The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 10, 1979
Filed:
Aug. 05, 1977
Robert T Smith, Woodbury, MN (US);
Paul H Binek, St. Paul, MN (US);
Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, St. Paul, MN (US);
Abstract
A system for optically linking processing equipment including a flat ribbon cable containing a plurality of optical fibers supported in a flexible matrix, a connector for optically terminating fibers of the cable including a member having means for receiving and for anchoring the cable to enable the fibers to be coupled to fibers within a mated connector, and a terminal connector adapted for mating with the first connector and for providing an electrical interface with electronic data processing equipment. Both connectors include means for retaining fibers within their respective housings to enable coupling the fibers when the connectors are mated together. The terminal connector further includes an electronic circuit having a transmitter section and a receiver section, wherein the transmitter section includes at least one light source for converting an electrical input logic signal to a corresponding optical signal and wherein the receiver section includes at least one photodetector for converting an optical logic signal received through the mated connector into a corresponding electrical output signal.