Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090116784 | LARGE TOLERANCE FIBER OPTIC TRANSMITTER AND RECEIVER - An optical transmitter relaxes the tolerance between a source assembly and a fiber receptacle to facilitate passive alignment. The source assembly includes a light source and a lens. The lens is held at a fixed distance away from the light source using precise support structures typically formed by photolithographic processes. The fiber receptacle includes an optical element. The fiber receptacle is adapted to hold an optical fiber at a fixed distance from the optical element. The lens substantially collimates light from the light source into the form of collimated light. The optical element focuses the collimated light onto the aperture of the optical fiber. | 05-07-2009 |
20090296177 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR USING A HOLOGRAM TO CONTROL THE OPTICAL FIELD DISTRIBUTION OF LIGHT GENERATED BY A LIGHT SOURCE AND LAUNCHED INTO AN END OF AN OPTICAL WAVEGUIDE - A diffractive coupling element based on a computer-generated hologram is used in an optical coupling system of a transmitter to control the launch of laser light from a laser light source onto an end of an optical fiber. The diffractive coupling element controls the launch of the laser light such that a desired optical intensity distribution pattern is provided that substantially avoids the center and edge refractive index defects contained in the optical fiber. | 12-03-2009 |
20100272403 | FIBER CONNECTOR MODULE INCLUDING INTEGRATED OPTICAL LENS TURN BLOCK AND METHOD FOR COUPLING OPTICAL SIGNALS BETWEEN A TRANSCEIVER MODULE AND AN OPTICAL FIBER - Embodiments of the invention include a fiber connector module and method for coupling optical signals between an optical transceiver module and an optical fiber described herein involve the coupling to or overmolding of a fiber connector module to an optical transceiver module or other optical source, and a fiber lens coupled to for formed into an angled surface of the fiber connector module housing. The angled surface and the fiber lens are configured in such a way that the fiber lens focuses collimated light from the transceiver module to the receiving end of an optical fiber or other optical detector positioned within the fiber connector module housing. Fiber connector modules according to embodiments of the invention allow for relatively low profiles compared to conventional arrangements and configurations, especially with multi-channel, parallel lane configurations. | 10-28-2010 |
20110008005 | PARALLEL OPTICAL COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE HAVING WELDABLE INSERTS - A parallel optical communications device is provided that has an OSA that includes at least one heat dissipation block having a slot formed in a lower surface thereof that contains a weldable insert. Likewise, an upper surface of the mounting device of the ESA has at least one slot formed therein that contains a weldable insert. After the OSA is placed in contact with the ESA and optically aligned with the ESA, the OSA is secured to the upper surface of the mounting device of the ESA by welding together the respective weldable inserts contained in the respective slots in the OSA and in the mounting device of the ESA. The welding process results in an extremely strong welded joint between the OSA and the ESA that prevents relative movement between the OSA and the ESA if external forces that are exerted on the OSA and/or on the ESA. | 01-13-2011 |
20110305417 | CONNECTOR SYSTEM HAVING ELECTRICAL AND OPTICAL LINKS WITH OPTICAL LINK CLEANER - In a connector system, a first connector is mechanically and optically mateable with a second connector to form one or more optical signal communication links A wiping cleaner is included on at least one of the first and second connectors for cleaning an optical port of the other of the first and second connectors when the connectors are plugged together. The first and second connectors can further be electrically mateable to provide both optical and electrical signal communication links | 12-15-2011 |
20110311182 | OPTO-ELECTRONIC ALIGNMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - Alignment of one or more lenses with one or more opto-electronic devices in an opto-electronic system is aided by an aligner device having a substantially cylindrical body with a base and an outer ring. The base has one or more openings, one of which is a first opto-electronic device opening. The first opto-electronic device opening has a substantially circular shape coaxial with the outer ring and coaxial with a central axis of the aligner device. | 12-22-2011 |
