Plural Fiber-to-fiber Connections Patents (Class 385/59)
  • Patent number: 11275225
    Abstract: Methods and systems for an optical coupler for photonics devices are disclosed and may include a photonics transceiver comprising a silicon photonics die and a fiber connector for receiving optical fibers and including a die coupler and an optical coupling element. The die coupler may be bonded to a top surface of the photonics die and aligned above an array of grating couplers. The optical coupling element may be attached to the die coupler and the electronics die and the source module may be bonded to the top surface of the photonics die. Modulated optical signals may be received in the photonics die from optical fibers coupled to the fiber connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Luxtera LLC
    Inventors: Mark Peterson, Brian Welch, Steffen Gloeckner, Peter DeDobbelaere, Michael Mack
  • Patent number: 11194107
    Abstract: The high-density FAU comprises a support substrate having a grooved front-end section that supports glass end sections of the small diameter low-attenuation optical fibers. A cover is disposed on the front-end section and secured thereto to hold the glass end sections in place. The substrate and the cover can be made of the same glass or glasses having about the same CTE. The glass end sections have a diameter d4 so that the pitch P2 of the fibers at the front end of the FAU can be equal to or greater than d4, wherein d4=2r4, with r4 being the radius of the glass end section as defined by the optical fiber cladding. The glass end section has a radius r4 less than 45 microns, allowing for a high-density FAU and a high-density optical interconnection device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Kevin Wallace Bennett, Scott Robertson Bickham, Ximao Feng, Wen-Lung Kuang, Pushkar Tandon, Ruchi Tandon, Shudong Xiao, Bryan William Wakefield, Andy Fenglei Zhou
  • Patent number: 11187616
    Abstract: An optical power detection system comprises a sensor and a reader. The sensor is configured to detect light in the cladding of an optical fiber. The sensor is positioned both within a ferrule of the optical fiber and proximate the cladding. The sensor is additionally configured to produce an output signal representative of the detected light. The reader is electrically coupled to the sensor and is configured to receive the sensor output signal. The reader is additionally configured to operation on the output signal to produce a corresponding visual and/or audible indication of the optical power in the optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Christopher Coffey, Steven C. Zimmel, Joseph Polland, Morgan C. Kurk, Trevor D. Smith
  • Patent number: 11181701
    Abstract: Reversible polarity fiber optic connectors are provided having housings at least partially surrounding first and second optical ferrules with walls above and beneath the ferrules. Positioning removable elements such as latches, removable arms, or push-pull tabs on the first wall above the ferrules yields fiber optic connectors with a first polarity type, and positioning the removable elements on the second wall beneath the ferrules yields fiber optic connectors with a second, opposite polarity type. Various engagement mechanisms are provided on either the connector housing walls or on the removable elements, or both, to assist in affixing the removable element to the connector housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Senko Advanced Components, Inc.
    Inventors: Kim Man Wong, Jeffrey Gniadek, Kazuyoshi Takano, Siu Kei Ma
  • Patent number: 11154300
    Abstract: A surgical instrument is disclosed which comprises a staple firing system and a tissue cutting system. In various instances, the instrument is configured to prevent the tissue cutting system from being operated before the staple firing system has been fully actuated. In certain instances, the instrument is configured to prevent the tissue cutting system from being operated before the staple firing system has been actuated to sufficiently deform the staples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Anil K. Nalagatla, Sudhir B. Patel, Frederick E. Shelton, IV
  • Patent number: 11150418
    Abstract: An optical connector ferrule according to an embodiment includes an MT ferrule, and a spacer mounted on an optical end surface of the MT ferrule and having a guide hole into which a guide pin is inserted. The spacer has a contact surface that contacting the counterpart connector and a recess surrounded by the contact surface. The spacer includes a lens part exposed on a bottom surface of the recess and optically coupled to the optical end surface of the MT ferrule and a base part that retains the lens part by surrounding the lens part. The material of the lens part and the material of the base part are different from each other, and the difference between the linear expansion coefficient of the base part and the linear expansion coefficient of the MT ferrule is 0.5×10?5/° C. or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignees: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD., JAPAN COMMUNICATION ACCESSORIES MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dai Sasaki, Takayuki Shimazu, Hajime Arao, Takuro Watanabe, Sho Yakabe, Motoyoshi Kimura, Manabu Izaki
  • Patent number: 11150416
    Abstract: A light coupling unit includes a first major surface comprising one or more substantially parallel first grooves oriented along a first direction for receiving one or more optical waveguides. A second major surface for slidably contacting a mating light coupling unit comprises an optically transmitting window for propagating an optical signal therethrough, and a region of second grooves and lands configured to capture particulate contaminants in the second grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: James M. Nelson, Michael A. Haase, Terry L. Smith
  • Patent number: 11143826
    Abstract: Connection systems for use in fiber optic communication networks and systems are disclosed. Embodiments of backplane connection systems are disclosed that include a daughterboard connector that can make with a backplane connector. One of the connectors can include a movable latch element that can bend a bendable arm on the other connector to latch and unlatch the connectors. A connector can include a movable blocking element that prevents a latch control element from moving its full range when the connectors are disconnected. A latch control element can have a range of motion along which it maintains the connection system in a latched configuration. A mounting system is also disclosed that permits a connector to flow or move along the board in a limited range of motion with respect to three axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Senko Advanced Components, Inc.
