EP0463390A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electro-optical connectors
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1991-05-28
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2011-05-28
Abstract
Abstract A direct optical connector (DOC) comprised of first (201) and second members, each including a plurality of light emitting (202, 204) and light detecting (205, 203) locations, operative in combination with energy transfer media (210) to form direct optical connections between the light emitting locations (202, 204) and the light detecting (203, 205) locations, wherein said first (201) and second members are adapted for reclosable connection to each other whereupon the light emitting locations (202) on one member are aligned with the light detecting locations (205) on the other member. The first (201) and second members of the preferred DOC are modular. Alternative forms of energy transfer media (210) are used in various embodiments of the invention including lenslet arrays, imaging fiber plates (IFPs), and energy transfer fiber plates (ETFPs). These media have differing alignment criteria, differing degrees of immunity from crosstalk, differing degrees of transfer efficiency, different manufacturing costs, etc., thereby permitting the fabrication and/or use of a connector most suited to meet the requirements of a particular application. A modular half of a DOC can be used in conjunction with a remote optical connector (ROC) to channel light over relatively long distances. The invention also encompasses processes for fabricating ROCs.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark F. Bregman
- 👤 William D. Brewer
- 👤 Mitchell S. Cohen
- 👤 Glen W. Johnson
- 👤 Ismail C. Noyan
- 👤 Modest M. Oprysko
- 👤 Mark B. Ritter
- 👤 Dennis L. Rogers
- 👤 Jeannine M. Trewhella
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 21:34
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/42; G02B6/4201; G02B6/4249; G02B6/43; H; H04; H04B; H04B10/00; H04B10/80; H04B10/801; H04B10/803; H10; H10F; H10F55/00; H10F55/20; H10F55/25
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
183 words
An apparatus for transmitting and receiving electrically transmitted data, comprising: a) a first member (201) that includes at least one light emitting device (202); b) a second member, adapted for reclosable connection with said first member, that includes at least one light detecting device (205) that is aligned with said at least one light emitting device (202) to form at least one device pair whenever said first (201) and second member are connected; and c) an energy transfer media (210) interposed between the devices (202, 205) of a given device pair to form an optical communication channel therebetween, wherein said media (210) is comprised of at least one lenslet which is used for imaging light between said devices (202, 205) using air as the propagation medium or of at least one plurality of optical imaging fibers forming a direct optical connection between said devices wherein the diameter of each fiber is small enough to permit its ends to be positioned against said devices without alignment or of at least one waveguide that is aligned with said devices forming a direct optical connection therebetween.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
121 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first member (201) further comprises at least one light detecting device (203); wherein said second member further comprises at least one light emitting device (204) that is aligned with said at least one light detecting device (203) included in said first member (201) to form at least one additional device pair whenever said first and second member are connected; and further wherein said energy transfer media (210) is comprised of at least a second lenslet or at least a second plurality of optical imaging fibers or at least a second waveguide which is interposed between the devices (203, 204) of a given additional device pair to form an optical communication channel therebetween.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 or 2 wherein a plurality of said lenslets are fabricated as a lenslet array or a plurality of said optical imaging fibers are fabricated as a fused imaging fiber plate (IFP) or a plurality of said waveguides are photolithographically fabricated as an energy transfer fiber plate (ETFP).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus as set forth in any of the preceding claims 1 to 3 wherein said lenslet array comprising a lenslet doublet (304, 305) or said IFP or said ETFP is carried as part of the structure of one of said first (201) and second members.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
114 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein one half of said lenslet doublet (304, 305) is carried on each of said first and second members (301, 302) with the plane of separation between each half of said doublet (304, 305) being positioned so as to align the lenslets on each half when said first and second members (301, 302) are connected and wherein said IFP or ETFP is fabricated in two parts with the first part of said IFP or ETFP being carried as part of the structure of said first member and with the second part of said IFP or ETFP being carried as part of the structure of said second member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as set forth in any of the preceding claims 1 to 5 wherein said first and second members (301, 302) are modular.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as set forth in any of the preceding claims 1 to 6 further comprising at least one aperture array interposed between said at least one light emitting device (202) and said energy transfer media (210).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus as set forth in any of the preceding claims 1 to 6 further comprising at least one aperture array included as part of said energy transfer media (210).
Claim 9
Independent Claim
85 words
An apparatus for transmitting and receiving light comprising: a) an array of light emitting devices (202); b) an array of light detecting devices; c) a support member (320) having said array of light emitting devices (202) and said array of light detecting devices mounted thereon; and d) an energy transfer media (304, 305), combined with said support member (320) and disposed over the arrays mounted thereon, to transmit light emitted by said light emitting devices (202) and to focus light onto said light detecting devices.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said energy transfer media (304, 305) further comprises a lenslet array or a fused imaging fiber plate (IFP) or an energy transfer fiber plate (ETFP).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 or 10 further comprising means for channelling light to and from remote locations, wherein said means for channelling light is juxtaposed with said energy transfer media to form a remote optical connector (ROC).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus as set forth in any of the preceding claims 1 to 11 wherein said at least one light emitting device (202) or said array of light emitting devices is comprised of a light emitting diode (LED).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus as set forth in any of the preceding claims 1 to 12 wherein said at least one detecting device (205) is comprised of a combination preamplifier and receiver.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
161 words
A remote optical connector (ROC), for use in combination with apparatus for transmitting and receiving light, wherein said apparatus comprises an array of light emitting devices (810), an array of light detecting devices (811), a support member having said array of light emitting devices (810) and said array of light detecting devices (811) mounted thereon, and an energy transfer media, combined with said support member and disposed over the arrays mounted thereon, to transmit light emitted by said light emitting devices and to focus light onto said light detecting devices, comprising: a) means for channelling (805, 806) light between said apparatus for transmitting and receiving light and a remote location; b) means for aligning (803, 804) said means for channelling (805, 806) with said light emitting (810) and light detecting (811) devices; c) means for affixing said means for channelling to said means for aligning; and d) means for combining said means for aligning (803, 804) with said energy transfer media.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
Remote optical connector as set forth in claim 14 wherein said means for channelling comprises a flexible bundle of imaging fibers (805, 806) or at least one waveguide.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
Remote optical connector as set forth in claim 14 or 15 wherein said means for aligning comprises an endplate (801) including at least one opening (803, 804) into which said means for channelling (805, 806) can be inserted and held in place.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
206 words
A process for manufacturing a remote optical connector (ROC) from a flexible array of fibers, for use in combination with apparatus for transmitting and receiving light, wherein said apparatus comprises an array of light emitting devices (810), an array of light detecting devices (811), a support member having said array of light emitting devices (810) and said array of light detecting devices (811) mounted thereon, and an energy transfer media, combined with said support member and disposed over the arrays mounted thereon, to transmit light emitted by said light emitting devices and to focus light onto said light detecting devices, comprising the steps of: a) punching an endplate (801) to provide locating holes (803, 804) into which said fibers (805, 806) can be inserted, wherein each hole is punched in line with one of said light emitting devices or one of said light detecting devices; b) inserting said fibers (805, 806) into said locating holes (803, 804); and c) affixing to said endplate (801), the fibers (805, 806) inserted according to step (b), to form a rigid endplate/fiber combination that aligns each of said fibers with one of said emitting or detecting devices when the combination is coupled to said apparatus for transmitting and receiving light.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
The process as set forth in claim 17 further comprising the step of fabricating a mating lip (802) on the edges of said endplate (801) for coupling the ROC to said apparatus for transmitting and receiving light.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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