US5781682A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Low-cost packaging for parallel optical computer link
Assignee: Lexmark International Inc
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Filing: 1996-02-01
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Granted: 1998-07-14
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Expires: 2016-02-01
Abstract
Abstract Parallel optical coupling apparatus for coupling a connector attached to one end of a parallel optical cable to a receiver or transmitter array. A parallel fiber optic assembly includes a receiver or transmitter array subassembly that houses a parallel optical coupler for transferring optical signals from an array of sources (e.g., lasers) in the assembly to the connector, or from the connector to an array of receiving elements in the assembly. A connector shell is provided that properly aligns the connector with respect to the optical coupler array.
Inventors
- 👤 Mitchell Simmons Cohen
- 👤 Marco Gauvin
- 👤 Glen Walden Johnson
- 👤 Daniel M. Kuchta
- 👤 Andre Lacerte
- 👤 Nicholas Anthony Lee
- 👤 Sylvain Ouimet
- 👤 Stephen Louis Spanoudis
- 👤 Stephane Tremblay
- 👤 Jeannine Madelyn Trewhella
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 09:15
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/42; G02B6/4292; G02B6/4201; G02B6/4249; G02B6/4255; G02B6/4256; G02B6/426; G02B6/4261; G02B6/4266; G02B6/4268; G02B6/4272; G02B6/4274; G02B6/4277; G02B6/4284; H; H10; H10B; H10B12/00; H10B12/01; H10B12/02; H10B12/03; H10B12/033; H10D; H10D1/00; H10D1/60; H10D1/68; H10D1/692; H10D1/711; H10D1/712; G02B6/36; G02B6/38; G02B6/3807; G02B6/389; G02B6/3893; G02B6/4219; G02B6/4236; G02B6/4245; G02B6/4283
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
A parallel fiber optic connector assembly comprising: a support means for supporting an optoelectric array: a connector shell having means for receiving a parallel fiberoptic connector and for constraining alone a linear axis a motion of the received parallel fiberoptic connector; an optoelectric array mounted to the said support means; a positioning attachment means for attaching the connector shell to said support means at a position so that the connector shell and the parallel connector received by the connector shell are in a predetermined relationship with respect to the optoelectric array.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
91 words
A parallel fiber optic connector assembly comprising: a support means for supporting an optoelectric array: a connector shell having means for receiving a parallel fiberoptic connector and for constraining alone a linear axis a motion of the received parallel fiberoptic connector; an optoelectric array mounted to the said support means; a positioning attachment means for attaching the connector shell to said support means at a position so that the connector shell and the parallel connector received by the connector shell are in a predetermined relationship with respect to the optoelectric array.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the positioning attachment means includes an alignment pin connected to the support means and a complementary pin receptacle formed in the connector shell.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the locating attachment means includes an alignment pin connected to the connector shell and a complementary pin receptacle formed in the support means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
102 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an optical coupler means for optically coupling the parallel fiberoptic connector received by said connector shell to said optoelectric array, said means arranged within an optical coupler housing, said optical coupler housing having a means for receiving an end of the parallel connector received by said connector shell and having a locating member for cooperatively engaging said locating attachment means: and wherein the locating attachment means connects to said locating structure and further comprises an alignment means integral to the support means for cooperatively engaging with the locating means of the optical coupler housing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an optical coupler housing, a parallel optical coupler arranged within said housing, and an alignment means for positioning the optical coupler in a predetermined relation with locating attachment means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the alignment means comprises a pin attached to the optical coupler housing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the alignment means comprises a groove formed in the support means, and a complementary tongue formed on the optical coupler housing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the pin is unitary with and is formed of the same material as the support means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
101 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connector shell comprises a base plate having a bottom support surface and a pair of sidewalls substantially perpendicular thereto extending in a direction of said axis to form a channel between the pair of sidewalls for said constraining of the motion of the received fiberoptic connector, the channel having a first end for insertion of the fiberoptic connector and a second end for exit of an end of the inserted fiberoptic connector, the sidewalls being arranged such that the channel has a larger width at the first end than at the second end.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support means comprises a base plate, the base plate including a heat slug.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the locating attachment means includes a pin unitary with the heat slug.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the locating attachment means comprises alignment pin receptacles formed in the heat slug.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
114 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support means comprises: a support enclosure formed by a rectangular base and three sidewalls extending upward from three edges thereof and defining an opening along the fourth edge thereof; a pair of alignment pins located within the support enclosure; an optical coupler housing having means for supporting a parallel optical coupler, the optical coupler housing having means for receiving the pair of alignment pins; wherein the alignment pins and the means for receiving the pair of alignment pins are arranged such that when the means for receiving the pair of alignment pins received the alignment pins the optical coupler housing is positioned in a predetermined location.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the alignment means comprises one or more pins attached to the optical coupler housing, and one or more complementary pin receptacles formed in the support means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising: a fiberoptic connector, for receipt by said connector shell, having an engagement member; and means for releasably securing said received fiberoptic connector to the connector shell, said means including means for engaging said engagement member.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-07-13 | 2002-01-12 | 2002-07-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-07-13 | 2006-01-12 | 2006-07-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-07-13 | 2010-01-12 | 2010-07-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |