Electro-optical connectors

A direct optical connector for transmitting and receiving electrically transmitted data, comprising:

• (a) a first member that includes an array of light emitting devices fabricated on a single chip;
• (b) a second member, adapted for reclosable connection with said first member, that includes an array of light detecting devices fabricated on a single chip that are each aligned with a corresponding light emitting device in said array of light emitting devices to form a first plurality of adjacent device pairs having all light emitting devices on said first member and all light detecting devices on said second member whenever said first and second member are connected;
• and
• (c) an energy transfer media interposed between the devices in each pair of devices in said first plurality of adjacent device pairs to form an optical communication channel between the devices in each pair, wherein said media is comprised of an array of optical imaging fiber bundles wherein each fiber bundle is comprised of a plurality of optical imaging fibers forming a direct optical connection between a given pair of devices in said first plurality of adjacent device pairs, and further wherein the diameter of each fiber is small enough to permit its ends to be positioned against the devices of a given device pair without alignment.

A direct optical connector for transmitting and receiving electrically transmitted data, comprising:

• (a) a first member that includes an array of light emitting devices fabricated on a single chip;
• (b) a second member, adapted for reclosable connection with said first member, that includes an array of light detecting devices fabricated on a single chip that are each aligned with a corresponding light emitting device in said array of light emitting devices to form a first plurality of adjacent device pairs having all light emitting devices on said first member and all light detecting devices on said second member whenever said first and second member are connected;
• and
• (c) an energy transfer media interposed between the devices in each pair of devices in said first plurality of adjacent device pairs to form an optical communication channel between the devices in each pair, wherein said media is comprised of an array of waveguides that are each aligned with a given pair of devices in said first plurality of adjacent device pairs forming a direct optical connection therebetween.

Apparatus for transmitting and receiving light for purposes of electronic data communication, comprising:

• (a) an array of light emitting devices fabricated on a single chip;
• (b) an array of light detecting devices fabricated on a single chip;
• (c) a support member having said array of light emitting devices and said array of light detecting devices mounted thereon;
• and
• (d) a non-reflective energy transfer media, combined with said support member and disposed over the arrays mounted thereon, to transmit light emitted by said light emitting devices and to focus light onto said light detecting devices.

A process for manufacturing a remote optical connector (ROC) from a flexible array of fibers, for use in combination with apparatus for transmitting and receiving light, wherein said apparatus comprises an array of light emitting devices, an array of light detecting devices, a support member having said array of light emitting devices and said array of light detecting devices mounted thereon, and an energy transfer media, combined with said support member and disposed over the arrays mounted thereon, to transmit light emitted by said light emitting devices and to focus light onto said light detecting devices, comprising the steps of:

• (a) punching an endplate to provide locating holes into which said fibers can be inserted, wherein each hole is punched in line with one of said light emitting devices or one of said light detecting devices;
• (b) inserting said fibers into said locating holes;
• and
• (c) affixing to said endplate, the fibers inserted according to step (b), to form a rigid endplate/fiber combination that aligns each of said fibers with one of said emitting or detecting devices when the combination is coupled to said apparatus for transmitting and receiving light.

A remote optical connector (ROC), for use in combination with apparatus for transmitting and receiving light, wherein said apparatus comprises an array of light emitting devices fabricated on a single chip, an array of light detecting devices fabricated on a single chip, a support member having said array of light emitting devices and said array of light detecting devices mounted thereon, and a non-reflective energy transfer media, combined with said support member and disposed over the arrays mounted thereon, to transmit light emitted by said light emitting devices and to focus light onto said light detecting devices, comprising:

• (a) means for channelling light between said apparatus for transmitting and receiving light and a remote location wherein said means for channelling light has the same footprint as said means for transmitting and receiving light;
• (b) means for aligning said means for channelling with said light emitting and light detecting devices;
• (c) means for affixing said means for channelling to said means for aligning;
• and
• (d) means for combining said means for aligning with said energy transfer media.

Apparatus for transmitting and receiving light comprising:

• (a) an array of light modulating devices fabricated on a single chip;
• (b) an array of light detecting devices fabricated on a single chip;
• (c) a support member having said array of light modulating devices and said array of light detecting devices mounted thereon;
• and
• (d) a non-reflective energy transfer media, combined with said support member and disposed over the arrays mounted thereon, to transmit light emitted by said light emitting devices and to focus light onto said light detecting devices.