Nanoprecision Products, Inc.

Cudoquanta Florida, Inc.

Raytheon Company

Senko Advanced Components, Inc.

Gregory L Klotz

Robert Ryan Vallance

Shuhe Li

Michael K Barnoski

Rand Dannenberg

Matthew Gean

Geoffrey A Long

Kelly L Jung

Anjali Rangaswamy

An expanded beam ferrule includes a first ferrule halve having first reflective surfaces and a second ferrule halve having second reflective surfaces, which together retain optical fibers. The pair of reflective surfaces output collimated light parallel to the mid-plane of the ferrule. An external sleeve aligns the external surface of two similar ferrules, with corresponding second reflective surfaces of the ferrules facing each other. Output light from an optical fiber held in one ferrule is bent twice by the pair of reflective surfaces, with beam divergence after the first bent, and collimation after the second bent. The collimated light is transmitted to the facing second reflective surface in a facing second ferrule aligned by the sleeve, which is subject to optical reshaping in reverse to that undertaken in the first ferrule, so as to converge and focus light to input to the optical fiber held in the other ferrule.

Optical fiber connector ferrule assembly having dual reflective surfaces for beam expansion and expanded beam connector incorporating same

Optical alignment of optical subassembly and optoelectronic device is achieved using an external source and an external receiver, passing optical signal through a passive waveguide in the optoelectronic device, via alignment reflective surface features provided on the optical subassembly. The optical subassembly is provided with a first alignment reflective surface directing alignment signal from the source to a grating coupler at the input of the waveguide, and a second alignment reflective surface directing to the receiver the alignment signal directed from a grating coupler at the output of the waveguide after the alignment signal has been transmitted from the input to the output through the waveguide. By adjusting the relative position between the optical subassembly and the optoelectronic device, and detecting the maximum optical power of the alignment signal reflected from the second alignment reflective surface, the position of best optical alignment of the optical subassembly and the optoelectronic device can be determined.

Optical alignment of an optical subassembly to an optoelectronic device

The present invention provides a spring bias that is particularly suited for use to preload a low profile ferrule of an optical connector. In accordance with the present invention, an axial preload is applied to a connector ferrule by a spring structure provided external of the connector. In one embodiment, spring structure is provided outside a plurality of optical fiber connectors, which provides axial preload of multiple ferrules. Each ferrule could be of the type that supports a plurality of optical fibers of a fiber cable. In one embodiment, the spring bias is effected by a planar flexure external of the connector. The ferrule is coupled to the planar flexure with its longitudinal axis through the center of the planar flexure. The planar flexure is structured with flexure members in a plane that are configured to not create any torque load on the ferrule, or if torque loading is present, insignificant torque load to cause misalignment of the ferrule, when the flexure flexes out of its nominal plane to create an axial preload on the ferrule. In another embodiment, a common yoke is applied to bias planar flexures against a plurality of ferrules, wherein a planar flexure is coupled to each ferrule connector. In a further embodiment of the present invention, instead of using planar flexures, a yoke is provided to apply an axial preload to all ferrule connectors coupled to the yoke, by means of a coil spring applied to center of the yoke, external of the ferrule connectors.

Axial preload for demountable connectors

Optical alignment of an optical subassembly to an optoelectronic device using pairs of alignment reflective surfaces

A vision-based passive alignment approach to optically couple input/output of optical fibers in optical alignment to optoelectronic components that are supported on a substrate. An optical bench supporting an optical fiber is physically and optically coupled to an optoelectronic device mounted on a submount via an optically transparent alignment block. The transparent alignment block having a first set of optical fiducials for aligning optical fiducials defined on the optical bench with the alignment block, and a second set of optical fiducials for aligning the alignment block with optical fiducials defined on the submount.

Vision-based passive alignment of an optical fiber subassembly to an optoelectronic device

A ferrule assembly for an optical fiber connector has a first ferrule component having a structured surface defining features for aligning a section of an optical fiber, and a second ferrule component that is coupled to the first ferrule component by a web, wherein the web is flexible to allow folding the web to fold the second ferrule component over the groove in the first ferrule component. The optical alignment features includes one or more open grooves for receiving a bare section of an optical fiber. The section of the optical fiber is retained in the groove between the two ferrule components.

Foldover optical fiber ferrule assembly

A ferrule for a high density optical fiber connector, supporting a first set of optical fibers of a first fiber cable and a second set of optical fibers of a second fiber cable. The ferrule supports the first and second sets of optical fibers in at least one plane. In one embodiment, the first set of optical fibers are supported in a first row of open grooves, and the second set of optical fibers are supported in a second row of open grooves. The optical fibers in the first row are staggered with respect to the optical fibers of the second row. The ferrule comprises two halves, each having an open structure that has a row of open grooves precisely formed thereon in a plane. In another embodiment, the ferrule supports the first and second sets of optical fibers in a single row, in an alternating interleaving manner.

High density multi-fiber ferrule for optical fiber connector

A compliant structure clamps the alignment pins to accurately and precisely locate the alignment pins. The compliant structure supports the alignment pins with no clearance. The compliant structure is defined by at least a flexure in the form of a cantilevered structure extending at a side of the ferrule. The cantilevered structure, with or without a complementary support structure, defines a space in which an alignment pin can be supported. The flexure may be defined by one or more slots provided on the body of the ferrule to facilitate bending of the extended cantilevered structure. In another embodiment, the ferrule comprises a ferrule insert having grooves for supporting optical fibers, and a ferrule frame that supports the ferrule insert and alignment pins. The compliant structure is provided on the frame. In a further embodiment, the ferrule insert is provided with optical fiber grooves at its perimeter.

Ferrule for optical fiber connector having a compliant structure for clamping alignment pins

A mount for a mountable element includes a frame, and a plurality of flexures supported by the frame. The plurality of flexures are configured to be outwardly extended against a restorative bias, so that the element can be inserted therebetween. The mount further includes a plurality of intermediate bonds that may be inserted between the plurality of flexures and the element while the plurality of flexures are outwardly extended. Among other things, a system and method mounting the element are also disclosed.

Growing community of inventors

La Verne, CA, United States of America

Gregory L Klotz