# US 11,029,468 B2 · Optical connector

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- Number: US 11,029,468 B2
- Document ID: US11029468B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/734,634
- Filed: 2020-01-06
- Published: 2020-05-07
- Granted: 2021-06-08
- Earliest claimed: 2014-03-19
- Assignees: 3M Innovative Properties Company
- Applicants: 3M Innovative Properties Company
- Inventors: Terry L. Smith; Barry S. Carpenter; Takayuki Hayauchi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11029468B2

## CPC

- G02B 6/3829: {Bent or angled connectors (G02B6/3827 takes precedence)}
- G02B 6/262: {Optical details of coupling light into, or out of, or between fibre ends, e.g. special fibre end shapes or associated optical elements}
- G02B 6/3821: {with axial spring biasing or loading means (G02B6/3847 takes precedence)}
- G02B 6/383: {Hermaphroditic connectors, i.e. two identical plugs mating with one another, each plug having both male and female diametrically opposed engaging parts; (electric hermaphroditic coupling H01R24/84, H01R13/28)}
- G02B 6/3831: {comprising a keying element on the plug or adapter, e.g. to forbid wrong connection (keying element on the ferrule G02B6/3851; keying element for electrical coupling H01R13/64)}
- G02B 6/3839: {for a plurality of light guides}
- G02B 6/3882: {using rods, pins or balls to align a pair of ferrule ends}
- G02B 6/3885: {Multicore or multichannel optical connectors, i.e. one single ferrule containing more than one fibre, e.g. ribbon type (optical ribbon cable G02B6/4403, G02B6/448)}
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS

## 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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An optical connector configured to mate with a mating optical connector, comprising:
a housing;
a moving member disposed in, and configured to move relative to, the housing;
a light coupling unit disposed in the housing and configured to mate with a mating light coupling unit of the mating optical connector, the light coupling unit comprising an attachment area, and a light redirecting surface; and
an optical waveguide permanently attached to the attachment area, the light redirecting surface configured to receive light from the optical waveguide along a first direction and redirect the received light along a different second direction, such that when the optical connector mates with the mating optical connector, the mating optical connector causes the moving member to move within the housing and press against the optical waveguide causing the light coupling unit and the mating light coupling unit to move.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The optical connector of claim 1, wherein the attachment area comprises a groove.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The optical connector of claim 1, wherein the optical waveguide comprises an optical fiber.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The optical connector of claim 1, wherein when the optical connector mates with the mating optical connector, the mating optical connector causes the moving member to move in a direction substantially perpendicular to a mating direction of the optical connector.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The optical connector of claim 1, when the optical connector mates with the mating optical connector, the mating optical connector causes the moving member to move within the housing and press against the optical waveguide causing the light coupling unit and the mating light coupling unit to rotate.