Interconnecting optical components with passive alignment

Abstract

A system is described for interconnecting a first optical component and a second optical component in which the first optical component is guided passively into precise alignment with the second optical component. The system includes a base and a guide structure. The base has a first surface exposed for contact with a front surface of the first optical component and a second surface configured to contact a front surface of the second optical component, and defines a transparent optical aperture extending from the first base surface to the second base surface and aligned with respect to the optical axis. The guide structure is supported by the base in fixed registration with respect to the optical axis and is exposed for contact with an exposed peripheral surface of the first optical component at three or more spaced apart discrete locations. The passive alignment system may be used with a wide variety of different optical connectors, including connectors implemented in accordance with existing optical connection standards, without the need for proprietary interlocking features or special modification.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.