    Inventors: Yim Wong, Man Kit Wong, Jeffrey Gniadek
  • Patent number: 11125963
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a Multi-fiber push on (MPO) connector channel verification apparatus and method for verifying the MPO cable polarity and each optic fiber position in MPO cables or patch-cords. The apparatus includes a verification module that provides an illumination source configured to direct light on fiber end faces in an MPO connector at an end of the MPO cable according to predetermined sequences such that an inspection microscope at the other end of the MPO cable may be utilized to analyze the illumination sequence of illuminated fibers occurring at the other end of the MPO cable to verify the channel locations and polarity of the MPO cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: SUMIX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Phillip Herman, Yurii Snisarenko, Yurii Chermianin, Oleksii Kovalchuk, Andrii Fesenko, Farhad Towfiq
  • Patent number: 11099335
    Abstract: A fiber optic connector that includes a connector body comprising a ferrule retaining portion, a pusher engagement portion and a body cable passage extending through the pusher engagement portion and the ferrule retaining portion. The connector includes a ferrule assembly structurally configured to be retained by the ferrule retaining portion with an optical fiber bore of the ferrule assembly in alignment with the body cable passage. The connector includes a pusher structurally configured to axially engage the pusher engagement portion with a pusher cable passage in alignment with the body cable passage, and a collapsing cantilevered gasket structurally configured to form an axially compressed sealing interface between the connector body and the pusher and an omnidirectionally compressed sealing interface between the gasket and a cable passing through a cable passage of the gasket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Corning Research & Development Corporation
    Inventors: Michael De Jong, Wolf Peter Kluwe, Andrey Nikolayevich Levandovskiy, Daniel Leyva, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11092759
    Abstract: A optical fiber connecting device includes a hollow main body and a dust-proof unit. The hollow main body includes a first hollow inserting portion for insertion of a fiber optic connector, a second hollow inserting portion oppositely of the first hollow inserting portion, and a flange between the first and second hollow inserting portions. The second hollow inserting portion has a threaded outer surface. The dust-proof unit includes a dust-proof sleeve that has a threaded inner surface. The dust-proof sleeve is removably sleeved around the second hollow inserting portion by an inter-engagement of the threaded inner and outer surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Amphenol Fiber Optic Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ling-Hua Zhu, Xing-Fu Mo, Jinan Zhou, Anh Nguyen
  • Patent number: 11073664
    Abstract: A fiber optic connector with a pair resilient actuators positioned on an outer portion of an upper body portion of a cable boot assembly, when depressed allow a user to remove the cable boot assembly from a housing, rotate, and change polarity of the ferrules located within a front body secured to the cable boot assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Senko Advanced Components, Inc.
    Inventors: Jimmy Jun-Fu Chang, Kazuyoshi Takano
  • Patent number: 11073662
    Abstract: A multi-fiber, fiber optic connector is interchangeable between a male connector and a female connector by including a pin retainer having a releasable retention device configured to lock the pins in place within the retainer. The retention device may be opened, for example, with a release tool, to free the retention pins for removal of the pins. A method for switching a connector between a male connector configuration and a female connector configuration may be possible as a result of the releasable retention configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Senko Advanced Components, Inc.
