US 5,515,468 A · Light bending devices

Abstract

Improved connectors for optically coupling a fiber optic transmission line and an opto-electronic device electrically interfaced to a substrate. The improved connectors include the opto-electronic device being mounted on the substrate, such as a printed circuit board, and means for mounting the fiber optic transmission line to the substrate such that the operative axis of the opto-electronic device is substantially not coincidental with the light transmission axis of the fiber optic transmission line. The connectors also require light bending means in operative optical association with said opto-electronic device for directing along the light transmission axis of the fiber optic transmission line at least a portion of the light emitted from said opto-electronic device or for directing along the operative axis of said opto-electronic device at least a portion of the light emitted from said fiber optic transmission line. Applicants have discovered that a connector provided in accordance with the present invention overcomes many of the difficulties associated with prior art connectors of this type.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A connector for optically coupling data between a fiber optic transmission line having a light transmission axis and an opto-electronic device electrically interfaced to at least a first side of a substantially flat printed circuit board, said printed circuit board lying substantially in plane parallel to said first light transmission axis, the connector comprising:

(a) the opto-electronic device being surface mounted on the first side of the printed circuit board such that the operative axis thereof is substantially normal to the plane of the printed circuit board;
(b) a casing assembly comprising a moldable material for encasing at least the first side of the printed circuit board, said casing comprising at least one casing wall disposed in a plane substantially normal to said printed circuit board:
(c) an optical sleeve having an open first end, a closed second end and a substantially cylindrical central bore extending from said open end to said closed end, said optical sleeve being mounted through at least one wall in said casing, said bore being adapted to operatively associate with said optical transmission line through said open end such that said light transmission axis is substantially coincidental with the axis of said bore;
and
(d) said closed end of said bore comprising a substantially solid light transmissive member comprising:
(i) a first surface creating an interface with said bore, said first surface comprising a first lens having an optical axis substantially coincidental with the axis of said bore for transmitting light traveling from said open end towards said closed end;
(ii) a second surface adjacent to said opto-electronic device, said second surface comprising a second lens having an optical axis substantially coincidental with the operative axis of said opto-electronic device for transmitting light traveling from said device towards said second surface;
and
(iii) a third surface disposed at an angle of about 45.degree. with respect to the optical axes of said first and second lenses.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Light bending devices

Life of this patent

Light bending devices

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims10