3m Innovative Properties Company

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Donald G Doss

Brian M Cole

David S Hardcastle

Raman Kumar Selli

Sidney J Berglund

James B Carpenter

Terry Lee Smith

James Kenneth Guenter

Richard A Patterson

Donald Kent Larson

Gordon D Henson

James R Bylander

Victor Julian Borer

Charles M Mansfield

Gordon Wiegand

Scott Anthony Igl

Douglas P Hills

Barbara L Birrell

Laura A Weller-Brophy

Frank J Glatzl

George W Parrett

Phillip W Waltrip

David Cowden

Kennth J Vidacovich

Nicolas A Lee

A fiber optic device includes a support having one or more optical fibers coupled to the support and a base that includes one or more optoelectronic devices. The support is coupled to the base such that one or more of the optoelectronic devices are optically coupled to one or more of the optical fibers. A portion of the one or more optical fibers that is in contact with the support may be bent and one or more of the optoelectronic devices may be optically coupled to the bent portion of one or more of the optical fibers.

Fiber optic devices and methods of manufacturing fiber optic devices

A plug connector for connecting optical fibers to an electrical receptacle connector includes a housing defining a cavity therein. At least one printed circuit board (PCB) is disposed in the housing cavity. The PCB includes one or more optoelectronic components disposed on its top surface and electrical contacts disposed proximate a mating edge of the PCB for mating with the receptacle connector. The electrical contacts are electrically connected to the one or more optoelectronic components. One or more optical fibers enter the housing cavity through a housing opening and are optically coupled to the optoelectronic components. A structure comprising a top surface is disposed within the housing cavity between the housing opening and the PCB. The plurality of the optical fibers extends over the top surface of the structure and over at least a portion of the top surface of the PCB. The plurality of the optical fibers is separated from the top surface of the PCB by a first minimum distance and from the top surface of the platform by a second minimum distance less than the first minimum distance.

Active optical cable assembly including optical fiber movement control

A plug connector for connecting a cable to a receptacle connector includes a housing () comprising an upper housing portion () assembled to a lower housing portion (), the assembled portions defining a cavity () within the housing. One or more printed circuit boards () are disposed in the housing cavity and a cable () is disposed in the housing cavity and connected to printed circuit boards. The assembled upper and lower housing portions define a first housing sidewall comprising an upper sidewall portion () at the upper housing portion and a lower sidewall portion () at the lower housing portion. The upper and lower sidewall portions define a gap (-) in the first housing sidewall at an interface between the upper and lower sidewall portions of the first housing sidewall. The gap extends only partially or at least partially along a length of the first housing sidewall.

Optical fiber connector assembly with printed circuit board stabilization features

A method of forming a fiber optic device includes securing one or more optical fibers to a support. The support is coupled to a base that includes one or more optoelectronic devices. After one or more of the fibers are secured to the support, and the support is secured to the base, one or more of the fibers are cleaved. A portion of the one or more optical fibers that is in contact with the support may be bent. This method, and fiber optic devices made using this method are more easily aligned and may be produced at lower costs than existing manufacturing processes.

A method of forming a fiber optic device includes securing one or more optical fibers to a support. The support is coupled to a base that includes one or more optoelectronic devices. After one or more of the fibers are secured to the support, and the support is secured to the base, one or more of the fibers are cleaved. This method, and fiber optic devices made using this method are more easily aligned and may be produced at lower costs than existing manufacturing processes.

An article for temporarily retaining an optical fiber cable including a stripped terminal portion of at least one optical fiber requiring cleaving followed by polishing of an end face thereof. The article comprises a housing having a recess for a demountable optical fiber holder. A demountable optical fiber holder includes a base-plate having at least a first fiber channel to receive at least one optical fiber. The base plate has a number of pockets. A cover plate for the demountable optical fiber holder includes a spring clamp, at least a first upper channel and a number of posts to mate with the pockets of the base-plate to assemble the holder. The article further includes a guide plate attached to the housing to pivot between a first pivot position and a second pivot position. A rotatable lid attached to the housing rotates between an open position and a closed position. The article temporarily retains the optical fiber cable for cleaving and polishing the end face thereof when the lid is closed.

Article for cleaving and polishing optical fiber ends

An optical fiber connector plug comprises a connecting portion including a rear entry at a first end and a first fiber stub exit opening to a first fiber stub channel. The first fiber stub exit is parallel to a second fiber stub exit opening to a second fiber stub channel. The first and second fiber stub exits are formed opposite the first end of the connecting portion. An optical fiber connector plug also includes a holder that fits into the rear entry of the connecting portion for permanent retention of at least one stripped, cleaved and polished optical fiber. First and second crimp elements, in the connecting portion, each have an open-ended bore coaxial with the fiber stub channels. Each crimp element contains an optical fiber stub. A molded top attached to the connecting portion includes an opening containing a compression element that forms splices by capturing a stripped, cleaved and polished end portion of an optical fiber and an optical fiber stub in each crimp element. A bend relief boot encloses the connecting portion at one end, while a shroud releasably engages it at the other end.

Optical fiber plug including fiber positioning holder

An optical fiber connector plug for an optical fiber connection comprises a connecting portion including a rear entry at a first end and a first fiber stub exit opening to a first fiber stub channel. The first fiber stub exit is parallel to a second fiber stub exit opening to a second fiber stub channel. The first and second fiber stub exits are formed opposite the first end. The rear entry divides at a junction into a first fiber groove and a second, diverging fiber groove. The connecting portion includes crimp elements each having an open-ended bore. Each crimp element contains an optical fiber stub. A molded top attached to the connecting portion includes a substantially rectangular opening. The opening contains a compression element that moves to form splices by capturing a stripped optical fiber and an optical fiber stub in each of the crimp elements. A bend relief boot encloses the connecting portion at one end, while a shroud releasably engages it at the other end.