    Inventors: Jimmy Chang, Kazuyoshi Takano
  • Patent number: 11067760
    Abstract: Optical connector arrangements terminate at least seventy-two optical fibers. The optical connector arrangements include multiple optical ferrules that each terminates multiple optical fibers. Some example optical connectors can terminate about 144 optical fibers. Each optical connector includes a fiber take-up arrangement and a flange extending outwardly from a connector housing arrangement. The fiber take-up arrangement manages excess length of the optical fibers. A threadable coupling nut can be disposed on the connector housing arrangement to engage the outwardly extending flange. Certain types of optical connector arrangements include furcation cables spacing the connector housing arrangement form the fiber take-up arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: CommScope Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Steven C. Zimmel, Yu Lu, Gregory J. Schaible
  • Patent number: 11036009
    Abstract: A reconfigurable optical ferrule (ROF) carrier mating system is provided. The ROF carrier mating system comprising a reconfigurable carrier adapter comprising an adapter mid-wall comprising a plurality of ferrule mating sleeves, with a first carrier receptacle on a first side of the adapter mid-wall and a second carrier receptacle on a second side of the adapter mid-wall. Each ROF carrier can take on either a serial orientation or a parallel orientation based on the alignment of a plurality of duplex ferrule connectors disposed within each ROF carrier. The plurality of ferrules of the ROF carriers inserted into the first carrier receptacle are configured to mate with the plurality of ferrules of the ROF carriers inserted into the second ferrule carrier receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
    Inventors: Kevin B. Leigh, John Norton
  • Patent number: 11029468
    Abstract: An optical connector includes a first attachment area for receiving and permanently attaching to an optical waveguide. A light coupling unit is disposed and configured to move translationally and not rotationally within the housing of the connector. The light coupling unit includes a second attachment area for receiving and permanently attaching to an optical waveguide received and permanently attached at the first attachment area. The light coupling unit also includes light redirecting surface. The light redirecting surface is configured such that when an optical waveguide is received and permanently attached at the first and second attachment areas, the light redirecting surface receives and redirects light from the optical waveguide. The optical waveguide limits, but does not prevent, a movement of the light coupling unit within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Terry L. Smith, Barry S. Carpenter, Takayuki Hayauchi
  • Patent number: 11022762
    Abstract: An optical fiber connector configured to rotationally align a first optical fiber with a second optical fiber is provided. The connector can include at least two rotational alignment features. At least one of the two rotational alignment features can include at least one ferrule configured to hold at least the first optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Chiral Photonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Singer, Victor Il'ich Kopp, Christopher W. Draper, Zhou Shi, Norman Chao
  • Patent number: 11002921
    Abstract: A optical fiber connecting device includes a hollow main body and a dust-proof sleeve. The hollow main body includes a first hollow inserting portion, a second hollow inserting portion oppositely of the first hollow inserting portion, and a flange between the first and second hollow inserting portions. The second hollow inserting portion has an engaging recess. The dust-proof sleeve is removably sleeved around the second hollow inserting portion. The dust-proof sleeve has an inner sleeve surface and a C-shaped rib that projects inwardly from the inner sleeve surface to releasably engage the engaging recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Amphenol Fiber Optic Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ling-Hua Zhu, Xing-Fu Mo, Jinan Zhou, Anh Nguyen
  • Patent number: 10976505
    Abstract: Reversible polarity fiber optic connectors are provided having housings at least partially surrounding first and second optical ferrules with walls above and beneath the ferrules. Positioning removable elements such as latches, removable arms, or push-pull tabs on the first wall above the ferrules yields fiber optic connectors with a first polarity type, and positioning the removable elements on the second wall beneath the ferrules yields fiber optic connectors with a second, opposite polarity type. Various engagement mechanisms are provided on either the connector housing walls or on the removable elements, or both, to assist in affixing the removable element to the connector housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Senko Advanced Components, Inc.
