Optical port-shuffling module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10088634-B2
Application number	US-201415520847-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 23, 2014
Priority date	Oct 23, 2014
Publication date	Oct 2, 2018
Grant date	Oct 2, 2018

Abstract

One example includes an optical port-shuffling module. The module includes a plurality of inputs to receive a respective plurality of optical signals. The module also includes a plurality of outputs to provide the respective plurality of optical signals from the optical port-shuffling module. The module further includes a plurality of total-internal-reflection (TIR) mirrors arranged in optical paths of at least a portion of the plurality of optical signals to reflect the at least a portion of the plurality of optical signals to at least a portion of the plurality of outputs to shuffle the plurality of optical signals between the plurality of inputs and the plurality of outputs.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An optical port-shuffling module comprising:
a plurality of inputs to receive a respective plurality of optical signals;
a plurality of outputs to provide the respective plurality of optical signals from the optical port-shuffling module; and
a body portion comprising an optically transmissive material and having an array of cavities comprised of an optically transmissive material, the array provided in a predetermined configuration to include:
optically transmissive elements having cavities filled with a fixed fluid having a refractive index matching the refractive index of the transmissive material; and
optically reflective elements having cavities filled with a fixed fluid material having a refractive index less than the refractive index of the transmissive material,
wherein the cavities are arranged in optical paths of at least a portion of the plurality of optical signals to reflect the at least a portion of the plurality of optical signals to at least a portion of the plurality of outputs to shuffle the plurality of optical signals between the plurality of inputs and the plurality of outputs.

2. The module of claim 1 , wherein the body portion is formed to comprise a two-dimensional array of cavities.

3. The module of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of inputs and the plurality of outputs correspond to a periphery of the body portion in which the plurality of optical signals are provided.

4. The module of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of beam collimators to interconnect the body portion and each of the plurality of inputs and outputs.

5. The module of claim 1 , wherein the optically transmissive material is a molded plastic material having a refractive index that is greater than a medium associated with the reflective elements.

6. The module of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of inputs and outputs are arranged as mechanical optical connectors that are molded in alignment with the optical paths of the plurality of optical signals by the molded plastic material.

7. The module of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of inputs and the plurality of outputs each comprise a beam collimator to collimate the plurality of optical signals at each of the plurality of inputs and the plurality of outputs.

8. An optical port-shuffling module comprising:
a plurality of inputs to receive a respective plurality of optical signals;
a plurality of outputs to provide the respective plurality of optical signals from the optical port-shuffling module; and
a body portion comprising an optically transmissive material through which the plurality of optical signals propagate, according to a predetermined configuration, in respective plurality of optical paths between the plurality of inputs and the plurality of outputs, the body portion further comprising a first portion of cavities filled with a first fixed fluid material having a refractive index matching a refractive index of the optically transmissive material, and a second portion of cavities filled with a second, different fixed fluid material having a refractive index less than the refractive index of the optically transmissive material, the second portion of cavities forming a plurality of total-internal-reflection (TIR) mirrors arranged in the plurality of optical paths of at least a portion of the plurality of optical signals to reflect the at least a portion of the plurality of optical signals to at least a portion of the plurality of outputs to shuffle the plurality of optical signals between the plurality of inputs and the plurality of outputs.

9. The module of claim 1 , wherein the body portion is formed by providing a casting structure in each of an array of cells to form the cavities during an injection molding process.

10. The module of claim 8 , wherein the body portion is formed by providing a casting structure in each of an array of cells to form the cavities during an injection molding process.

11. The module of claim 8 , wherein the body portion comprises a plurality of beam collimators to interconnect the optically transmissive material and each of the plurality of inputs and outputs.

12. The module of claim 8 , wherein the optically transmissive material is a molded plastic material.

13. The module of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of inputs and outputs are arranged as optical ports that are molded in alignment with the optical paths of the plurality of optical signals by the molded plastic material during an associated molding process.

14. The module of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of inputs and the plurality of outputs each comprise a beam collimator to collimate the plurality of optical signals at each of the plurality of inputs and the plurality of outputs.

15. A method of manufacturing an optical port-shuffling module comprising:
determining a location of a plurality of total-internal-reflection (TIR) mirrors to be disposed in a monolithic, optically transmissive material, the TIR mirrors to reflect at least a portion of a plurality of optical signals from a plurality of inputs to at least a portion of a plurality of outputs;
forming a mold template including a casting structure having an array of shaped cavities filled with a first fluid having a first index of refraction, the array of shaped cavities corresponding to the determined location of the TIR mirrors;
injecting the optically transmissive material into the casting structure; and
selectively replacing the first fluid, according to a predetermined configuration, in at least one of the array of shaped cavities with a second fluid having a second index of refraction to disable the cavity from being a TIR mirror, wherein the first fluid in at least one of the array of shaped cavities is selectively replaced to shuffle the plurality of optical signals between the plurality of inputs and the plurality of outputs.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the optically transmissive material is injected into the casting structure by an over-molding process, an inter-molding process, a channel-forming process, or a low-pressure molding process.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the second fluid has an index of refraction that matches that of the optically transmissive material and is greater than the index of refraction of the first fluid.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first fluid is air, and the air in at least one of the array of shaped cavities is selectively replaced by filling the cavity with the second fluid.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the optical-port shuffling module is manufactured to include optical couplers to couple the inputs and the outputs.

20. The method of claim 15 , further comprising securing the optical port-shuffling module into a fitted bracket that is flush with the inputs and outputs to provide the optical signals directly to and from the optical port-shuffling module.

Assignees

• Hewlett Packard Entpr Dev Lp

Inventors

• Pelc Jason
• Santori Charles M
• Fiorentino Sr Marco
• Beausoleil Raymond G
• Morris Terrel L

Classifications

• G02B6/3516

  the reflective optical element moving along the beam path, e.g. controllable diffractive effects using multiple micromirrors within the beam · CPC title

• G02B7/004

  Manual alignment, e.g. micromanipulators · CPC title

• G02B6/3542

  Non-blocking switch, e.g. with multiple potential paths between multiple inputs and outputs, the establishment of one switching path not preventing the establishment of further switching paths · CPC title

• G02B6/3514 Primary

  the reflective optical element moving along a line so as to translate into and out of the beam path, i.e. across the beam path · CPC title

• G02B6/272

  comprising polarisation means for beam splitting and combining · CPC title