Mechanical Housing

In the video you can see our patented mechanical housing system with locking mechanism suitable for optical as well as electrical connectors. In this video we wold like to show you repeatability of this system via the simple disconnect and reconnect cycle. Please note, that the box contains our very sensitive fiber optic sensor for tilting so that any extra pressure on the table or displacement of the sensor affect our repeatability measurement. Even with these effects in mind you can see, that at the beginning of the video, when the box is locked in the frame, the value on power meter is about -18.09dBm. The instability of this value is also due to the presence of the sensor in the box. When the box is out of frame the value on power meter reads "LO" (less optical power than -70dBm).  After insertion of the box back into the frame and after locking bars of of the locking system slid into the slots in the sides of the frame in order to secure optical connection between the box and the frame the vale on the optical power meter reads 17.7dBm. This apparent deviation in repeatability measurement is due mainly to above mentioned presence of the sensor in the box.

For better understanding on how our housing system works and especially to point out its robustness, please see below two sets of pictures in two columns describing the locking process. In the left column the general locking process is described in 6 steps, each being represented by one picture with small description. In the right column there is in more detail shown what is happening during locking process with two type of springs (S springs and R springs) on the back of the frame, which ensure secure optical and electrical connections under normal and harsh environment conditions. S springs by each SC adapter ensure optimal pressure between SC connectors on the box and on the frame and thus maintain secure optical contact between them. Way more robust R springs on each end of the 3D position adjustable connector plate on the frame ensure predetermined pressure between the box and the frame and thus limit excessive mutual movement between the box and the frame. 

In phase one box is being inserted into the rack

Nothing is happening with both types of springs.

In phase two the two guiding pins on the rack are being inserted into guiding holes in the box, which positions the connectors on the rack for the proper axial alignment of ferrules

Nothing is happening with both types of springs.

In phase 3 the physical contact between ferrules is about to take place

Nothing is happening with both types of springs.

In phase 4 further insertion of the box into the rack compresses connector's S springs on the rack in order to secure optical connection between ferrules

Both types of springs are beginning compress so, that S springs compress less than 2mm while R springs compress only slightly (depends on mutual strengths of both types of springs).

In phase 5 further insertion of the box into the frame pushes together the locking bars of the locking mechanism as well as compresses anti-vibrtational R springs on the rack for stable mutual positioning of the box and the rack

S springs will finish their 2mm compression at the moment when  two pairs of mutually positioned buffers on the box and the connector plate on the frame will mate and after that only R springs will continue to compress.

In phase six by still further insertion of the box into the rack the two locking bars of the locking mechanism are pushed apart by the spring located in the center of the locking mechanism into the locking slots in the two sides of the rack.

Upon the locking bars of the locking mechanism will slide into their respective slots in the sides of the frame the compression of the R springs will stop at predetermined level of their compression.