    Inventors: Kim Man Wong, Jeffrey Gniadek, Kazuyoshi Takano, Siu Kei Ma
  • Patent number: 10935725
    Abstract: A fusion splicing device is disclosed that includes a connector that fusion splices a pair of optical fibers and a glass clamp that clamps a glass part that has been removed of a coating of the optical fiber, where the glass clamp is provided at an outer side of the connector. The fusion splicing device further includes a coating clamp that clamps at least a part of the coating of the optical fiber and is provided at an outer side of the glass clamp. The fusion splicing device also includes a wind protector cover that covers the connector, the glass clamp, and the coating clamp. Additionally, the fusion splicing device includes a heater that heats a protection sleeve covered on a fusion splice point of the optical fibers that have been fusion spliced with the connector and an aligner that aligns fingertips holding the optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIKURA LTD.
    Inventors: Ryo Hasegawa, Yoshiharu Kanda
  • Patent number: 10928274
    Abstract: A fiber-optic interconnection stabilization apparatus for a measurement system is provided. The apparatus may comprise a main body comprising an enclosure and two openings. The enclosure may encase a fiber-optic cable within the main body in an organized manner. The two openings may fit connecting ends of the fiber-optic cable such that the connecting ends of may be exposed in order to connect two modular components of a measurement system and form a closed measurement loop. The main body, when in a closed configuration, may stabilizes the fiber-optic cable encased within from external conditions, such as mechanical, thermal, or other environmental conditions that may affect measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: VIAVI SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Robert Matthew Adams, Joshua Philipson, Elias Debs, Shauna Peach-Donovan, Jeff Graves
  • Patent number: 10921528
    Abstract: A fiber optic connector having a set of opposing pins set in a recess configured to accept a corresponding spring therein. The springs are placed on either side of the fiber optic cable bundle and secured within pinkeep. The dual or outer springs help prevent rotation of the ferrule assembly during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Senko Advanced Components, Inc.
    Inventors: Yim Wong, Man Kit Wong
  • Patent number: 10908362
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to an interlacing boot and methods of using the same to automatically interleave optical fibers in a two-row array, such from a two rows ferrule. In a non-limiting embodiment of the invention, the optical fibers are inserted into a first end of an interlacing boot in a first direction. The interlacing boot can include a guiding structure having one or more channels. Each channel can be adapted to receive a single optical fiber. Each channel can include a first end and a second end, and the second end can be offset with respect to the first end in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The interlacing boot can be pushed towards the ferrule to feed the optical fibers through the guiding structure. The first row of fibers can be physically offset from and interlaced with the second row of fibers by the guiding structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Barnim Alexander Janta-Polczynski
  • Patent number: 10890721
    Abstract: A ferrule assembly comprises a ferrule mounted in an opening of a ferrule back body. The ferrule assembly is mounted at an end of an optical fibre extending through the ferrule along an axial direction. The ferrule assembly is passed through a tubular section and then through a biasing member. The back body is then inserted into an opening of a back body holder and attached to the back body holder. The back body holder prevents the ferrule assembly from passing back through the biasing member. The insertion comprises moving the ferrule assembly relative to the back body holder in the axial direction. During the relative movement, an orientation of the back body relative to the back body holder, determined by a guide element of the back body, is maintained. The tubular section may for example be a duct as narrow as 3 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Hexatronic Group AB
    Inventor: Kieran Stone
  • Patent number: 10877221
    Abstract: A fiber optic connector comprises an outer housing, an inner housing installed in the outer housing, a fiber optic ferrule accommodated in the inner housing, an optical cable inserted into the inner housing and connected to the fiber optic ferrule, an elastic boot that is wrapped around both a connecting portion of the fiber optic ferrule connecting to the optical cable and a portion of the optical cable adjacent to the connecting portion, and a sealing structure. The sealing structure is disposed between a rear end portion of the outer housing and the elastic boot to provide a seal between the outer housing and the elastic boot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Haibo Zhang, Zhigang Song, Jinqiang Zhang, Zhiyun Zhong
  • Patent number: 10877234
