Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090097800 | Multi-Fiber Ferrules for Making Physical Contact and Method of Determining Same - A multi-fiber ferrule and optical fibers therein make easier contact with other multi-fiber ferrules and connectors with a small fiber tip radius and a modulus of elasticity. A method for qualifying multi-fiber ferrules (and connectors) is also disclosed. | 04-16-2009 |
20090191738 | Connector Assembly Having A Movable Plug - A connector assembly configured to connect a plug body into a receiving module of an electrical device is provided. The connector assembly has a cable end and a plug end and a cable channel extending therethrough. The connector assembly includes an inner body having and an outer housing that is coupled to and surrounds at least a portion of the inner body. The outer housing is configured to attach to the electrical device. The connector assembly further includes a plug having the plug body and at least one cable conductor extending through the cable channel and connecting to the plug body. The plug body is held near or within the inner body and is movable from a first position near or within the inner body to a second position engaged with the receiving module. | 07-30-2009 |
20090191750 | Connector Assembly Having A Slider Element - A connector assembly is provided that has a plug end and a cable end and is configured to insert a plug that is coupled to a cable into a receiving module of an electrical device. The connector assembly includes an inner body that has a cable channel extending in an axial direction between the plug end and the cable end. The connector assembly also includes a slider element that is configured to hold a plug proximate to the plug end. The slider element is held by and movable along the inner body in an axial direction. The connector assembly further includes an outer housing that surrounds the inner body and the slider element. The outer housing is movable in the axial direction with respect to the inner body and the slider element, and the outer housing is also configured to attach to the electrical device. | 07-30-2009 |
20100080002 | COLOR HOMOGENIZING OPTICAL ASSEMBLY - An optical assembly includes a light source and an optical element. The light source generates light where the color of the light varies based on the direction the light is emitted from the light source. The optical element is positioned transverse to the optical axis and is configured to mix the light. The color of the light mixed by the optical element is substantially independent of the direction at which the light emanates from the optical element. | 04-01-2010 |
20100189395 | EXPANDED BEAM CONNECTOR - An optical connector comprising: (a) a lens; (b) a ferrule assembly comprising a ferrule with an endface and at least one fiber in the ferrule having a fiber end presented at the endface; (c) a housing for holding the ferrule assembly and the lens in a certain axial and radial relationship; and (d) a glass element having a first and second surface, the first surface affixed to the endface such that it is in physical contact with the fiber end, the second surface having an AR coating and defining a space between it and the lens. | 07-29-2010 |
20110096404 | EXPANDED BEAM INTERFACE DEVICE AND METHOD FOR FABRICATING SAME - An optoelectronic device comprising a gradient index lens having an optical length, L, wherein L=P/4+NP/2, where N is an integer equal to or greater than 0 and P is the pitch of the gradient index lens. If the desired focus spot is spaced from the end face of the gradient index lens, the optical length L can be adjusted accordingly as a function of that distance and the index of refraction of the medium occupying that distance. | 04-28-2011 |
20120014645 | SINGLE LENS, MULTI-FIBER OPTICAL CONNECTION METHOD AND APPARATUS - The invention pertains to an expanded beam optical coupling method and apparatus comprising a single lens per connector through which the light from multiple fibers is expanded/focused to couple to corresponding fibers in a mating connector. | 01-19-2012 |
20120020618 | Fiber Optic Connector and Alignment Mechanism for Single Lens Multi-Fiber Connector - The invention pertains to an optical connector assembly having an alignment mechanism for coupling two single-lens, multi-fiber optical connectors together. Particularly, each connector comprising a single lens through which the light from multiple fibers is expanded/focused for coupling to corresponding fibers in a mating connector. In one aspect of the invention, the alignment mechanism includes mating features extending from the fronts of the lenses having substantially longitudinal surfaces that meet and contact each other when the two connectors are coupled together in only one or a limited number of rotational orientations relative to each other to as to properly rotationally align the multiple fibers in the two mating connectors. This mechanism also helps align the two connectors with the optical axes of their lenses parallel to each other. In another aspect of the invention to even more effectively align the two connectors with their optical axes parallel to each other, the connector assembly includes an alignment sleeve into which the front of each lens extends when mated, an inner diametrical surface of the alignment sleeve contacting an outer diametrical surface of each of the two lenses over a substantial longitudinal portion of each lens. The alignment sleeve may, for instance, be a resilient split sleeve that expands radially to accept the lenses. | 01-26-2012 |
