An arrangement for interconnecting an optical fiber to an optical component

Claim 2

The arrangement of claim 1 CHARACTERIZED IN THAT said at least two electrical contacts on the ferrule extend from the end-face to a section along the length of the ferrule and the optical component is an optoelectronic component which communicates an electrical signal over said at least two electrical contacts.

Claim 3

The arrangement of claim 2 CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the optical component is a passive optical device.

Claim 4

The arrangement of claim 1 CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the optical component includes at least one spacer for determining the spacing between the optical component and the optical fiber core.

Claim 5

The arrangement of claim 1 CHARACTERIZED IN THAT said at least one contact of either the optical component or ferrule includes a solder bump for alignment of the optical component to the optical fiber.

Claim 7

An arrangement for interconnecting an optical fiber to an optical component (210), CHARACTERIZED BY a ferrule (100) including an optical fiber (101) located therein and having an end-face and the optical component bonded to the end-face of the ferrule using a bonding material (301) so as to enable light to be coupled between the optical component and the optical fiber.

Claim 8

The arrangement of claim 7 further CHARACTERIZED BY at least one mounting contact (104) deposited on an end-face of the ferrule so as not to substantially affect light being coupled to or from the optical fiber and the optical component having at least one mounting contact (211) thereon which is bonded to said at least one contact on the end-face of the ferrule so as to enable light to be coupled between the optical component and the optical fiber core.

Claim 9

The arrangement of claim 7 CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the at least one mounting contact on the optical component is a metal contact having a solder bump deposited thereon to facilitate alignment with the at least one mounting contact on the optical fiber.

Claim 10

An arrangement for interconnecting an optical fiber to an optical component, CHARACTERIZED BY at least two mounting contacts (104) deposited directly on an end-face of the optical fiber so as not to substantially affect light being coupled to or from a core section of the optical fiber and the optical component (210) having at least two mounting contacts thereon which is bonded to said at least two contacts on the end-face of the optical fiber so as to enable light to be coupled between the optical component and the optical fiber core.

Claim 11

An opto/electrical connector apparatus for interconnecting an optical fiber to one or more electrical facilities, CHARACTERIZED BY optical fiber connector means (410) including a ferrule (401) having an optical fiber located therein, said ferrule comprising a first end mounted in the optical connector means to enable connection to a mating optical fiber connector and a second end having at least two electrical contacts deposited thereon, each contact having a contact portion deposited on the end-face of the second end and extending along a section of the length of the ferrule, each contact positioned on the end-face so as not to substantially affect light being coupled to or from the optical fiber of the ferrule; an optical component having at least two electrical contacts thereon which are bonded to said at least two contact portions on the second end so as to enable light to be coupled between the optical component and the optical fiber; and electrical connector means (430) having a first end for connecting to a mating electrical connector having one or more electrical facilities and a second end including a plurality of contacts for electrically connecting the one or more electrical facilities to the at least two electrical contacts on the ferrule.

Claim 12

The connector apparatus of claim 11 further CHARACTERIZED BY a molded housing for encapsulating the connector apparatus except for the first end of the optical fiber connector means and the first end of the electrical connector means.

Claim 13

An opto/electrical connector apparatus for interconnecting an optical fiber to one or more electrical facilities, CHARACTERIZED BY optical fiber connector means (410) including a ferrule (401) having an optical fiber located therein, said ferrule comprising a first end mounted in the optical connector means to enable connection to a mating optical fiber connector and a second end bonded to an optical lens component so as to enable light to be coupled between the optical lens component and the optical fiber; and electrical connector means (430) having a first end for connecting to a mating electrical connector having one or more electrical facilities, and a second end connected to an opto/electrical device for interfacing the one or more electrical facilities to light passing through the optical lens component.

Claim 14

An arrangement for directly interconnecting a plurality of optical fibers to a plurality of optical components (607), CHARACTERIZED BY mounting means (603, 604) including a plurality of openings for enabling the placing of said plurality of optical fibers therethrough so that ends of said plurality of optical fibers are fixed with respect to a surface of the mounting means and said plurality of optical components (607) placed and bonded to the surface of the mounting means using a bonding material (608) so as to enable light to be directly coupled between a respective one of said plurality of optical fibers and one of said plurality of optical components.

Claim 15

The arrangement of claim 14 CHARACTERIZED BY waveguides between at least two of said optical components.

Claim 16

The arrangement of claim 14 further CHARACTERIZED BY at least one electrical contact deposited on the surface of the mounting means and said plurality of optical components mounted on a first substrate having at least one electrical contact thereon which is bonded to said at least one contact on the surface of the mounting means so as to enable light to be coupled between said plurality of optical components and said plurality of optical fibers.