    Abstract: A fiber optic multiport having a housing with an enclosure defining an interior of the housing is disclosed. A plurality of ports is coupled to the housing, and includes at least one input port and a plurality of output ports. A plurality of fiber optic adapters is positioned in respective ones of the plurality of ports. The fiber optic adapters are configured to receive and connect optical fibers at an interior and an exterior connection side. A plurality of optical fibers is disposed within the interior of the housing. Each of the plurality of optical fibers is routed to at least one of the fiber optic adapters at the interior connection side. Port connection indicia visibly discernible from the exterior of the multiport are indicative of a connection type accessible via the respective one of the plurality of output ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC
    Inventors: Larry Reginald Coaxum, Leydys Deniss De Jesús
  • Patent number: 10816737
    Abstract: In various embodiments, optical fibers may be placed into V-shaped grooves in a substrate. A lid may then be placed on top of the optical fibers to hold them accurately in place, and the lid may be attached to the substrate using a reflow solder technique. Epoxy may then be applied as a strain relief. Because the V-shaped grooves and optical waveguides are manufactured with precision on the same substrate, precise alignment between these two may be achieved. Because the epoxy is applied after reflow, the epoxy may not be exposed to reflow temperatures, which might otherwise cause the epoxy to distort during the cure process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: John Heck, Hari Mahalingam, Paul Yu, Kumar Satya Harinadh Potluri
  • Patent number: 10809462
    Abstract: A fiber optic adapter is disclosed by the present disclosure, and belongs to the technical field of fiber optic adapter. The fiber optic adapter includes at least two ports for connecting to a fiber optic connector. Each of the ports is provided with a light shielding plate. An elastic member is shared between every two adjacent light shielding plates, and configured to support the every two adjacent light shielding plates to shield ports corresponding to the every two adjacent light shielding plates. In the present disclosure, the elastic member is shared between the two light shielding plates, so that the assembly efficiency is improved, thereby solving the problem that the assembly of the elastic tabs of the existing fiber optic adapter is relatively cumbersome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: HYC Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Yong He
  • Patent number: 10802239
    Abstract: An optical fiber trunk cable breakout canister includes a main canister body, the main canister body extending between a first end opening and a second end opening and including a first end portion defining the first end opening and a second end portion defining the second end opening. The first end opening has a maximum width that is less than a maximum width of the second end opening. The breakout canister further includes a plate disposed within the second end portion. The breakout canister further includes a potting material disposed within the second end portion. The breakout canister further includes a retainer washer disposed within the main canister body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: AFL Telecommunications LLC
    Inventors: Kyle Marchek, Tom Sawyer
  • Patent number: 10788628
    Abstract: A fiber optic connector includes a connector body housing a plurality of optical fibers. Each of the plurality of optical fibers includes a bare end having an angled face. Half of the plurality of optical fibers has an angled face that is at a first angle and the other half of the plurality of optical fibers has an angled face that is at a second angle that is different from the first angle. The fiber optic connector can comprise a ferrule-less or ferruled fiber optic connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Michael James Ott, John D. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 10775566
    Abstract: A fiber optic lane changer includes a first and a second connector. A plurality of lane changer transmission paths include first ends received within the first connector and second ends received within the second connector. The first ends are arranged in respective ones of a first subset of a plurality of optical interface positions in a standardized connector configuration, and the second ends are arranged in respective ones of a second subset of the plurality of positions. In certain embodiments, the plurality of lane changer transmission paths have first ends that are aligned to optically couple with respective ones of the eight outermost optical transmission paths of the first connector. At least one of the lane changer transmission paths may have a second end that is aligned to optically couple with one of the four innermost optical transmission paths of the second connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: CommScope, Inc. of North Carolina
    Inventors: Earl R. Parsons, Brian K. Bushnell
  • Patent number: 10761273
    Abstract: A fiber optic ferrule adapter for mating a multi-fiber optic ferrule and a multi-fiber optic connector includes a holder having a cavity where a multi-fiber optic ferrule is held therein, and a receptacle housing with an opening that allows the insertion of a fiber optic connector. The holder has a top opening for receiving the ferrule into its cavity; and two protrusions, which are respectively protruded from each interior side walls of the holder, for latching the ferrule in place inside the cavity. The holder includes a groove recessed on the interior walls of the cavity for catching a ridge on the ferrule so as to prevent any longitudinal movement of the ferrule inside the cavity. The cavity may include a slope next to an interface between the cavity and receptacle housing for allowing the sliding in-and-out of the ferrule at an angle to the top of the holder opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Senko Advanced Components, Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Takano, Kenji Iizumi
