Flexible lensed optical interconnect device for signal distribution.
Abstract
La invención se refiere a un método y a un dispositivo para interconectar componentes ópticos, tales como fibras ópticas y circuitos ópticos, en una manera flexible, repetible y rentable. La invención puede implementarse en casetes ópticos, tablero de conexiones y cajas de tableros de conexiones. Pueden utilizarse para remplazar cables de conexiones en centros de datos y lo similar. Pueden aplicarse en virtualmente cualquier aplicación de interconectividad óptica. De acuerdo con la invención, dos o más componentes ópticos se interconectan ópticamente mediante un sustrato de circuito óptico flexible que lleva una o más fibras ópticas incluidas con una lente en cada extremo de cada fibra, estando la lente también incluida en el sustrato del circuito óptico flexible. El circuito óptico flexible puede incorporarse en un alojamiento que tiene aberturas para recibir los conectores ópticos de los componentes ópticos que van a interconectarse con el dispositivo, tal como los conectores ópticos en los extremos de los cables ópticos o en las interfaces de los circuitos ópticos o electro-ópticos. Los extremos con lente de las fibras incluidas en el circuito óptico flexible se colocan adyacentes a las aberturas para conectarse ópticamente a las fibras dentro de los conectores instalados en las aberturas sin la necesidad de acoplar los conectores dentro del alojamiento.

Term
6 yearsleft in the term
Expires 7 September 2032.
- Priority
- Filed
- Granted
- Today
- Expires
5 claims: 1 independent, 4 dependent
- 1REIVINDICACIONES 1. Un casete óptico que comprende:un alojamiento de casete que define un interior y un exterior;un primer conector óptico seleccionado del grupo que consiste de un conector SC, un conector LC, un conector ST y un conector MPO acoplado al alojamiento del casete, terminando el primer conector óptico un cable que lleva una pluralidad de fibras ópticas que se extienden hacia el interior del alojamiento del casete;un circuito óptico flexible definido por un sustrato flexible colocado en el interior del alojamiento del casete, soportando físicamente el sustrato flexible la pluralidad de fibras ópticas que se extienden hacia el interior del alojamiento del casete desde el primer conector óptico hasta una pluralidad de adaptadores ópticos ubicados en el alojamiento del casete, en donde cada adaptador óptico se configura para acoplar un segundo conector óptico seleccionado del grupo que consiste de un conector SC, un conector LC, un conector ST y un conector MPO que viene del exterior del alojamiento del casete con un tercer elemento óptico de terminación de fibra, conductor de luz que no es cualquiera de un conector SC, un conector LC, un conector ST y un conector MPO del interior del alojamiento del casete, teniendo el tercer elemento óptico de terminación de fibra, conductor de luz una diferente configuración a la del segundo conector óptico, en donde cada tercer elemento óptico de IMPI INSTITUTO MEXICANO DE LA PROPIEDAD INDUSTRIAL terminación de fibra, conductor de luz tprn inn V n ? i ag fibras soportadas por el sustrato flexible.
- 2El casete óptico de acuerdo con la reivindicación 1, en donde el alojamiento del casete define un lado frontal y un lado posterior, estando colocado el primer conector óptico en el lado posterior y estando colocada la pluralidad de adaptadores ópticos en el lado frontal con el sustrato flexible colocado intermedio.
- 3El casete óptico de acuerdo con la reivindicación 2, en donde el sustrato flexible se configura para permitir la flexión en una dirección generalmente perpendicular a la dirección que se extiende desde el lado frontal hasta el lado posterior del alojamiento del casete.
- 4El casete óptico de acuerdo con la reivindicación 1, en donde cada segundo conector óptico incluye una férula óptica y cada tercer elemento óptico de terminación de fibra, conductor de luz es seleccionado del grupo que consiste de una lente, una rejilla de difracción, una rejilla Escalier, un espejo y un holograma. reivindicación 1, en donde las superficies de extremo de cada INSTITUTO MEXICANO DE LA PROPIEDAD INDUSTRIAL una de las fibras ópticas que se extienden desde eT~ priméT conector óptico y se soporta por el sustrato flexible se termina en un bloque polimérico adyacente a la pluralidad de adaptadores ópticos.
- 55 8. El casete óptico de acuerdo con la reivindicación 1, en donde los terceros elementos ópticos de terminación de fibra, conductores de luz se instalan físicamente en el sustrato flexible. IMPI INSTITUTO MEXICANO DE LA PROPiEDAD INDUSTRIAL
Independent claims5
184 paragraphs in 42 sections, as filed
(54) Title: FLEXIBLE OPTICAL INTERCONNECTION DEVICE WITH LENS FOR SIGNAL DISTRIBUTION. (54) Title: FLEXIBLE LENSED OPTICAL INTERCONNECT DEVICE FOR SIGNAL DISTRIBUTION.
