3m Innovative Properties Company

Sergio D Carranza

Michael Albert Haase

Terry Lee Smith

Daniel F Cronch

Boon K Lee

Lizhang Yang

Michael A Jessup

Each optical cable includes an array of at least one optical waveguide and at least one optical ferrule attached to the array of optical waveguides. The housing includes a first housing portion and a second housing portion engaged with the first housing portion. The second housing portion comprises at least one carrier and one frame. The carrier and frame of the second housing portion are configured to support the one or more optical cables. The first housing portion and the second housing portion are configured such that mechanical engagement of the first housing portion with the second housing portion moves the carrier relative to the frame. Movement of the carrier relative to the frame causes a bend in each optical waveguide and rotation of each ferrule. The bend provides a predetermined spring force of the optical waveguides at a predetermined angle of the ferrule.

Configurable optical connector

An optical connector () comprises one or more optical cables () disposed within a housing (). Each optical In cable () includes an array of at least one optical waveguide () and at least one optical ferrule () attached to the array of optical waveguides (). The housing () includes a first housing portion () and a second housing portion () engaged with the first housing portion (). The second housing portion () comprises at least one carrier () and one frame (). The carrier () and frame () of the second housing portion () are configured to support the one or more optical cables (). The first housing portion () and the second housing portion () are configured such that mechanical engagement of the first housing portion () with the second housing portion () moves the carrier () relative to the frame (). Movement of the carrier () relative to the frame () causes a bend in each optical waveguide () and rotation of each ferrule (). The bend provides a predetermined spring force of the optical waveguides () at a predetermined angle of the ferrule ().

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.

Growing community of inventors

Austin, TX, United States of America

Sergio D Carranza