US6540414B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Integrated optical coupler and housing arrangement
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
•
Filing: 2001-10-05
•
Granted: 2003-04-01
•
Expires: 2021-10-05
Abstract
Abstract An optical coupler and housing arrangement includes a housing portion adapted to receive an optical connector of a fiber optic cable, and further includes an optical coupler portion integrally formed with the housing portion. The optical coupler portion is adapted to transmit optical signals to and from the fiber optic cable. The optical coupler portion has a plurality of optical fibers for transmitting the optical signals. Each of the optical fibers extends from one end surface of the optical coupler portion to another end surface of the optical coupler portion. The housing portion has a recess for receiving the optical connector, with one of the end surfaces of the optical coupler portion forming a back surface of the recess.
Inventors
- 👤 Johnny Roy Brezina
- 👤 Brian Michael Kerrigan
- 👤 Gerald Daniel Malagrino, Jr.
- 👤 James Robert Moon
- 👤 Michael Lynn Zumbrunnen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 02:13
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/42; G02B6/4201; G02B6/4274; G02B6/4277; G02B6/4204; G02B6/421; G02B6/4292
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 56
Claim 1
Independent Claim
49 words
An optical coupler and housing arrangement, comprising: a housing portion adapted to receive an optical connector of a fiber optic cable; and an optical coupler portion integrally formed with said housing portion, said optical coupler portion being adapted to transmit optical signals to and from the fiber optic cable.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
49 words
An optical coupler and housing arrangement, comprising: a housing portion adapted to receive an optical connector of a fiber optic cable; and an optical coupler portion integrally formed with said housing portion, said optical coupler portion being adapted to transmit optical signals to and from the fiber optic cable.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
The optical coupler and housing arrangement recited in claim 1 , wherein said optical coupler portion has opposing end surfaces, and a plurality of optical fibers for transmitting the optical signals, each of said optical fibers extending from one of said end surfaces to another one of said end surfaces.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The optical coupler and housing arrangement recited in claim 2 , wherein each of said optical fibers terminates in a region of the respective end surfaces.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The optical coupler and housing arrangement recited in claim 3 , wherein each of said optical fibers has a length that is greater than about 6 millimeters.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
101 words
The optical coupler and housing arrangement recited in claim 2 , wherein said optical coupler portion further comprises a first pair of alignment pins projecting from the one of said end surfaces and being disposed to flank opposing sides of said optical fibers, and a second pair of alignment pins projecting from the another one of said end surfaces and being disposed to flank the opposing sides of said optical fibers, said first pair of alignment pins being engageable with the optical connector when received by said housing portion, said second pair of alignment pins being engageable with a die carrier.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The optical coupler and housing arrangement recited in claim 2 , wherein said housing portion has a recess for receiving the optical connector, the one of said end surfaces forming a back surface of the recess.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The optical coupler and housing arrangement recited in claim 6 , wherein said housing portion further includes integrally formed latching fingers disposed on opposite sides of the recess and being adapted to engage with the optical connector to secure the optical connector within the recess.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The optical coupler and housing arrangement recited in claim 1 , wherein said housing portion and said optical coupler portion are each comprised of a highly-filled polymer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
72 words
The optical coupler and housing arrangement recited in claim 1 , wherein said housing portion comprises a first housing portion, and said optical coupler portion comprises a first optical coupler portion; further comprising a second housing portion adapted to receive a further optical connector; and a second optical coupler portion integrally formed with said second housing portion; said second housing portion being disposed adjacent to said first housing portion and connected thereto.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The optical coupler and housing arrangement recited in claim 9 , wherein said second housing portion and said first housing portion are integrally formed together.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
89 words
An optical transceiver arrangement, comprising: an optical coupler and housing arrangement, including a housing portion adapted to receive an optical connector of a fiber optic cable; and an optical coupler portion integrally formed with said housing portion; and a carrier assembly having a carrier connected to said housing portion, and a die chip connected to said carrier, said die chip having at least one active region, said optical coupler portion being adapted to transmit optical signals between the fiber optic cable and the active region of said die chip.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
89 words
An optical transceiver arrangement, comprising: an optical coupler and housing arrangement, including a housing portion adapted to receive an optical connector of a fiber optic cable; and an optical coupler portion integrally formed with said housing portion; and a carrier assembly having a carrier connected to said housing portion, and a die chip connected to said carrier, said die chip having at least one active region, said optical coupler portion being adapted to transmit optical signals between the fiber optic cable and the active region of said die chip.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
The optical transceiver arrangement recited in claim 11 , further comprising: a laminate assembly having said carrier disposed thereon, said die chip being electrically coupled to said laminate assembly; and a cover disposed over said laminate assembly and connected to said carrier.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The optical transceiver arrangement recited in claim 12 , wherein said cover is a heat sink for transferring heat from said laminate assembly.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The optical transceiver arrangement recited in claim 12 , further comprising a flex cable electrically coupling said die chip to said laminate assembly.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
55 words