(57) Summary
The invention relates to a method and device for interconnecting optical components, such as optical fibers and optical circuits, in a flexible, repeatable, and cost-effective manner. The invention can be implemented in optical cassettes, junction board and junction board boxes. They can be used to replace connecting cables in data centers and the like. They can be applied in virtually any optical interconnectivity application. In accordance with the invention, two or more optical components are optically interconnected by a flexible optical circuit substrate carrying one or more included optical fibers with a lens at each end of each fiber, the lens also being included in the optical circuit substrate flexible. The flexible optical circuit may be incorporated into a housing having openings to receive the optical connectors of the optical components to be interconnected with the device, such as the optical connectors at the ends of the optical cables or at the interfaces of the optical circuits or electro-optical. The lens ends of the fibers included in the flexible optical circuit are positioned adjacent to the openings to optically connect to the fibers within the connectors installed in the openings without the need to couple the connectors within the housing.
(57) Abstract
The invention relates to a method and device for interconnecting optical components, such as optical fibers and optical circuits, in a flexible, repeatable, and cost-effective manner. The invention can be implemented in optical cassettes, patch panels, and patch panel enclosures. It may be used to replace patch cables in data centers and the like. It may be applied in virtually any optical interconnectivity application. ln according to the invention, two or more optical components are optically interconnected by a flexible optical Circuit substrate bearing one or more embedded optical fibers with a lens at each end of each fiber, the lens also embedded in the flexible optical Circuit substrate. The flexible optical Circuit may be incorporated into a housing bearing apertures for receiving the optical connectors of the optical components that are to be interconnected with the device, such as the optical connectors at the ends of optical cables or at the interfaces of optical or electro- optical circuits. The lensed ends of the fibers embedded in the flexible optical Circuit are positioned adjacent to the apertures for optically connecting to the fibers within the connectors installed in the apertures without the need for mating connectors inside of the housing.
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Institute
Mexican Property
Industrial i
M
P
I
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PATENT TITLE NO. 338522
Owner (s): TYCO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
Address: 1050 Westlakes Drive, Berwyn, Pennsylvania, 19312, USA
Name: FLEXIBLE OPTICAL INTERCONNECTION DEVICE WITH LENS FOR SIGNAL DISTRIBUTION.
Classification: IC.8: G02B6 / 46
Inventor (s): JAMES JOSEPH EBERLE, JR .; BRUCE ELTRINGHAM BARRY
Wildebeest
MX / a / 2014/002952
Country:
US
Validity: Twenty $ ños
REQUEST
Presentation date September 1, 2012
PRIORITY
Date:
September 2011
I
Expiration Date September 7, 2032 «« IL ilsilh • íW '
Number:
13 / 230,094 of reference is given with tendarr ^ fefeteen articles 1st, 2nd fraction V, 6<sup>to</sup> fraction III. and 59 of the Industrial Law.
Industrial trust this patent has a validity of twenty non-extendable years, international and will be subject to the payment of the fee to keep the
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lad Industrial (DiarioJDflcial de te Federac¡ón (D.
2004, 06/16/2005, 01/25/2006, 0 || 05 / 2009,06 / 01 a), 4th and 12th fractions I and III I7 / 2002, 07/15/2004, 07/28 / 2004 and the Mexican Institute of Property subsection a) of the Agreement q | b delegates f <
Regional, Deputy Directors Di reformai
In accordance with article 23 of the Pi Law counted from the date of presentation of i * rights. É «
Who subscribes to this title does so with fundam
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By articles 6 sections III and 7 bis 2 of the 'amended on 08/02/1994, 10/25/1986, 12/26/1997,
Regulation of HBteMcMe'OTTW'eá- la Pj Mtedad Industrial (DO F 14/12/1999,
09/2007); Articles V ^ WIfeaMgiiiiii | M: inpwA. 16 tnMBPne »ly ill and 30 of the Industrial Status (DOF 12/27/1999 MRmadFMOTqdB & | j ^ 004, 08/04/2004 and 09/13/2 Itades in the Directors General i ^ ÉWfMMRador, Divisional Directors, Headlines, Coordinators Deoartamentales and other subordinates of the Mexican Institute of
Issue Date: April 20, 2016
DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OF PATENTS
NAHANNY CANAL REYES ·.
705/1999, ration V signed the Organic> 7); 1st, 3rd res of the 'property
Sand! No. 550, Floor 1,
Co!. Pueblo Santa María Tepepan, Xochímiico, ZIP 16020.
