Ferrule-less optical fiber apparatus for optical backplane connector systems
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsCameron J. Brooks, Philip G. Emma, Casimer M. DeCusatis, Lawrence Jacobowitz, John U. Knickerbocker
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Abstract
A ferrule-less optical backplane connector assembly includes a substrate having at least a pair of optical guide receiving structures formed therein, the pair of optical guide receiving structures further being formed at substantially a right angle with respect to one another so as to guide a corresponding first and second optical guide into optical alignment with one another.
Claims20
A ferrule-less optical backplane connector apparatus, comprising:
- a substrate having at least a pair of optical guide receiving structures formed therein, said pair of optical guide receiving structures being formed at substantially a right angle with respect to one another so as to guide a corresponding first and second optical guide into optical alignment with one another.
A ferrule-less optical backplane connector apparatus, comprising:
- a laminate assembly having a plurality of optical guide receiving structures formed within individual layers thereof, said optical guide receiving structures further being formed at substantially right angle pairs with respect to one another;
- and
- each pair of optical guide receiving structures for optically coupling a corresponding pair of optical guides configured within orthogonal sides of said laminate assembly.
A method for forming a ferrule-less optical backplane connector assembly, the method comprising:
- forming orthogonally intersecting pairs of V-shaped grooves within a plurality of workpieces;
- inserting an index-matching fluid within each pair of said V-shaped grooves;
- and
- stacking and bonding each of said plurality of workpieces to form a generally cube-shaped, laminate assembly;
- wherein said pairs of V-shaped grooves in individual layers of said laminate assembly are vertically aligned so as to receive arrays of optical guides within orthogonal sides of said assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.