Universal Optical Fiber Connector with Anti-Rotation Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical fiber connectors face issues with inconsistent splicing quality due to rotation of optical fibers during tightening, limited tensile resistance, and wastefulness due to the need for different types of connectors for various fiber sizes and the inability to reuse protective sleeves.
Innovation Solution
A universal optical fiber connector design featuring a hot-melt end connector assembly with a ceramic ferrule, wedge, and pre-embedded optical fiber, incorporating an optical fiber locking device with a dismountable snap and nut system that prevents rotation and allows for unidirectional movement, along with universal screw threads for compatibility and replaceability of protective shells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If screw threads are tightened to fix optical fibers, then the optical fiber connector can be assembled and held together, but the optical fibers may rotate during tightening, damaging splicing quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an optical fiber fixing structure as an intermediary component between the screw threads and the optical fiber. This fixing structure includes a fixing hole that receives and secures the optical fiber in a fixed position, preventing rotation during the tightening operation. The intermediary structure allows the screw threads to provide clamping force without directly causing fiber rotation.
2Strength
If conventional optical fiber connectors are designed for specific fiber sizes, then they can provide adequate tensile resistance for those fibers, but multiple types of connectors are needed for different fiber specifications, increasing complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the optical fiber connector with a universal fixing structure that can accommodate optical fibers of different specifications. The fixing hole and associated components are designed to securely hold various fiber sizes while maintaining adequate tensile resistance. This universal design allows a single connector type to serve multiple fiber specifications, eliminating the need for multiple specialized connector types.
3Reliability
If different types of optical fiber connectors are produced for various fiber sizes, then each connector can be optimized for its specific application, but protective sleeves become non-compatible and cannot be reused, causing material waste
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal protective sleeve design that is compatible with the standardized connector structure. The protective sleeve is designed to fit the common connector architecture rather than being specific to each connector type. This allows a single sleeve design to protect multiple connector types, enabling reuse and eliminating material waste associated with non-compatible protective sleeves.
4Ease of operation
If optical fibers are clamped by tightening the nut for the snap, then the connector can be assembled, but the snap cannot clamp the opposite sides of the optical fiber in a bonded way, allowing rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dedicated optical fiber fixing structure as an intermediary between the clamping mechanism and the optical fiber. This fixing structure includes a fixing hole that receives the optical fiber and prevents rotation, while the snap and nut provide the clamping force. The intermediary fixing structure ensures that the clamping action does not cause fiber rotation, maintaining both ease of assembly and fiber positioning stability.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a universal optical fiber connector including a hot-melt end connector assembly, a heat-shrinkable sleeve and a protective shell for the heat-shrinkable sleeve. The assembly further comprises the main body of the hot-melt end, and a ceramic ferrule, a wedge for the ceramic ferrule and a pre-embedded optical fiber passing through the main body. The tail end of the protective shell for the heat-shrinkable sleeve is connected with an optical fiber locking device for the locking of the optical fiber; the locking device and the protective shell for the heat-shrinkable sleeve are separately configured. The present invention is applicable to optical fibers of different sizes and can improve the tensile properties of the optical fiber connector, and the protective shell for the heat-shrinkable sleeve can be volume-produced with the same mould instead of being produced independently for each type, so as to improve the production efficiency.