20120063721 | TWO-PART OPTICAL COUPLING SYSTEM HAVING AN AIR GAP THEREIN FOR REFLECTING LIGHT TO PROVIDE OPTICAL FEEDBACK FOR MONITORING OPTICAL OUTPUT POWER LEVELS IN AN OPTICAL TRANSMITTER (TX) - A two-part optical coupling system is provided for use in an optical transmitter (TX) module. The two-part optical coupling system has first and second optical parts and an air gap at the interface between the two optical parts. A portion of the light produced by a laser diode of the optical TX module is refracted at the air gap and is coupled by the optical coupling system into an end of an optical fiber. A second portion of the light produced by the laser diode is reflected by the air gap and is coupled by the optical coupling system onto a monitor photodiode of the optical TX. The electrical signal produced by the monitor photodiode may be used to monitor and adjust the optical output power level of the laser diode. Because the air gap is formed at the interface between the first and second optical parts, the process of forming the air gap can be incorporated into the optical coupling system manufacturing process without increasing the cost of the manufacturing process. | 03-15-2012 |
20120063725 | LOW-PROFILE OPTICAL COMMUNICATIONS MODULE HAVING TWO GENERALLY FLAT OPTICAL CONNECTOR MODULES THAT SLIDINGLY ENGAGE ONE ANOTHER - A low-profile optical communications module is provided that has two generally flat optical connector modules that slidingly engage one another to allow optical signals to be coupled between the optical connector modules. Because of the generally flat shapes of the optical connector modules and the manner in which they slidingly engage on another, the optical communications module has a very low profile that makes it well suited for use in thin devices, such as laptop and notebook computers and other electronics devices. | 03-15-2012 |
20120175535 | OPTICAL BACKPLANE HAVING AT LEAST ONE OPTICAL RELAY ELEMENT FOR RELAYING LIGHT FROM AN INPUT FACET OF THE BACKPLANE TO AN OUTPUT FACET OF THE BACKPLANE - An optical backplane is provided that has at least first and second side walls that are generally parallel to one another and at least one optical relay element disposed on at least one of the parallel side walls. An optical signal is coupled into the optical backplane through an entrance facet of the backplane. The optical signal is maintained within the optical backplane by internal reflection at the parallel side walls of the backplane. The optical relay element receives the optical signal reflected off of one of the side walls and reflects and refocuses the optical signal to guide the optical signal and prevent it from diverging as it propagates through the backplane from the entrance facet to the exit facet. | 07-12-2012 |
20120183256 | OPTICAL CONNECTION SYSTEM WITH PLUG HAVING OPTICAL TURN - A connection system and method in which, when a plug portion is mated with a receptacle portion, a reflector in the plug portion can redirect optical signals between an end of an optical fiber in the plug portion and an opto-electronic device, such as a light source or light receiver, in the receptacle portion | 07-19-2012 |
20120219300 | SINGLE-WAVELENGTH BIDIRECTIONAL FIBER OPTICAL LINK WITH BEAM-SPLITTING ELEMENT - An optical transceiver and method for bidirectionally communicating optical signals in an optical transceiver involve an optical element that bidirectionally separates incoming and outgoing optical signals of the same wavelength. The optical element can be a diffractive element such as a grating or, alternatively, a partially reflective element such as a transparent block having a thin-film coating. | 08-30-2012 |
20130094807 | OPTICAL COUPLING SYSTEM FOR USE IN AN OPTICAL COMMUNICATIONS MODULE, AN OPTICAL COMMUNICATIONS MODULE THAT INCORPORATES THE OPTICAL COUPLING SYSTEM, AND A METHOD - An optical communications module is provided with an optical coupling system that includes a reflective and focusing (RAF) lens and an index-matching material that together allow air gaps along the optical pathway, which are typically associated with the use of refractive optical elements used in known optical communications modules, to be eliminated. Eliminating these air gaps allows Fresnel reflection along the optical pathway to be eliminated, or at least greatly reduced. Eliminating or reducing Fresnel reflection reduces insertion loss and optical crosstalk in the optical communications module. | 04-18-2013 |