20120020619 | Imaging Interface for Optical Components - The invention pertains to an optical interface employing optics (e.g., lenses) that image the beams rather than collimate the beams. More specifically, each connector at an interface includes optics, e.g., a lens, adapted to receive a diverging beam emanating from field point and image the beam to an image point at a predetermined distance from the imaging lens. A connector employing such optics may, for instance, be effectively mated to either a similar connector with the same optics or to a connector having no lens. Specifically, it may effectively be mated to a second connector having no lens via a second connector structure that places the receiving optical component at the image point of the focusing optics of the first connector. Alternately, such a connector may be effectively mated to a second connector having an identical lens to the first connector provided that the first and second connector structures are adapted to mate such that the image points of the two lenses are coincident. | 01-26-2012 |
20120294573 | OPTICAL CONNECTOR WITH FERRULE INTERFERENCE FIT - An optical connector having a front and back orientation, the connector comprising: (a) a ferrule comprising a first material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion (COE), and having a first diameter at a first temperature, and a second diameter at a second temperature, the ferrule also comprising an endface; (b) a housing comprising a second material having a second COE, the housing having a restricted borehole having a third diameter at the first temperature, and a fourth diameter at the second temperature; (c) a resilient member disposed in the housing and in contact with the ferrule to apply a forward urging force to the ferrule; (d) wherein the connector has a first and second configuration, in the first configuration, the second COE is greater than the first COE, the first diameter is greater than the third diameter such that the connector is in an interference state at the first temperature, and the second diameter is less than the fourth diameter such that the connector is in a clearance state at the second temperature, in the second configuration, the second COE is less than the first COE, the first diameter is less than the third diameter such that the connector is in the clearance state at the first temperature, and the second diameter is greater than the fourth diameter such that the connector is in the interference state at the second temperature; and (e) wherein clearance between the ferrule and the housing is less than 0.5 μm at room temperature. | 11-22-2012 |
20120300312 | TRUNCATED BALL LENS FOR AN EXPANDED BEAM CONNECTOR - Disclosed is a truncated ball lens, and method of making same, in which a ball lens, having a focal point internal to (i.e., inside of) the ball lens, is constructed by removing a surface of the ball lens so as to expose the focal point. The exposed side of the truncated ball lens faces the endface of a fiber directing light towards the lens. In a preferred embodiment, an optical axis of the truncated ball lens coincides with an optical axis of the fiber. | 11-29-2012 |
20130156381 | FERRULE WITH ENCAPSULATED PROTRUDING FIBERS - A process for preparing terminated fibers comprising: (a) deposition one or more fibers in a ferrule having a ferrule end face such that a portion of each fiber extends forward beyond the ferrule end face; (b) after step (a), positioning a register surface in a predetermined position relative to the ferrule end face; (c) after step (b), depositing an optically-clear filler between the end face and the register surface and around the portion of each fiber; and (d) once the filler solidifies, releasing the register surface form the filler to define a mating surface on the filler. | 06-20-2013 |
20130230280 | MODULARIZED INTERPOSER - An interposer for optically coupling an optical device (OD) to a fiber, the OD mounted on a substrate, the interposer comprising: (a) a lens component comprising at least one lens for optically coupling with the OD the lens having a first optical axis, a first surface for mating with the substrate, and a second surface for mating with a third surface of a fiber component; (b) the fiber component comprising the third surface and a cavity for receiving at least one fiber and holding the fiber along a second optical axis, the first and second optical axes being perpendicular; and (c) wherein at least one of the lens component or the fiber component comprises a reflective surface for optically coupling the lens to a point along the second optical axis and adjacent the cavity. | 09-05-2013 |
