US 2019/0094470 A1 · BEND-LIMITED FLEXIBLE OPTICAL INTERCONNECT DEVICE FOR SIGNAL DISTRIBUTION

Abstract

The invention relates to a bend limiting structure for preventing a flexible optical circuit from being bent too sharply. More particularly, the invention involves adding a bend limiting layer or layers to the flexible optical circuit and/or any housing or other structure within which it is enclosed or to which it is attached. The bend-limiting layer may comprise a plurality of blocks arranged in a line or plane and joined by a flexible film that is thinner than the blocks, with the blocks positioned close enough to each other so that, if that plane of blocks is bent a predetermined amount, the edges of the blocks will interfere with each other and prevent the plane from being bent any further. The blocks may be resilient also to provide a less abrupt bend-limiting stop.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A device for interconnecting optical signals between at least one first optical component and at least one second optical component comprising:

a flexible optical circuit substrate layer having first and second, opposed major surfaces;
a plurality of optical fibers disposed on the substrate, each of the optical fibers having a first end and a second end;
a bend limiting layer attached to the flexible optical circuit so as to bend with and substantially identically to the flexible optical circuit substrate, the bend limiting layer comprising a plurality of blocks disposed relative to each other such that adjacent pairs of the blocks contact each other when the bend limiting layer is bent a predetermined amount, thereby resisting further bending of the bend limiting layer and the flexible optical circuit substrate.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Bend-limited flexible optical interconnect device for signal distribution

Life of this patent

Bend-limited flexible optical interconnect device for signal distribution

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16