Field Installable Rugged Optical Terminus UV Curing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fiber optic termini are not suitable for field installation in harsh environments due to the need for factory termination processes that require hours and specialized equipment, and existing field-installable connectors lack the ruggedness to withstand extreme temperatures and mechanical stresses.
Innovation Solution
A field-installable rugged terminus design that includes a ferrule, ferrule holder, buffer segment, filament alignment member, and spring, allowing for rapid assembly and UV-curable adhesive curing, enabling secure fiber optic connections in harsh conditions without the need for extensive factory equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If factory termination processes are used, then manufacturing precision and reliability are improved, but installation time and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The terminus is pre-assembled with the ferrule, buffer segment, and alignment features in a factory setting, allowing the field installation to be reduced to simple insertion and UV curing steps. The complex termination work is done beforehand, resolving the contradiction between reliable termination and quick installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The fiber optic cable termination is divided into separate functional segments: a pre-manufactured terminus assembly containing the ferrule and buffer, and the cable portion with strength members and jacket. This segmentation allows the complex ferrule assembly to be pre-made with high precision while the field installation remains simple.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional ARINC 801 termini are used, then ruggedness in harsh environments is improved, but ease of operation and installation difficulty worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The terminus is pre-configured with all necessary components (ferrule, buffer segment, alignment features) and the UV-curable adhesive is pre-positioned, transforming a complex multi-step factory process into a simple field installation requiring only insertion and UV exposure.
Solution Approach 2:
The traditional mechanical crimping and bonding processes are replaced with UV-curable adhesive bonding, which can be activated on-demand in the field using portable UV light sources, enabling rugged terminus installation without heavy factory equipment.
3Loss of time
If field-installable connectors are used, then installation time is reduced, but manufacturing precision and ruggedness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment features and ferrule positioning are pre-configured in the terminus during manufacturing with high precision, while the field installation only requires insertion into the pre-configured alignment structure, maintaining precision while enabling quick installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment member acts as an intermediary component that provides precise mechanical guidance and positioning during field installation, ensuring that the fiber and ferrule align correctly without requiring complex alignment procedures or specialized equipment.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables quick and reliable field termination of fiber optic cables suitable for harsh environments, reducing installation time to under five minutes and ensuring mechanical and optical performance comparable to factory-terminated connections.
Implementation Method 1
UV-curable adhesive curing, enabling secure fiber optic connections
Data Source
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AI summary
A terminus (100) for a fiber optic cable (102) has a ferrule (104) with a fiber stub (108) secured in a channel of the ferrule. The fiber stub has a polished forward end face (118). The fiber stub extends from a rearward end of the ferrule so that a rearward end face (122) of the fiber stub is rearwardly spaced from the ferrule. An alignment member (112) is axially aligned with the ferrule and has a channel (128) extending between forward and rearward ends (152, 154) of the alignment member. The channel includes a fiber alignment portion (166) in which the rearward end face of the fiber stub is received. The fiber alignment portion is statically configured to receive a forward end face (150) of the filament (148) of the fiber optic cable in opposed relationship to the rearward end face of the fiber stub and axially align the faces to each other.