Two-dimensional, high-density optical connector
AssigneeIntel Corporation
InventorsShawna Liff, Jia-Hung Tseng, Peter Chang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An optical connector includes a two-dimensional array of lenses to couple optical signals between an optical integrated circuit and an optical fiber. The optical connector has a total-internal-reflection or mirror surface that redirects light between lenses at different surfaces of the optical connector. The lens arrays collimate light directed toward the reflection surface and focuses light received from the reflection surface. The two-dimensional array and prism allows for a low-profile, high-density optical connector based on free space optical light propagation.
Claims25
An optical connector comprising:
- a connector body having an outward-facing surface, a circuit-facing surface, and a reflection surface, the outward-facing surface to interface with a fiber array, the circuit-facing surface to interface with an optical integrated circuit, and the reflection surface to redirect light between the outward-facing surface and the circuit-facing surface at approximately a right angle in free space within the connector body;
- a first two-dimensional lens array with lenses at the outward-facing surface, the first lens array being at least a two-by-two array;
- and
- a second two-dimensional lens array with an array of lenses having one-to-one correspondence to the first lens array, the lenses of the second lens array forming optical paths between the circuit-facing surface and the outward-facing surface via the reflection surface;
- wherein the first and second lens arrays include lenses that collimate the light towards the reflection surface to the other lens array, and focus light redirected off of the reflection surface from the other lens array.
A system comprising:
- an optical coupler including
- a connector body having a mating surface to mate with a fiber array connector, a circuit-facing surface to interface with an integrated optical circuit, and a reflection surface to redirect light between the mating surface and the circuit-facing surface at approximately a right angle in free space within the connector body;
- a first two-dimensional lens array with lenses disposed on the mating surface, the first lens array being at least a two-by-two array;
- and
- a second two-dimensional lens array with an array of lenses having one-to-one correspondence to the first lens array, the lenses of the second lens array forming optical paths between the circuit-facing surface and the mating surface via the reflection surface;
- wherein the first and second lens arrays include lenses that collimate the light towards the reflection surface to the other lens array, and focus light redirected off of the reflection surface from the other lens array;
- and
- an optical connector having an array of single-mode optical fibers coupled to the mating surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.