Multiple purpose optical connecting element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016238797-A1
Application number	US-201615093157-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 7, 2016
Priority date	Sep 26, 2011
Publication date	Aug 18, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The disclosure generally relates to sets of optical waveguides such as optical fiber ribbons, and fiber optic connectors useful for connecting multiple optical fibers such as in optical fiber ribbon cables. In particular, the disclosure provides an efficient, compact, and reliable optical fiber connector that incorporates a unitary substrate combining the features of optical fiber alignment and redirection of the optical beam to a connected optical fiber.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A unitary substrate comprising:
a first major surface comprising:
a first plurality of light redirecting features disposed in a first row;
at least one light redirecting feature disposed in a different second row; and
a plurality of waveguide alignment features; and
an opposing second major surface, wherein each light redirecting feature in the first plurality of light redirecting features and in the at least one light redirecting feature comprises:
an input surface for receiving light; and
a light redirecting surface for redirecting the received light through the substrate,
wherein the substrate, the plurality light redirecting features, and the plurality of waveguide alignment features form a unitary construction.

2 . The unitary substrate of claim 1 , wherein the first major surface comprises a raised portion, the raised portion comprising the plurality of waveguide alignment features.

3 . The unitary substrate of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of waveguide alignment features comprise a first plurality of alignment features ending adjacent the first row and a second plurality of features extending past the first plurality of alignment features towards the second row and ending adjacent the second row.

4 . The unitary substrate of claim 3 , wherein the first plurality of alignment features comprise a first plurality of grooves, and the second plurality of alignment features comprise a second plurality of grooves.

5 . The unitary substrate of claim 2 , wherein the first plurality of light redirecting features are disposed in recessed areas defined by the raised portion.

6 . The unitary substrate of claim 1 , wherein the at least one light redirecting feature is a continuous light redirecting feature.

7 . The unitary substrate of claim 1 , wherein the at least one light redirecting feature comprises a second plurality of light redirecting features.

8 . The unitary substrate of claim 1 , wherein the second major surface comprising a plurality of microlenses, each microlens adapted to receive light redirected by a light redirecting feature in the a first plurality of light redirecting features or in the at least one light redirecting feature.

9 . The optical construction of claim 8 , wherein the second major surface comprises a recessed area, the recessed area comprising the plurality of microlenses.

10 . The optical construction of claim 9 , wherein each microlens in the plurality of microlenses has an apex disposed within a volume defined by the recessed area.

11 . The unitary substrate of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of microlenses are staggered.

12 . A unitary substrate comprising:
a first major surface comprising:
a first plurality of light redirecting features disposed in a first row;
at least one light redirecting feature disposed in a different second row; and
a plurality of waveguide alignment features; and
an opposing second major surface comprising a plurality of staggered microlenses, wherein each light redirecting feature in the first plurality of light redirecting features and in the at least one light redirecting feature comprises:
an input surface for receiving light; and
a light redirecting surface for redirecting the received light through the substrate,
wherein each microlens is adapted to receive light redirected by a light redirecting feature in the a first plurality of light redirecting features or in the at least one light redirecting feature, and wherein the substrate, the plurality of microlenses, the first plurality light redirecting features, the at least one light redirecting feature, and the plurality of waveguide alignment features form a unitary construction.

13 . The unitary substrate of claim 12 , wherein the first major surface comprises a raised portion, the raised portion comprising the plurality of waveguide alignment features.

14 . The unitary substrate of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of waveguide alignment features comprise a first plurality of alignment features ending adjacent the first row and a second plurality of features extending past the first plurality of alignment features towards the second row and ending adjacent the second row.

15 . The unitary substrate of claim 14 , wherein the first plurality of alignment features comprise a first plurality of grooves, and the second plurality of alignment features comprise a second plurality of grooves.

16 . The unitary substrate of claim 13 , wherein the first plurality of light redirecting features are disposed in recessed areas defined by the raised portion.

17 . The unitary substrate of claim 12 , wherein the at least one light redirecting feature is a continuous light redirecting feature.

18 . The unitary substrate of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of staggered microlenses form first and second rows of microlenses, each microlens in the first row of microlenses being adapted to receive light that is redirected by a corresponding different light redirecting feature in the first plurality of light redirecting features, each microlens in the second row of microlenses being adapted to receive light that is redirected by the continuous light redirecting feature.

19 . The unitary substrate of claim 12 , wherein the at least one light redirecting feature comprises a second plurality of light redirecting features.

20 . The unitary substrate of claim 19 , wherein the plurality of staggered microlenses form first and second rows of microlenses, each microlens in the first row of microlenses being adapted to receive light that is redirected by a corresponding different light redirecting feature in the first plurality of light redirecting features, each microlens in the second row of microlenses being adapted to receive light that is redirected by a corresponding different light redirecting feature in the second plurality of light redirecting features.

21 . The optical construction of claim 12 , wherein the second major surface comprises a recessed area, the recessed area comprising the plurality of staggered microlenses.

22 . The optical construction of claim 21 , wherein each microlens in the plurality of staggered microlenses has an apex disposed within a volume defined by the recessed area.

Assignees

• 3M Innovative Properties Co

Inventors

• Bylander James R
• Wang Ding

Classifications

• G02B6/32

  having lens focusing means {positioned between opposed fibre ends (with lens being an integral part of the single fibre end G02B6/262)} · CPC title

• G02B6/3829 Primary

  Bent or angled connectors (G02B6/3827 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G02B6/3839

  for a plurality of light guides · CPC title

• G02B6/3885

  Multicore or multichannel optical connectors, i.e. one single ferrule containing more than one fibre, e.g. ribbon type (optical ribbon cable G02B6/4403, G02B6/448) · CPC title

• G02B6/4206 Primary

  Optical features (G02B6/4207, G02B6/421 take precedence) · CPC title