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US 6,635,861 B1Granted
Relaxed tolerance optical interconnect system having a GRIN rod lens
AssigneeWavefront Research, Inc.
InventorThomas W. Stone
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An optical interconnect system having a GRIN rod lens, the GRIN rod lens having a first end and a second end, and further having a preselected length, a preselected width and a preselected index of refraction. Means are fixedly secured to the first end of the GRIN rod lens for emitting electromagnetic radiation and means are fixedly secured to said second end of said GRIN rod lens for receiving the emitted electromagnetic radiation. The GRIN rod lens forms an image of the emitting means onto the receiving means and overcomes problems associated with misalignment. Further embodiments of this optical interconnect system are capable of use in even further applications in an environment where alignment problems are at issue
Claims62
An optical interconnect system, comprising:
- a GRIN rod lens, said GRIN rod lens having a first end and a second end, and further having a preselected length, a preselected width and a preselected index of refraction;
- means fixedly secured to said first end of said GRIN rod lens for emitting electromagnetic radiation;
- means fixedly secured to said second end of said GRIN rod lens for receiving said emitted electromagnetic radiation;
- and
- said GRIN rod lens forming an image of said emitting means onto said receiving means.
2 more elements
An optical interconnect system, comprising:
- a GRIN rod lens, said GRIN rod lens having a first end and a second end, and further having a preselected length, a preselected width and a preselected index of refraction;
- means connected to said first end of said GRIN rod lens for emitting electromagnetic radiation;
- means spaced apart from said second end of said GRIN rod lens for receiving said emitted electromagnetic radiation transmitted through said GRIN rod lens;
- directing means interposed between said second end of said GRIN rod lens and said receiving means for directing said electromagnetic radiation to said receiving means;
- said receiving means and said directing means are fixed with respect to another and fixedly secured in combination to said second end of said GRIN rod lens and
- said GRIN rod lens forming an image of said emitting means at said receiving means spaced apart from said second end of said GRIN rod lens.
3 more elements
An optical interconnect system, comprising:
- a GRIN rod lens, said GRIN rod lens having a first end and a second end, and further having a preselected length, a preselected width and a preselected index of refraction;
- means fixedly secured to said first end of said GRIN rod lens for emitting electromagnetic radiation;
- means fixedly secured to said second end of said GRIN rod lens for receiving said emitted electromagnetic radiation transmitted through said GRIN rod lens;
- said emitting means having a preselected numerical aperture and said GRIN rod lens having a preselected numerical aperture;
- said emitting means comprises at least one emitter and means interposed between said at least one emitter and said first end of said GRIN red lens for directing said electromagnetic radiation from said at least one emitter into said first end of said GRIN rod lens and for transforming said numerical aperture of said emitting means to be less than or equal to said preselected numerical aperture of said GRIN rod lens;
- said at least one emitter and said directing means are fixed with respect to another and fixedly secured in combination to said first end of said GRIN rod lens;
- and
- said GRIN rod lens forming an image of said at least one emitter at said receiving means.
5 more elements
An optical interconnect system, comprising:
- a GRIN rod lens, said GRIN rod lens having a first end and a second end, and further having a preselected length, a preselected width and a preselected index of refraction;
- means fixedly secured to said first end of said GRIN rod lens for emitting electromagnetic radiation;
- means fixedly secured to said second end of said GRIN rod lens for receiving said emitted electromagnetic radiation transmitted through said GRIN rod lens;
- said emitting means comprising an array of emitters and said receiving means comprises an array of detectors;
- said array of emitters having respective preselected numerical apertures and said GRIN rod lens having a plurality of preselected numerical apertures dependent upon their location along said first end of said GRIN rod lens;
- and
- means interposed between said array of emitters and said first end of said GRIN rod lens for directing said electromagnetic radiation from said array of emitters into said first end of said GRIN rod lens and for transforming said numerical apertures of said array of emitters to be less than or equal to said preselected numerical apertures of said GRIN rod lens;
- said array of emitters and said directing means are fixed with respect to another and fixedly secured in combination to said first end of said GRIN rod lens;
- and
- said GRIN rod lens forming an image of said array of emitters at said array of detectors.
7 more elements
An optical interconnect system, comprising:
- a first GRIN rod lens and a second GRIN rod lens;
- said first GRIN rod lens having a first end and a second end, and further having a preselected length, a preselected width and a preselected index of refraction;
- said second GRIN rod lens having a first end and a second end, and further having a preselected length, a preselected width and a preselected index of refraction;
- means fixedly secured to said first end of said first GRIN rod lens for emitting electromagnetic radiation;
- means fixedly secured to said second end of said second GRIN rod lens for receiving said emitted electromagnetic radiation;
- said first GRIN rod lens forming an image of said emitting means substantially at infinity;
- said second GRIN rod lens having its first end spaced apart and proximate said second end of said first GRIN rod lens;
- said first end of said second GRIN rod lens and said second end of said first GRIN rod lens defining a space therebetween, wherein said space being substantially void of any optical component;
- and
- said second GRIN rod lens forming an image of said emitting means onto said receiving means.
7 more elements
An optical interconnect system, comprising:
- a first GRIN rod lens, said first GRIN rod lens having a first end and a second end, and further having a preselected length, a preselected width and a preselected index of refraction;
- a second GRIN rod lens, said second GRIN rod lens having a first end and a second end, and further having a preselected length, a preselected width and a preselected index of refraction;
- means fixedly secured to said first end of said first GRIN rod lens for emitting electromagnetic radiation;
- means fixedly secured to said second end of said second GRIN rod lens for receiving said emitted electromagnetic radiation;
- said first GRIN rod lens and said emitting means being attached to a first circuit board;
- said second GRIN lens and said receiving means being attached to a second circuit board;
- said first GRIN rod lens forming an image of said emitted radiation substantially at infinity;
- and
- said second GRIN rod lens forming an image of said emitted electromagnetic radiation from said first GRIN rod lens onto said receiving means.
6 more elements
An optical interconnect system, comprising:
- a first GRIN rod lens, said first GRIN rod lens having a first end and a second end, and further having a preselected length, a preselected width and a preselected index of refraction;
- a second GRIN rod lens, said second GRIN rod lens having a first end and a second end, and further having a preselected length, a preselected width and a preselected index of refraction;
- means fixedly secured to said first end of said first GRIN rod lens for emitting electromagnetic radiation;
- means fixedly secured to said second end of said second GRIN rod lens for receiving said emitted electromagnetic radiation;
- said first GRIN rod lens and said emitting means being attached to a first multichip module;
- said second GRIN lens and said receiving means being attached to a second multichip module;
- said first GRIN rod lens forming an image of said emitted radiation substantially at infinity;
- and
- said second GRIN rod lens forming an image of said emitted electromagnetic radiation from said first GRIN rod lens onto said receiving means.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.