convex portions from the traditional waveguide connector design. By removing these additional manufacturing features, the patent simplifies the manufacturing process while relying on the fundamental rectangular geometry of the waveguide cladding layer to provide sufficient positioning accuracy.
2Manufacturing precision
If additional manufacturing steps are taken to form step portions and convex portions, then positioning accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The waveguide connector utilizes the natural rectangular geometry of the waveguide cladding layer to achieve self-positioning within the ferrule. The cladding layer's rectangular shape automatically aligns with the ferrule's corresponding rectangular opening, eliminating the need for additional step portions or convex portions. This self-positioning mechanism reduces manufacturing complexity and cost while maintaining precise alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and eliminates the unnecessary step portions and convex portions from the traditional waveguide connector design. By removing these additional manufacturing features, the patent simplifies the manufacturing process while relying on the fundamental rectangular geometry of the waveguide cladding layer to provide sufficient positioning accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
A waveguide connector includes a ferrule with a number of waveguides inserted thereinto. The ferrule includes a front mating surface, a rear surface, front and rear passageways extending through the front and the rear mating surfaces, respectively. The front and the rear passageways are in communication with each other while the front passageway is thinner than the rear passageway. The waveguide each includes a number of cores and a cladding layer enclosing the cores. The front part of the cladding layer is of rectangular shape and includes four peripheral surfaces which are so limited by four inner surfaces of the front passageway, respectively, so as to precisely position the waveguides.