Hewlett-packard Development Company, L.p.

Digital Equipment Corporation

Compaq Computer Corporation, Inc.

David Martin Fenwick

Terrel L Morris

Duane A Wegher

Richard John Luebs

Denis J Foley

Stephen R Van Doren

Jeffrey D Yetter

Jeffry D Yetter

Ricky C Hetherington

Douglas D Williams

Timothy J Stanley

David W Hartwell

Elbert Bloom

Douglas J Burns

Richard T Witek

Rebecca L Stamm

Richard Heye

Dale R Keck

Dave Hartwell

Simon C Steely, Jr

Madhumitra Sharma

Daniel Wissell

Charles R Barker, Iii

Richard B Watson, Jr

Stephen R VanDoren

Richard J Casabona

E William Bruce, Ii

Jeffrey D Yatter

Ricahrd John Luebs

An array of light beam emitter sections comprises: a substrate having a surface divided into an array of sections; and a grouping of light emitters disposed at each surface section and configured to emit light beams at different emission angles with respect to the surface. Also disclosed is apparatus for establishing optical communication channels between the array of light beam emitter sections and an array of light detectors. Further disclosed is a method of establishing optical communication channels between the array of light emitter sections and the array of light detectors by mapping at least one light emitter of each grouping with a light detector of the detector array to establish optical communication channels between the arrays based on the mappings.

Apparatus and method of establishing optical communication channels between a steerable array of laser emitters and an array of optical detectors

In one embodiment, an assembly having a first board, a second board, a fiber bundle, and at least one movable stage is provided. The fiber bundle has a first end and a second end, and the first end of the fiber bundle is attached to the first board first face. The movable stage has a second optical array provided thereon or therein. The movable stage is disposed on the second board such that the at least one motor steers the movable stage. The movable stage is steered such that the second optical array is aligned with the second end of the fiber bundle in a desired manner.

Optical connections and methods of forming optical connections

In one embodiment, a fiber assembly is provided. The fiber assembly has a first fiber having at least one core. The core has a length, a first end, and a second end, and light may be transmitted along the core. The second end has an obtusely angled end surface. The assembly also has a second fiber having at least one core having a first end. Light may be transmitted along the core. The second end of the first fiber is optically coupled to the first end of the second fiber such that light emitted from the first fiber may be transmitted to the second fiber.

In one embodiment, method of forming fibers is provided. The method includes modifying a first exposed edge of at least one core of a first fiber. The first fiber has a first end, a second end, and a length between the first end and the second end. The second end has the first exposed edge of the core, and the first exposed edge has a first diffusion state. The first fiber may transmit light along the core. The modification of the first exposed edge includes modifying the first diffusion state of the first exposed edge of the core to a second diffusion state such that light exiting the first exposed edge in the second diffusion state is spread over a greater number of angles relative to angles of the light exiting the first exposed edge in the first diffusion state.

A method of aligning optical data communication channels between system functions comprises: emitting an array of light beams from a corresponding array of data emitters in response to electrical data signals generated from a first system function; emitting light beams from two control emitters in response to electrical control signals generated from the first system function; receiving light beams from the data emitters by a corresponding array of data detectors to form an array of data optical communication channels; conducting electrical data signals reproduced from the received data emitter light beams to a second system function; receiving light beams from the two control emitters by two control detector sections to form two control optical communication channels; conducting electrical control signals reproduced from the received control emitter light beams to a second system function; monitoring a multiplicity of light detectors of each of the two control detector sections to determine an offset in optical channel alignment; and controlling the optical channel alignment based on the determined offset.

Apparatus and method of providing separate control and data channels between arrays of light emitters and detectors for optical communication and alignment

An array of light beam emitter sections comprises: a substrate having a surface divided into an array of sections; and a grouping of light emitters disposed at each surface section and configured to emit light beams at different emission angles with respect to the surface. Also disclosed is apparatus for establishing optical communication channels between the array of light beam emitter sections and an array of light detectors. The apparatus comprises a controller coupled to the arrays of emitter sections and detectors for mapping at least one light emitter of each grouping with a light detector of the detector array to establish optical communication channels between the arrays based on the mappings. Further disclosed is a method of establishing optical communication channels between the array of light emitter sections and array of light detectors by mapping at least one light emitter of each grouping with a light detector of the detector array to establish optical communication channels between the arrays based on the mappings.