The optical transceiver arrangement recited in claim 14 , wherein said laminate assembly includes a wiring board having a ground plane and at least one conductive pad disposed on a surface of said wiring board, said conductive pad being electrically coupled to said ground plane, said flex cable being electrically coupled to said conductive pad.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
53 words
The optical transceiver arrangement recited in claim 15 , wherein said laminate assembly includes a coating covering the surface of said wiring board, said coating having at least one recess formed therein that exposes said at least one conductive pad to allow said flex cable to be electrically coupled to said conductive pad.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
55 words
The optical transceiver arrangement recited in claim 16 , wherein said flex cable has a conductive plate in electrical contact with said at least one conductive pad, and having ground wires electrically coupled to at least one of said die chip and said carrier, said ground wires further being electrically coupled to said conductive plate.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
85 words
The optical transceiver arrangement recited in claim 17 , wherein said flex cable further has signal wires extending therethrough, and an insulating coating covering said signal wires and said ground wires, said insulating coating having at least one window formed therein to expose said signal wires and said ground wires, to allow said signal wires to be electrically coupled to said die chip, and to allow the ground wires to be electrically coupled to said at least one of said die chip and said carrier.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
The optical transceiver arrangement recited in claim 14 , wherein said carrier has first and second spaced apart feet, said flex cable extending between said spaced apart feet.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
61 words
The optical transceiver arrangement recited in claim 12 , wherein said laminate assembly includes a wiring board having a ground plane and at least one conductive pad disposed on a surface of said wiring board, said conductive pad being electrically coupled to said ground plane; and wherein said carrier has a foot electrically coupled to said at least one conductive pad.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
68 words
The optical transceiver arrangement recited in claim 12 , wherein said laminate assembly includes a wiring board and a coating covering the surface of said wiring board, said coating having a locating hole formed therein; and wherein said housing portion has a locating pin extending from a bottom thereof, said locating pin being received within the locating hole to position said housing portion relative to said laminate assembly.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
96 words
The optical transceiver arrangement recited in claim 12 , wherein said housing portion comprises a first housing portion, and said optical coupler portion comprises a first optical coupler portion; further comprising a second housing portion adapted to receive a further optical connector; and a second optical coupler portion integrally formed with said second housing portion; said second housing portion being disposed adjacent to said first housing portion and connected thereto; further comprising an electromagnetic interference shield disposed around said first housing portion and said second housing portion to retain said housing portions in a side-by-side relationship.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
84 words
The optical transceiver arrangement recited in claim 22 , wherein said laminate assembly includes a wiring board having a ground plane and at least one conductive pad disposed on a surface of said wiring board, said conductive pad being electrically coupled to said ground plane; wherein said cover is a heat sink for transferring heat from said laminate assembly; and wherein said cover has a downwardly-projecting finger that extends between said housing portions and engages with said conductive pad to provide for electromagnetic separation.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
The optical transceiver arrangement recited in claim 11 , further comprising an electromagnetic interference shield disposed around said housing portion.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
48 words
The optical transceiver arrangement recited in claim 11 , wherein said optical coupler portion has opposing end surfaces, and a plurality of optical fibers for transmitting the optical signals, each of said optical fibers extending from one of said end surfaces to another one of said end surfaces.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
24 words
The optical transceiver arrangement recited in claim 25 , wherein each of said optical fibers terminates in a region of the respective end surfaces.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
25 words
The optical transceiver arrangement recited in claim 26 , wherein each of said optical fibers has a length that is greater than about 6 millimeters.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
34 words
The optical transceiver arrangement recited in claim 25 , wherein said housing portion has a recess for receiving the optical connector, the one of said end surfaces forming a back surface of the recess.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
43 words
The optical transceiver arrangement recited in claim 28 , wherein said housing portion further includes integrally formed latching fingers disposed on opposite sides of the recess and being adapted to engage with the optical connector to secure the optical connector within the recess.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
25 words
The optical transceiver arrangement recited in claim 11 , wherein said housing portion and said optical coupler portion are each comprised of a highly-filled polymer.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
45 words
The optical transceiver arrangement recited in claim 11 , wherein said carrier has two spaced apart lands, said die chip being disposed between said lands, said optical coupler portion being fixed to said lands so as to be positioned in front of said active region.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
91 words
The optical transceiver arrangement recited in claim 31 , wherein each land has an alignment hole formed therein; and wherein said optical coupler portion further has opposing end surfaces and a first pair of alignment pins projecting from one of the end surfaces, and a second pair of alignment pins projecting from another one of the end surfaces, said first pair of alignment pins being engageable with the optical connector when received by said housing portion, said second pair of alignment pins being receivable by respective alignment holes of said carrier.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
102 words