20130163938 | CONNECTOR SYSTEM HAVING ELECTRICAL AND OPTICAL LINKS WITH OPTICAL LINK CLEANER - In a connector system, a first connector is mechanically and optically mateable with a second connector to form one or more optical signal communication links. A wiping cleaner is included on at least one of the first and second connectors for cleaning an optical port of the other of the first and second connectors when the connectors are plugged together. The first and second connectors can further be electrically mateable to provide both optical and electrical signal communication links. | 06-27-2013 |
20140084148 | OPTICAL-QUALITY COVER FOR USE WITH AN OPTICAL COUPLING SYSTEM, AND AN OPTICAL COMMUNICATIONS MODULE THAT INCORPORATES THE OPTICAL-QUALITY COVER - In an optical communications module, an optical-quality (O-Q) cover is provided for use with an optical coupling system for protecting a diffractive grating of the optical coupling system from environmental contamination. In accordance with illustrative embodiments, the O-Q cover is used with an optical coupling system that includes a unitary, or integrally-formed, optical body having lenses formed on its lower end and a diffractive grating formed on its upper end. The O-Q cover is disposed in proximity to the diffractive grating and is mechanically coupled to the optical coupling system in a way that seals the portion of the optical coupling system comprising the diffractive grating in order to protect the diffractive grating from environmental contamination. | 03-27-2014 |
20140086579 | OPTICAL COUPLING SYSTEM, AN OPTICAL COMMUNICATIONS MODULE THAT INCORPORATES THE OPTICAL COUPLING SYSTEM, AND A METHOD OF USING THE OPTICAL COUPLING SYSTEM - An optical coupling system is provided that includes a unitary, or integrally-formed, optical body having lenses formed on its lower end and a diffractive grating formed on its upper end. The unitary optical body is made of a material that is transparent to an operating wavelength of light. Some of the lenses are collimating lenses and some of the lenses are focusing lenses. Diverging light beams emitted by respective laser diodes of a parallel optical transmitter module are incident on the respective collimating lenses, which collimate the respective diverging light beams to produce respective collimated light beams. The respective collimated light beams are then incident on the diffractive grating. The diffractive grating divides each collimated beam into at least a first beam that is transmitted through the grating and a second beam that is reflected by the grating onto the monitor photodiode. | 03-27-2014 |
20140314422 | BIDIRECTIONAL PARALLEL OPTICAL TRANSCEIVER MODULE AND A METHOD FOR BIDIRECTIONALLY COMMUNICATING OPTICAL SIGNALS OVER AN OPTICAL LINK - Bidirectional parallel optical transceiver modules for use in optical links and methods for communicating bidirectionally over the links are provided. The bidirectional parallel optical transceiver modules have features that ensure relatively low optical crosstalk, relatively low return loss and relatively high SNR. In addition, the modules have an in-line, zig-zag configuration that allows the modules to be compact and to have high bidirectional channel density for achieving high bandwidth. | 10-23-2014 |
20140355934 | OPTICS SYSTEM FOR USE IN A PARALLEL OPTICAL COMMUNICATIONS MODULE - An optics system for use with a parallel optical communications module is provided that includes a support structure for supporting the ends of the optical fibers in a way that ensures that the ends of the optical fibers are maintained in precise optical alignment with respective optical coupling elements of the optics system. The support structure makes it virtually impossible for there to be any misalignment between the ends of the optical fibers and the respective optical coupling elements of the optics system to prevent misalignment problems from occurring. In addition, the optics system is configured in such a way that the likelihood that the ends of the optical fibers will be damaged as they are inserted into the optics system is very small. | 12-04-2014 |
20140367816 | PHOTODETECTOR DEVICE HAVING LIGHT-COLLECTING OPTICAL MICROSTRUCTURE - A opto-electronic device includes a semiconductor device and a non-imaging optical concentrator on a surface of the semiconductor device. The semiconductor device has a substrate and a photodetector formed on a surface of the substrate. The non-imaging optical concentrator has a peripheral surface extending around a central region of the active area of the photodetector. The non-imaging optical concentrator redirects at least a portion of incoming light into the active area. | 12-18-2014 |