A system for configuring fiber optic communication channels between arrays of emitters and detectors comprises: an array of light emitters; an array of light detectors; a bundle of optical fibers disposed between the arrays of light emitters and light detectors for conducting light from the light emitters to the light detectors, wherein the number of optical fibers in the bundle is greater than the number of light emitters in the array and wherein an area cross-section of the bundle of optical fibers overlaps the array of light emitters and the array of light detectors; and logic for mapping at least one emitter to at least one detector to establish at least one optical fiber communication channel between the array of light emitters and the array of light detectors. The system is further operative to monitor data communication over the at least one fiber optic communication channel and to reconfigure the mapping based on the monitored data communications thereof. A counterpart method of configuring fiber optic communication channels between arrays of emitters and detectors is also disclosed.

System and method of configuring fiber optic communication channels between arrays of emitters and detectors

A system for self-configuring optical communication channels between arrays of emitters and detectors comprises: an array of light emitters; an array of light detectors roughly aligned with the array of light emitters; and self-configuration logic for controlling the light emitters of the emitter array to transmit optical data to the array of light detectors and for monitoring received optical data of the light detectors of the detector array to establish light emitter/detector optical channels between the arrays of light emitters and light detectors based on optical data transmission error rates. In addition, a method of self-configuring optical communication channels between arrays of emitters and detectors comprises the steps of: roughly aligning an array of light emitters to an array of light detectors; controlling the light emitters of the emitter array to transmit optical data to the array of light detectors; and monitoring received optical data of the light detectors of the detector array to establish light emitter/detector optical channels between the arrays of light emitters and light detectors based on optical data transmission error rates.

System and method of self-configuring optical communication channels between arrays of emitters and detectors

A system for configuring fiber optic communication channels between arrays of emitters and detectors comprises: an array of light emitters; an array of light detectors; a bundle of optical fibers disposed between the arrays of light emitters and light detectors for conducting light from the light emitters to the light detectors, wherein a diameter of each optical fiber in the bundle is greater than a diameter of light emitted from each light emitter in the array, and wherein an area cross-section of the bundle of optical fibers overlaps the array of light emitters and the array of light detectors; and logic for mapping at least one emitter to at least one detector to establish at least one fiber optic communication channel between the array of light emitters and the array of light detectors. A counterpart method is also disclosed.

Optical communication apparatus comprises: a first IC assembly disposed at a first PCB and comprising: a first IC package electrically coupled to circuits of the first PCB and having an opening in a bottom layer thereof; a first array of optical elements disposed in and electrically coupled to the first IC package and aligned with the bottom layer opening; and a tube of optical fibers disposed in the bottom layer opening with one end aligned under the first array and another end protruding out from the bottom layer of the first package and extending through a hole in the first PCB; a second IC assembly disposed at a second PCB, arranged in parallel with the first PCB, and comprising: a second IC package electrically coupled to circuits of the second PCB and having an opening in a top layer thereof; and a second array of optical elements disposed at the second IC package and electrically coupled thereto through the top layer opening; and wherein the second array being optically aligned with the optical fiber tube of the first IC package to accommodate optical communication between the arrays through the optical fibers of the tube. Various other embodiments of the apparatus are also disclosed.

Apparatus for providing optical communication between integrated circuits of different PC boards and an integrated circuit assembly for use therein

Apparatus for connecting an interconnecting cable between first and second printed circuit (PC) boards comprises: a base member disposed on a side of the first PC board for fixedly attaching one end of the interconnecting cable to the first PC board; a first connector attached to the other end of the interconnecting cable; a second connector disposed on a side of the second PC board; and a spring member attached to the base member for supporting the first connector away from the side of the first PC board, the spring member operative to force the first connector against the side of the second PC board to cause slidable engagement of the first and second connectors when one of the first and second PC boards is slid past the other of the first and second PC boards. Apparatus and method of providing optical connection between a first optical array electrically coupled to a first printed circuit (PC) board and a second optical array electrically coupled to a second PC board for providing optical communication between the first and second optical arrays are also disclosed.

Apparatus and method of providing an optical connection between PC boards for optical communication

In one embodiment, fiber assemblies are provided. The fiber assemblies may have a first fiber and a second fiber. The first fiber may have at least one core having a length and first and second ends. The second end may have a first connector. The second fiber may have at least one core having a length and first and second ends. The second end may have a second connector having at least one magnet. The first connector may be engaged to the second connector, and the at least one magnet may be operated to engage the first connector to the second connector.

Growing community of inventors

Chelmsford, MA, United States of America

David Martin Fenwick