Mexico City
Tea!. (55) 53 34 07 00 www.tiripi.qob.iTix
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MX / 2016/30930
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MEXICAN INSTITUTE ÜE THE PROPERTY,, INDUSTRIAL
FLEXIBLE OPTICAL INTERCONNECTION DEVICE WITH LENS FOR
SIGNAL DISTRIBUTION
This application was filed on September 7, 2012, as a PCT International Patent application in the name of Tyco Electronics Corporation, a US national corporation, applicant for designation of all countries except the US, and James Joseph Eberle, Jr. and Bruce Eltringham Barry, both US citizens, applicants for the US designation only, and claim priority of the US Utility Application Serial Number 13 / 230,094 filed on September 12, 2011, the matter of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to fiber optic connectivity for high speed signal distribution.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Fiber Optic Interconnect Cassettes are passive, optical components that connect fibers between cable assemblies. Such cassettes usually provide the transition between multi-fiber connectors, such as MPO type connectors with MT ferrules and single or dual fiber connectors, such as LC or SC type connectors. A typical prior art fiber optic interconnect cassette is illustrated in Figure 1. The role of this
IMPI
<img file="MX338522B_D0007.tif" />
Particular exemplary cassette 100 is distributing Tay signals ·· between the twelve fibers contained in the fiber optic cable 103 and six dual fiber cables 105. For example, in a practical case, each of the dual fiber cables 105 comprises a channel transmission and a reception channel. Accordingly, six of the fibers in the twelve-fiber cable 103 transmit data to and through the cassette to one of the fibers in each of the six dual-fiber cables
105. The other six fibers in the twelve fiber cable 103 receive data through the cassette from the other fibers in each of the six dual fiber cables 105. Thus, the multi-fiber cable 103 is terminated with a multi-fiber connector, such as an MPO 107 plug connector. The six dual fiber cables 105 are each terminated with a dual fiber connector, such as the plug connectors
Dual-fiber LC 109. Alternatively, each cable 105 can be terminated with two single-fiber connectors. Cassette 100 comprises an adapter 114 in an opening in the wall of housing 101 to which a twelve-fiber MPO receptacle connector 111 is attached to the interior of the housing to engage the type plug connector
Twelve-fiber MPO 107 at the end of cable 103. Cassette 100 further comprises six dual adapters 115 in openings in the wall of housing 101 to which twelve single-fiber LC receptacle connectors are attached.
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113 inside housing 101 to optically connect to the six dual-fiber LC-type plug connectors 109 at the ends of the fiber-optic cables 105. Twelve individual fibers 117 are routed into housing 101 between the back of the receptacle connector MPO 111 and the backs of the twelve LC 113 receptacle connectors.
These optical cassettes 100 are rather expensive because they are usually assembled by hand by highly skilled workers and require connection of fibers 117 to connectors 111 and 113 at both ends of each fiber, including placing fibers 117 within the connector ferrules 111, 113, epoxidize the fibers in the connectors, polish the fiber end surfaces, routing fibers 117 within the watertight space of housing 101 and all other stages normally associated with fiber optic terminations on connectors. Furthermore, because the cassettes are assembled by hand, they are subject to human error and variability, depending on the skill and experience of the operator, especially with regard to improper fiber routing. Also, assembling the fiber optic cassette involves taking lengthy tests during the process, especially for higher speed components.
Furthermore, with the increasing prevalence of networks
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4 0 GB and 100 GB poi optics<sup>1</sup> iey undu », - l · * interconnection / consolidation in a fiber optic cassette includes multi-fiber connectors at both ends of the fibers, because in the 40 GB and 100 GB networks, each channel currently includes 4, 8 , 10 or 20 fibers in parallel, instead of 2. With the channels needing much more fibers now, consolidation of these channels into junction lines with more fibers will be critical in the future as the space within the centers of data becomes more expensive. As a consequence, the associated fiber routing within the cassette becomes much more complex and prone to operator variability.
The power requirements for optical channels will be strict and space limitations will be significant. Consequently, qualities will need to be tightly controlled so that tolerances will become tighter and operator variability will become more and more problematic. This will lead to higher precision components being more expensive, higher in-process testing costs, and higher levels of reprocessing and manufacturing waste.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a method and device for interconnecting optical components, such as fibers
IMPI
INSTITUTO MEXICANO OE LA PROPIEDAD industrial
<img file="MX338522B_D0010.tif" />
optics, optical connectors and optical circuits ..— Hp manara flexible, repeatable and cost-effective. The invention can be implemented in optical cassettes, patch boards, patch board boxes, zone distribution hardware, wall accessories, and the like. It can be used to replace interconnect cables in data centers and the like. It can be applied in virtually any interconnectivity application. In accordance with the invention, two or more optical components are optically interconnected by means of a flexible optical circuit substrate having one or more optical fibers incorporated with a lens at each end of each fiber. The lens can be incorporated into the substrate of the flexible optical circuit or placed in a separate support device, either installed on or separate from the substrate. The flexible optical circuit can be incorporated into a housing that has openings to receive the optical connectors of the optical components that will interface with the device, such as the optical connectors at the ends of the optical cables or at the interfaces of the optical or electro circuits -optics. The divided ends of the fibers incorporated in the flexible optical circuit or in a secondary device are placed adjacent to the lenses that allow optical coupling with the openings, to connect optically to the fibers within the connectors installed in the
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MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF PROPERTY
INDUSTRIAL
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openings without the need to connect the eoHeetorca inside the housing. Alternatively, the fibers can be shaped in such a way that they act as lenses to directly couple with a focusing device such as a lens to optically couple to the connectors installed in the apertures.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a plan view of an exemplary prior art fiber optic cassette with the top panel removed.
Figure 2 is a representation of a flexible fiber optic circuit in accordance with the principles of the present invention.
Figure 3 is a plan view of a fiber optic cassette in accordance with the principles of the present invention with the top panel removed.
Figure 4 is a detailed view of portion A of Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of the invention used to make the optical connection between patch panels on an equipment rack.
Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating the principles of the present invention incorporated in a variable depth rack installation box.
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MEXICAN INSTITUTE
OF PROPERTY <C »j
INDUSTRIAL
Figure 7 is variable depth of invention.
a representation of uñ Cray tí L ^: - according to a modality of the
Figure 8 is a representation of another cassette according to the principles of the present invention that is flexible.
Figure 9 is a representation of yet another cassette in accordance with the principles of the present invention that is foldable around a hinge.
Figure 10 is a representation of an optical phase shifter in accordance with the principles of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for interconnecting the first and second optical components, such as optical cables or electro-optical devices in a cost-effective, flexible and repeatable manner. The invention is particularly suitable in applications such as optical cassettes, patch cords, optical phase shifters and patch panel interconnects, zone distribution hardware, wall accessories, and the like.
The present invention includes the use of flexible optical circuits having at least one, but more effectively, many optical fibers incorporated into a flexible optical circuit substrate with a molded lens.
IMPI
MEXICAN INSTITUTE OE THE PROPERTY industkial
<img file="MX338522B_D0013.tif" />
placed on at least one surface of one n more fibers. Lenses can be optically interconnected with standard external optical connectors (eg, MPO, LC, ST, SC plug) at the ends of cables or at electro-optical device interfaces without the need for a conventional mating connector (eg, receptacles). MPO, LC, ST, SC). Rather, a connector on an optical component, eg, an LC plug at the end of a fiber optic cable, can be plugged into an adapter on a panel of an optical cassette to optically engage directly with the lens at the end of the embedded fiber optic, such as an LC receptacle connector, inside the cassette box. Eliminating conventional connectors within the cassette significantly reduces overall costs because it eliminates the highly skilled work that is normally associated with terminating an optical fiber in a connector, which includes polishing and epoxidizing the fiber within the connector, as well as dependencies of work and craft associated with routing the optical fibers in the cassette. It also allows the cassette to be made very thin. Furthermore, the flexible optical circuit in accordance with the present invention need not be placed in a rigid housing or any housing at all, depending on the particular application.
Because the flexible optical circuit with lenses
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It is mechanically flexible, the concept-of-the-prefense-invention can be used in many different applications, of which the optical cassette is just one example. For example, it can be placed in an L-shaped housing and used to make right angle connections, such as a right angle wall optical adapter. It can be rolled into a cylinder and used to interconnect existing conduit. The concept of connectivity of the flexible optical circuit with lenses can be incorporated into flexible housings, such as housings made of rubber, so that a single cassette can be used to make connections in different environments and / or can be compensated in all six degrees of freedom ( eg, the axes, X, Y and Z and vertical displacement, degree of tilt and oscillation) to compensate for any form of misalignment of the two components to be optically interconnected. Due to the flexible nature of the flexible optical circuit substrate, the invention can accommodate virtually any physical environment in which the interconnecting fibers are not coplanar. As noted above, the flexible optical circuit can flex in any nonplanar shape, including, but not limited to a cylinder, S-curve, right-angle curve, compound curve, and corrugations.
The invention may further be incorporated into housings having two parts interconnected by one
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hinge, so that they are foldable to i τ-ed ^ dor of the <sup>Q</sup>jp d? hinge to provide similar flexibility.
It is contemplated that in accordance with the present invention a finite number of flexible optical circuits combined with a finite number of modularly connectable components of the housing, particularly flexible, bendable components of the housing, Articulated and / or stretchable and one or more different lens blocks can offer the ability to modularly construct an optical interconnect for virtually any situation from a relatively small number of parts. Such a modular system would substantially reduce costs and substantially increase quality and repeatability by substantially reducing or eliminating the human labor involved in manufacturing such optical interconnect circuits.
Figure 2 shows a flexible optical circuit 250 in accordance with the principles of the present invention. This particular flexible optical circuit achieves the same signal routing as the cassette in Figure 1. In particular, a fiber optic cable, such as cable 103 in Figure 1 on the right hand side, contains twelve fibers that need to be routed, each one in the twelve unique optical connectors, such as connectors 113 in Figure 1 on the left. Thus, the optical circuit
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IMPI flexible 250 includes twelve optical fibers? -I 7 ejrrnt-arbo ^ ~ m-? corresponds. All embedded fibers 217 are terminated at each end with a molded lens 230. The lenses 230 are placed in a lens block 257, which can be installed on a separate bracket (not shown in Figure 2) as discussed in more detail below. in relation to Figure 4.
Flexible optical circuits are known and therefore will not be described in detail. However, they essentially comprise one or more fibers 217 sandwiched between two or more sheets of flexible material 226, 228, such as Mylar ™ or another polymer. An adhesive 255 can be incorporated between two sheets in order to make them adhere to each other. Alternatively, depending on the sheet material and other factors, the two sheets 226, 228 may be heated above their melting point to heat weld together with the fibers incorporated between the two sheets.
Considerable technology has been developed in connection with the design, manufacture, and use of such lenses in optical connectors, the technology of which can be used to design and manufacture such lenses 230, terminate optical fibers 217 with such lenses, and couple light through such lenses with fibers in optical connectors. Such information may be obtained from the following patents and patent applications, all of which are fully incorporated herein by reference.
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MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF THE INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY
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US Patent No. 7,722,261 entitled txparidSCT Beam Connector;
US Patent Publication No. 2011/0096404 filed on October 28, 2009, titled Expanded Beam Interface Device and Method of Fabricating Same;
US Patent Publication No. 2009/0097800 filed on October 9, 2008, titled Multi-Fiber Ferrules for Making Physical Contact and Method of Determining Same (Multi-Fiber Ferrules for Physical Contact and Method for Determination);
US Patent No. 6,208,779 entitled Optical Fiber Array Interconnection;
US Patent No. 6,480,661 entitled Optical ADD / DROP Filter and Method of Making Same;
US Patent No. 6,690,862 entitled Optical Fiber Circuit;
US Patent No. 6,012,852 entitled Expanded Beam Fiber Optic Connector; and
US Patent Application No. 12 / 836,067 filed on July 14, 2010 titled Single-Lens,
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Mexican Institute of Industrial Property
Multi-Fiber Optical Connector Method and ApPái'áLLb (Single Lens Multi-Fiber Optical Connector Method and Apparatus);
More specifically, the technology is available to couple a connector directly to the front of the 230 lenses so that the lenses do not need to have their own conventional coupling connector, as
<td>described</td><td>in the patent</td><td>from EU</td><td>No.</td><td> 7,</td><td>722,261 before</td>
<td>mentioned.</td><td>Rather, with</td><td>reference</td><td>to</td><td>the</td><td>Figure 3, which</td>
<td>shows the</td><td>optical circuit</td><td>flexible</td><td> 250</td><td>of</td><td>figure 2</td>
Incorporated in an optical cassette 200 like the one in Figure 1, cables 103, 105 (or other optical components to be interconnected optically) can be terminated with conventional connectors 107, 109, as in Figure 1. These connectors 107, 109 can be plugged into adapters 115 in the cassette 200 adjacent to the respective lenses 230 and optically coupled with the lenses (and, through the lenses, with the fibers 217 of the flexible optical circuit) without the need for a second conventional mating connector inside cassette housing 201.
With respect to multi-fiber connectors 107, each fiber can be optically coupled to an individual lens. However, a single large lens 230 may alternatively be used to couple the light from each of the twelve fibers in connector 107, individually into all twelve fibers 217 in flexible optical circuit 250.
By
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MEXICAN INSTITUTE &
PROPERTY AW industrial Ν »« ** ίΒΓ * «jy» of EU NO '. 12 / 030.00? ·; Flexible optical circuit la oresente. remove the example, see the Patent Application
Therefore, the use of the 250 lens is described in most, if not all, of the specialized manual labor that is normally associated with the manufacture of an optical cassette. In particular, the polishing of the end surfaces of the fibers. Furthermore, there is no need to manually route the optical fibers within the cassette housing, which can be quite difficult when the number of optical couplings that need to be manufactured is large. Furthermore, flexible optical circuits are generally manufactured on substantially automated machines and therefore can be mass-produced quickly and economically and then only inserted into a housing.
The invention also eliminates many of the components used in the conventional internal connection and simplifies the connector process. This feature further reduces costs significantly as well as allows the housing to be very thin and / or flexible.
FIG. 4 is a detailed exploded view of portion A of FIG. 3 illustrating the interface of two fibers 217 in flexible optical circuit 250 to two fibers 271 in an exemplary two-fiber external connector 109. In particular, external connector 109, which can be
MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF PROPERTY
INDUSTRIAL
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any conventional connector, such as a S? í ?, tp ST or MPO connector is inserted into an adapter 115 in an opening in the cassette housing 201, essentially in a conventional manner. On the inner side of housing 201, flexible optical circuit 250 contains fibers 217, the end surfaces 217a of which terminate in a lens block 257 comprising two lenses 230 molded as part of a polymeric block 258. Alternatively, the lenses can be manufactured separately and placed in openings in a support block, such as a polymer block. A coupling index material (not shown), such as a gel or adhesive, can be placed in the interstices between the end surfaces 217a of the fibers of the flexible optical circuit 250 and the lenses 230, to reduce losses. Anti-reflective elements or coatings can also be interposed to improve the optical return loss characteristics. The other sides of the lenses 230 are spliced into the adapter aligned with the light paths 261 defined by the adapter, which in turn is aligned with the end surfaces of the optical fibers 271 on the external connectors 109. Again, a coupling index material can be placed between the lenses 230 and the adapters 115 and / or the connectors 109.
The cassette embodiment described above is solely an embodiment of the present invention. In others !*-"*
MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF PROPERTY
INDUSTRIAL modalities, there may be no accommodation or the accommodation may be flexible. For example, in other embodiments the connectors can be incorporated into flexible optical circuits. Specifically, the lenses can be incorporated into conventional connectors installed on the flexible optical circuit which can then be coupled with the opposite complementary connectors.