A computer, comprising: a frame; a circuit board disposed within said frame; and an optical transceiver arrangement, comprising: an optical coupler and housing arrangement, including a housing portion adapted to receive an optical connector of a fiber optic cable; and an optical coupler portion integrally formed with said housing portion; and a carrier assembly having a carrier connected to said housing portion, and a die chip connected to said carrier, said die chip having at least one active region, said optical coupler portion being adapted to transmit optical signals between the fiber optic cable and the active region of said die chip.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
102 words
A computer, comprising: a frame; a circuit board disposed within said frame; and an optical transceiver arrangement, comprising: an optical coupler and housing arrangement, including a housing portion adapted to receive an optical connector of a fiber optic cable; and an optical coupler portion integrally formed with said housing portion; and a carrier assembly having a carrier connected to said housing portion, and a die chip connected to said carrier, said die chip having at least one active region, said optical coupler portion being adapted to transmit optical signals between the fiber optic cable and the active region of said die chip.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
45 words
The computer recited in claim 33 , wherein said optical transceiver arrangement further comprises: a laminate assembly having said carrier disposed thereon, said die chip being electrically coupled to said laminate assembly; and a cover disposed over said laminate assembly and connected to said carrier.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
24 words
The computer recited in claim 34 , wherein said cover of said optical transceiver arrangement defines a heat sink disposed over said laminate assembly.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
33 words
The computer recited in claim 35 , wherein said housing portion has a rearwardly projecting ear in contact with said heat sink and establishing a gap between said carrier and said heat sink.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
26 words
The computer recited in claim 34 , wherein said optical transceiver arrangement further comprises a flex cable electrically coupling said die chip to said laminate assembly.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
75 words
The computer recited in claim 33 , wherein said housing portion comprises a first housing portion, and said optical coupler portion comprises a first optical coupler portion; wherein said optical coupler and housing arrangement further comprises a second housing portion adapted to receive a further optical connector; and a second optical coupler portion integrally formed with said second housing portion; said second housing portion being disposed adjacent to said first housing portion and connected thereto.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
38 words
The computer recited in claim 38 , wherein said optical transceiver arrangement further comprises an electromagnetic interference shield disposed around said first housing portion and said second housing portion to retain said housing portions in a side-by-side relationship.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer recited in claim 33 , wherein said cover is a heat sink for transferring heat from said laminate assembly.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
37 words
The computer recited in claim 33 , further comprising a tailstock attached to said frame; wherein said optical transceiver arrangement further includes an electromagnetic interference shield disposed about said housing portion, and being engageable with said tailstock.
Claim 45
Independent Claim
57 words
A method of making an optical coupler and housing arrangement, comprising: integrally forming together a housing portion and an optical coupler portion, said integrally forming including: adapting the housing portion to receive an optical connector of a fiber optic cable; and adapting the optical coupler portion to transmit optical signals to and from the fiber optic cable.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
57 words
A method of making an optical coupler and housing arrangement, comprising: integrally forming together a housing portion and an optical coupler portion, said integrally forming including: adapting the housing portion to receive an optical connector of a fiber optic cable; and adapting the optical coupler portion to transmit optical signals to and from the fiber optic cable.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method recited in claim 42 , wherein said integrally forming includes molding the housing portion and the optical coupler portion.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method recited in claim 43 , wherein the housing portion and the optical coupler portion are simultaneously molded in a same operation.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method recited in claim 44 , wherein the housing portion and the optical coupler portion are simultaneously injection molded in the same operation.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method recited in claim 42 , wherein said integrally forming includes: arranging a plurality of optical fibers in a predetermined configuration; and after said arranging, performing a molding operation to simultaneously form said housing portion and said optical coupler portion while maintaining the predetermined configuration.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method recited in claim 46 , wherein said arranging includes aligning end faces of the optical fibers.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method recited in claim 46 , wherein said performing includes performing an injection molding operation.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method recited in claim 46 , wherein said performing forms the optical coupler to have opposing end surfaces, with each of the optical fibers extending from one of the end surfaces to another one of the end surfaces.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method recited in claim 46 , wherein said performing includes molding the housing portion to have a recess for receiving the optical connector of the fiber optic cable, and to have integrally formed latching fingers disposed on opposite sides of the recess, the latching fingers being adapted to engage with the optical connector to secure the optical connector within the recess.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method recited in claim 46 , wherein performing includes performing an injection molding operation that additionally fixes the optical fibers in place.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method recited in claim 42 , wherein the housing portion and the optical coupler portion are each comprised of a highly-filled polymer.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5199093A
Cited
US6450703B1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-03-31 | 2006-09-30 | 2007-04-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-03-31 | 2010-09-30 | 2011-04-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-03-31 | 2014-09-30 | 2015-04-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |