Optical universal serial bus (USB)
AssigneeIntel Corporation
InventorsJamyuen Ko, Hengju Cheng, Tom Mader
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Embodiments of the invention are directed to an optical USB (OUSB) to enhance the data rate of USB by adding super-high data rate (e.g. 10 Gbps) optical communication on top of its current specification so that backward compatibility is achievable. Mechanical tolerances may be achieved by using embedded lenses to expand a beam emerging from the connector prior to entering its mating connector and using an identical lens in the mating connector to collimate the beam back onto a fiber.
Claims20
A universal serial bus (USB) connector, comprising:
- an insulative base having a top surface and a leading edge;
- a plurality of pins on the top surface of the insulative base to make electrical connections;
- and
- at least one embedded lens on the leading edge of the insulative base to provide optical function.
A method of providing optical function to a USB connector, comprising:
- providing an insulative base having a top surface and a leading edge;
- positioning a plurality of pins on the top surface of the insulative base to make electrical connections;
- and
- embedding at least one lens on the leading edge of the insulative base for optical communication.
An optical universal serial bus (OUSB), comprising:
- a universal serial bus (USB) connector comprising four electrical connections mounted to a top surface of an insulative base;
- a plurality of embedded lenses on a leading edge of the insulative base;
- a plurality of fibers each optically coupled to a respective one of the plurality of embedded lenses;
- wherein each lens expands a beam traveling in a first direction from an optical fiber and collimates a beam traveling in a second direction onto the optical fiber to meet USB mechanical tolerances.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.