Rotating Optical Connector Assembly for High-Fiber Insertion Load
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical connection technologies face challenges in efficiently connecting a large number of optical fibers due to increased fitting loads, making manual insertion and physical contact (PC) connections difficult, especially with ultra multi-core optical fibers.
Innovation Solution
An optical connection component featuring a rotating member with an insertion hole and an adapter equipped with a transfer mechanism, allowing the optical connector to be miniaturized and easily inserted by rotating about a central axis, engaging with a latch to facilitate connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual insertion method is used for optical connectors, then simple structure is maintained, but connection difficulty increases with large number of ferrules
Solution Approach 1:
The optical connector employs a rotating member that rotates about a central axis to dynamically transfer the connector in the optical axis direction, enabling the latch to engage with the adapter. This dynamic rotational mechanism replaces static manual insertion, solving the contradiction by making insertion easier through rotational motion while maintaining reasonable structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating member acts as an intermediary mechanism between the operator and the optical connector. By rotating the rotating member, the optical connector is transferred and engaged with the adapter latch, providing a mechanical advantage that reduces insertion difficulty without requiring overly complex direct manipulation structures.
2Ease of operation
If rotation mechanism is added to facilitate insertion, then ease of insertion improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating member serves multiple functions: it transfers the optical connector in the optical axis direction, enables latch engagement, and provides a user interface for operation. By consolidating these functions into a single rotating component, the patent improves ease of insertion while limiting the increase in overall device complexity through functional integration.
3Reliability
If fitting load is increased to connect large number of optical fibers, then connection reliability improves, but manual insertion difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating mechanism provides dynamic mechanical advantage during insertion, enabling the system to overcome the increased fitting load required for reliable connection of multiple optical fibers. The rotation about the central axis generates sufficient force to press the ferrules into firm contact while keeping the insertion process manageable for the operator.
Data Source
AI summary
An optical connection component according to one embodiment comprises: an optical connector that has a ferrule which holds an optical fiber; a rotation member that has an insertion hole into which the optical connector is inserted along the optical axis direction of the optical fiber; and an adapter that the optical connector inserted into the insertion hole connects to. The adapter has a latch with which the optical connector that moves along the optical axis direction engages. The rotation member has a movement mechanism that moves the optical connector along the optical axis direction by rotating with respect to the adapter about a center axis which extends along the optical axis direction.