Fiber optic connectors and interfaces for fiber optic connectivity through device display surface, and related components, systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9389371-B2
Application number	US-201414491010-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 19, 2014
Priority date	Sep 19, 2014
Publication date	Jul 12, 2016
Grant date	Jul 12, 2016

Abstract

A fiber optic connection system is disclosed for optically connecting a fiber optic connector to an internal optical interface of a device through a display surface of the device. Connecting the connector to the device causes a display alignment feature of the connector to be retained against the display surface of the device. This causes a connector optical interface in the connector to optically connect to a device optical interface through the display surface of the device when the connector is connected with the device. One benefit of this arrangement is that a device, such as a smartphone or other small form-factor device for example, may include optical communication hardware that leverages the excellent clarity and flatness of the display surface, such as a display glass for example, to form and maintain a strong fiber optic connection between the connector and the device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fiber optic connector for optically connecting to a device through a display surface of the device, comprising:
a display alignment feature configured to align with a display surface of a device;
a mechanical alignment feature configured to mate with a device alignment feature of a device body of the device that supports the display surface such that the display alignment feature is retained against the display surface of the device when the mechanical alignment feature is mated with the device alignment feature of the device; and
a connector optical interface configured to optically connect to a device optical interface of the device through the display surface of the device when the display alignment feature is aligned with the display surface of the device.

2. The fiber optic connector of claim 1 , wherein:
the display alignment feature is part of a monolithic plug body of the connector.

3. The fiber optic connector of claim 1 , further comprising a mechanical actuator connected between the plug body and the connector optical interface, wherein mating the mechanical alignment feature with the device alignment feature causes the mechanical actuator to urge the optical interface into contact with the display surface of the device.

4. The fiber optic connector of claim 3 , wherein the mechanical actuator comprises at least one pivotable arm configured to rotate the connector optical interface into contact with the display surface of the device when the mechanical alignment feature is mated to the device.

5. The fiber optic connector of claim 4 , wherein the mechanical actuator comprises at least one bias member configured to bias the optical interface out of contact with the display surface when the mechanical alignment feature is de-mated from the device.

6. The fiber optic connector of claim 1 , wherein the mechanical alignment feature comprises at least one plug.

7. The fiber optic connector of claim 6 , wherein the at least one plug is an audio jack plug.

8. The fiber optic connector of claim 1 , further comprising at least one ferrule configured to receive at least one optical fiber, such that a received optical fiber is optically connected to the device optical interface when the connector is connected to the device.

9. The fiber optic connector of claim 8 , wherein the at least one ferrule is configured to connect the at least one optical fiber in an optical axis at a substantially right angle to an optical axis of the connector optical interface.

10. The fiber optic connector of claim 9 , wherein the at least one ferrule comprises at least one internal reflection surface for directing light between the at least one optical fiber and the connector optical interface.

11. The fiber optic connector of claim 1 , wherein the connector optical interface comprises at least one lens.

12. The fiber optic connector of claim 1 , further comprising at least one electrical conductor configured to electrically connect to an electrical connection feature of the device.

13. The fiber optic connector of claim 1 , wherein the connector optical interface comprises at least one contact surface for contacting the display surface of the device when the display alignment feature is aligned with the display surface of the device.

14. The fiber optic connector of claim 1 , further comprising at least one magnetic element configured to magnetically couple and align the display alignment feature of the connector to a portion of the display surface having a complementary magnetic element disposed in the device proximate to the portion of the display surface.

15. The fiber optic connector of claim 1 , further comprising at least one protrusion extending from the display alignment feature and configured to mate with a corresponding recess in the display surface of the device when the connector is connected to the device.

16. The fiber optic connector of claim 15 , wherein the at least one protrusion is a tongue and the corresponding recess is a groove.

17. An internal optical interface assembly for a device for optically connecting through a display surface of the device, the optical interface assembly comprising:
a monolithic receptacle body comprising:
a longitudinal bore defining a device alignment feature; and
an internal optical interface,

wherein the internal optical interface is disposed behind a display surface of the device and configured to optically connect to an optical interface of a fiber optic connector through the display surface of the device, when the fiber optic connector is connected to the device, and the device alignment feature is disposed in a device body of the device that supports the display surface.

18. The internal optical interface assembly of claim 17 , further comprising a first reflective element disposed in an optical path between the display surface and the internal optical interface;
wherein the optical path between the first reflective element and the display surface is substantially perpendicular to a plane defined by the display surface; and
wherein at least a portion of the optical path between the first reflective element and the internal optical interface is substantially parallel to the plane defined by the display surface.

19. The internal optical interface assembly of claim 18 , further comprising a second reflective element disposed in the optical path between the first reflective element and the internal optical interface;
wherein the optical path between the first reflective element and the second reflective element is substantially parallel to the plane defined by the display surface; and
wherein the optical path between the second reflective element and the internal optical interface is substantially perpendicular to the display surface.

20. The internal optical interface assembly of claim 17 , further comprising at least one magnetic element proximate to the display surface of the device configured to magnetically couple and align a display alignment feature of the connector to a portion of the display surface such that the optical interface of the connector is in optical communication with the internal optical interface.

21. The internal optical interface assembly of claim 17 , further comprising a waveguide disposed behind the display surface of the device configured to direct light between the display surface and the internal optical interface.

22. The internal optical interface assembly of claim 17 , wherein the longitudinal bore of the device alignment feature is an audio jack.

23. A method of optically connecting a connector to a device comprising:
mechanically connecting a mechanical alignment feature of a connector to a device alignment feature of a device to urge a connector optical interface of the connector into contact with a display surface of the device, thereby optically connecting the connector optical interface of the connector to a device optical interface of the device through the display surface of the device,
wherein urging the optical interface into contact with the display device comprises rotating at least one pivotable arm configured to rotate the connector optical interface into contact with the display surface of the device when the mechanical alignment feature is mated to the device.

24. The method of claim 23 , further comprising biasing the optical interface out of contact with the display surface when the mechanical alignment feature is de-mated

Assignees

• Corning Optical Comm Llc

Inventors

• Butler Douglas Llewellyn
• Fortusini Davide Domenico
• Isenhour Micah Colen
• Lewallen Christopher Paul
• Luther James Phillip
• Mazzali Claudio
• Watkins Percil

Classifications

• G02B6/3893

  Push-pull type, e.g. snap-in, push-on · CPC title

• G02B6/3826

  characterised by form or shape · CPC title

• G02B6/3873 Primary

  Connectors using guide surfaces for aligning ferrule ends, e.g. tubes, sleeves, V-grooves, rods, pins, balls · CPC title

• G02B6/4206

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

• G02B6/4214

  the intermediate optical element having redirecting reflective means, e.g. mirrors, prisms for deflecting the radiation from horizontal to down- or upward direction toward a device (G02B6/4246 takes precedence) · CPC title