3m Innovative Properties Company

Lizhang Yang

Edward B Lurie

Larry R Cox

Harry A Loder

Sergio D Carranza

Michael A Jessup

Disclosed herein is an optical interconnect device comprising (a) a plurality of fiber optic cables, each cable having two ends and comprising at least one optical fiber surrounded by a protective jacket where the diameter of the fiber optic cable is larger than the diameter of the optical fiber and where the protective jacket at least a first end of the fiber optic cable has been removed thereby exposing the optical fibers; (b) a ribbonized assembly encasing a portion of the first end of the fiber optic cable and the optical fibers, where the optical fibers in the ribbonized assembly lie parallel to one another and has a first pitch; and (c) a ferrule attached to the ribbonized assembly, the ferrule having a plurality of internal grooves having a second pitch. The first pitch of the optical fibers is substantially equal to the second pitch of the ferrule.

Optical interconnect device

This invention relates to a ferrule for use in a fiber optic connector. The ferrule has front and rear faces and comprises (a) a passage being disposed inside the ferrule and having first and second ends, the passage having dimensions defined by the following formulas:()&#x2266;&#x2266;( where 'W' is the passage width, 'H' is the passage height, &#x201c;X&#x201d; is the measured with of a fiber optic ribbon, &#x201c;n&#x201d; is the number of fiber optic ribbons and n&#x3e;1, &#x201c;a&#x201d; is the fiber optic ribbon thickness and &#x201c;b&#x201d; is the fiber pitch on a (b) a plurality of tapered channels disposed between the second end of the passage to said front face of the ferrule.

Ferrule for use in fiber optic connectors

The invention provides an apparatus for guiding at least one fiber optic ribbons into a ferule. The ferrule has front and rear faces, a longitudinal axis and at least one guide pin channel disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis. The apparatus comprises: (a) a cover; and (b) a base having first and second surfaces and comprising (i) a channel spanning from the first to the second surface, the channel being defined by a Cartesian coordinate system x, y, and z and having an x-dimension that coincides with the width of the fiber optic ribbon, and (ii) means for aligning said apparatus with said ferrule. When the cover is disposed on the base, a pocket is formed between the cover and the base. The height of the pocket coincides with the cumulative thickness of the number of fiber optic ribbons used.

Growing community of inventors

Austin, TX, United States of America

Lizhang Yang