Vented Ferrule Holder for Fiber Optic Connectors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fiber optic connectors often experience air voids in the adhesive, which can lead to increased stress on damaged regions of the optical fiber, potentially causing breakage, especially in outdoor environments exposed to mechanical and environmental extremes.
Innovation Solution
The design of a fiber optic connector with a ferrule holder featuring a groove on the bore surface that deflects and resists the ferrule's insertion, creating a secure grip and preventing air voids by providing a venting path for air and debris during adhesive curing, ensuring uniform adhesive distribution around the optical fiber.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If adhesive is injected into the ferrule holder to secure the optical fiber, then the fiber is supported and protected, but air voids may form in the adhesive which can lead to fiber breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a vent channel that extracts air from the adhesive injection area and directs it to an external outlet. This allows air voids to be removed from the adhesive before the fiber insertion point, preventing the harmful effect of air pockets that could cause fiber breakage while maintaining the adhesive's structural support function.
Solution Approach 2:
The vent channel acts as an intermediary structure between the adhesive injection area and the external environment. It provides a controlled pathway for air to escape during the adhesive curing process, mediating between the need for complete adhesive filling and the need to avoid air entrapment that would harm fiber reliability.
2Manufacturing precision
If adhesive is injected to fill the bore and lead-in completely, then uniform support is provided, but air may be trapped and form voids around the fiber
Solution Approach 1:
The vent channel system extracts air from the adhesive fill process by providing a dedicated escape route. As adhesive is injected and fills the bore and lead-in areas, air is continuously removed through the vent channel, ensuring uniform adhesive distribution without trapped voids that would compromise manufacturing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The vent channel is pre-configured in the ferrule holder structure before adhesive injection begins. This preliminary arrangement ensures that air escape pathways are already in place during the adhesive filling process, allowing air to be removed as the adhesive progresses, thereby preventing void formation and ensuring uniform distribution.
3Reliability
If the ferrule is securely held in the ferrule holder, then alignment is maintained, but air voids may form between the ferrule and holder
Solution Approach 1:
The vent channel removes air from the interface area between the ferrule and ferrule holder during adhesive injection. By extracting air from this critical region, the patent ensures complete adhesive contact between mating surfaces, maintaining secure holding and alignment stability without voids that would reduce reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The vent channel serves as an intermediary pathway that allows air to escape from the ferrule-holder interface region. This mediator structure enables the adhesive to fully bond the ferrule to the holder without air interference, preserving both the secure grip and alignment stability required for reliable operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A fiber optic connector includes a ferrule having a mating end and an insertion end and a ferrule holder having a first end portion in which the ferrule is received and a second end portion opposite the first end portion. The first end portion defines a first bore having a first bore width for receiving the ferrule. Additionally, the first end portion defines a bore surface and at least one groove formed in the bore surface. The at least one groove extends from where the insertion end of the ferrule is located within the first bore to a front face of the ferrule holder. Ridges are formed around the first bore because the at least one groove also extends in a circumferential direction. The ridges contact the ferrule and are deflected by the ferrule in a direction toward the insertion end of the ferrule.