Optical couplings having a coded magnetic array, and connector assemblies and electronic devices having the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9547139-B2
Application number	US-201414272897-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 8, 2014
Priority date	Nov 28, 2011
Publication date	Jan 17, 2017
Grant date	Jan 17, 2017

Abstract

Optical couplings for optically coupling one or more devices are disclosed. According to one embodiment, an optical coupling includes an optical coupling body, an optical interface, and a coded magnetic array located at the optical coupling body. The coded magnetic array has a plurality of magnetic regions configured for mating the optical interface. The optical coupling further includes a reflective surface within the optical coupling body and positioned along an optical path of the optical coupling body. The reflective surface is operable to redirect an optical signal propagating within the optical coupling body such that it propagates through the optical interface. The optical coupling may be configured as a plug, such as a plug of a connector assembly, or as a receptacle, such as a receptacle on an electronic device. Connector assemblies of optical cables, optical coupling receptacles, and translating shutter assemblies are also disclosed.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An optical coupling receptacle comprising:
an opening for receiving a plug ferrule of a connector assembly;
an optical coupling surface comprising an optical interface further comprising an active optical component, wherein the optical coupling surface is substantially orthogonal with respect to the opening such that an optical signal propagating within the optical coupling receptacle experiences an optical turn; and
a coded magnetic array comprising a plurality of magnetic regions for mating the optical interface, wherein the coded magnetic array is within the optical coupling receptacle and is substantially orthogonal with respect to the opening.

2. The optical coupling receptacle of claim 1 , wherein the coded magnetic array is located at a magnetic coupling surface that is opposite from and faces toward the optical coupling surface within the optical coupling receptacle.

3. The optical coupling receptacle of claim 1 , wherein the coded magnetic array is located at the optical coupling surface such that the coded magnetic array and the optical interface are located at a same surface within the optical coupling receptacle.

4. The optical coupling receptacle of claim 1 , wherein the coded magnetic array is located at a magnetic coupling surface that is orthogonal with respect to the optical coupling surface.

5. The optical coupling receptacle of claim 1 , further comprising a lens component optically coupled to the active optical component.

6. The optical coupling receptacle of claim 1 , further comprising:
a translating shutter assembly comprising:
a shutter body having a front surface and a wiper surface:
a wiper element coupled to the wiper surface of the shutter body; and
a bias member coupled to the shutter body, wherein:
in an unretracted state, the shutter body is positioned within the optical coupling receptacle such that the front surface is positioned at the opening;
the shutter body translates within the optical coupling receptacle in a plane orthogonal to the opening and a direction away from the opening by insertion of the plug ferrule into the optical coupling receptacle;
the wiper element is in contact with the optical interface as the shutter body is translated; and
the bias member returns the shutter body to the unretracted state such that the front surface is positioned at the opening upon removal of the plug ferrule from the optical coupling receptacle.

7. The optical coupling receptacle of claim 1 , wherein the optical interface comprises an optically transmissive face and a lens component.

8. The optical coupling receptacle of claim 1 , wherein:
the optical coupling receptacle is configured to receive the plug ferrule of a mated optical coupling, the plug ferrule comprising a mated optical interface and a mated coded magnetic array; and
the coded magnetic array is configured to align the optical interface of the optical coupling receptacle to the mated optical interface of the plug ferrule by magnetic coupling with the mated coded magnetic array of the plug ferrule.

9. The optical coupling receptacle of claim 1 , wherein the opening comprises a wiper element.

10. The optical coupling receptacle of claim 1 , wherein the optical coupling receptacle is a component of an electronic device.

11. An optical coupling receptacle comprising:
an opening for receiving a plug ferrule of a connector assembly;
an optical coupling surface comprising an optical interface further comprising an active optical component, wherein the optical coupling surface is substantially orthogonal with respect to the opening such that an optical signal propagating within the optical coupling receptacle experiences an optical turn;
a magnetic coupling surface that is substantially orthogonal with respect to the opening and non-coplanar with the optical coupling surface; and
a coded magnetic array located at the magnetic coupling surface, the coded magnetic array comprising a plurality of magnetic regions for mating the optical interface.

12. The optical coupling receptacle of claim 11 , wherein the magnetic coupling surface is substantially orthogonal with respect to the optical coupling surface.

13. The optical coupling receptacle of claim 11 , wherein the magnetic coupling surface is opposite from and faces toward the optical coupling surface within the optical coupling receptacle.

14. The optical coupling receptacle of claim 11 , further comprising:
a translating shutter assembly comprising:
a shutter body having a front surface and a wiper surface:
a wiper element coupled to the wiper surface of the shutter body; and
a bias member coupled to the shutter body, wherein:
in an unretracted state, the shutter body is positioned within the optical coupling receptacle such that the front surface is positioned at the opening;
the shutter body translates within the optical coupling receptacle in a plane orthogonal to the opening and a direction away from the opening by insertion of the plug ferrule into the optical coupling receptacle;
the wiper element is in contact with the optical interface as the shutter body is translated; and
the bias member returns the shutter body to the unretracted state such that the front surface is positioned at the opening upon removal of the plug ferrule from the optical coupling receptacle.

15. An optical coupling receptacle comprising:
an opening for receiving a plug ferrule of a connector assembly;
an optical coupling surface comprising an optical interface further comprising an active optical component, wherein the optical coupling surface is substantially orthogonal with respect to the opening such that an optical signal propagating within the optical coupling receptacle experiences an optical turn;
a coded magnetic array comprising a plurality of magnetic regions for mating the optical interface; and
a translating shutter assembly comprising:
a shutter body having a front surface and a wiper surface:
a wiper element coupled to the wiper surface of the shutter body; and
a bias member coupled to the shutter body, wherein:
in an unretracted state, the shutter body is positioned within the optical coupling receptacle such that the front surface is positioned at the opening;
the shutter body translates within the optical coupling receptacle in a plane orthogonal to the opening and a direction away from the opening by insertion of the plug ferrule into the optical coupling receptacle;
the wiper element is in contact with the optical interface as the shutter body is translated; and
the bias member returns the shutter body to the unretracted state such that the front surface is positioned at the opening upon removal of the plug ferrule from the optical coupling receptacle.

16. The optical coupling receptacle of claim 15 , wherein the coded magnetic array is within the optical coupling receptacle and is substantially orthogonal with respect to the opening.

17. The optical coupling receptacle of claim 16 , wherein the coded magnetic array is located at a magnetic coupling surface that is opposite from and faces toward the optical coupling surface within the optical coupling receptacle.

18. The optical coupling receptacle of claim 16 , wherein the coded magnetic array is located at the optical coupling surface such that the coded magnetic array and the optical interface are located at a same surface within the optical coupling receptacle.

19. The optical coupling receptacle of claim 16 , wherein the coded magnetic array is located at a magnetic c

Assignees

• Corning Optical Communications LLC

Inventors

• Isenhour Micah Colen
• Knecht Dennis Michael
• Luther James Phillip

Classifications

• G02B6/4219 Primary

  Mechanical fixtures for holding or positioning the elements relative to each other in the couplings; Alignment methods for the elements, e.g. measuring or observing methods especially used therefor · 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

• G02B6/4292

  the light guide being disconnectable from the opto-electronic element, e.g. mutually self aligning arrangements · CPC title

• G02B6/4204

  the coupling comprising intermediate optical elements, e.g. lenses, holograms (encapsulated active devices H01S5/02208) · CPC title

• G02B6/3886 Primary

  Magnetic means to align ferrule ends · CPC title