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US 2021/0263230 A1Published application
Optical connector
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsTerry L. Smith, Barry S. Carpenter, Takayuki Hayauchi
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Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsTerry L. Smith, Barry S. Carpenter, Takayuki Hayauchi
Estimating the term…
An optical connector includes a first attachment area for receiving and permanently attaching to an optical waveguide. A light coupling unit is disposed and configured to move translationally and not rotationally within the housing of the connector. The light coupling unit includes a second attachment area for receiving and permanently attaching to an optical waveguide received and permanently attached at the first attachment area. The light coupling unit also includes light redirecting surface. The light redirecting surface is configured such that when an optical waveguide is received and permanently attached at the first and second attachment areas, the light redirecting surface receives and redirects light from the optical waveguide. The optical waveguide limits, but does not prevent, a movement of the light coupling unit within the housing.
An optical connector configured to mate with an optical mating connector along a mating direction and comprising a housing comprising spaced apart first and second attachment areas for receiving and permanently attaching to an optical waveguide, such that during mating with the mating connector, the first attachment area moves within and relative to the housing in a first direction substantially orthogonal to the mating direction and the second attachment area moves within and relative to the housing in a different second direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.