  • Patent number: 10754096
    Abstract: A double flexible optical circuit includes: a flexible substrate supporting a plurality of optical fibers; a first connector terminating the optical fibers at a first end of the double flexible optical circuit; and a second connector terminating the optical fibers at a second end of the double flexible optical circuit. Each of the optical fibers is positioned in one of a plurality of separate extensions formed by the flexible substrate as the optical fibers extend from the first connector to the second connector. The first and second connectors are configured to be tested when the first and second connectors are connected through the double flexible optical circuit. The double flexible optical circuit is configured to be divided in half once the testing is complete to form two separate flexible optical circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignees: CommScope Connectivity UK Limited, CommScope Connectivity Spain, S.L., CommScope Asia Holdings B.V., CommScope Technologies LLC
    Inventors: David Patrick Murray, Ton Bolhaar, Paul Schneider, Rafael Mateo, Luis Cobacho, Michael Wentworth, Steven J. Brandt, Marcellus P J Buijs, Alexander Dorrestein, Jan Willem Rietveld
  • Patent number: 10746938
    Abstract: A fiber optic connector includes a ferrule assembly at least partially disposed within a connector housing. The ferrules project distally from the connector housing and are biased in the distal direction by a common ferrule spring. Proximal ends of the ferrules and the ferrule spring are disposed within the same interior cavity of the connector housing. In certain examples, no portion of the connector housing extends between ferrule hubs supporting the ferrules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: CommScope Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Robert Charles Flaig
  • Patent number: 10732360
    Abstract: Optical connectors may include various portions, or structures, to provide a plurality of degrees of movement to optical ferrules. The optical ferrules may be linearly movable along one or more axes and rotationally moveable about one or more axes for alignment and coupling to corresponding optical ferrules. The optical connectors may be integrated with, or in conjunction with, other non-optical connectors such as electrical connectors, e.g., located on a drive carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Richard C. A. Pitwon, Alexander C. Worrall, Myles E. R. Spence, Alistair Allen Miller
  • Patent number: 10725246
    Abstract: An optical fiber adapter includes a main body, an inner housing, a movable shutter, a latch element, a spring and a cover. The inner housing is disposed in an axial accommodation room of the main body. The movable shutter includes a shutter portion, a pivot portion and a first interference structure. The first interference structure is disposed on the pivot portion, the pivot portion is rotatably disposed in the axial accommodation room, and the shutter portion placed in front of the hollow cylinder of the inner housing. The latch element includes a pushed portion, a cantilever portion and a second interference structure. The latch element is linearly movable in the axial accommodation room. The spring is disposed in the axial accommodation room and abuts against the latch element. The optical fiber adapter may shield high-intensity light by using movable shutter to protect eyes from damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: ACSUPER TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventor: Mei Miao Liu
  • Patent number: 10663667
    Abstract: A system and method for creating a random anti-reflective surface structure on an optical fiber including a holder configured to hold the optical fiber comprising a groove and a fiber connector, an adhesive material to hold the optical fiber in the holder and fill any gap between the optical fiber and the holder, a glass to cover the adhesive material and the optical fiber, and a reactive ion etch device. The reactive ion etch device comprises a plasma and is configured to expose an end face of the optical fiber to the plasma. The plasma is configured to etch a random anti-reflective surface structure on the end face of the optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Jesse A. Frantz, Lynda E. Busse, Jason D. Myers, L. Brandon Shaw, Jasbinder S. Sanghera, Ishwar D. Aggarwal, Catalin M. Florea
  • Patent number: 10656346
    Abstract: A coupling for forming an optical plug connection between two optical plug connectors, the coupling having a guide sleeve and a sleeve-receiving cage with an interior space for receiving the guide sleeve. The sleeve-receiving cage has plug-in openings arranged opposite one another on a longitudinal axis of the sleeve-receiving cage and which serve for the plugging-in of in each case one ferrule of the respective optical plug connector into the guide sleeve in, in each case, one direction parallel to the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Neutrik AG
    Inventor: Oliver Dobler
  • Patent number: 10656339
