Rotational Lock End Cap for Fiber Optic Adapter Interoperability
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Solution Overview
Problem
The evolution of fiber optic connectors to smaller and more compact designs often results in inoperability with legacy port designs, due to differences in locking mechanisms, creating a need for alternative components that provide interoperability between different configurations.
Innovation Solution
The development of fiber optic adapters with a housing and a rotationally coupled end cap that includes locking and unlocking features, actuating a latch within the housing to securely lock and unlock inserted fiber optic connectors, while using fewer parts and providing strong tensile force resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If fiber optic connectors are designed to be smaller and more compact, then the connection size is reduced, but interoperability with legacy port designs is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter housing is designed with a universal interface that can accommodate both modern compact fiber optic connectors and legacy connector types. The end cap assembly provides a standardized locking mechanism that works with different connector designs, enabling one adapter to serve multiple connector types and eras.
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter acts as an intermediary component between the legacy port and modern connectors. It translates between different connector interfaces, allowing modern compact connectors to mate with legacy ports through the adapter's dual-interface design.
2Device complexity
If external unlocking features are used, then the locking mechanism is simpler, but performance risks increase due to additional failure points
Solution Approach 1:
The unlocking function is extracted from external buttons or levers and integrated directly into the rotation of the end cap itself. Rotating the end cap simultaneously performs both locking and unlocking functions, eliminating separate external unlocking features and reducing the number of potential failure points.
Solution Approach 2:
The end cap's rotation automatically engages and disengages the locking mechanism without requiring separate user actions. The single rotational motion self-performs both locking and unlocking functions, reducing complexity and improving reliability.
3Device complexity
If retention force is coupled with user actuation force, then the locking mechanism is simpler, but increasing retention force requires larger user input
Solution Approach 1:
The locking and unlocking functions are segmented into distinct phases of end cap rotation. The rotation path is divided such that one phase engages the locking mechanism while another phase disengages it, allowing independent optimization of retention force and user actuation force without direct coupling.
Data Source
AI summary
End caps, fiber optic adapters, and fiber optic connector assemblies are disclosed. In one embodiment, an end cap is disposed within a passageway of an adapter housing includes a body, an end cap passageway within the body, and a release arm that includes a release base and a release portion extending from the release base. The release lock base extends from the body, and the release portion extends from release base in a first arcuate path within a first plane. The end cap further includes a lock arm having a lock base and a lock portion extending from the lock base, wherein the lock base extends from the body along a longitudinal axis of the end cap passageway, and the lock portion extends from the lock base in a second arcuate path within a second plane.