Step-Mount Ferrule Holder for Multi-Connector Fusion Splicing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The varying lengths and outside diameters of ferrule bodies for different optical connectors, such as SC and LC connectors, require separate ferrule holders for effective fusion splicing, complicating the process and reducing convenience.
Innovation Solution
A ferrule holder with a main body and flange portion that includes a mount surface with a step portion, allowing it to accommodate ferrule bodies of different diameters, and a lid for dust protection, enabling a single holder to adapt to various connectors by adjusting the mount surface based on the connector type.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate ferrule holders are prepared for each connector type, then the fusion splice can be performed effectively for each connector, but the device complexity and convenience are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The ferrule holder is designed with a mount portion that includes multiple mount surfaces at different heights, allowing a single holder to accommodate ferrule bodies of different diameters from various connector types (SC, LC, etc.), thereby achieving multi-functionality and eliminating the need for separate holders for each connector type
Solution Approach 2:
The mount portion is segmented into multiple mount surfaces at different heights, where each mount surface corresponds to a specific connector type. This segmentation allows the single holder to selectively accommodate different ferrule sizes by using the appropriate mount surface, resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity
2Reliability
If multiple ferrule holders are prepared for different connector types, then each connector can be held securely, but the ease of operation is reduced due to the need to select and switch between multiple holders
Solution Approach 1:
The ferrule holder is designed as a universal device with multiple mount surfaces that can securely hold ferrule bodies of different diameters from various connector types, eliminating the need to switch between multiple specialized holders and thereby improving ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The mount portion is divided into multiple segmented mount surfaces at different heights, each optimized for specific connector types. This segmentation within a single holder allows operators to securely hold different ferrule types without needing multiple separate holders, thus maintaining reliability while improving ease of operation
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2(a)~2(b)
Figure 3(a)~3(b)
AI summary
A ferrule holder is provided as one capable of improving convenience in a fusion splice between a built-in fiber and an optical fiber. The ferrule holder 1 is provided with a main body 2 and a lid 3. The main body 2 has a mount portion 4 on which a ferrule body is to be mounted, and the mount portion 4 is provided with a first mount surface 8, and a second mount surface 9 provided through a step portion 11 on the rear side of the first mount surface 8. This allows, for example, the ferrule body with a dust cap thereon to be mounted on the first mount surface 8 in the fusion splice in the case of an SC connector; it also allows the ferrule body with a dust cap thereon to be mounted on the second mount surface 9 in the fusion splice in the case of an LC connector. Therefore, there is no need for preparing a plurality of ferrule holders according to types of connectors, which can achieve improvement in convenience in the fusion splice between the built-in fiber and the optical fiber.