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a plurality of optical fibers and a lid member having one or more surfaces with grooves formed therein. The lid member defines a first plurality of grooves that are each dimensioned to partly receive an optical fiber of the plurality of optical fibers. The apparatus further comprises a substrate comprising a plurality of waveguides arranged at a predefined depth relative to a reference surface of the substrate, and a plurality of ribs extending from the reference surface. Each rib of the plurality of ribs is dimensioned to engage with a respective groove of a second plurality of grooves of the lid member. Engaging the plurality of ribs of the substrate with the second plurality of grooves of the lid member provides an optical alignment of the plurality of optical fibers with the plurality of waveguides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Vipulkumar Patel, Ashley J. Maker, Anthony D. Kopinetz
  • Patent number: 10649153
    Abstract: A light coupling unit includes a first major surface comprising one or more substantially parallel first grooves oriented along a first direction for receiving one or more optical waveguides. A second major surface for slidably contacting a mating light coupling unit comprises an optically transmitting window for propagating an optical signal therethrough, and a region of second grooves and lands configured to capture particulate contaminants in the second grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: James M. Nelson, Michael A. Haase, Terry L. Smith
  • Patent number: 10641969
    Abstract: A connector is disclosed that includes a housing and first and second attachment areas located in the housing and spaced apart from each other along the mating direction of the connector. The second, but not the first, attachment area is designed to move relative to the housing. The connector further includes an optical waveguide that is permanently attached to, and under a first bending force between, the first and second attachment areas. The connector also includes a light coupling unit located in the housing for receiving light from the optical waveguide and transmitting the received light to a mating connector along a direction different than the mating direction of the connector. The mating of the connector to the mating connector causes the optical waveguide to be under a greater second bending force between the first and second attachment areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Michael A. Haase, Terry L. Smith, Barry J. Koch, Ding Wang, Alexander R. Mathews
  • Patent number: 10641967
    Abstract: A multiport assembly includes a shell defining a cavity positioned within the shell, a plurality of optical adapter assemblies, a modular adapter support array engaged with the plurality of optical adapter assemblies and positioned within the cavity, the modular adapter support array defining a plurality of adapter passageways extending through the modular adapter support array in a longitudinal direction, where each adapter passageway of the plurality of adapter passageways extends around at least a portion of a corresponding optical adapter assembly of the plurality of optical adapter assemblies, and a plurality of optical connector defining respective connector insertion paths extending inward from the plurality of optical connector ports to the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Corning Research & Development Corporation
    Inventors: Monique Lise Cote, Joel Christopher Rosson
  • Patent number: 10613277
    Abstract: A multicore optical connector includes: a ferrule in which a plurality of optical fibers with lenses are arranged and held, the optical fibers with lenses having GRIN lenses fused to tips of optical fibers; and a coupling member which couples a pair of the ferrules so that the ferrules oppose each other in a non-contact state and end faces of the ferrules are parallel to each other, wherein the ferrules each have an end face inclined by a set angle ?0 relative to a central axis Of, the GRIN lenses are arranged and held parallel to the central axis Of so that a center of arrangement Op is at a position eccentric by ?t relative to the central axis Of, and the optical fibers with lenses held by the pair of the ferrules have end faces of the GRIN lenses inclined along the end faces of the ferrules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Toyo Seikan Group Holdings, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naofumi Maruyama, Naoki Misu
  • Patent number: 10606003
    Abstract: Methods and systems for an optical coupler for photonics devices are disclosed and may include a photonics transceiver comprising a silicon photonics die, an optical source module, and a fiber connector for receiving optical fibers and including a die coupler and an optical coupling element. The die coupler may be bonded to a top surface of the photonics die and aligned above an array of grating couplers. The optical coupling element may be attached to the die coupler and the electronics die and the source module may be bonded to the top surface of the photonics die. A continuous wave (CW) optical signal may be received in the photonics die from the optical source module. Modulated optical signals may be received in the photonics die from optical fibers coupled to the fiber connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Luxtera, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Peterson, Brian Welch, Steffen Gloeckner, Peter DeDobbelaere, Michael Mack
  • Patent number: 10606000