Figure 5, for example, illustrates an optical interconnect 500 in accordance with the principles of the present invention, which is used to interconnect optical signals from a set of four multi-fiber connectors 501 (each connector, in turn, comprising four fibers ) on sixteen single-fiber 503 connectors on a 505 equipment rack. Particularly, Figure 5 shows a portion of the equipment rack 5 05 containing an upper row of connection boards 509 and a lower row of vertically aligned connection boards 511. The upper row of connection boards 509 comprises a plurality of connectors vertically oriented dual fibers. The bottom row of patch boards comprises a plurality of vertically oriented four slot 511 patch boards, each slot containing a connector having 4 fibers.
For each column, interconnects from the bottom row of multi-fiber connectors to the top row of
IMPI
Mexican Institute of Industrial Property
<img file="MX338522B_D0022.tif" />
Single-fiber connectors 503 is brought to a series of flexible optical circuits 500 terminated with suitable connectors in accordance with the present invention. For this application, the opposite end surfaces of the fibers in the flexible optical circuits 500 are oriented in the same direction and positioned adjacent to the same edge of the flexible optical circuit or at least to the substantially collinear edges of the flexible optical circuit.
In the prior art, these connections would conventionally be produced with the plurality of 1 to 4 custom cable installations with suitable connectors at each end. Consequently, making the interconnects in just one column would require a person to plug 16 (12 + 4) different connectors into what would likely be a very tight space because presumably there would already be other cables and connectors around the connections that are needed. do. Furthermore, the rack most likely may be in a data center comprising a large number or hundreds of such tightly stacked racks, making for a very tight working environment.
By using the flexible optical circuit interconnector 500 of the present invention, these sixteen connections can be made simultaneously by properly aligning the flexible optical circuit interconnector
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MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY
-·.*>·>·
500 of the present invention with the connee ^ * ^ e ~ -e4a ___ Lcts__ appropriate connection boards 509, 511 and simultaneously drive them to simultaneously engage the sixteen connectors.
For this type of application, the flexible optical circuits can be made rigid enough to allow such momentum without collapsing the flexible optical circuit, which is still flexible enough to flex or stretch to respond to any misalignment between the two junction boards 509, 511 involved in the connection.
In other embodiments, a mounting device can be provided to support flexible optical circuit 500 while powered. Such a mounting device can be as simple as two parallel plexiglass plates spaced from each other, enough to slide the flexible optical circuit 500 between the two plates, with the front end (the end including the connectors) protruding slightly, so that can clutch mating connectors or adapters on 509 patch panels, 511 while most of the flexible optical circuit is supported by the plates to prevent them from bending, bending or mutilating.
Figure 6 illustrates another use of the present invention in a shelf drawer. In the prior art,
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MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY
<img file="MX338522B_D0024.tif" />
When terminating the optical cables in shelf drawers that can be telescopically slid in and out of the shelf, the excess cable has to be provided hanging from the back of the shelf or tangled with adjacent hardware cables, so that there is enough excess cable to allow the drawer to be pulled out without tightening the cables.
In accordance with the present invention, the clearance necessary to allow drawers 600, 610 to slide in and out of shelf 602 can be provided within the drawer itself by using the flexible optical circuit 604 of the present invention, within drawer 600 , 610, to interconnect the cables 606 to the rear panels 601, 611 of the drawers 600, 610 with the connection boards
608, 609 on the front of the drawers. Flexible Optical Circuit 604 is manufactured long enough to accommodate drawers that are fully pulled out to their front stops, as shown with upper left drawer 600 in Figure 6, but can be folded over to allow the drawer is fully pushed to its rear stops, as shown with the lower right drawer 610 (note: fold 612).
In yet another embodiment, the flexible optical circuit and / or the housing incorporated within can be corrugated like an accordion, so that the optical circuit
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MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF PROPERTY
INDUSTRIAL
<img file="MX338522B_D0025.tif" />
flexible and its accommodation can be pull so. and it will compress lengthwise as well as bend into a compound curve. Figure 7 illustrates a housing 701 constructed in accordance with such an embodiment. For example, in such an embodiment the front and rear panels 705, 707 of housing 701 with windows 702, 703 for receiving adapters (not shown) that will accept connectors (not shown) of optical components that will be optically connected through the housing 701 can be made rigid, while the side walls 709, 710, 711, 712 are made of flexible material that can be bent and compressed and stretched like an accordion, as illustrated. Alternatively, the side walls can be telescopically expanded and contracted.
The flexible optical circuit that will go within housing 701 can be corrugated in a manner similar to that described above in relation to housing 701 to make it extensible in length as well as collapsible. Alternatively, however, the flexible optical circuit can be S-shaped along its length (as shown in Figure 6 - see 612) so that the linear distance between the depths of the longitudinal ends of the bends can increase and decrease to accommodate the changing linear distance between opposite ends 705, 707 of the housing (and consequently the distance
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MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY linear between opposite ends of <sup>1ac</sup>- £ ΐ ^ => °) hp similar to that illustrated in Figure 6. Care should be taken not to bend the optical fibers too angularly in corrugations or S-curves so that they could break or break. less allow light to escape from the nuclei. However, many manufacturers today offer fibers that can bend in very small radius curves, without breakage or significant signal loss.
