Dust mitigating optical connector
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsJames M. Nelson, Michael A. Haase, Terry L. Smith
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A light coupling unit includes a first major surface comprising one or more substantially parallel first grooves oriented along a first direction for receiving one or more optical waveguides. A second major surface for slidably contacting a mating light coupling unit comprises an optically transmitting window for propagating an optical signal therethrough, and a region of second grooves and lands configured to capture particulate contaminants in the second grooves.
Claims5
A light coupling unit comprising a mating surface adapted to slide against a mating surface of a mating light coupling unit with the light coupling unit mating with the mating light coupling unit along a mating direction, the mating surface of the light coupling unit comprising a plurality of substantially parallel first grooves oriented along a first direction different than the mating-direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.