Stepped Ferrule Seating in MTP Inner Housing

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Solution Overview

Problem

The increased spring force in fiber optic connectors is causing damage to the shoulders of fiber optic ferrules, particularly along the shorter sides, due to the higher force required for proper contact between mating ferrules.

Innovation Solution

Designing a fiber optic ferrule and connector housing with strategically positioned shoulders, where the longer sides of the ferrule shoulders engage with the inner housing shoulders, while the shorter sides are recessed to avoid contact and subsequent damage, and incorporating projections to prevent shorter sides from engaging in the unmated configuration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If stronger springs are used to ensure proper contact of fiber optic ferrules, then the contact force between mating ferrules is improved, but the fiber optic ferrule shoulders are damaged due to excessive force

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontact force between ferrulesVSAvoiddamage to ferrule shoulders

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The ferrule shoulder is segmented into longer sides and shorter sides, with only the longer sides making contact with the inner housing shoulders. This segmentation allows the contact force to be distributed across larger surface areas (the longer sides), reducing stress concentration and preventing damage while maintaining adequate contact force for proper ferrule engagement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The inner housing shoulders are designed with asymmetric geometry where the shoulders on opposite sides have different lengths. The longer shoulders engage with the longer sides of the ferrule, creating a localized contact zone that distributes the spring force over a larger area, thereby reducing the harmful stress on the ferrule material.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Stability of the object's composition

If the ferrule shoulder contacts the inner housing shoulder during unmated configuration, then the ferrule is properly positioned, but the increased spring force causes damage to the ferrule shoulder

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveferrule positioning stabilityVSAvoidwear and tear on ferrule shoulder

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the ferrule shoulder into longer and shorter sides, and configuring the inner housing shoulders accordingly, the design ensures that only the longer sides make contact during both mated and unmated configurations. This provides stable positioning while distributing the contact forces to reduce wear and tear on the ferrule material.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The asymmetric shoulder geometry is built into the ferrule and inner housing design, preliminarily establishing the contact configuration before mating occurs. This preliminary design ensures that during unmated configuration, the ferrule is positioned such that only the longer sides contact the inner housing shoulders, preventing damage before the mating force is applied.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11988879B2Stepped ferrule seating in an MTP inner housing

Publication Date: 2024.05.21 US CONEC LTD

AI summary

A fiber optic ferrule and a fiber optic connector housing make contact only along two sides of the fiber optic ferrule when in an unmated condition. One of the fiber optic ferrule and the fiber optic connector housing have been modified such that only two of the surfaces engage one another. The shoulders can be shortened, lengthened, or have a projection added to the current surfaces.