Optical fiber connector bypass device and method using same

A fiber optic connector comprising:

• a first and a second connector member, where the first connector member comprises a first and a second waveguide and said second connector comprises a first and a second waveguide, the connector members being configured to engage each other such that the first waveguide from the first connector member aligns with and optically engages the first waveguide from the second connector member, and the second waveguide from the first connector member aligns with and optically engages the second waveguide from the second connector member;
• and
• a bypass device comprising an optical waveguiding region, where the waveguiding region is configured to receive and loopback an optical communication signal from the first waveguide of the first connector member to the second waveguide of the first connector member, and wherein the bypass device is configured to be received by at least the first or second connector member to receive the optical communication signal;
• where the connector has two states, a bar state in which the bypass device is in a first position in which the waveguiding region of the bypass device receives the optical communication signal causing loopback, and a cross state where the bypass device is in a second position in which the waveguiding region of the bypass device does not receive the optical communication signal so that the optical beam passes from the first waveguide of the first connector member to the first waveguide of the second connector member.

An optical bypass connector comprising:

• female and male connector members, each comprising a first and a second waveguide;
• said connector members being configured to engage each other such that the first waveguide from the male connector member aligns with and optically engages the first waveguide of the female member defining a first optical signal path and the second waveguide from the female connector member aligns with and optically engages the second waveguide of the male connector member defining a second optical signal path;
• a bypass device configured to receive and direct optical communication signals from the first waveguide of the male connector member to the second waveguide of the male connector member, and to receive and direct the optical communication signals from the second waveguide of the female connector member to the first waveguide of the female connector member, and wherein the bypass device is configured to be received by at least the male or female connector member to receive the optical communication signals;
• an actuator coupled to the bypass device and configured to place the bypass device in a first and a second position, where in the first position the bypass device does not engage the optical signal paths defined by the mated connector members, and in the second position the bypass device engages the optical signal paths, thereby receiving and causing loopback of the optical communication signals.

A optical bypass connector comprising:

• a first and a second male connector member, each male connector member comprising a first and a second waveguide;
• a female connector member configured to receive the first and the second male connector members so that the waveguides of the first male connector member align with and optically engage the waveguides of the second male connector member, defining two optical paths;
• a bypass device configured to receive and direct one or more optical signals from the first waveguide of the first and second male connector members to the second waveguide of each of the first and second connector members, where the second waveguide receives the optical signal from the first waveguide located on the same male connector member, and wherein the bypass device is configured to be received by the female connector member to receive the optical signals;
• and
• an actuator coupled to the bypass device, the actuator having a first and a second position, where in the first position, the bypass device engages the optical paths and receives the optical signals, and in a second position, the bypass device does not engage the optical paths.

A selector switch comprising:

• first and second connector members;
• the first connector member comprising a first waveguide, the second connector member comprising a first and second waveguide;
• the connector members being adapted to engage each other such that the first waveguide from the first connector member aligns with and optically engages the first waveguide of the second connector member defining a first optical path;
• a bypass device configured to receive and direct an optical signal from the first waveguide of the first connector to the second waveguide of the second connector, defining a second optical path, and wherein the bypass device is configured to be received by at least the first or second connector member to receive the optical signal;
• an actuator coupled to the bypass device to place the bypass device in a first and a second position, wherein in the first position, the bypass device engages the first optical path thereby receiving the optical signal and directing said optical signal from the first optical path to the second optical path, and, in the second position, the bypass device does not engage the first optical path.

An optical bypass device for use in conjunction with a fiber connector to provide optical rerouting of an optical signal, wherein the optical bypass device is an arrangement comprising:

• an optical input;
• an optical output;
• and
• an optical waveguiding region optically connecting the optical input and the optical output;
• where the optical waveguiding region comprises two or more reflective surfaces or a core of optically suitable material and at least a first layer of cladding, where the relationship between the refractive index of the core and the refractive index of the cladding is such that an optical signal may be guided by the core, and wherein the arrangement is configured to be received by the fiber connector.

An optical bypass device for use in conjunction with a fiber connector to provide optical rerouting of at least two optical signals, wherein the optical bypass device is an arrangement comprising:

• a first surface having an optical input and an optical output;
• a second surface having an optical input and an optical output;
• a first optical waveguiding region optically connecting the optical input of the first surface and the optical output of the first surface;
• and
• a second optical waveguiding region optically connecting the optical input of the second surface and the optical output of the second surface;
• where the first and second optical waveguiding regions comprise two or more reflective surfaces or a core of optically suitable material and at least a first layer of cladding, where the relationship between the refractive index of the core and the refractive index of the cladding is such that an optical signal may be guided by the core, and wherein the arrangement is configured to be received by the fiber connector.

An optical bypass device for use in conjunction with an optical connector for switching an optical signal from a first optical path to a second optical path, where the optical signal has the same direction of travel, relative to the optical bypass device, along the first and second optical path, and where the second optical path is laterally displaced relative to the first optical path, wherein the optical bypass device is an arrangement comprising:

• a first surface having an optical inlet for receiving the optical signal propagating along the first optical path;
• a second surface having an optical outlet for delivering the optical signal to the second optical path;
• and
• a waveguiding region optically connecting the optical input and the optical output,
• where the optical waveguiding region comprises two or more reflective surfaces or a core of optically suitable material and at least a first layer of cladding, where the relationship between the refractive index of the core and the refractive index of the cladding is such that an optical signal may be guided by the core, and wherein the arrangement is configured to be received by the optical connector.

A method for providing loopback of an optical signal propagating along a first optical path defined by optically communicating waveguides of a first and second connector member, mated to form an optical connector, where each connector member has at least a first and a second waveguide, comprising:

• providing an arrangement for waveguiding, which arrangement is configured to be received by at least one of the first and second connector members;
• placing the arrangement in the first optical path;
• and
• utilizing the arrangement for waveguiding to divert the optical signal from the first optical path to a second optical path defined by the first and second waveguide of the first or second connector member.

A method for switching between optical signal paths wherein a first and a second signal path, each of which optical signal paths define a cross state, are provided for an optical communication signal, wherein the first and second optical signal path are provided by optically communicating waveguides located on complementary connector members, comprising:

• (a) providing a first arrangement for waveguiding having an optical input and an optical output for the optical communication signal, the first arrangement for waveguiding being configured so that the when the optical input optically engages the first optical signal path, the optical output optically engages the second optical signal path, and wherein the first arrangement for waveguiding is further configured to be received by at least one of the complementary connector members to optically engage the first optical signal path;
• (b) optically engaging the optical input of the first arrangement for waveguiding with the optical communication signal;
• (c) utilizing the first arrangement for waveguiding to divert the optical communication signal from the optical input to the optical output of the first arrangement for waveguiding;
• and
• (d) delivering the optical communication signal to the second signal path.