20130235480 | MOLDED OPTICAL COMPONENT WITH INSPECTION FEATURES - A method of tuning a mold for an optical component, said method comprising: (a) molding an optical component comprising at least: (i) a body portion defining a first face; (ii) at least one optical element on said first face, said optical element having a certain geometry; (iii) at least one alignment element on said first face selected from one of an alignment hole or an alignment pin; and (iv) at least one inspection element in a position fixed relative to said at least one alignment element on said first face; (b) measuring the location of said inspection element on said front face relative to said optical element; (c) comparing said location to a standard to determine a difference; and (d) if said difference is significant, adjusting a component of said mold to change said location of said alignment element relative to said optical element and reiterating steps (a)-(c). | 09-12-2013 |
20130251307 | IMAGING INTERFACE FOR OPTICAL COMPONENTS - The invention pertains to an optical interface employing optics (e.g., lenses) that image the beams rather than collimate the beams. More specifically, each connector at an interface includes optics, e.g., a lens, adapted to receive a diverging beam emanating from field point and image the beam to an image point at a predetermined distance from the imaging lens. A connector employing such optics may, for instance, be effectively mated to either a similar connector with the same optics or to a connector having no lens. Specifically, it may effectively be mated to a second connector having no lens via a second connector structure that places the receiving optical component at the image point of the focusing optics of the first connector. Alternately, such a connector may be effectively mated to a second connector having an identical lens to the first connector provided that the first and second connector structures are adapted to mate such that the image points of the two lenses are coincident. | 09-26-2013 |
20130272660 | OPTICAL CONNECTOR WITH FERRULE INTERFERENCE FIT - An optical connector for operation within a temperature range, comprising: (a) a ferrule comprising a first material having a coefficient of thermal expansion COE-1, and a diameter no greater than a diameter d1 below a transition temperature Ts within the temperature range and no less than a diameter d2 above Ts; (b) a spring disposed behind and in contact with the ferrule to apply a forward force to the ferrule; and (c) a housing comprising a second material having a coefficient of thermal expansion COE-2 and defining a bore hole having a diameter greater than d2, and an interface having a restricted bore hole having a diameter no greater than a diameter d3 below Ts, and no less than a diameter d4 above Ts, wherein connector configuration is COE-2>COE-1 with d>d3 and d2d4. | 10-17-2013 |
20140124140 | PORTABLE DEVICE FOR ATTACHING A CONNECTOR TO AN OPTICAL FIBER - A portable device for attaching a connector to an optical fiber, the optical fiber having an end, the device comprising means for receiving the optical fiber at the end of the optical fiber; and a connector station for autonomously attaching the connector to the optical fiber. | 05-08-2014 |
20140157561 | FERRULE ASSEMBLY PROCESS - A tool for aligning fibers in a ferrule, the tool comprising a body portion having a register surface; and at least one alignment member at a certain angle from the register surface, the alignment member configured to cooperate with a corresponding alignment member of a ferrule, wherein the register surface is non-planar. | 06-12-2014 |
20140270651 | MULTI-FIBER FERRULE CONNECTOR - A single-piece multi-fiber ferrule interconnect assembly including a ferrule body having a main surface, a front frame, and a rear opening, wherein the front frame includes a front face and a back face; a plurality of lenses arranged to form a lens array, wherein the lenses are fabricated within the front frame and recessed from the front face; a plurality of grooves on the main surface for receiving a plurality of optical fibers, the grooves extending from the back face toward the rear opening, wherein each groove comprises a terminus located at the focal point of a corresponding lens on the front frame; a well located on the main surface along the back face of the front frame, wherein inside edges of the well are curved and wherein the well is capable of accommodating an epoxy; and a plurality of guide pin passageways on the ferrule body each having a pin aperture for receiving alignment pins from a complementary ferrule body, wherein the pin aperture and the alignment pin from the complementary ferrule body align the ferrule front faces such that ends of the optical fibers align. | 09-18-2014 |
20150043872 | FERRULE WITH PROTRUDING FIBERS - A ferrule assembly comprising: (a) a ferrule body defining a plurality of bores and having an end face having an inner portion and outer portions on opposite sides of said first portion; (b) a plurality fibers disposed in said bores and protruding beyond said end face; and (c) a protruding element on each outer portion, said protruding element having a first or second configuration, in said first configuration, said protruding element comprises a portion of said outer portion that protrudes beyond said inner portion but not as far as said fibers protrude, and in said second configuration, said protruding element comprises at least one fiber in a bore in said outer portion that protrudes beyond any fiber in a bore in said inner portion. | 02-12-2015 |