Optical fiber plug

A receptacle for terminating an optical fiber at an active device such as a photodetector or solid-state light source. The receptacle includes a housing, a termination fixture and an active device. The housing has an opening for receiving the terminal portion of an optical fiber, a door located at the opening, biased to a closed position and having a latch for releasably receiving an optical fiber plug, and a removable plate allowing access to an interior of the housing. The termination fixture and the active device may be mounted to a common substrate attached to an interior portion of the housing. The termination fixture includes a base and a projection attached to the base proximate a light-transmitting portion thereof, the projection having a fiber-receiving groove directed toward a fiber stop surface located on the light-transmitting portion of the base. The base can have a lens integrally molded with the light-transmitting portion. The active device is positioned with respect to the termination fixture to receive light from, and/or transmit light to, any fiber whose terminal portion is located in the V-groove and abutting the fiber stop. An optional optical plate may be used to adjust the optical characteristics of the termination fixture.

Active device receptacle

A device for preparing an optical fiber for interconnection includes means for grasping the optical fiber at a first location along the optical fiber, means for scribing and breaking the optical fiber a first select distance from the first location, the means for scribing and breaking including guides for supporting and sliding the means for grasping along the guides in fixed relationship to the means for scribing and breaking, and means for polishing the optical fiber as broken, the means for polishing being connected to the means for breaking. The device also includes a polishing surface fixedly connected to the means for grasping. The polishing surface supports the means for grasping at a second select distance from the first location, the second select distance being shorter than the first select distance. The optical fiber is linearly moveable with respect to the polishing surface.

Optical fiber holder

An optical fiber connector optically connects a first optical fiber and a second optical fiber. The optical fiber connector includes a plug the retains and selectively aligns the first optical fiber, a receptacle that retains and selectively aligns the second optical fiber, and means for forcing the first optical fiber against the second optical fiber. The plug of the optical fiber connector is inserted into the receptacle in order to contact the first optical fiber to the second optical fiber. The force created at the point of contact of the fibers by the means for forcing is in excess of the bending stress of the optical fibers.

Fiber optic connector spring

A fiber optic connector comprising a plug and a receptacle uses the spring force supplied by bowing of the plug fiber to maintain a continuous compressive load at the fiber joint located in a fiber-alignment groove. The plug has a holder for securing the plug fiber and a shroud which snaps onto the holder with the plug fiber extending generally straight inside the shroud. The shroud has a slot providing access to the terminal portion of the plug fiber, and a sliding door which selectively covers the slot. The receptacle includes a housing and another fiber holder for securing the receptacle fiber, with a projection or finger attached to the receptacle fiber holder, the projection having the fiber-alignment groove. The finger is oriented within the receptacle housing such that, when the plug is inserted into the receptacle, the finger extends through the slot in the shroud at an oblique angle with respect to the plug axis. In this manner, as the plug is inserted, the end of the plug fiber slides into the fiber-alignment groove in the finger and comes into contact. With the end face of the receptacle fiber. Continued insertion results in bowing of the plug fiber to achieve the compressive load. The plug door may have camming surfaces which are actuated by corresponding surfaces on a door of the receptacle. The connector may be used to simultaneously interconnect a plurality of fiber pairs, or to terminate a fiber to an active optical device.

Optical fiber connector using fiber spring force alignment groove

An optical module for interconnecting two or more optical fibers has a microreplicated waveguide element which is integrally formed on the same substrate with a splice element. In one embodiment, the module has three plates, a bottom plate, a cover plate, and a top plate, all contained within a common housing. The bottom plate has fiber-receiving grooves and fiber alignment grooves at its ends, the fiber alignment grooves being aligned with waveguide channels formed on the central portion of the bottom plate. The cover plate is used when forming the cores of the waveguide channels, to force residual curable, waveguide material into flow channels adjacent the waveguide channels, and this material, when cured, adheres the bottom and cover plates together. The top plate is used to clamp fibers which are held in the fiber alignment grooves, with the center of the fibers aligned with the core of the waveguide channels. The module housing includes wedges which may be independently actuated to secure the fibers, in a remateable fashion, to either end of the module.

Microreplicated optical module

A fiber optic distribution system provides a frame having several bays for receiving connector modules, associated jumper organizers, and upper and lower troughs for conveying jumper fibers between adjacent bays. The jumper organizers are constructed such that interbay jumpers need not undergo more than two continuous bends of 90.degree., and further easily store excess jumper slack, such as is required to avoid modal noise, even when both ends of the jumper are terminated in the same tray or cabinet. Each connector module has a plurality of connector trays pivotally attached to a cabinet using a swivel bracket which is located adjacent a gap in the tray sidewall; this allows placement of the incoming fibers into the tray without the need for threading the fibers through a hole, and also minimizes fiber stress during pivoting movement of the trays. Front and back plane storage areas are provided for receiving excess slack from both incoming and jumper fibers, and a passageway may join these areas to allow customized fiber circuit paths on the tray. Boot biasing ribs are provided on the tray, along with radius limiting ribs, to maintain a proper bend radius of the jumper fibers as they exit the tray. A novel coupling adapter is also provided which flips one end of the interconnection device upward to allow easier installation of a connector plug.

Growing community of inventors

Round Rock, TX, United States of America

Donald G Doss