Fiber optic connection device

Details Fiber optic connection device Fiber optic connection device

1999-02-18

2001-05-08

Sanghavi, Hemang (Department: 2874)

Optical waveguides

With disengagable mechanical connector

Structure surrounding optical fiber-to-fiber connection

C385S059000, C385S088000, C385S089000, C385S092000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06227720

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an adapter device for optic fibers, for example, for connecting optic fibers to a printed circuit card.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Optic fibers are becoming more common as a transmission medium to carry additional signals between user devices. The active circuitry in the user devices is generally electronic, and some means must be provided to convert the digital data in electronic form to digital data in optical form or vice versa. This conversion is typically performed by a photodiode array, for example using VCSELs, which receives electronic digital impulses and converts them to optical impulses for transmission down an optic fiber and vice versa.
Traditionally, manufacturers of electronic devices are not familiar with optical technology and do not have experience with optic fibers and how to make good optic fiber connections, which can be troublesome. Adding optical connections to their devices adds to the time and expense of manufacture.
An object of the this invention is to address this problem.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly the present invention provides an adapter for coupling optical and electronic circuits, comprising a housing including a first portion for mating with an optic fiber termination device, a second portion for mating with an electrical terminal device, at least one electro-optical transducer in said housing having an optical interface for coupling with said optical termination device, and an electrical interface for coupling with said electrical termination device, whereby said adapter converts signals between optical and electronic form and permits an optic fiber line to be directly connected therethrough to equipment provided with an electrical terminal.
The electro-optical transducers are typically in the form of a linear array mating with a line of fibers exposed in the end face of the optical termination device. The adapter can be a transmitter and/or receiver of optical signals using photodiodes. The transmitters are preferably VCSELs (Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers).
The adapter preferably fits into a standard telephone jack, for example, an AMP modular plastic handset plug type 0.89, or line cord plug type 0.35. This enables the manufacturer of a printed circuit card device to mount a standard electrical socket on the card. Optical connections can be made by inserting the optical termination device into the adapter and in turn plugging the electrical portion of the adapter into the socket mounted on the card.


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Kosaka, Hideo, “VCSEL and Its Applications for Optical Interconnection and Switch,” Expanded Abstracts of the 1997 International Conference on Solid State Devices and Materials, 1997, pp. 58-59, Hamamatsu.

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