    Abstract: An optical waveguide feedthrough assembly passes at least one optical waveguide through a bulk head, a sensor wall, or other feedthrough member. The optical waveguide feedthrough assembly comprises a cane-based optical waveguide that forms a glass plug sealingly disposed in a feedthrough housing. For some embodiments, the optical waveguide includes a tapered surface biased against a seal seat formed in the housing. The feedthrough assembly can include an annular gold gasket member disposed between the tapered surface and the seal seat. The feedthrough assembly can further include a backup seal. The backup seal comprises an elastomeric annular member disposed between the glass plug and the housing. The backup seal may be energized by a fluid pressure in the housing. The feedthrough assembly is operable in high temperature and high pressure environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: James R. Dunphy, John J. Sgambelluri, John J. Grunbeck, George J. Talmadge, Robert F. Robinson, James M. Sullivan, Joseph F. Robbins
  • Patent number: 10598870
    Abstract: A fiber optic connector includes first and second ferrules arranged next to each other. The first and second ferrules each have a plurality of bores configured to support respective optical fibers. The fiber optic connector also includes an inner connector body having a front end from which the first and second ferrules extend, a latch arm extending outwardly from the inner connector body, and an outer body having a housing portion in which the inner connector body is at least partially received and a handle extending rearwardly from the housing portion. The outer body can move relative to the inner connector body to cause the latch arm to flex toward the inner connector body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Alliance Fiber Optic Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Yen Hsu Lin
  • Patent number: 10564377
    Abstract: A patch bay device, in particular for optical waveguide cables, includes at least one connection unit which defines at least one port. The connection unit has in at least one connection zone a port density of at least 0.55 ports/cm2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Reichle & De-Massari AG
    Inventors: Joerg Franzke, Christian Lendi, Nadejda Zidarova, Nikola Dimitrov, Kaloyan Georgiev
  • Patent number: 10539758
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a traceable fiber optic cable assembly with indication of polarity. In particular, the traceable fiber optic cable assembly includes a traceable fiber optic cable, a first duplex connector at a first end of the fiber optic cable, and a second duplex connector at a second end of the fiber optic cable. A first tracing end of the tracing optical fiber is in a preconfigured orientation in the first duplex connector offset from a central axis of the first duplex connector, and a second tracing end of the tracing optical fiber is in a preconfigured orientation in the second duplex connector offset from a central axis of the second duplex connector. The tracing optical fiber receives an optical tracing signal for propagation to the second tracing end of the first tracing optical fiber to indicate a first orientation of the first duplex connector corresponding to a first polarity state of the traceable fiber optic cable assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Corning Research & Development Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas Llewellyn Butler, Adam Kent Collier, Patrick Michael Gargano, Ashley Wesley Jones, Jason Clay Lail, Radawan Ripumaree, Hieu Vinh Tran
  • Patent number: 10534142
    Abstract: An assembly includes: a first circuit board, having an electrical connector assembly and an optical fiber connector assembly side by side, the electrical connector assembly is protrudingly provided with a first guiding mechanism in a front-rear direction, which includes a first guiding section and a second guiding section, and the optical fiber connector assembly has an aligning portion; and a second circuit board, having a mating electrical connector assembly and a mating optical fiber connector assembly side by side, the mating electrical connector assembly has a first matching region, which includes a first matching section and a second matching section, and the mating optical fiber connector assembly has an adaptation portion. When the first guiding section penetrates through the first matching section and enters the second guiding section, the aligning portion starts entering the adaptation portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: LOTES CO., LTD
    Inventor: Qi Xiao Yang
  • Patent number: 10520681
    Abstract: A pair of optical ferrules is disclosed. Each of a first ferrule and a second ferrule of the pair may include at least one protrusion and at least one recess. Each of the protrusions or recesses may have at least one channel for holding an optical fiber. Upon mating the two ferrules, the protrusion of the first ferrule is configured to be inserted into the recess of the second ferrule and the protrusion of the second ferrule is configured to be inserted into the recess of the first ferrule such that the optical fibers held in each protrusion are optically aligned to be connected face to face with the optical fibers held in the corresponding recess of the other ferrule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: WAVE2WAVE SOLUTION INC.
    Inventors: Amnon Segal, Xuezhe Zheng, Yonatan Silberman, Weimin Wang