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US 2014/0193116 A1Published application
Optical substrate having a plurality of staggered light redirecting features on a major surface thereof
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsJames R. Bylander, Ding Wang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The disclosure generally relates to sets of optical waveguides such as optical fiber ribbons, and fiber optic connectors useful for connecting multiple optical fibers. In particular, the disclosure provides an efficient, compact, and reliable optical fiber connector that incorporates a unitary substrate comprising a plurality of staggered light redirecting features on an input surface there of directing incoming light from optical fibres through the substrate towards optical elements to be coupled with.
Claims29
A unitary substrate comprising:
- a first major surface comprising a plurality of staggered light redirecting features;
- and
- an opposing second major surface comprising a plurality of staggered microlenses, each light redirecting feature corresponding to a different microlens and comprising:
- an input surface for receiving light from an optical waveguide;
- and
- a light redirecting surface for redirecting the received light to the corresponding microlens through the substrate, the light redirecting surface making an oblique angle with the input surface;
- wherein the substrate and the pluralities of the microlenses and the light redirecting features form a unitary construction.
4 more elements
A unitary substrate comprising:
- a first major surface comprising a plurality of spaced apart discrete light redirecting features disposed along a first row and adapted to redirect light exiting a first plurality of optical fibers and a continuous light redirecting feature spaced apart from the first row adapted to redirect light exiting a second plurality of optical fibers, each space between the plurality of discrete spaced apart light redirecting features in the first row being adapted to receive a corresponding different optical fiber from the second plurality of optical fibers;
- and
- a second major surface opposite the first major surface and comprising a plurality of staggered microlenses forming first and second rows of microlenses, each microlens in the first row being adapted to receive light that is redirected by a corresponding different discrete light redirecting feature in the first row of spaced apart discrete light redirecting features, and each microlens in the second row being adapted to receive light that is redirected from the continuous light redirecting feature, wherein the substrate, the plurality of spaced apart discrete light redirecting features, the continuous light redirecting feature, and the pluralities of staggered microlenses form a unitary construction.
A unitary substrate comprising:
- a first major side comprising a first floor surface;
- a first staircase formed on the first floor surface and comprising at least a first step comprising a first tread;
- a first plurality of staggered light redirecting features disposed on the first floor surface and forming rows of light redirecting features;
- a second plurality of staggered light redirecting features disposed on the first tread of the first staircase and forming rows of light redirecting features;
- a second major side opposite the first major side and comprising a second floor surface;
- a second staircase formed on the second floor surface and comprising at least a first step comprising a first tread;
- a first plurality of staggered microlenses disposed on the second floor surface and forming rows of microlenses, each microlens corresponding to a different light redirecting feature on the first floor;
- and
- a second plurality of staggered microlenses disposed on the first tread of the second staircase and forming rows of microlenses, each microlens corresponding to a different light redirecting feature on the first tread of the first staircase;
- wherein the substrate, the first and second staircases, the light redirecting features, and the microlenses form a unitary construction.
7 more elements
A unitary substrate comprising:
- a first major surface comprising a plurality of staggered light redirecting features, each light redirecting feature comprising:
- an input surface for receiving light from an optical waveguide;
- a light redirecting surface for redirecting the received light as a collimated light or a focused light through the substrate, the light redirecting surface including a shaped reflector;
- and
- an opposing second major surface, wherein the substrate and the pluralities of the light redirecting features form a unitary construction.
2 more elements
A unitary substrate comprising:
- a first major side comprising a first floor surface;
- a first staircase formed on the first floor surface and comprising at least a first step comprising a first tread;
- a first plurality of light redirecting features and a first waveguide alignment feature disposed on the first floor surface, the first waveguide alignment feature capable of positioning a first plurality of optical waveguides to inject light into the first plurality of light redirecting features;
- a second plurality of light redirecting features and a second waveguide alignment feature disposed on the first tread of the first staircase, the second waveguide alignment feature capable of positioning a second plurality of optical waveguides to inject light into the second plurality of light redirecting features;
- a second major side opposite the first major side and comprising a second floor surface;
- a second staircase formed on the second floor surface and comprising at least a first step comprising a first tread;
- a first plurality of microlenses disposed on the second floor surface, each microlens corresponding to a different light redirecting feature on the first floor;
- and
- a second plurality of microlenses disposed on the first tread of the second staircase, each microlens corresponding to a different light redirecting feature on the first tread of the first staircase;
- wherein the substrate, the first and second staircases, the light redirecting features, and the microlenses form a unitary construction.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.