Interconnect for micro form-factor photonic

Abstract

A ferrule-less optical interconnect includes electrical communications assembly having a receptacle disposed in a housing, the receptacle adapted to mate with an electrical connector to produce a free space gap, and active optical communications components disposed in the housing and adapted to process a free space optical beam traveling along a first optical beam path through the free space gap. The free space optical beam has a substantially parallel shape and Gaussian power density distribution. Active optical components may include a light source and a collimator adapted to produce the free space optical beam. Active optical components may include a condenser adapted to receive the free space optical beam and produce a focused optical beam signal for reception by a sensor. A hole is disposed in the housing along the first optical beam path providing free space passageway between the active optical communications components and the free space gap.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.