In still other embodiments, as illustrated in Figure 8, the entire housing 801 or at least the side walls 803, 804, 805, 806 (the walls that interconnect the panels 807, 808 that have the openings 809, 810 to receive external connectors and / or adapters) can be made of a flexible material such as rubber, so that housing 801 can be folded to accommodate situations where the optical components to be interconnected by the device cannot be longitudinally aligned.
Figure 9 illustrates yet another embodiment of a device 900 in which the flexible optical circuit 901 is incorporated into a housing 902 comprising hinged members 904, 906. Specifically, housing 902 comprises two housing parts 904, 906 joined in a hinge. 905, so that two pieces of housing 904, 906 can be placed relative to each other in different angular orientations around hinge 905. Although
IMPI
MEXICAN INSTITUTE
OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY
<img file="MX338522B_D0026.tif" />
Housing 902 is shown to have a configuration. open, it can alternatively be closed, such as by adding a third curved housing member (not shown) within the other two members 904, 906 that surround the internal space of device 900 and that parts 904, 906 can slide up, to the rotate around hinge 905 in relation to each other.
The two lens blocks (not shown) can be disposed on opposite end surfaces 911, 912 of housing 902. However, the illustrated embodiment shows a more adaptable configuration which further includes an additional panel 907 connected in housing part 904 by middle of a second hinge 908. Lens block 909 is installed in panel 907, which can rotate around hinge 908 to provide additional freedom to position the ends of the flexible optical circuit in relation to each other.
The situations in which the present invention is useful are abundant. For example, because there are no internal connectors, the interconnector of the flexible optical circuit of the present invention can be made very thin. In particular, it may comprise a housing that, unlike the end surfaces that receive the external connectors, only needs to be thick enough to accommodate the optical circuit.
IMPI
<img file="MX338522B_D0027.tif" />
flexible (and accommodate any necetuiiu dol-iwiomo curvature, ·· such as corrugations or an S-curve, as previously mentioned). In fact, also as noted previously, in some embodiments there may be no housing, and adapters or other structure for receiving external connectors may be incorporated directly into the flexible optical circuit adjacent to the end surfaces of the fibers and lenses. Consequently, they can be used for very low-profile, surface-mounted boxes for use in wall-mounted interconnects in office buildings, etc. They can also be used for interconnections in modular furniture pieces, which often provide very small spaces for electrical or optical equipment.
Furthermore, it is contemplated that a wide variety of optical interconnects can be produced modularly from a relatively small number of parts. In particular, it would need to be a flexible optical circuit for each different type of optical routing pattern (eg, 1 to 12 wire interconnects (as illustrated in Figure 2), 1 to 4 interconnects, 1 to 12 optical phase shifters 4, etc.) However, it should be noted that a single flexible optical circuit with lenses can be used for several different numbers of such interconnections. For example, a flexible optical circuit
<img file="MX338522B_D0028.tif" />
MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF PROPERTY
INDUSTRIAL
<img file="MX338522B_D0029.tif" />
<img file="MX338522B_D0030.tif" />
with lenses in accordance with prpgpnt-p invpnr-ion gnp provides fiber routing for ten interconnects 1 to 4 can be used in an optical cassette to provide from one interconnection 1 to 4 up to ten interconnections 1 to 4. Yes the cassette needs to offer less than ten such interconnects, so some of the fibers / lenses are simply not used.
Because flexible optical circuits with lenses are flexible, they can be bent to accommodate many different physical arrangements. Flexible optical circuits with lenses can be constructed long enough to accommodate most longer practical applications because they may involve bending for shorter applications. In cassette applications or other applications that include a housing, a modular assembly of multiple housing parts adapted to be modularly joined together in various combinations may be provided. Housing components can provide hinged and / or fixed joints. One or more of the housing components may be flexible. Thus, it is possible to create almost any form of housing and place one of the flexible optical circuits with lenses inside it. Housing components may include walls with openings adapted to accept adapters and / or connectors of any form factor.
fween '1
MEXICAN INSTITUTE of the industrial PROI-IEDaD
Although the invention has been described herein<sup>-</sup>· In connection modalities employing molded lenses, it will be understood that this is exemplary only and that other optical components capable of conducting light may be disposed at the ends of the fibers in the flexible optical circuits (or incorporated in the laminate at the ends of the Fibers) Such light-conducting fiber-terminating optical components include, but are not limited to, diffraction gratings, Escalier gratings, mirrors, and holograms.
Furthermore it should be understood that not all connections need to be made at opposite ends of the laminate strip. For example, Figure 10 illustrates a flexible optical circuit 1001 in accordance with the present invention, implemented as an optical phase shifter 1000. Such phase shifter can be incorporated into a passive optical network (PON), for example. The flexible optical circuit with lenses has an input connector 1003 at a longitudinal edge of the flexible optical circuit 1001 and five output connectors 1004a-1004e. Appropriate optical fibers 1009a-1009e and lOlla-lOllf lenses are placed in circuit 1001 in accordance with the principles of the present invention, as previously described, to distribute the input signal, received through the input connector
1003 to the five 1004a-1004e output connectors.
IMPI
<img file="MX338522B_D0031.tif" />
Four of those output connectors 1004b-lCTCi4e are located at the opposite longitudinal edge of the flexible optical circuit, but one of the output connectors 1004a is placed in the middle of flexible optical circuit 1001. In this particular embodiment that is exemplified, lens 1011a adjacent to mid output connector 1004a is configured to operate as a deflater. For example, it could be an expanded beam lens that increases the diameter of the received beam on the input fiber 1009a and couples it to the four output fibers 1009b-1009e as well as directly on the middle connector.
1004a. Additional lenses can be placed in front of the output fibers 1009b-1009e, in order to focus the beams back towards the output fibers. This intermediate point can be used, for example, to monitor signals or optical energy in the circuit, without interrupting the transmission in that device.
Furthermore, the principles of the present invention can be used to replace junction boards on equipment racks in data centers. Optical interconnects can be made in such a small and thin space using the present invention that such optical interconnects can be arranged in the unoccupied space within equipment racks, which are otherwise fully occupied, in order to provide even more optical interconnections. dense on the shelves of
<img file="MX338522B_D0032.tif" />
existing equipment. __
In still other embodiments, electrically conductive cables can also be incorporated into the flexible optical circuit along with optical fibers to provide both electrical and optical connectivity in a device. Applications with a need for combined optical and electrical connectivity abound, such as power over Ethernet applications and out-of-band signal applications, such as those described in
EU No. 7,433,915.
Having thus described the particular embodiments of the invention, various changes, modifications and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Such changes, modifications, and improvements as made obvious by this disclosure, are intended to be part of this disclosure although not expressly stated herein, and are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description is by way of example only and not by way of limitation. The invention is limited only as defined in the following claims and equivalents thereof.
<img file="MX338522B_D0033.tif" />
MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF PROPERTY
INDUSTRIAL
<img file="MX338522B_D0034.tif" />
Contents42
43 sheets
Sheet 1 Sheet 2 Sheet 3 Sheet 4 Sheet 5 Sheet 6 Sheet 7 Sheet 8 Sheet 9 Sheet 10 Sheet 11 Sheet 12 Sheet 13 Sheet 14 Sheet 15 Sheet 16 Sheet 17 Sheet 18 Sheet 19 Sheet 20 Sheet 21 Sheet 22 Sheet 23 Sheet 24 Sheet 25 Sheet 26 Sheet 27 Sheet 28 Sheet 29 Sheet 30 Sheet 31 Sheet 32 Sheet 33 Sheet 34 Sheet 35 Sheet 36 Sheet 37 Sheet 38 Sheet 39 Sheet 40 Sheet 41 Sheet 42 Sheet 43
20 members in 5 offices
Priority claims9
| Document | Office | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13230094 | United States of America | – | |
| 201113230094 | United States of America | A | |
| 201113230094 | United States of America | A | |
| 2012054249 | United States of America | W | |
| 2012054249 | United States of America | W | |
| 13230094 | – | – | – |
| US1254249 | – | – | – |
| US201113230094 | – | – | – |
| WO2012US54249 | – | – | – |
Members20
| Document | Office | Kind | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US2013064506A1 | United States of America | A1 | |
| WO2013039788A2 | World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) | A2 | |
| WO2013039788A3 | World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) | A3 | |
| EP2756346A2 | European Patent Office (EPO) | A2 | |
| CN104040402A | China | A | |
| MX2014002952A | Mexico | A | |
| MX338522BThis record | Mexico | B | |
| US9417418B2 | United States of America | B2 | |
| US2017068053A1 | United States of America | A1 | |
| CN104040402B | China | B | |
| US10031295B2 | United States of America | B2 | |
| US2019018200A1 | United States of America | A1 | |
| US10451809B2 | United States of America | B2 | |
| EP2756346A4 | European Patent Office (EPO) | A4 | |
| US2020116944A1 | United States of America | A1 | |
| US10782483B2 | United States of America | B2 | |
| US2021055480A1 | United States of America | A1 | |
| US11372165B2 | United States of America | B2 | |
| US2022326446A1 | United States of America | A1 | |
| EP2756346B1 | European Patent Office (EPO) | B1 |
1 legal event, as the office reported them to INPADOC
Events
| Event | Code | |
|---|---|---|
| Grant or registrationFG | FG |
Numbers
- Publication
- 338522
- Publication, DOCDB
- 338522
- Publication, EPODOC
- MX338522
- Application
- 2014002952
- Application, DOCDB
- 2014002952
- Application, EPODOC
- MX20140002952
Titles
- Spanish
- DISPOSITIVO FLEXIBLE DE INTERCONEXION OPTICA CON LENTE PARA DISTRIBUCION DE SEÑAL.
Classification
- CPC, 10
- G02B6/32
- G02B6/3612
- G02B6/3608
- G02B6/3825
- G02B6/44715
- G02B6/44528
- G02B6/4471
- G02B6/3616
- G02B6/3897
- G02B6/4453
- IPC, 1
- G02B6 46